Harkness and Wagner's Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents / Edition 5

by John E. Harkness, Patricia V. Turner, Susan VandeWoude, Colette L. Wheler

Overview

Harkness and Wagner's Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents, Fifth Edition is a practical reference in small mammal husbandry and health, encompassing the fields of laboratory animal medicine and pet practice. Part of ACLAM's series of laboratory animal books, this text offers concise but complete coverage on rabbits and the most common rodent species, with an emphasis on biology, clinical procedures, clinical signs, and diseases and conditions. By providing useful, accessible assessment and diagnostic information, Harkness and Wagner's Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents aids the practitioner in diagnosing and treating conditions in small mammals.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780813815312
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	02/09/2010
Pages:	480
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

John E. Harkness, DVM, MS, DACLAM, is Professor Emeritus of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University.

Patricia V. Turner, BSc, MS, DVM, DVSc, DACLAM, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, at the University of Guelph.

Susan VandeWoude, DVM, DACLAM, is Professor of Comparative Medicine and Director of Laboratory Animal Resources at Colorado State University.

Colette Wheler, BSc, DVM, MVetSc, is Director of the Animal Resources Centre and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.

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Table of Contents

Preface xi

Acknowledgments xiii

Chapter 1 Introduction, General Husbandry, and Disease Prevention 3

Introduction 3

Sources of Information 5

Taxonomy, History, and Behavior 5

Regulatory Considerations 6

Genetically Modified Mice 7

Equipment Needs 9

Major Concerns in Husbandry 11

Factors Predisposing to Disease 14

Allergies to Rabbits and Rodents 17

References 19

Chapter 2 Biology and Husbandry 23

The Rabbit 23

The Guinea Pig 45

The Chinchilla 58

The Hamster 65

The Gerbil 74

The Mouse 83

The Rat 95

Chapter 3 Clinical Procedures 107

Sample Collection 107

Hematology, Clinical Chemistry, and Urinalysis 116

Medical Imaging 131

Ophthalmology 135

Administration of Drugs and Formulary 141

Anesthesia 147

Analgesia 167

Surgery 171

Dental Procedures in Rabbits and Rodents 180

Serologic Testing for Colony-Health Surveillance 184

Other Special Techniques 187

Euthanasia 190

Chapter 4 Clinical Signs and Differential Diagnoses 195

The Rabbit 195

The Guinea Pig 208

The Chinchilla 219

The Hamster 220

The Gerbil 228

The Mouse 231

The Rat 239

Chapter 5 Specific Diseases and Conditions 249

Acariasis (Mite Infections) 249

Anorexia and Reduced Food Intake 260

Bordetella bronchiseptica Infections 262

Buphthalmia in Rabbits 265

Cestodiasis (Tapeworm Infestations) 266

Cilia-Associated Respiratory Bacillus Infections 269

Coccidiosis (Hepatic) in Rabbits 272

Coccidiosis (Intestinal) 275

Coronavirus Infections 277

Corynebacterium kutscheri Infections 283

Cryptosporidiosis 285

Dermatophytosis (Ringworm) 287

Encephalitozoonosis 289

Enteropathies 292

Epilepsy in Gerbils 305

Gastric Stasis in Rabbits 306

Hantavirus Infections 308

Heat Prostration 310

Helicobacter Infections 311

Hematuria and Pigmented Urine 313

Hypovitaminosis C (Scurvy) in Guinea Pigs 316

Lawsonia Infections (Proliferative Ileitis of Hamsters) 319

Listeriosis 321

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Infection 322

Malocclusion and Dental Disease 324

Mastitis 327

Mousepox (Ectromelia Virus) 327

Murine Encephalomyelitis 330

Murine Mycoplasmosis 331

Murine Norovirus Infections 334

Myiasis (Fly Strike)-Primary 335

Myiasis (Fly Strike)-Secondary 337

Myxomatosis 338

Nasal Dermatitis (Sore Nose) in Gerbils 339

Neoplasia 341

Nephrosis 348

Oxyuriasis (Pinworms) 350

Parvovirus Infections 353

Pasteurella multocida Infections 355

Pasteurella pneumotropica Infections 359

Pediculosis 361

Pneumocystosis 363

Pododermatitis 364

Pregnancy Toxemia 366

Rabies Virus Infection 367

Ringtail 368

Rotavirus Infections 369

Salmonellosis 371

Sendai Virus Infections 373

Spironucleosis 375

Splayleg in Rabbits 377

Staphylococcosis 378

Streptococcus pneumoniae Infections in Rodents 380

Streptococcus zooepidemicus Infections in Guinea Pigs 382

Transmissible Colonic Hyperplasia in Mice 383

Tularemia 385

Tyzzer's Disease 386

Ulcerative Dermatitis (Moist Dermatitis) 389

Urolithiasis 390

Venereal Spirochetosis (Treponematosis) 392

Viral Hemorrhagic Disease in Rabbits 394

Chapter 6 Case Reports 397

The Rabbit 397

The Guinea Pig 400

The Chinchilla 402

The Hamster 403

The Gerbil 404

The Mouse 405

The Rat 406

Suggested Solutions 407

Rabbits 407

Guinea Pigs 412

Chinchillas 415

Hamsters 416

Gerbils 418

Mice 419

Rats 421

Index 423

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Karen L Campbell, DVM, MS, DACVIM, DACVD (University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine)
Description: Published 15 years after the previous edition, this classic book on the biology and diseases of rabbits and rodents contains extensive updates.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide concise, up-to-date, and relevant information on the health, care, and management of rabbits and rodents. This is excellent resource achieves the authors' objectives.
Audience: The authors have written this book for a varied audience that includes veterinarians, students, technicians, scientists, breeders, and, to a lesser extent, pet owners. The book will be useful for each of these groups. The authors have outstanding credentials and are noted authorities in the areas of lab animal medicine and care.
