FAQ: Breeding Guinea-Pigs
Before breeding any pet, you should research how to best care for the animal during and after pregnancy and how to assist raising her young. Here are some frequently asked questions about breeding guinea-pigs.
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Before breeding any pet, you should research how to best care for the animal during and after pregnancy and how to assist raising her young. Here are some frequently asked questions about breeding guinea-pigs.
Read moreAs every ferret owner knows, our little friends love to get into trouble. Whether your ferrets live in a cage when you’re not around or are free all the time, whether they live in a single room or have the run of the house, the first line of defense, both for your ferrets and for your possessions, is a well-ferret-proofed home.
Read moreDomestic pet ferrets, Mustela furo(sometimes called Mustela putorius furo), are not wild animals. They have been domesticated for a very long time, perhaps two or three thousand years. They’re not equipped to survive for very long on their own; escaped pets suffer from dehydration, starvation and exposure, and usually don’t survive more than a few days unless someone takes them in.
Read moreLike kittens and puppies, ferret kits must be taught not to nip. A ferret which has been bred to be a pet shouldn’t be vicious or bite, but ferret play does include mock combat, and young ones won’t know how hard they can put their teeth on you without hurting you.
Read moreDwarf hamsters are smaller than their Syrian cousins and have their own specific requirements. Here are some frequently asked questions regarding keeping dwarf hamsters.
Read moreGerbils are becoming increasingly popular pets. They are gentle, sociable and highly entertaining. Here are some frequently asked questions to help you keep your gerbils happy and healthy.
Read moreYour rats need time out of their cage every day to play. We let ours out to run around on their play table, the computer table, on the covered couch or bed, and some of them get to run around on the floor.
Read moreFerrets can suffer from a range of health issues, from intestinal blockages to lymphoma. Here is a guide to help you spot symptoms as early as possible.
Read moreFew people know that rats make fantastic pets – most just shudder at the thought of it. However, the rat’s disciples are increasing in number, and for several good reasons.
Read moreFerrets are domestic animals, cousins of weasels, skunks and otters. (Other relatives include minks, ermines, stoats, badgers, black-footed ferrets, polecats, and fishers.)
Read moreAs with people, a ferret’s inherent personality is more important than color or gender. Here are some things to consider when you are about to make your choice.
Read moreGuinea-pigs make excellent, loving pets for young and old alike. In Western societies, the guinea pig has enjoyed widespread popularity as a household pet since its introduction by European traders in the 16th century.
Read moreDominance fighting is normal in ferret introductions. The severity can range from nearly nonexistent to all-out war. Prepare for the worst, and then anything less than that will seem like a piece of cake! Patience is the most important virtue.
Read moreMany people keep their ferrets in a cage or very well-ferret-proofed room whenever they can’t be supervised. This drastically reduces the risks of digestive-tract blockages from swallowing indigestible objects, injury, and escape. However, even if you plan to let your ferrets have the run of the house at all times, you’ll want a cage at first for litter-training and other kinds of training as well as for temporary use.
Read moreCat toys work well for ferrets, though you need to be sure they don’t have any small, removable parts or foam stuffing which might cause digestive-tract blockages. Most ferrets are rather harder on toys than a cat would be, so choose accordingly.
Read moreDepending on your ferret, either a nylon kitten collar, a thin, flat leather puppy collar, or a piece of ball chain will work well. A leather boot lace can also make a fine collar; just knot it at the right size.
Read moreFerrets can be trained to use a litter pan, but unlike cats, they don’t take to it automatically.
Read moreFerrets intended as pets must be neutered or spayed. Neutering drastically reduces the odor of a male, prevents him from marking his territory with smelly slime, and makes him less aggressive (males in season may kill other ferrets, even females).
Read moreRats, like humans, are omnivores. They eat vegetables and meats. Their diets should not be high in fat, sugar or sodium. You have many different choices when it comes to feeding your rats. You can feed them a rodent block food, a seed mix, a mix of your own or prepare a diet just for your rats. I use a combination of rodent block, a mix and fresh foods.
Read moreVaccines are extremely important for your ferret and should be administered at the appropriate frequency by your vet. Here is a short guide to to standard vaccinations and possible reactions.
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