Health Check at RodentFest

RodentFest Health Check Update:

Finalizing the check in process and it's going good. When you come in to the event Myself, Emma, Maggie, Elena, Lee (organizer) or May (organizer helper) will great you, take your registration info which includes your stud name and contact info and how many of each kind of animal (ex. gerbils, mice, rats, etc) that you are having health checked. Then during the check if any issues are found an examination sheet will be filled out and stuck to the carrier. Suspected air borne contagious carriers (severe respiratory including sinus) will be required to leave the show and be taken to your hotel room. You can come back minus sick animals but it would be courteous to also please take a shower. Any contagious by proximity meaning direct contact can come in but must contain an examination sheet and be placed under your table and not messed with till the end of the show. They prefer that nothing is taken to your car and left in the parking lot.

Here is the handout that we are passing out to people regarding health check of things we are looking for:

1) Overall resting condition
• Is mouse hunched?
• Is mouse scratching?
• Does mouse look old enough to be weaned?
• Is mouse too skinny?
2) Respiration, lung health
• When mouse is held to the ear is there any clicking, rattling, wheezing that can be heard?
• Is there labored or very rapid breathing?
• Can visible coughing or sneezing be observed?
3) Fur quality
• Does fur look healthy, is mouse grooming properly?
• Are there mites or lice seen?
• Are there any lesions, missing patches of fur, or signs of inflammation or swelling?
4) Muzzle, Nose and Mouth
• Is there any mucous or discharge?
• Is there any malocclusion? (condition when the teeth are overgrown or not allowing mouse to eat properly) Although this is a veterinary concern it is not a contagious disease and would not necessarily disqualify the entire carrier of other travel companions if any.
• Barbering, missing whiskers? (condition when a dominant cage mate chews the whiskers of the other mice) Although this is a veterinary concern it is not a contagious disease and would not necessarily disqualify the entire carrier of other travel companions if any.
5) Eyes
• Eyes should be shinny and bright, is there any mucous or discharge?
• Missing fur around eye area?
• Cloudiness or lesions?
• Is there any excessive bulging?
6) Ears
• Are there any lesions or debri?
7) Limbs, paws
• Are there any missing digits, swelling, open lesions?
• Can mites be seen? Between the toes is a common place to visually see ectoparasites.
Tail
• Are there any open lesions?
• Signs of dehydration can usually be seen in the tail before other parts of the body. Does the tail look plump and generally nice and round? Can any bones be seen?
9) Belly – Thorax and Abdomen
• When felt is the belly smooth and free of lesions, lumps, debris, or missing fur?
9) Anus and Urinary Organs
• The anal are is a common place to find pin worms. However a tape test would need to be done and microscopic evaluation would need to be performed for final diagnosis.
• The anal area can become prolapsed, or have swelling and discharge when constipated.
• The anal area is also evaluated for the presence of diarrhea.
• The penile and urinary area should not be prolapsed, swelled or discolored.
10) Reproductive
• Males, the gonads should be free of lesions, discharge, or unusual lumps.
• Females, the vagina should be free of discharge, lesions, unusual lumps or discoloration.
• In females the vaginal area should be open indicating fertility.
• Although several of these conditions suggest a veterinary concern generally they are not indicative of a contagious disease and would not necessarily disqualify the entire carrier of other travel companions if any.