| Small Pets |
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Chinchillas are squirrel like rodents, available in 2 varieties. They are clean animals with no body odour, their thick coat means that they do not get parasites like fleas and ticks.
They should be kept in a wire cage away from sunlight and noise, plastic should not be kept in the cage as they will gnaw at anything to exercise their constantly growing teeth. Only place hard materials such as wood and pumice stone in the cage for it to chew on. Also in the cage should be some bedding (white pine shavings), sleeping quarters, some branches for climbing, a hayrack, water bottle and a dust container. As chinchillas hate water they take dry baths to remove excess oils from the fur. Dust should be available from your pet shop.
Chinchillas are vegetarians, surviving on special food pellets, hay and fresh water. They can be very frightened by noise or rough handling, and when frightened emit a pungent odour like skunks.
Gerbils and intelligent, sociable animals that are best kept in pairs. They should be handled daily and they will be affectionate to you, make sure you wash your hand before handling them to avoid passing germs to them, also keep an eye on any other pets you have.
They like to keep themselves occupied in a large wire cage. This should be lined with bedding and cleaned twice a week. To keep them busy and stimulated their cage should be full of toys and challenges. They also love tubes to run through and chew on.
You will be able to find pre-mixed food for your gerbil in pet stores for a well balanced diet. This can also be supplemented with sunflower seeds, vegetables and nuts. Fresh water should be provided with daily. A sterilized bone or twig should be provided for them to chew on.
The Guinea pig is a sociable and companionable animal and relish attention. It is a very vocal animal with several different sounds.
They should be kept indoors with a secure cage. The cage should be kept clean and change its bedding often, this will help prevent against diseases. Food pellets are available for guinea pigs, but their diet should be supplemented with fresh fruit, hay and water. Make sure that fresh food is changed daily and kept separate from the pellets. It will also appreciate chewing toys like all rodents do.
Signs of illness can include runny nose and eyes, excessive salivating, diarrhoea, skin disease and loss of appetite, they are also prone to shock and dehydration. They should also be bathed weekly, before their bath they should be groomed, long hair should be trimmed and its nails should be clipped.
Hamsters are busy animals that love exercise and play. A large metal cage should be used with an exercise wheel, tubes for tunnelling and clean shavings for bedding. The bedding should be changed every day to stop any smells forming. They also love to chew so wooden blocks are also a good idea to keep in the cage.
A drinking bottle should be provided, with the water changed every day, it is also best check that the ball in the water bottle works often to stop your hamster getting dehydrated.
Hamsters like a good diet, with seed bells and blends of grains. They may also like fresh vegetables and fruits.
Both rats and mice are relatively short-lived animals but provide good companionship during their lives.
They should be kept in a large cage with plenty of room. An area for them to retreat to and a place for exercise should be provided. Rats, in particular like to burrow so bedding should be plentiful. It should be changed 2 to 3 times a week. The cage should be kept in area that is well light, ventilated, away from excessive noise and stresses.
Specialist food can be bought from pet stores for your rats or mice though this can be supplemented with fresh fruit and vegetables, non-fat yoghurt and whole-wheat bread. Grass hay or hay block should always be available along with fresh water, which should be changed daily.
A general note is that small animals are expensive to treat so an early visitation to a vet is best to avoid any complications at the first sign of a problemRabbits can make very good pets, they do not take up a lot a space and can become friendly with humans. They will though need to be given some attention every day and require regular handling to keep them tame. You will need a safe environment for your rabbit so they can come out of their hutch for exercise, grooming and feeding.
Rabbits are herbivores and spend a lot of time eating. It is best to give them a diet of vegetable matter, a selection of foliage, grasses, leaves and roots. You can either give your rabbit hay, or place the hutch over and area of grass. You will need to move your hutch to stop the ground becoming bare and muddy in the wet.
Hutches should be large in size, providing plenty of room for the rabbit to move around and stretch out. It is best to have two areas, a raised section for sleeping, lined with hay and enclosed. The other area should be open with space for your rabbit to move around, stretch out, catch some sun and play. They will also need something to chew on to keep their teeth in check. Try to make the area exciting with tubes and tree stumps so that it can play. Beware that rabbits burrow so the hutch should either have a wire base or the fence should go into the ground. You should check regularly for signs of burrowing.
A rabbit likes to lead a stress free life, this will also ensure that it stays healthy. The hutch should be kept clean with plenty of hay and food. This should not be allowed to get stale and accumulate. Room for exercise will also keep your rabbit happy.
There are several signs that your rabbit may be ill among these are:
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- looking depressed
- skin trouble
- runny faeces and urine soaking into the back legs
A loss of appetite or your rabbit not eating may indicate a blockage in their guts, this should be looked at by your vet immediately. This can be due to furballs and other obstructions. For this reason your rabbit should be frequently groomed, also their teeth and claws should be checked often
Gallamore
Lane Industrial Estate, Market Rasen, Lincs LN8 3RX. Tel. 01673 842 448