What is meant by small mammals? Small mammals in this document
refer to those species commonly kept as pets, not including dogs
and cats, for example, rodents (rats, mice, chinchillas, guinea
pigs), rabbits, and ferrets. Even less is known about hedgehogs
(rodent) and sugar gliders (marsupial), but they are included as
well. Not only are small mammals used in laboratory medicine
(ferrets are used in flu vaccine development every year), but
they are also kept as pets, taken to shows (yes, even mice have
shows!), are exhibited at schools or zoos, and even in the case
of rabbits, provide meat and fur (production animals). The needs
of the client may dictate the approach taken to resolving a
problem in a particular animal. What research has been done in
small mammals and what is known? Because of the advanced field
of laboratory animal medicine, there is more scientific
information available regarding analgesia in small mammals than
what is known about birds and reptiles combined. Remember that
there is no generi