Pine

Pine is the most widely available and inexpensive bedding you’ll see. A lot of pet owners have used it, and their animals have done well for many years. The consistency and texture of the bedding depends on the brand of pine you use; you could be getting fine-cut soft shreds, or big, thick shavings. Generally, I don’t like to use wood-based bedding at all because it tends to be dusty, and this can cause respiratory illness in some animals. Beware of this bedding if you have allergies, the dust may also cause them to act up. My pets (particularly my guinea pig) also tend to fling this light-weight bedding out of the cage, creating quite a mess. If you decide to opt for pine, I suggest choosing a brand with finely shredded pieces for the comfort of your animal. If you’re not fond of strong, woody smells in your living space, this is not the beddign type for you.

Cedar

Cedar is a material I will never recommend for use in small animal cages. That Fish Place does not carry cedar bedding types because the strong oils in the wood can cause respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, foot problems, and intestinal issues in small pets. Cedar shavings smell nice and are naturally insect repellent. Though we think it the scent is pleasant, these oils are like pesticides to your small pets. Cedar chips are also usually cut into large chunks that are harsh to walk on and can be harmful if swallowed.

I, unfortunately, learned the dangers of cedar the hard way. My pet guinea pig, Pepper, suddenly stopped eating and drinking. We took him to the vet and found out he was suffering from intestinal problems due to being around and eating cedar. He eventually died despite treatment. Do not use cedar in small animal habitats!

Aspen

As I’ve said, I generally don’t like wood-based bedding, but if you like the prospect of a cheap and easy to find bedding, aspen is probably the best. It seems to have a lower amount of dust than pine, is usually cut into very fine soft pieces, and smells nice without being harmful. Personally, I don’t like the residue aspen leaves on my hands after handling it, but it does not seem to bother the animals. As with any wood bedding it could activate respiratory problems in sensitive animals, so keep an eye on your pets and change the bedding if they develop allergies. Watch for hair loss on the belly and legs of your pet as this may also indicate allergy issues with bedding.

Carefresh, Boxo, and Other Paper-based Bedding

Boxo and Carefresh are the two brands I use in my own pet cages. Carefresh is made out of recycled paper material and Boxo is made from shredded cardboard boxes. Both of these are a little bit dusty, but there is no avoiding dust in small animal bedding, despite what the packaging may say. Speaking from experience, these bedding types seem to be almost hypo-allergenic when it comes to the animals, and they do not seem have any adverse effects when chewed on. There are also no harmful oils in the processed paper shreds.

These paper bedding materials can have funky smells when they get wet, but only if they become saturated in your animal’s cage. The smell is almost like an indicator the cage needs cleaned! If you do find that there is a saturated area, it should be changed immediately avoid mold growth. 

Lately, I’ve been leaning more towards Boxo because it comes in larger bags for only a little bit more money. I have a lot of cages to clean, so quantity and price are also things I consider.

Regardless of which bedding you decide to use, always keep an eye on your pets and make sure they are not sneezing, scratching, developing welts or scabs, or losing fur. Any of these symptoms could be a sign of allergies, and a switch in the bedding type you use may make a difference. If not, your pet may need a visit to the vet!

Until next time,

Jess

Hamster in shavings image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by Primek

Post from: That Pet Blog


The Bedding Dilemma – Choosing the Right Bedding for Your Small Pet

Is it OK with Mom and Dad?

Countless times right after Easter and Christmas I see animals being returned or surrendered to us because “Aunt Shirley” decided it would be nice to present her nephew with a living surprise without checking to see if it was OK with his family first. Most of the time, this happens because Mom and Dad simply were not ready or willing to take care of an animal they hadn’t been expecting. Although Aunt Shirley meant well, she should have discussed it with her nephew’s parents to make sure they also wanted a new pet to feed and care for in their house. Doing this would have spared everyone a lot of heartaches and headaches!

Have you done your research?

Never buy an animal on a whim and expect its young owner to know just what to do. Read, go online, and talk to employees at the pet store to make sure you are picking the right animal for your child and that you will be able to give it everything it needs to be happy and healthy.

Will the child be able to properly care for this animal?

