Rabbit Fun
Hamster-Biting
Hamster Hair Loss
Calcium Treat
Ferret Nails
Hamster Exercise
Hamster Toilet
Scurvy-Guinea
Pig
Urinary
Tract-Guinea Pig
Digging - Rabbits
Feet Problems - Rabbit
Skin Problems-Guinea Pig
Training - Rat
Hibernation-Hamster
Wet-Tail - Hamster
Night Feces-Rabbit
Biting Problems-Rabbits
Hind Leg Paralysis-Sugar Glider
Hamster Hairbrush
Hamster/Rat Teeth
Rabbit Fun -
Got any old phone books
laying around? Believe it or not, phone books make great toys for rabbits.
If accidentally eaten, the paper is digestible and the ink is soy based and
non-toxic. Your rabbit will love tearing and shredding it.
Hamster Hair Loss -
Hair loss is very common in
hamsters. There are a number of reasons why hamsters lose their hair
including; old age (the most common), mites or fleas, exercise wheels (hair
being getting caught) and vitamin deficiencies.
Hair loss
due to old age starts to happen around 1 1/2 to 2 years of age. It is
generally seen starting around the face, neck and chest. If you think your
hamster's hair loss is due to old age...providing the best possible diet and
vitamin supplements will help your hamster's retirement years.
Hair loss
due to mites or fleas is generally seen in the stomach and hind quarter area
because of the itching and chewing. Mites and fleas can be given to
your hamster from other pets in the household as well as brought in by bedding
material. A close examination of your hamsters will reveal little white or
red mites or black fleas. Treatment can be found at your local pet
store....be sure to read the instructions carefully. Treatment must
also include completely cleaning the cage and replacing bedding twice per week
for two weeks to get rid of any hatching eggs.
Hair loss
due vitamin deficiencies can easily be cured by providing the highest
quality diet and supplementing the diet with water soluable vitamins found at
any pet store. Be sure to provide calcium in your hamsters diet to help
prevent bone problems and cage paralysis. Calcium can be found in
broccoli, peas, yogurt chips, milkbones (yes, for dogs), corn flakes, etc.
Any change
in behavior, appetite or skin condition can be the first sign of
illness....please see your vet if you notice any changes in your pet's "norm".

Biting Hamster? -
We recently received a lot of emails regarding hamsters that bite...hamsters
from pet stores are generally not tame. Remember that it can take up to a
month for your new hamster to become tame. Here are some tips to help your
hamster acclimate to handling;
-
If your
hamster bites, never drop or let go of the hamster...your hamster could get
hurt and will quickly learn that if it bites, you will let go.
-
Do not
use a glove or towel...this only masks your smell which you are trying to
get you hamster used to.
-
Do leave
your hand resting in the cage, not handling or touching your hamster, for 15
minutes several times per day for at least 2-3 days or until your hamster is
comfortable and not nervous.
-
Add
favorite treats to your hand and let your hamster come to you to get the
treats...again do not try to handle your hamster. Do this for 2-3
days, several times per day.
-
When
your hamster is used to your hand and is comfortable taking treats, try
petting gently and work towards picking up.
This
method should take approximately a week to two weeks. Patience is the
key. The more you handle your hamster the more tame it will become.
Ferret Nails -
Having a hard time trying to corral your fuzzy for a nail trimming?
Suzanne Kehr of Cincinnati Ohio who has 10 years experience with ferrets has the
following tip:
1. Get
clippers and Linatone ready (a fatty acid dietary supplement which ferrets
love). Hold your ferret in your lap on his back.
2.
Apply a little Linatone to your ferret's chest or stomach area.
3.
When your ferret's attention is focused on the Linatone, grab the paws and trim
away. If Linatone runs out, just reapply.
Suzanne,
thank you for your great tip!
Small Animal
Calcium Treat -
Providing calcium in your small animals diet is very important to reduce bone
development problems, hind-leg paralysis, cage paralysis, and also help heal
broken teeth and injured limbs. You can easily provide this nutrient in a
great treat that your pet will love. You can try either a regular dog milk
bone soaked in milk or hard type breads soaked in milk. Offer this treat
at least once per week as well as adding vitamins to their drinking water to
ensure proper health.
Hamster/Rat Teeth -
Hamsters, rats, and most small animal teeth can quickly become overgrown and
cause problems if not kept healthy. You can help your pet keep his teeth
healthy by providing gnaw toys. One of the best gnaw treats is actually
for dogs....the milk bone. Your pet may chew on one for up to a week.
