Heat stress is a condition that occurs when the body gets over heated due to an abnormality in the heat-regulating system of the body. High environmental temperature, high humidity, and

Yersiniosis in Guinea Pigs Yersiniosis is the term used for an infectious condition that arises when a guinea pig has been exposed to the bacteria Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Transmission of the

Roundworm and Tapeworm Infections in Prairie Dogs Of all the gastrointestinal parasites affecting prairie dogs, infection with the roundworm Bayisascaris procyonis is considered to be one of the most serious,

Thiamine Deficiency in Chinchillas Thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, is one of the B-complex vitamins. It is needed by the chinchilla’s body for processing carbohydrates and manufacturing proteins. Deficiency

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus in Rats Lymphocytic choriomeningitis is a viral infection that is relatively common in rats. The usual sources of the virus are other infection-carrying rodents, such as guinea

Adenovirus Infection in Guinea Pigs Guinea pigs are prone to infection with a specific type of adenovirus, the guinea pig adenovirus (GPAdV), which may cause respiratory symptoms. This occurs more

Urolithiasis Urolithiasis is a medical condition referring to the presence of uroliths — stones, crystals or calculi — in the kidneys, bladder or anywhere in the urinary tract. Rats with

An upper respiratory tract infection in chinchillas should never be taken lightly, as it can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia. Humid, crowded, and poorly ventilated housing conditions contribute

Clostridium piliforme Bacterial Infection in Gerbils Among the infectious bacterial diseases that affect gerbils, Tyzzer’s disease is the one of the most frequently occurring. The bacteria that causes this infection,

An abnormal growth of cells in a tissue or organ is referred to as a tumor or cancer. And much like in humans, a gerbil is just as likely to

Endoparasitic Worm Load in Hamsters Tapeworms belong to a category of endoparasitic flatworms infecting several domestic animals, including hamsters. When compared to mice and rats, tapeworm infection in hamsters is

Endoparasitic Worm Infection Tapeworms belong to a category of endoparasitic flatworms. And much like in other animals, gerbils can contract the parasites in many ways, including ingesting contaminated water or

Inflammatory Stomach Lesions Sometimes referred to as gastric ulcers, stomach ulcers are inflammatory lesions of the stomach’s mucous membrane lining. These ulcers often occur in young chinchillas and are frequently

Sialodacryoadenitis and rat coronavirus are inter-related viral infections that affect the nasal cavities, lungs, salivary glands and the Harderian gland that is close to the eyes in rats. These are

Salmonellosis in Guinea Pigs Salmonellosis is an uncommon bacterial infection in guinea pigs, usually the result of ingestion of the salmonella bacterium. While infection is typically related to the ingestion

Salmonellosis in Rats Salmonellosis is a diseased condition that is brought about by infection with the Salmonella bacterium. Salmonellosis is very rare in pet rats and infection is usually found

Salmonellosis in Hamsters Salmonellosis is an infection caused by the Salmonella bacteria. Although rare in pet hamsters, salmonellosis can lead to complications such as spontaneous abortions (miscarriages), diarrhea, and septicemia.

Much like in other animals, endoparasite worms are a common problem in chinchillas. And of all the gastrointestinal parasites affecting chinchillas, the roundworm Bayisascaris procyonis is considered to be the

Skin Problems and Rough Hair in Gerbils Rough hair coat is not a diseased condition in and of itself, but is a common external symptom that accompanies many diseases and

Fungal Infection in Hamsters Despite its name, worms do not cause ringworm infection. Ringworm infection occurs when a hamster’s skin becomes infected with a fungus. The most common ringworm-causing fungi

Ringworm Infections in Rats Despite its name, ringworm is actually not a worm, but a fungal organism that infects the skin, feeding off of keratin, the material that makes up

A retained fetus occurs in female chinchillas usually following delivery, though it may also happen during early pregnancy. When the death of the fetus occurs early in the pregnancy, resorption

Infectious and Non-Infectious Respiratory Diseases in Prairie Dogs Respiratory disease in prairie dogs may be due to infections such as pneu­monia or non-infectious causes such as a dusty or humid

Pyometra in Chinchillas Pyometra is a large collection of pus within the uterus of the female chinchilla. Pyometra may happen after conditions of metritis or placenta remaining behind in the

Bacterial Infection (Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis) in Hamsters Pseudotuberculosis is an infection caused by the bacteria Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, which is transmitted through contact with food, bedding, and other material that is contaminated

Protozoal Infection in Rats The digestive tract in rats is home to a wide variety of microorganisms, including protozoa, single celled organisms that play an important and beneficial role in

Protozoal Gastroenteritis in Hamsters Protozoa are single-celled organisms that are capable of causing disease in hamsters, the most common of which is protozoal gastroenteritis. Although healthy hamsters often carry protozoa

Ketosis in Guinea Pigs Ketone bodies are water soluble compounds, the product of the breakdown of fatty acids in the body – a normal metabolic process. Under certain conditions the

Abortion or Resorption of Fetuses A spontaneous abortion (or miscarriage) can occur in chinchillas due to a wide variety of reasons, including stress, trauma, and fever. If left untreated, the

Streptococcus in Guinea Pigs Streptococci pneumonie are pathogenic bacteria that have been found to be one of the causative agents for pneumonia in guinea pigs. Guinea pigs suffering from streptococcosis

There are many infectious diseases affecting the respiratory system, the most common of which is pneumonia. Much like in humans, chinchillas usually contract pneumonia through a bacterial infection; one predisposing

Plague is a disease that can occur in several species of animals, including rodents and humans. The form of the plague that occurs in rodents is known as sylvatic plague,

Gastrointestinal Nematodes (Pinworms) in Hamsters Hamsters can suffer from several types of endoparasitic worm infections. One such internal parasite is the pinworm. It rarely occurs in hamsters but causes complications