Notice – Forum stance on wire flooring for degus and chins
Sept 25, 2018 14:33:51 GMT
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deguconvert, yasmin, and 2 more like this
Post by modteam on Sept 25, 2018 14:33:51 GMT
Due to recent posts regarding wire flooring and chinchillas, we feel the need to put out a statement on the matter to state that we neither advise or condone the use of wire mesh as flooring for either degus or chinchillas.
There have been many scientific journals stating that wire flooring is a common risk in the formation of bumblefoot in rodents and rabbits. This is due to the pressure it puts on specific parts of the feet, which over time leads to calluses that may split as well as abrasions that can get infected and result in the lesions that are commonly associated with the illness (1-4). Advice that animals will be okay if sufficient solid ledges are available is unreasonable as it is ignoring the fact that the flooring is uncomfortable and problematic for the animal. To put it into a human perspective, imagine living – barefoot – on a thick wire flooring with a spacing of 10x10 cm (4x4”) with only small sofas to rest on, and your food, water etc laid out so you have to cross (or in some cases stand for prolonged periods) on the flooring as those basic needs can not be moved back to the sofa without taking multiple trips. Would you be comfortable living in that way?
Another big issue with wire flooring is that animals can be injured by their feet slipping through the mesh and getting stuck, which may lead to broken legs.
Flooring for animals should be solid - made of either metal, tile, or wood – and preferably have areas of substrate both for the mental stimulation of the animal and to provide a variety of surfaces that prevent prolonged pressure being put on specific areas of the foot. Ensure that any soiled areas are thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis to prevent bacterial/fungal build-up and to lower the risk of bumblefoot/pododermatitis in your animals.
References
1 Blair, J. Bumblefoot: a comparison of clinical presentation and treatment of pododermatitis in rabbits, rodents, and birds. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract 16, 715-735, doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2013.05.002 (2013).
2 Brown, C. & Donnelly, T. M. Treatment of pododermatitis in the guinea pig. Lab Anim (NY) 37, 156-157, doi:10.1038/laban0408-156 (2008).
3 Buijs, S., Hermans, K., Maertens, L., Van Caelenberg, A. & Tuyttens, F. A. Effects of semi-group housing and floor type on pododermatitis, spinal deformation and bone quality in rabbit does. Animal 8, 1728-1734, doi:10.1017/S1751731114001669 (2014).
4 Ruchti, S. et al. Pododermatitis in group housed rabbit does in Switzerland-Prevalence, severity and risk factors. Prev Vet Med 158, 114-121, doi:10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.06.011 (2018).
There have been many scientific journals stating that wire flooring is a common risk in the formation of bumblefoot in rodents and rabbits. This is due to the pressure it puts on specific parts of the feet, which over time leads to calluses that may split as well as abrasions that can get infected and result in the lesions that are commonly associated with the illness (1-4). Advice that animals will be okay if sufficient solid ledges are available is unreasonable as it is ignoring the fact that the flooring is uncomfortable and problematic for the animal. To put it into a human perspective, imagine living – barefoot – on a thick wire flooring with a spacing of 10x10 cm (4x4”) with only small sofas to rest on, and your food, water etc laid out so you have to cross (or in some cases stand for prolonged periods) on the flooring as those basic needs can not be moved back to the sofa without taking multiple trips. Would you be comfortable living in that way?
Another big issue with wire flooring is that animals can be injured by their feet slipping through the mesh and getting stuck, which may lead to broken legs.
Flooring for animals should be solid - made of either metal, tile, or wood – and preferably have areas of substrate both for the mental stimulation of the animal and to provide a variety of surfaces that prevent prolonged pressure being put on specific areas of the foot. Ensure that any soiled areas are thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis to prevent bacterial/fungal build-up and to lower the risk of bumblefoot/pododermatitis in your animals.
References
1 Blair, J. Bumblefoot: a comparison of clinical presentation and treatment of pododermatitis in rabbits, rodents, and birds. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract 16, 715-735, doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2013.05.002 (2013).
2 Brown, C. & Donnelly, T. M. Treatment of pododermatitis in the guinea pig. Lab Anim (NY) 37, 156-157, doi:10.1038/laban0408-156 (2008).
3 Buijs, S., Hermans, K., Maertens, L., Van Caelenberg, A. & Tuyttens, F. A. Effects of semi-group housing and floor type on pododermatitis, spinal deformation and bone quality in rabbit does. Animal 8, 1728-1734, doi:10.1017/S1751731114001669 (2014).
4 Ruchti, S. et al. Pododermatitis in group housed rabbit does in Switzerland-Prevalence, severity and risk factors. Prev Vet Med 158, 114-121, doi:10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.06.011 (2018).