What are the signs of illness in prairie dogs?
Basic signs of illness in prairie dogs generally are lethargy, weight loss, anorexia, and diarrhea. Signs of illness in prairie dogs are often non-specific, so, any deviation from normal in your pet’s activity levels, appetite, or defecation habits should be immediately evaluated by a veterinarian that is experienced with exotic pets, and particularly prairie dogs.
What are some of the common diseases of pet prairie dogs?
Common diseases of pet prairie dogs include obesity, parasites, dental disease, respiratory disease, and heart disease. Prairie dogs can also be afflicted with cancer and ringworm (a fungal disease of the skin and hair coat).
Obesity
An overweight prairie dog may suffer from secondary heart, liver, or pancreatic problems. Obesity results from lack of exercise and feeding the wrong diet. In the wild, prairie dogs exist on grasses, leafy greens, and roots with an occasional snack of insects. Obesity is easily prevented by educating your family about the recommended diet for your prairie dog. An overweight prairie dog will likely resist changing to a proper diet, as they often become “hooked” on the diet that predisposed them to obesity.
Parasites
External parasites like fleas and ticks can be easily seen on prairie dogs. Internal parasites, such as worms, giardia, and coccidia, may be identified by a microscopic fecal examination. Prairie dogs bred in captivity generally have fewer parasite problems than wild-caught animals. When you purchase your new pet, it’s essential for it to have a thorough veterinary examination, including microscopic analysis of the feces. If external or intestinal parasites are identified, your veterinarian will recommend anti-parasite treatment.
Fleas can carry the bacterial organism that causes the plague, Yersinia pestis. Prairie dogs should be treated for fleas before purchase. Wild-caught prairie dogs can harbor the intestinal parasite Balisascaris procyonis, which can be transmitted to other pets and people. You can greatly reduce or prevent the transmission of this parasite to family members and/or to other household pets by washing your hands after handling your prairie dog. There is currently no known effective treatment for this parasite.
Dental Disease
Dental disease can occur from overgrown teeth or from malocclusion (abnormal positioning) of the teeth. Damage to the teeth can result from trauma, chewing on the cage, or eating an improper diet (one too low in fibrous grass hay). Signs of dental disease can include decreased appetite, weight loss, and excessive salivation. Treatment of abnormal teeth may require filing misaligned teeth under anesthesia or, in severe cases, surgical tooth extraction. Tooth abscesses may be suspected if there are soft swellings on the jaw or on the cheeks below one of the eyes.
Prairie dogs are commonly affected by a pseudo-odontoma, which is a thickening and swelling of the tooth root. Skull or dental X-rays are often needed to detect this condition, which looks like a tumor on X-rays. This condition usually affects either the upper or lower incisors. Dental diseases require regular, scheduled veterinary visits to keep things under control.
Respiratory and Heart Disease
Respiratory disease may be secondary to obesity or may be the result of a bacterial or fungal infection. Tumors or cancerous growths in the chest or lungs are not common in prairie dogs but have been documented. Diagnosis is through radiography, ultrasonography, or cultures of discharges from the respiratory system. Treatment depends upon the cause, but the prognosis is always guarded (uncertain) as many of these cases are diagnosed late in the course of the disease.
Diseases of the heart may also be seen in prairie dogs. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a heart disease also seen in people, dogs, cats, and ferrets, may also occur in prairie dogs. Clinical signs include difficulty breathing, weight loss, and lack of appetite. Diagnosis of this disease involves chest X-rays and an echocardiogram. Cardiac medications recommended as treatment for DCM have been promising in some cases. The prognosis for cardiac disease is always guarded, as many of these cases are diagnosed later in the course of the disease.
Monkeypox, which is transmissible to people, was reported in some prairie dogs in 2003. Due to an outbreak of monkeypox in the USA, a joint order was issued that banned the import of several African rodents as well as the transport, sale, or release of pet prairie dogs.
How are prairie dog diseases diagnosed?
Sometimes, the history and physical examination will give the veterinarian clues about the underlying problem (e.g., obesity, dental disease). Often, diagnostic testing will be necessary to pinpoint a specific disease (e.g., fecal examination, X-rays, blood tests). Due to the hyperactive or aggressive nature of prairie dogs, most testing is done under gas anesthesia or an injectable sedative.
How are prairie dog diseases treated?
- Diseases related to diet are treated with dietary correction.
- Bacterial and parasitic diseases are treated with appropriate medication.
- Dental disease may require surgical tooth extraction or filing misaligned teeth under anesthesia.
- Serious disorders of the internal organs are treated with supportive therapy, including drug therapy, as required.
- Truly sick pets may need hospitalization with syringe feeding and intravenous (IV) fluids.
Some prairie dogs do not survive when the illness is diagnosed at an advanced stage. Make sure your veterinarian has experience treating exotic pets. Veterinarians belonging to the Association of Exotic Animal Veterinarians (AEMV) or the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV) are generally more educated about prairie dog diseases and treatment.