Very young children may promise they will do all the work, but let’s face it; the job usually falls to Mom or Dad. Make sure the child will take an active role in the care of their pet before giving them one for Christmas, and make sure Mom and Dad won’t mind picking up the slack.

Do you have a plan for the animal before Christmas Day?

Animals cannot be kept in the box they came home in from the pet store all night long. Most of them will chew their way out before morning or their urine will possibly burn a hole through the box or cause them to get respiratory problems from breathing in the fumes all night. If you decide to pick up the animal on Christmas Eve or sooner, make sure you have a cage or a temporary set-up complete with food, water, and shelter until Christmas morning.

Did you put holes in the box?

This may seem obvious, but I have heard painful stories of animals being found suffocated after only a few minutes in an airtight box. If you are going to wrap the cage or box with the animal in it at the last minute before the child wakes up Christmas morning, be sure there are breathing holes in the box.

Do you have all the supplies ready along with the new pet?

Nothing is worse than opening up a new toy and realizing there are no batteries included with it. The same goes for a new pet. What good is your pet gerbil if you can’t put him in his new cage and watch him play right away! Be prepared to gift a cage, accessories, food, and bedding along with the new pet.

Do you have a “Safe Zone” for the new pet?

Holidays are hectic stressful times for pets and people alike, and it will be much worse for a brand new animal in a brand new home. Once the excitement has worn down over the opening of the live gift, place the animal in its cage and move it to a “safe zone” — a quiet room where friends, relatives, and other pets will not be able to bother it. It may be tempting for your child to parade around showing Grandma and Grandpa the new bunny she’s gotten, but for the bunny, this is a very scary experience! The best way to make a good impression on a new pet is to respect its boundaries and give it time to adjust to a new home. Save show-and-tell for another day, when the animal has had more time to adjust to his new home.

Have you considered gifting the supplies first?

Since the holidays are so hectic, it’s a good idea to buy the cage and accessories first and have your child open these on Christmas morning instead of a box with a live animal in it. First of all, this will keep things from getting too crazy what with setting up the animal in its cage and keeping intrigued relatives at bay. Second of all, this will extend the excitement for the child because now she has a chance to pick out her new animal and can look forward to going to the pet store the next day to get her REAL gift! And then she gets to pick out what she likes best without you having to guess which color or personality type she would prefer beforehand.

Will you commit to the gift?

This happens more with rabbits and chicks over Easter, but I’ve seen it happen with other animals at Christmas too. Sometimes families believe it is okay to get their son or daughter a baby animal to raise for a while with plans to get rid of it as soon as it is older or the weather gets nice. I have a big problem with this! First of all, you cannot always guarantee to find a home for your adult animal when you are ready to get rid of it and sadly, this sometimes results in animals being released into the wild or dumped on a farm somewhere. Secondly, this is teaching children that once something becomes too big, old, or expensive to care for, it is okay to abandon it. Owning a pet throughout its entire life is an educational and enriching experience that will help children learn about life and responsibility. If you plan on getting your kids a pet for Christmas, be prepared to care for that animal until the day it dies. Pets need proper housing, food, and veterinary care, and if you ever find yourself in a predicament that makes it impossible to continue providing these things for your animal make sure you have a suitable plan to re-home that animal with someone who can. Pets are not temporary. They are for life.

With all this in mind, try to enjoy preparing to bring a new pet into the family at Christmas time. Planning ahead will make things much easier, and it can be a warming experience to see that look in your child’s eye one he or she realizes you finally said yes to that pet they’ve been wanting so bad! Adding a new member to the family is a wonderful experience if done properly, so be smart, be safe, and always keep the animal’s best interests in mind. Happy Holidays!

Post from: That Pet Blog


Pets as Presents – Things to Do Before You Adopt an Animal as a Gift

Guinea Pig Gossip

I’ve actually heard people say that a guinea pig’s eyes will fall off out you pick him up by the tail.

This ridiculous myth has been around for decades. I have no idea where it came from, but I can debunk it with one simple fact….guinea pigs don’t have tails!

The idea that Guinea pigs can live with rabbits is a common bit of misinformation.

