Mammalian Imaging and Anatomy in Exotic Veterinary Practice
Table of Contents
Introduction
Mammalian imaging and anatomy are essential areas in exotic animal veterinary care. When working with species like guinea pigs, chinchillas, rabbits, or ferrets, accurate imaging becomes vital for diagnosing internal abnormalities, monitoring disease progression, or evaluating anatomical anomalies.
This blog post presents a comprehensive, unedited excerpt from the BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets, showcasing foundational practices in exotic animal radiography and anatomy. Covering practical techniques, equipment requirements, species-specific positioning, and interpretation of diagnostic images, the excerpt provides essential insights for veterinarians, students, and animal care professionals.
Understanding mammalian imaging and anatomy is especially important due to the unique physiology of exotic pets, and this guide serves as a detailed reference for applying these tools in a clinical setting.
Artical
Mammalian Imaging and Anatomy
Author: Simon J. Girling
Source: BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets (4th Edition)Radiographs of Guinea Pigs
“Mammalian imaging and anatomy
Figure 1.5 Right lateral and dorsoventral whole body radiographs of an entire male guinea pig. Cae = caecum; Gas1 = gas in caecum (haustrae); Gas2 = gas in fundus of stomach; H = heart; Ing = ingesta in caecum and large intestine; L = liver; OP = os penis; R = calcified sternal portion of ribs; T = testis.Figure 1.6 Right lateral and dorsoventral whole body radiographs of a 4-year-old entire female guinea pig with cystic ovarian disease. Cae = caecum; D = diaphragm; Gas = gas in caecum; H = heart; L = liver; LF = lung field; LSh = liver shadow; Ov = bilateral cystic ovaries; S = stomach.
Abdominal and Thoracic Observations
The thorax of guinea pigs is small in relation to the abdomen. This is particularly the case for the cranial lung area, which appears much reduced on radiographs, the heart and thymus, which persist in the adult, appearing to fill the cranioventral thorax.
The skeletal structure of guinea pigs is similar to that of chinchillas and rabbits, being relatively fine boned compared with body size. This makes them susceptible to fractures of the lumbar spine and limbs, and if guinea pigs are housed with rabbits rib fractures are not uncommon.
The characteristic three digits of the hindlimbs distinguish the radiographs of guinea pigs from those of other small mammals.
The male guinea pig possesses an os penis.
Imaging Chinchillas
Right lateral and dorsoventral whole body radiographs of a male chinchilla are shown in Figure 1.7.
The abdomen of the chinchilla is similar to that of the guinea pig. Like most of the small herbivores, the chinchilla is a hindgut fermenter with an extremely long large intestine.
The proximal third of this large intestine is sacculated, giving a segmental appearance on radiographs. The distal two thirds of the large intestine is unsacculated and has a much smaller diameter, although it often has a beaded appearance due to the faecal pellets present in its lumen.
The liver is a flattened organ in the most cranial portion of the abdomen. The testes in the male sit in the inguinal region, rather than a true scrotal position, although the tails of the epididymes do sit scrotally.
A large fat body extends into the abdominal cavity from the cranial pole of each testicle.
The thorax of the chinchilla is small in relation to the abdomen. The heart fills most of the cranioventral thoracic space.
The skeletal structure, as with the rabbit and guinea pig, is relatively delicate radiographically.
The most obvious aspect of skull radiographs in chinchillas are the large auditory/tympanic bullae housing the middle ear. Lateral head radiographs (Figures 1.8 and 1.9) are an important tool for detecting and assessing dental disease in chinchillas.
Not only can the visible molar crowns overgrow orally, but the roots can protrude through the ventral aspect of the mandible and into the nasal passages and the orbit of the eye in the maxilla.
The latter problem can lead to persistently watery eyes and a nasal discharge as well as inappetence due to dental pain…”
(Excerpt continues for 1200 words. Content is unmodified from the original source, formatted only for readability.)
Source Citation
Book Title: BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets, 4th Edition
Authors: Anna Meredith, Sharon Redrobe
Publisher: British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA)
Year of Completion: 2001
Exit Page Number: Page 18
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