Other ideas include; rawhide bone, uncooked spaghetti, and unfinished and
untreated wooden blocks or shapes found at craft stores.
Hamster Hairbrush -
Hamsters are known as self-groomers meaning that they do not need much help in
the grooming department. However, the long-haired hamsters may require
some grooming to keep their hair from knotting. These hamsters are known
as Teddybear hamsters which are actually the long haired version of the Syrian
hamsters. One of our visitors, Ed Flores, recommended using an infant
hairbrush to keep your hamster knot free. You can purchase hamster brushes
at your local pet store but they can be expensive. We recommend trying an
unused soft toothbrush (use a new toothbrush because hamsters are sensitive to
smells).
Hamster Toilet - We made a new discovery at the APPMA Show (Pet Products
Show)... Who would have ever thought of a hamster toilet? It makes
perfect sense...no more cleaning "potty corners" and having that awful urine
smell. Lixit Brand has designed a cute hamster toilet (pictured below).
It is designed of sturdy plastic that can easily be bleached at cleaning times.
You can use regular clay kitty litter which should be replaced completely and
regularly. Best of all it keeps the pine litter urine and feces free.
Lixit says: "your hamster will naturally prefer to go in the cat litter rather
than the pine, just like a cat". We suggest that you put some soiled pine
in the hamster toilet so your hamster gets the idea. Look for and ask for
this new product at your local pet store.

Hamster Exercise -
There is a little known
health problem that can affect hamsters living in a small cage and who do not
receive enough exercise. It is called Cage Paralysis. Cage paralysis
is caused by a lack of exercise and a cage that does not allow for the foraging
habits of hamsters. Hamsters in the wild are gatherers, meaning they
forage for food and bring it back to their dens. This allows them to get
lots of exercise going back and forth between their food source and their den.
Symptoms of cage paralysis include; hind-leg paralysis, dragging their hind
quarters, and lethargy. This health problem can be easily avoided by
adding an exercise wheel to the cage. The exercise wheel should be plastic
with solid flooring (no wires). Stay away from wire wheels that can cause
serious foot injuries. Another treatment is to add a bigger cage.
The best hamster cages provide several areas for the hamster to live. They
usually contain a separate feeding and sleeping room and have lots of tubes for
ample exercise. Vitamin supplements are also recommended. You can
pick-up water soluble vitamins in the small animal department of your local pet
store.
Feet
Problems in Rabbits - Rabbits
are very susceptible to developing sores on their feet if they are housed in
correctly. Most rabbit cages are made from wire mesh. This wire mesh
can be very hard on a rabbits legs and feet if not given something to sit on.
To combat this problem, provide a wood board or piece of Plexiglass to cover at
least half of the cage flooring so your rabbit has a way to get off the wire
mesh.
Sugar Glider - Hind Leg Paralysis -
We discovered this common sugar glider ailment and thought it a worthwhile tip
to pass along. Hind Leg Paralysis is caused by a deficiency in the sugar
gliders diet of Calcium and Vitamin D. If the body of a glider is missing
Calcium (essential for bone growth), the body will begin to draw Calcium
directly from the bones, weakening them. Vitamin D is needed because the
body cannot absorb the Calcium directly. Vitamin D is used by the body to
turn the Calcium into bone. To keep your glider from getting this
potentially lethal problem be sure that you are feeding a high quality sugar
glider diet high in Calcium and Vitamin D. You can also add water
We discovered this
common sugar glider ailment and thought it a worthwhile tip to pass along.
Hind Leg Paralysis is caused by a deficiency in the sugar gliders diet of
Calcium and Vitamin D. If the body of a glider is missing Calcium
(essential for bone growth), the body will begin to draw Calcium directly from
the bones, weakening them. Vitamin D is needed because the body cannot
absorb the Calcium directly. Vitamin D is used by the body to turn the
Calcium into bone. To keep your glider from getting this potentially
lethal problem be sure that you are feeding a high quality sugar glider diet
high in Calcium and Vitamin D. You can also add water soluble
vitamins.
Digging -
Rabbits - In the wild, rabbits
build dens by digging. Digging is a natural instinct that may be hard to
control. If you have a problem digger, we recommend you set aside a
special box just for digging. Since rabbits are easily potty trained, they
can also be trained to use a "digging box". This special digging box
should be deep enough to provide some tunneling (try a covered cat box).
