Exotic Animal Formulary5

Table 9-14
Determining the Sex of Mature Rodents. 74
Male
• Anogenital distance is longer in
the male
• Manipulate prepuce to protrude
penis
• Palpate for testicles either in a
scrotal sac (if present) or
subcutaneous in inguinal region
• Males have only two external
openings in the inguinal area:
○ Anus
○ Urethral orifice at tip of penis
• In very fat males, there may be a
depression between the penis and
anus; this depression can be
obliterated by manipulating the
skin in that area
Female
• Anogenital distance is shorter in the female
• Look for three external openings in the
inguinal area:
○ Anus (most caudal opening)
○ Vaginal orifice (middle opening)—look
carefully
○ Urethral orifice at tip of urethral papilla
(most cranial opening)
• The urethral papilla is located outside the
vagina (unlike most other mammals)
• In very fat females or young females, the
vaginal orifice may be either hidden by folds of
skin (the former) or sealed (latter); gentle
manipulation of the skin in this area will
divulge the orifice
Table 9-15
Nutritional Data for Rodents. 31,74
Consumption (per 100 g
BW/day)
Nutritional Recommendations
Species Food (g) Water (mL)
Minimum Fiber
(%)
Carbo-hydrates
(%)
Fat
(%)
Protein
(%)
Chinchilla 3-6 — 16-18 — 2-4 14-16
Gerbil 5-8 4-7 — — 2-4 16-22
Guinea
pig
6 10 16-18 16 — 18-30
Hamster 8-12 8-10 — 8 3-5 15-25
Mouse 12-18 15 — 45-55 5-25 16-20
Prairie
dog
2.3-4.1 — — — — —
Rat 5-6 ≥10-12 — — 5-25 12-27
694