Guinea pigs and rabbits should not be housed together, simply because the two species are too different in care requirements for this to make sense. Rabbits require rabbit pellets and guinea pigs must eat guinea pig pellets. Even though the two foods look the same, they are formulated differently and should not be fed to the wrong species. Guinea pigs also have clawed, rat like feet while rabbits have heavily padded flat feet with very strong legs, so the cage must match the animal’s foot type. While a rabbit can live on wire, a guinea pig might hurt himself. While a guinea pig can live on flat ground, a rabbit might slip and slide all over! Rabbits are strong and use their back legs to kick themselves forward. One misplaced kick can kill a guinea pig. Don’t house them together, but feel free to let your guinea pig and rabbit play together on the floor once in a while with your supervision.

Rantings on Rats

Rats have diseases. It might be one of the most common things I hear people say.

All animals have the potential to spread disease. I get asked about Rabies a lot, and here are the facts. Rabies MUST be transmitted to a mammal with a bite or scratch. It cannot be contracted through the air and animals cannot be born with the virus. The odds of a pet rat or any other indoor pet having Rabies is very low unless that animal has been kept outside and bitten by an infected animal. The Black Plague and other diseases typically associated with rats come from the fleas that were carried by wild Black Rats in those times. Since our pet rats are raised and kept indoors and their cages are cleaned frequently, you will not have to worry about such diseases. Dirty cages can breed bacteria, fungus, and Salmonella, which can be spread to people, but this is true of ANY environment. Keep the cage clean!

Keeping pet rats will attract wild rats to your home, or at least thaat’s what some people think.

Wild rat infestations can be caused by numerous things, but they are not attracted to our pet rats. Usually rats invade homes that are close to a food source and/or have food laying out, and places with holes in the walls where they can crawl in and make a nest. Yes, if you leave your pet rat’s food scattered out (or any other food for that matter), a wild rat wouldn’t hesitate to take a nibble, but more than likely if you have wild rats invading your home, they were attracted for other reasons and not by your pets.

Rats bite. Every animal has the potential to bite if provoked, teased, injured, or if it is sick, and rats are no different, but because of their role as the bad guy in horror movies and other ventures, they are seen as angry blood lusting vermin. Pet rats were domesticated to aid in medical research, so the scientists who bred them had to be able to pick them up and handle them without being bitten. Over the many generations, the descendants of these lab rats have been bred into tame, affectionate, lovable animals that generally will not bite if raised correctly.

Chinchilla Chatter

You may have heard that Chinchillas will die if you get them wet.

This is sort of a half-truth. If a chinchilla gets wet and is allowed to stay wet for a long time, he could get a cold or a fungus could start to grow in his fur, causing illness and death. Generally you should not bathe your chinchilla, but if you do, make sure you blow dry him until he is completely dry to avoid him getting sick. Dust baths are preferred over water baths!

Some people think that Chinchillas are hybrids, not their own species.

Because of their appearance, a lot of people believe them to be a mix of rabbit and squirrel, but chinchillas their own, naturally evolved species and did not come from some freak gene splicing experiment. Since rabbits and squirrels are vastly different species, a successful mating between them is impossible.

It is also commonly thought that Chinchillas prefer hot climates.

Quite the opposite! Chinchillas hail from the arid mountainous regions of South America. They love cool, dry weather and can even die from overexposure to temperatures over the mid-seventies. Keep your pets in an air conditioned room and do not take them outside, as fluctuating temperatures are bad for their health.

Husky Rat image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by AlexK100

Post from: That Pet Blog


Common Small Animal Myths – Debunking Bad Publicity – Part 2

Foul and Feisty Ferrets

A common misconception is that ferrets smell terrible and there is no way to combat the odor.

If you think about it, all animals have an odor, even we humans. If you had no toilet and no one to clean up after you, you’d smell bad too! The reason ferrets catch most of the guff when it comes to odor is because a lot of times their cages are not being looked after as much as they should be. While they do emit a musky scent in order to communicate with one another, this should not overpower the animal’s environment unless you have several in one area. Their musky scent will rub off on toys, bedding, and furniture and those items should be washed once a week to keep the smell from building up. A ferret’s bedding and litter box should be scooped out and changed frequently.  I’m talking every day or every other day, because ferrets digest food quickly and make a lot of waste.  It can be a lot of work to keep up with a ferret, the odor will not stink up your house if you are diligent in your cleaning habits.