Features: The book is divided into six large chapters, each with subdivisions for the different species of small mammals. It starts with an introduction to laboratory animals and considerations for their use in research. The biology and husbandry of each species is presented next, followed by chapters on clinical procedures, clinical signs and differential diagnoses, specific diseases and conditions, and ending with a series of case reports and references. There are over 200 black-and-white images and many useful tables. I would have liked more information on diagnostic tests in the chapter on differential diagnoses, but this and my preference for color pictures would be my only suggestions for improving the book.
Assessment: This book is suitable for a much wider audience than books such as the National Research Council's Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 8th edition (The National Academies Press, 2010), although the latter has the advantage of being much less expensive. However, Harkness and Wagner's is much more comprehensive with up-to-date information on newly described diseases and new husbandry guidelines. Therefore, individuals working with rabbits and rodents and desiring a good reference on the biology, health, care, and management of these important species should get the fifth edition.

Doody's Review Service

"The stated goal of the book aims to provide an easy to usereference that adds to improving the welfare of rabbit and rodentspecies. That achievement is reached with this 5th edition; havingadded over 200 very informative photos, more pertinent casereports, expanded coverage with additional disease descriptions,and wonderful easy-to-read tables. An instant flip of the pages andthe reader will connect with this texts ability to inform andteach." (The Vin Book Reviews, 25 February 2011)

"My overall impression is that this is an indispensable text forpractitioners in referral practice or studying towards a higherqualification, but would not be the text of choice for the averagegeneral practitioner." (Veterinary Record, 19 March 2011)

The first edition of Harkness and Wagner's Biology andMedicine of Rabbits and Rodents was published in 1977. Sincethen, this has become a respected textbook that is commonly foundon the bookshelves of people whose profession or hobby involvesrodents and rabbits.... Despite the fact that it is now anextensively illustrated reference, this comprehensive text remainsan affordable paperback that should be of broad interest."(JAVMA, September 2010)

"This continues to be a strong introductory text forthose caring for rodents and rabbits. The organization of the textfacilitates the rapid development of differential diagnoses andperformance of general biomethodology when caring for patients."(JAALAS, July 2010)

"The fifth updated edition of Harkness and Wagner's Biologyand Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents is a 'must' for any librarystrong in small mammal husbandry and health. From lab animalmedicine and pet practice to diagnosis, case studies, and clinicalassessments of rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and more, thisreference is a key 'must' for practicing clinicians and vetstudents alike." (The Midwest Book Review, June 2010)

From the Publisher

3 Stars from Doody

This book provides a good overview of the basic biology and husbandry of rabbits and rodents. It also provides basic information on analgesia/anesthesia, clinical procedures, and common diseases. This is the fourth edition; the previous edition was published in 1989. The goal was to provide concise, up-to-date, reasonably comprehensive information on the husbandry, biology, and medicine of common rodents and rabbits. The authors intended to provide this information in a format that was accessible, useful, and less expensive than the hardcover reference books currently available. The authors intend this book for students, technicians, scientists with a basic knowledge of biology, and veterinarians. They did a reasonable job of not making it too advanced for one group or too basic for the other. The authors are well-known authorities in the field of laboratory animal medicine, with the necessary background and expertise. For the most part, the black-and-white line drawings that are used to illustrate anatomical features and various techniques are sufficiently large and easily understood. The tables provide compilations of much useful information. The references are current, but whether the book contains individual references or simply a section-ending compilation varies from chapter to chapter. The index is extensive and more than adequate. The case reports in Chapter 6 should be of interest to students and teachers. The earlier editions of the book provided one of the best softcover texts on basic biology, husbandry, and medicine of the common rodents and rabbits. This edition is a welcome update and expansion on the previous editions. Although the writing quality and contentvaries from section to section and there appear to be some inconsistencies and discrepancies, the book remains a valuable resource.

Randall L. Peper

A classic reference first published in 1977 and most recently in 1989, for veterinarians and people responsible for the health and well being of laboratory animals. Bridges the gap between the expensive and specialized tomes on individual species and the loose pages of lecture notes that laboratory technicians actually refer to. The fourth edition includes new diseases, techniques, and husbandry aspects and replaced some case reports and references with newer ones. Assumes a background in biology. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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