title: Rodent nutrition: digestive comparisons of 4 common rodent species.
abstract: This article summarizes the literature regarding digestive strategies and captive diets of common rodent pocket pets. A comparison is made between the 2 suborders in which chinchillas, guinea pigs, hamsters, and gerbils occur, highlighting digestive anatomy and dietary adaptations. Recommended captive diets are provided, as well as common nutritionally related health issues that may be presented to veterinary clinics.
authors.affiliation: ICU, The Wildlife Center, PO Box 246, Espanola, NM 87532, USA. Electronic address: zoonutrition@msn.com.
authors.forename: Kerrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grant
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002682:Chinchilla; D003303:Coprophagia / Q000502:physiology; D006224:Cricetinae; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D005849:Gerbillinae; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D012377:Rodentia / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D009057:Stomatognathic Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
keywords: Captive diet; Chinchilla; Colon separation mechanism (CSM); Coprophagy; Dental issues; Gerbil; Guinea pig; Hamster