Some people are also convinced that ferrets are nasty and bite all of the time.

Far from it! Ferrets are extremely playful and crave human interaction. This myth was birthed from the fact that ferrets will play-nip when really excited. They do this with each other, so in their minds it is normal to do this with us as well. We do not have the thick skin that ferrets have, so sometimes play-nips can hurt a little. The best way to combat this is to allow the ferret to bite softly when playing, but as soon as he is causing you pain, tell him no in a sharp voice and put him back in his cage for a time out. After some time, the ferret will learn that playing too roughly ends the fun. As always, supervise ferrets and small children!

It’s been said that ferrets do fine on a diet of cat or dog food.

There was a time when this was the standard diet for ferrets. However new diets made specifically for ferrets have become available over the years and are highly recommended over cat and dog foods. The main problem with cat and dog food is they usually contain a lot of corn or wheat, which is indigestible and useless to a ferret, and they also do not have the high protein levels a ferret needs. Ferrets are strictly carnivorous, which means they do not eat fruit, seeds, veggies, candy bars, cereal, or anything else that is not pure meat. A ferret kept on a poor diet will eventually suffer complications from poor nutrition. Please feed your ferrets foods designed to provide them with the nutrition they need.

Rabbits, Revisited

Some think that rabbits should be kept outside because they are dirty.

An animal is only as clean as its environment. If you are not cleaning the cage every day or so, yes, your rabbit will get dirty. While many people still keep their bunnies outside in a hutch, I personally do not recommend this for a few reasons. For one thing, the rabbit will have no real escape from the heat, cold, wind, rain, or snow. Even if you provide a hide out, your rabbit cannot completely escape these elements as his wild cousins can. Wild rabbits go underground when the weather acts up and most hutches do not have underground burrows installed. For another thing, rabbits are susceptible to parasites like fleas, mosquitos, ticks, and worms when kept outside. They could also be stolen or teased by neighbors, harassed or attacked by other animals, or they could escape and be at the mercy of the wild. Rabbits kept indoors live longer, are usually looked after better, and are much more fun because they are right there with their families and can interact with them more.

Rabbits are not animals people associate with training and tricks.

Your bunny is a pretty smart fellow, but you have to challenge him! Rabbits can be litter trained just like a cat with simple patience and proper location of the litter box. A fixed rabbit is easier to train by the way, as he or she will not feel the need to mark territory. Rabbits respond well to positive reinforcement and with patience and repetition, can be taught to do anything from fetching balls, to leaping through hoops, to coming when called. Never scold a rabbit that has done something naughty or won’t listen to you. Remember, the best way to a bunny’s heart and mind is treats and love.

Next time we’ll talk about guinea pigs, rats, and chinchillas.

Until then,

Jess

Rabbits in basket image referenced from wikipedia commons and originally posted by PimboliDD

Post from: That Pet Blog


Common Small Animal Myths – Debunking Bad Publicity – Part 1

1.) During my days off, you can often find me ____.

a.) Hanging out at home – whether it’s to finish the laundry or catch up on all my recorded shows!

b.) Away on a mini vacation with the family. See you Monday!

c.) Having a bunch of friends over for a cook-out. The more the merrier!

2.) How much time do I want to spend grooming my pet?

a.) As little time as possible

b.) I don’t mind a little brushing here and there

c.) I could start my own pet salon with the time I will spend grooming!

3.) How many animals do I want?

a.) Just one will do

b.) A pair of pals

c.) A whole family!

