Skip to main content

Library

Small Mammals + English

  • In the wild, prairie dogs burrow in the ground and make tunnels. Indoor caging must be long enough and deep enough whereby the pet has a chance to dig and make a borrow. Boxes and tubes large enough to crawl through make excellent additions to the cage.

  • Prairie dogs (most often black-tailed prairie dogs) are becoming popular as pets. Like all rodents, they have teeth that continually grow throughout life. They are active, playful and sturdy rodents and can make wonderful, affectionate pets if purchased young, socialized properly and given lots of attention.

  • Praziquantel is given on and off label and by mouth or injection to treat various internal parasites in cats, dogs, small mammals, birds, reptiles, and large animals. Do not use in pets that are allergic to it, in puppies less than 3 weeks old, or kittens less than 6 weeks old.

  • Prednisone/prednisolone is given by mouth or injection and is used on and off label to treat Addison’s disease, inflammatory conditions, neoplasia (cancer), and immune-mediated diseases. Give this medication as directed by your veterinarian.

  • A telemedicine visit is typically conducted over telephone, text messaging, chat, email, or videoconference. This may allow a veterinarian to diagnose and treat your pet’s medical condition remotely, without the need for an in-person visit. Your appointment will be conducted by a licensed veterinarian.

  • Preparing your pet for a blood test helps to ensure that the results are as accurate and reliable as possible. Preparation for routine and special blood tests is slightly different. Your veterinarian will give you specific instructions before your appointment. It is important that you follow these instructions exactly to ensure accurate test results.

  • Probiotics are dietary supplements that contain live microorganisms (such as bacteria) that are considered beneficial. They are used most often to support the gastrointestinal tract in cats, dogs, horses, and rabbits, such as in cases of diarrhea due to inflammatory bowel disease, antibiotic use, or stressful events.

  • Propranolol (brand names Inderal®, Detensol®, Hemangeol®, Innopran®) is a beta-blocker used off label (extra label) to treat abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) in cats, dogs, ferrets, and horses. It has also been used short-term to treat hypertension caused by thyrotoxicosis or pheochromocytoma. It is given by mouth or injection.

  • Pyrantel pamoate (brand names Nemex®, Nemex 2®) is an anthelmintic (dewormer). It is used to treat intestinal roundworm, hookworm, and stomach worm parasites in many species including dogs, cats, small mammals, and birds.

  • Ranitidine is a type of acid reducer used to treat and prevent ulcers in the stomach and small intestines and to treat erosive gastritis, esophagitis, and esophageal reflux in dogs and cats. Ranitidine may be used to stimulate bowel activity and stomach contractions in cats and rabbits. It may also be used in rabbits to treat stomach ulcers and in ferrets to treat Helicobacter mustelae.