Clinical diseases in pet black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus): a retrospective study in 206 animals

Abstract

ObjectivesTo describe the health disorders seen in captivity in 206 pet prairie dogs.Materials and MethodsReview of medical records of pet prairie dogs that were presented to a veterinary clinic in the period January 2002 to December 2011.ResultsThe most frequent diseases were respiratory (28.2%), dental (25.2%), integumentary (22.3%) and digestive (19.4%). The most common clinical disorders were rhinitis, elodontoma, hypothermia, gastrointestinal stasis, diarrhoea, obesity and gastrointestinal tympany.Clinical SignificanceThis listing of clinical diseases will help clinicians focus their disease investigation and increase clinical awareness of prairie dog diseases. There was a high rate of poor or unsuitable husbandry and this was often associated with clinical disease. Of the diseases seen commonly in this study, only elodontoma has been previously reported as being common.