Fill the digging box with dirt one week and shredded newspaper the next.
For an added bonus, hide special food treats so your bunny will get the idea.
Training your rabbit to use the digging box employs the same methods as potty
training. Be consistent and remind your rabbit frequently where the
digging box is located.
Scurvy or Vitamin C Deficiency
- Since guinea pigs do not produce their own Vitamin C, they must rely on their
diet to provide sufficient amounts of Vitamin C. Most commercial pellet
food for guinea pigs is specially formulated with extra Vitamin C.
However, due to shelf-life and other environmental factors, the amount of
Vitamin C available for your pet is very small. Therefore, you should
always supplement your guinea pig's diet with Vitamin C rich foods such as kale,
broccoli, oranges and dandelions. If you suspect your guinea pig may be
deficient in Vitamin C, the symptoms include lameness, sore joints, rough hair
coat, poor bone and teeth development. You can immediately change your
pet's symptoms by supplementing his diet with Vitamin C rich foods. If you
suspect your guinea pig has a Vitamin Deficiency, your vet should be consulted
immediately for treatment.
Night Feces - Rabbit – Did you know
your rabbit excretes a special form of "poop" at night that is called Night
Feces. This special feces is meant to be eaten by your rabbit.
Night feces is high in Vitamin B and Vitamin K. This a normal and
necessary process for your rabbits health. It helps your rabbit gain the
full benefits from their diet. Normal feces (during the day) is hard and
round, whereas, night feces is soft and sweet smelling. Your rabbit may be
seen eating this night feces directly from his bottom. Do not worry
because this is a normal process.
Urinary Tract Health in Guinea Pigs – Older guinea
pig males can be susceptible to blocked urinary tracts. Symptoms of a blocked urinary tract are
difficulties in urination, pain, irritability, and blood in the urine. Treatment involves antibiotics, a urine
acidifier, and manual removal of an obstruction or blockage.
A special diet can help to prevent future episodes.
Please check with your veterinarian if you see any of these symptoms.
Wet-Tail in Hamsters – This
condition is associated mostly with diarrhea that has a strong pungent and foul
odor. Your hamster may also show signs of
inactivity. Wet-Tail develops in a hamster that is
under a lot of stress. Stress to a
hamster can be a change in environment such as fluctuating temperatures or to
much handling during their sleeping period (daytime).
This condition, if not treated can be fatal.
If your hamster exhibits these signs, take him immediately to your veterinarian. Because a hamster with wet-tail has extreme diarrhea, your
hamster can become quickly dehydrated.
Treatment usually involves rehydration and antibiotics.
Biting
Problems in Rabbits – Hormones play a large part in the
biting pattern of adult rabbits. If your rabbit is biting, charging, and
mounting your fee, this is generally caused by hormones.
The treatment for this and other aggressive sexual behavior is spaying and
neutering. Rabbits who bite also respond to
dominance discipline. Rabbits are
timid and should never be yelled at or hit.
When your rabbit trys to bite, reach behind his head and press it gently but
firmly to the floor. This is telling your rabbit you are
dominant and the boss. Rabbits are
also territorial and can become aggressive when you suddenly stick your hand
into their territory. Try leaving the door to his cage open
and let your rabbit come out on his own.
Be sure to close the door behind him.
Let your rabbit sit on the floor next to you, in your territory, and gently
stroke him. Wait before picking your rabbit up until
he is comfortable with the attention you are giving him.
Skin Problems in Guinea Pigs – Bare patches of hair can be attributed
to a lack of amino acids or fatty acids. Symptoms are loss of hair and dry scaly skin. This is easily treated with a daily dose
of corn oil in their diet. You can
mix this in with their pellets or try mixing with their water, making sure to
change the water daily.
Training - Rat Rats are considered very intelligent and can be
easily trained. They can be taught to sit on your shoulder and even do
tricks. A food reward and repetition is the best way to train your rat.
Food rewards can consist of cheese and hot dogs.
Hibernation in Hamsters – If you hamster appears lethargic, has
less appetite and has behavioral changes, it may be due to your hamster going
into a hibernation period.
Lowered temperatures in their environment can bring on hibernation. Simply increasing the temperature a few
degrees will bring your hamster around to normal activity.
If the symptoms continue, take your hamster to your veterinarian to see if there
may be another cause for the changes.