After dogs, cats and rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, chinchillas, degus and gerbils are the most commonly kept mammalian pets in the United Kingdom (PFMA, 2022). Rodents are, however, established as an exotic companion animal species, though frequently encountered in veterinary practices (DeCubellis, 2016; Kondert and Mayer, 2017). Despite an increased range of pet rodents presenting in veterinary practice, UK veterinarians have a potential knowledge gap and, thus, less confidence in treating and diagnosing small mammals compared to cats and dogs (Wills and Holt, 2020).
As a stoic prey species, small mammals often suppress pain and hide signs of discomfort around humans and other animals, which complicates effective clinical treatment (Turner et al., 2019; Wills and Holt, 2020). Therefore, recognising the symptoms of stress and species-specific behaviour changes is an important skill for all veterinary staff to achieve a high level of care and welfare for small mammals (Brown and Nye, 2006; Bament, 2015).
Pet rodents already come to the examination table stressed due to transportation to the clinic and the unfamiliar conditions for prey species while waiting for their appointment (Montrose et al., 2016; McBride, 2017a). Therefore, working to combat this stress should start in the practice waiting room.
It is essential that your waiting room is designed to isolate prey exotics from predator species, whether canine, feline or other exotic patients. Rodent cages or carriers should not be left alone on the floor due to a sense of threat and vulnerability from the animal’s viewpoint. Ideally, they should be located on a higher level and, if possible, in a separate area. An alternative could involve creating a cat-only area, with small mammal patients placed on a seat or shelf near the guardian, which also reduces the noise in both areas (Greenfield, 2013; Montrose et al., 2016).
Reducing loud noises from cleaning, telephone calls, talking around the waiting areas, etc, and having different appointment times for cats, dogs and exotics can be beneficial for animal comfort. Also, a sensory environment with lots of enrichment in veterinary waiting rooms (eg playing classical music and using lavender scents) may reduce anxiety in humans, thereby positively affecting the emotional state of their animals (Anseeuw et al., 2006; Rodan et al., 2011; Montrose et al., 2016).
During examination and hospitalisation, rodents need to be placed in a safe environment without the sounds and smells of predator species. This includes the removal of stress inducers such as the smell of a predator on the hands and clothes of the veterinary staff working with the prey animals. Bright lights, unexpected noises and fast-moving objects/hands also promote stress (McBride, 2017a; Magnus and McBride et al., 2022).
Rodents recognise people and communicate through scent, so it is possible to use this knowledge to reduce the stress of visiting a veterinary practice. For example, try bringing a cloth, toy or blanket with a familiar human smell or covering the cage with it. It is also essential that you maintain the presence of these familiar scents throughout hospitalisation (Davis et al., 1997; McBride, 2017b; Magnus and McBride, 2022).
Guinea pigs have social grouping needs and benefit from the company of a bonded cavy friend during examination and possibly hospitalisation (Bradley Bays et al., 2017). Other highly social rodents, such as chinchillas, rats, gerbils, degus, mice and hamsters (except Syrian and Chinese), may also benefit from a similar approach – reducing stress through being in an unknown environment with a cage mate (McBride, 2017b).
Each of the small prey mammal species have species-specific environments and nutritional requirements. For example (Tamura, 2010; Grant et al., 2017; Scheibler and Waiblinger, 2019):
Building a familiar environment is possible by mirroring the regular diet provided at the patient’s home. Following the food preferences of your exotic patients creates well-known and predictable surroundings, which has the potential to help them cope with anxiety during hospitalisation. Moreover, food preferences can be developed early in life, and any changes in their regular diet can cause additional stress (Bradley Bays et al., 2017; Schiff et al., 2023).
Furthermore, a rodent’s cage for veterinary appointments or hospitalisation should be equipped with comfortable bedding, opportunities for climbing and digging, a drinking arrangement which considers the rodents’ preferences (bowl or bottle), dark hiding places and a cage cover to reduce stress from unknown surroundings, noises and smells. If the owner is using a carry cage that is new for their prey animals, it is essential that they make the enclosure a part of the rodents’ normal home environment before a vet visit. The carrier should be an appropriate design that helps with gently and easily removing the small animal for further observation.
Familiar smells, bedding and the positive association of regular and familiar foodstuffs can help small exotics feel secure in their carrier. Socialised, trained and handled animals may demonstrate more confidence in unfamiliar conditions (McBride, 2017b; Magnus and McBride, 2022).
Additional measures to cope with anxiety include herbal remedies. For example, Pet Remedy may have a potential effect on rabbits in situations of acute stress (Unwin et al., 2020), which, in theory, can also apply to rodents.
The author recommends that initial assessment is made from a distance before removing small mammal patients from their travelling carriers. This examination can include obtaining the clinical history and current health problems from the owner, observing how tame the patient is and checking for any weakness or respiratory distress. Ideally, you should be encouraging a voluntary approach when picking up rodents from their cages, particularly for nervous animals.
The examination table needs to be equipped with a non-slip mat to prevent injuries and decrease the agitation from a slippery surface (Wilson and Girling, 2020).
From the prey animals’ viewpoint, unpredictable activities, such as moving their cage, relocating the furniture and handling by strangers, cause unnecessary stress, especially for unsocialised and sick animals (Castelhano-Carlos and Baumans, 2009; Wilson and Girling, 2020). You should also bear in mind the fact that the behaviour of pet rodents may change due to perceived “predation risk” and fear of being attacked from the air. Therefore, it is recommended that you (Tamura, 2010; Grant et al., 2017; McBride, 2017a):
The use of tunnels and an open hand can be an option to help the small prey cope in unfamiliar conditions and minimise anxiety from further physical restraint (Hurst and West, 2010; McBride, 2017b).
It is necessary to increase the confidence of veterinary professionals in working with exotic rodents to achieve a high level of care and welfare, not least because a better understanding of the behaviour of small mammals can help veterinary professionals reduce the stress of small exotics in the veterinary practice, which supports the physical and behavioural needs of the species.
The most important element of a stress-free experience for exotic patients is equipping the waiting, examination and recovery rooms to suit prey animals. Where possible, they must be free from the presence of predators, including smells and visual and auditory disturbances. Pet rodents need to be kept in a species-specific environment that follows their nutritional requirements. If the patient is a sociable species, it may be beneficial to bring a cage mate along for veterinary visits.
Prey species prefer a quiet familiar enclosure, low-light hiding places and an opportunity to leave if they feel threatened. Well-known and predictable surroundings help small mammals to cope with anxiety in unknown conditions. Therefore, it is preferable to use familiar cages or travel carriers, as well as familiar bedding, food, water equipment and shelters for transportation, examination and hospitalisation of exotic rodents.
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