With the exception of the ferret ( Mustela putorius furo), most exotic pets are prey species that are easily stressed.Avoid this technique in chinchillas ( Chinchilla lanigera) as they overheat very easily. Dilate tail vessels by placing the tail in warm water (35-40☌ or 95-104☏) for 5 to 10 seconds or placing a warm washcloth over the tail. Monitor the patient closely because overheating can lead to dehydration and hyperthermia. Gently warm rodents by placing the cage on a heating pad set on low or placing the cage in an incubator at 39☌ (102☏) for 5 to 10 minutes. Increase body temperature to promote vasodilation.Visit Blood Collection in Ferrets and Blood Collection in Rabbits for videos or text with still images illustrating venipuncture techniques. In-house reference ranges may be developed if your small mammal caseload is large enough, however this requires consistent methodology when collecting blood samples including the type of anesthetic agent and anticoagulant used. Unfortunately, published normal values rarely provide information on these parameters in exotic species. The type of anticoagulant and the venipuncture site used can also affect blood test results. There are a variety of published normal clinical values available, however laboratory results may be affected by a variety of factors including anesthesia, gender, age, stage of reproductive cycle, circadian rhythm, diet, season, restraint, and stress. Veterinary health professionals should also be aware of the potential risks associated with blood collection from these small species, especially those presenting in advanced diseased states. To become proficient in small mammal venipuncture, understand the anatomic location of the vessels and their associated landmarks and then practice, practice, practice. Hematological and serum chemistry tests are considered part of the minimum database, yet collecting blood samples from small mammals can be extremely challenging. The jugular vein and femoral vein are also popular venipuncture sites.The cranial vena cava is generally the quickest method to collect the largest amount of blood from the ferret.Small blood samples may be collected from the lateral saphenous vein in virtually all small mammals.Unless the patient is extremely debilitated or extremely calm, use anesthesia or sedation to minimize the stress of handling and venipuncture, but remember that anesthesia can also affect test results.The stress of transport and manual restraint can influence blood test results.Limit blood collection to no more than 0.5-1.0% of body weight.Carefully weigh the benefits of obtaining the blood sample versus the risk of the stress from the collection procedure on the patient.Blood collection from small mammals can be difficult.
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