4.) I will get around to cleaning my pet’s cage ____ times a week.

a.) 1-2

b.) 2-3

c.) 5-7

5.) I prefer to _____ my pet!

a.) Cuddle with

b.) Play with

c.) Just watch

d.) Do a little of everything

Answers

Question 1

a.) If you’re home a lot, you can spend a lot of time playing with or just watching your pets play outside the confines of their cages. Think about ferrets, guinea pigs, rabbits, or rats. These animals love interacting with their owners!

b.) If you prefer to spend as much time away from home as possible, a highly social or active animal may not be a good choice. Think about hamsters, gerbils, or chinchillas. These little guys do well without a lot of handling, but always be sure there is plenty of food and water.

c.) Have a big family or like to have lots of parties? Think about animals that are not bothered by a lot of noise and are not spooked by kids and strangers. The social ferret will want to join in the festivities while sensitive critters like rabbits and guinea pigs won’t appreciate a lot of ruckus! Then again, keeping the pet’s cage in a private room where guests or unattended children will not be entering works well for any small pet.

Question 2

a.) Hamsters, gerbils, rats, and mice are very good at keeping themselves clean, so you will not need to brush or bathe them. They also generally will not need their nails clipped since they spend a lot of time wearing them down by digging. You can, however, offer a dust bath once and a while to hamsters and gerbils now and then!

b.) If you don’t mind the occasional grooming session, most short haired rabbits and guinea pigs will need to be brushed once a week or so to remove dead hair and knots. However, if your breed of guinea pig or rabbit has long hair, you will need to do this more often. Chinchillas need no more than a roll in the dust once or twice a week to keep clean. Rabbits and guinea pigs usually need a nail trimming once a month.

c.) If you love nothing more than pampering your pet, a long haired breed of guinea pig or rabbit will require daily brushing to keep knots from building up as well as monthly nail trimming. Ferrets will need to have their ears cleaned and nails clipped once every two weeks, and can be bathed once a month if their body oil buildup becomes too smelly to handle.

Question 3

a.) Animals that do well housed alone include hamsters, chinchillas, and rabbits, but remember they will still need attention from you and plenty of toys and activities to keep busy.

b.) Chinchillas, gerbils, mice, rabbits, and guinea pigs do well in pairs but remember to get two of the same sex animal or have your animals spayed or neutered before introducing them to prevent unwanted litters. It is usually a good idea to buy pairs of animals at the same time so they can grow up already accustomed to each other.

c.) Gerbils love company! In the wild they live in small groups dominated by one female. If you opt for gerbils, think about getting males as they do not fight for dominance as much as females do. Guinea pigs also live in groups, but females tend to get along better than males do. Rabbits in the wild will live in groups until the breeding season, when the males will fight for mating rights and the females will fight for nesting areas. If you keep bunnies, be sure to spay and neuter them to eliminate these behaviors. Rats and mice live in huge colonies together in the wild, and as long as there is ample food and space, should get along well in groups at home.

Question 4

a.) Small rodents, like hamsters, mice, gerbils, and rats are clean and generally do not need to have their cage totally cleaned more than once or twice a week. Remember, the more animals you keep, the more they will need their cage cleaned.

b.) Guinea pigs, rabbits, and chinchillas have constantly moving digestive systems, so you can imagine the amount of poop they make in a week! If you scoop or dump their cage pans every few days and scrub the entire thing once a week, smells and bacteria will not take over your life.

c.) Ferrets are known for being messy, and they poop a LOT. Once you get them trained, their litter pans will need to be cleaned every day or every other day and the toys, towels, and hammocks will need thrown in the laundry or the smell from their body oils will build up. Along with their grooming, if you keep up on this chore it will become a trivial task, but put it off for too long and P.U.! No one wants to spend all day scrubbing cages. If you are diligent, you won’t have to!

Question 5

a.) You can’t get any cuddlier than a rabbit or guinea pig!

b.) Ferrets and rats will go crazy for playtime…literally!

c.) Hamsters, mice, chinchillas and gerbils can entertain themselves while you watch.

d.) There is a fourth category reserved here just for….everybody! Most animals will benefit from a bit of cuddling, a bit of playtime, and a bit of just being left alone, and it will depend on the personality of your individual animal. Remember that no animal perfectly fits the mold for what the general temperament is for its species. I’ve seen social hamsters and shy ferrets. I’ve seen solitary gerbils and mellow guinea pigs. Try out all of the above activities with your pet and see what he or she prefers. Read your pet’s body language and act accordingly, and do not be offended if your normally cuddly rabbit decides he doesn’t want to be picked up today. Just watch him for now. If your ferret is all tuckered out from playing, engage in a cuddle session! Whatever pet you choose, if you respect his or her boundaries, the relationship between you will flourish!

