# Decoding Mastitis in Small Rodent Pets: Pathophysiology, Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles, and Future Directions in Treatment Strategies

## TL;DR

This review explores mastitis in small pet rodents, highlighting gaps in understanding and the need for better treatment strategies.

## Contribution

This is the first review focusing on mastitis in small pet rodents, emphasizing mammary gland health and research needs.

## Key findings

- Mastitis in small rodents is understudied despite their use in biomedical research.
- Current knowledge on causes, pathology, and treatment is limited and fragmented.
- The review identifies key gaps in epidemiology and management of the condition.

## Abstract

Background: Mastitis is a condition affecting various animals, including hamsters, gerbils, mice, and rats. While these species are frequently used as models for studying mammary gland infections in biomedical research, there is limited understanding of their natural occurrence, epidemiology, and management. This review examines the anatomy, causes, clinical signs, pathology, and treatment of mastitis in small pet rodents, highlighting existing knowledge gaps and emphasizing the need for further research. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first review focusing on mastitis in small pet rodents, underlining the importance of maintaining mammary gland health in these pets.