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Home , Cacomistle, Kinkajou

Volume 35 | Issue 1 Article 8

1973 Know Your Exotic Ralph R. Snodgrass Jr. Iowa State University

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Recommended Citation Snodgrass, Ralph R. Jr. (1973) "Know Your Exotic," Iowa State University Veterinarian: Vol. 35 : Iss. 1 , Article 8. Available at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/iowastate_veterinarian/vol35/iss1/8

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Iowa State University Veterinarian by an authorized editor of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Know Your Exotic

by Ralph R. Snodgrass, Jr.*

1. This exotic household pet is a c. Their natural habitat is the jungles of tropical America. 2. Another popular name is the d. They tolerate cold climates well...... . e. They may live for more than 20 3. Which of the following is not true in years. regard to these ? 4. Recommend a satisfactory diet for a. They are nocturnal creatures. maintenance of this animal in captiv­ b. They may inflict severe bites. ity. 5. What vaccination program is recom­ mended for these creatures? 1. Photograph courtesy of Doctor David Graham, Department of Pathology, Iowa State University• 6. The nonnal body temperature is: • Mr. ,Snodgrass is a fourth year student in the Col· 0 0 lege of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University. a. 100 to 102 F Issue No.1, 1973 25 b. 980 F red lighting. Unlike the and ring­ c. 960 F tailed , the does not tolerate d. 1020 to 1040 F cold climates well and must be housed in­ 7. Three common North American wild doors in winter. animals that are related to this crea­ A suitable diet in captivity consists of ture and which may also be seen by 75% commercial food or a commer­ the veterinarian are the cial monkey chow with the remaining 25% ...... , made up of fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, ...... " meat and bread. Excellent fruits are ap­ and ...... ples, oranges, bananas, and grapes. It is 8. What types of general anesthetics reported that ice cream is a favored item would you use on this animal? but should be given sparingly. Examination and treatment of the kink­ ajou is similar to the domestic dog and The kinkajou (Potos flavus), also com­ cat. The normal body temperature is 98 F. monly called the "honey bear," is a native The most important aspect of veterinary of the. tropical jungles of Central and care is immunization. The raccoon is the . The kinkajou belongs to only member of the family the family Procyonidae, which also in­ that has been proven to be susceptible to cludes the olingos, the lesser and greater both feline and canine distemper. Some pandas, the ring-tailed cat (), zoo veterinarians recommend that all the coatimundi, and the raccoon. The members of this family, including the last three of these animals are also fre­ kinkajou, be vaccinated for both condi­ quently kept as pets. tions. Immunization against feline dis­ The kinkajou will weigh from three to temper (panleukopenia) is achieved in the six pounds. It usually measures 16.5 to same manner as in the domestic cat. A 23 inches from the head to the base of modified live virus (tissue culture origin) the tail. The is nearly as canine distemper vaccine has been report­ long as the body and is rounded and tap­ ed safe lin the kinkajou. A killed vaccine ering. must be used in the iinmunization against are nocturnal creatures, liv­ rabies. ing most of the time in trees. Their diet Surgery may be safely performed under in nature consists primarily of fruits plus either intravenous barbiturates or inhala­ some insects and small animals. In the tion anesthetics. Dosages are reported to wild, one and rarely two young are born be the same as for . Kinkajous are hy­ in the spring or summer. The eyes of the persensitive . to procaine. Therefore this young open at ten days and they are cap­ local anesthetic must be used cautiously able of hanging by their tails by seven to avoid intravenous injection. weeks. Kinkajous seldom reproduce in All skin incisions should be closed using captivity. The longest recorded age in either stainless steel or a subcuticular su­ capitivity is 23 years 'and 7 months but 19 ture to discourage removal of the sutures years is more likely tpe usual life span. by the animal. Kinkajous make excellent pets when captured at an early age and treated kind­ REFERENCES ly. Although they seldom bite when kept as pets since early life, kinkajous may be 1. Crandall. Lee S., The Management of Wild Mam· very vicious biters in the wild and when mals in Captivity: The University of Chicago Press. Chicago. 1964: 313-314. abused or frightened as pets. 2. Graham, David L.. Assistant Professor, Depart;. ment of Veterinary Pathology, Iowa State Univer­ In captivity, the kinkajou should be sity, Ames Iowa: Personal communications. provided with branches for climbing. A 3. Miller, Robert M., , CoatU and Kinka­ jous: in CUTTent VeterinaTY TheTapy IV, Small sleeping box is not required as they are Animal PTactice: Robert W. Kirk ed., W. B. Saun­ ders Company, Philadelphia 1971: 457-459. content to sleep in the open, if the light is 4. Walker, Ernest P., et. aI., of the WOTId, vol II: The Johns Hopkins Press.• Baltimore 1964: not too strong. Kinkajous react well to 1185. 26 Iowa State University Veterinarian