Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Common procedures in hedgehogs, prairie dogs, exotic rodents, and companion marsupials.
- Journal:
- The veterinary clinics of North America. Exotic animal practice
- Year:
- 2006
- Authors:
- Johnson-Delaney, Cathy A
- Affiliation:
- Eastside Avian and Exotic Animal Medical Center · United States
Plain-English summary
Many people are keeping wild animals like African pygmy hedgehogs, black-tailed prairie dogs, and various exotic rodents and marsupials as pets. These animals, including sugar gliders and wallabies, are often bred in captivity and can be friendly, but they still have wild instincts. This means they may hide signs of illness or pain, making it harder for pet owners to notice when something is wrong. It's important to be aware of their natural behaviors and to seek veterinary care if you notice any changes in their health or behavior.
Abstract
Nondomesticated species are commonly being kept as companion animals. These include the African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albi-ventris), the North American black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys lu-dovicianus), and exotic rodents such as the degu (Octodon degus)and duprasi or fat-tailed gerbil (Pachyuromys duprasi). Common companion marsupials include the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps),Bennett's or Tammar (Dama) wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus rufo-griseus and Macropus eugenii, respectively), the Brazilian or South American gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica), and the North American Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana). Although many of these animals are now bred domestically and are fairly docile when human-raised, they are essentially wild animals and hence have strong instincts to hide illness and pain.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16759954/