Post from: That Pet Blog


Choosing the Perfect Small Pet – Take the Quiz

Rabbits

The rabbit is a highly intelligent animal that benefits greatly from being given toys and free time to roam and play outside of the cage. Rabbits are gentle and almost never bite, but when picking up a rabbit, watch out for the back claws – they may kick and accidentally scratch. Rabbits are very tolerant of children, but never allow a child to pull on a rabbit’s ears, hit, poke, mishandle their rabbit in any way. Young rabbits are prone to stress related illnesses, something to think about before bringing one to a house full of active and curious children. A rabbit can be a great pet for the right family, and many adults love their children’s rabbits just as much as the children do. A lot of people still keep their rabbit in a hutch outside, but I think rabbits make much better pets when housed indoors where the family can watch and interact with it more. Make sure the cage is being checked and cleaned as necessary on a daily basis. Rabbits defecate a lot and bedding will need to be changed frequently. They tend to be tidy though, overall, and will often do their business in one area, which makes clean-up convenient.

There are many breeds of rabbits ranging from the two pound Dwarf to the eighteen pound Flemish Giant. Take care in researching what kind of rabbit you and your kids can handle before heading to the pet store. Two rabbits may be kept together, but same sexes sometimes fight once they hit sexual maturity, so it is best to get a male and a female and have them fixed. Every rabbit, whether it is kept with a buddy or not, should be spayed or neutered upon reaching sexual maturity so it doesn’t become aggressive or “mark” territory. Females should be spayed because they are prone to reproductive cancers if left unaltered. Vets with rabbit experience can answer your questions and address any concerns you may have in regards to surgery, risks, and benefits.

Chinchillas

These cuddly fluff balls have almost no odor, so maintaining their large enclosure is as simple as cleaning it once a week.  They do need a large enclosure with several levels - these animals love to run and hop! Chinchillas have long life spans ranging from 10 to 20 years, so they are a lifelong commitment. They can be kept in pairs if purchased together at a young age, but do equally well alone.  A chinchilla is a pet for a dedicated keeper – if you are considering this animal for a child, understand that the animal will need more attention than a mouse or a hamster.  

Chinchillas like cold climates, so they should be kept in a room with air conditioning during the hot summers. They don’t usually bite, but they may if frightened or mistreated. They may also spray urine at perceived attackers if cornered. Chinchillas shed a lot and like to roll in dust to keep clean. They may cause allergic reactions in some people. They usually become affectionate and tame down with lots of patient handling while they are young. Chinchillas are best for small families with children who can be quiet around the chinchilla and move slowly when they want to handle them. If you have dogs or cats that cannot be kept away from the chinchilla cage, it may not be a good idea to get one. Stress and chinchillas do not mix!

Ferrets

While they are friendly, funny, and lovable pets, ferrets are not animals to be purchased on impulse. They are somewhat expensive to care for (requiring yearly vet exams and shots), and they’re very curious. They can ransack your house if you do not ferret-proof it, and need a lot of one on one attention from their owners. Ferrets must be let out of their cage to explore on a daily basis for several hours at a time. The care level they require can be compared to that of a dog or a cat. They will bite when they play. It is a natural behavior that cannot be trained out of them completely, so they are not good for small children who can be injured easily or may not understand the behavior.

While ferrets are a huge responsibility, they are worth it to those who can keep up with them and provide them with stimulating toys and play activities. Think of having a new puppy in the house that will never grow up! Ferrets are good pets for older children and teenagers, but make sure their litter pans are being scooped daily and they are being let out to roam on a regular basis. Ferrets are already fixed and descented when they come to That Fish Place, but must be examined by a vet upon purchase. Getting two ferrets will make keeping them busy a lot easier!

Please feel free to write in with comments and questions! In part 3 we’ll talk about some popular reptiles that can make great pets for kids.

Post from: That Pet Blog


Small Pets for Your Children – Choosing His or Her First Pet – Part 2