Pet Care

Sugar Gliders

Picking up your glider

Permit them to become acclimated to its new cage before you begin disturbing it for playtime outside of the cage. Don't grab at your sugar glider to pick it up. Instead offer it your cupped hand or the back of your hand to permit your pet to approach you in confidence.

Diet

As for the diet of a sugar glider, it should consist of water with added vitamins and should be three parts fresh fruits, to one part protein. Some foods to try are fruit juice, special glider nectar, nectar and pollen from eucalyptus blossoms, nuts, corn, squash, peas, yams, carrots, cucumbers, broccoli, eggs, crickets, mealworms, baby mice, bone marrow, turkey, monkey chow, cat food, sunflower, and pumpkin.

Caging

The bigger the better when purchasing a cage, at least two feet wide, three feet high, wire mesh ¾” or smaller. As for a pouch, it should be washable fabric. As for a nest, do not put these types of wood in the cage, they could be fatal if digested: cedar, ponderosa pine, white pine, walnut, and black walnut. You can use apple, filbert, poplar, cherry, and manzanita.

Rats

Diet

Should be 75-80% lab block, 15-20% fresh fruits and vegetables and
5% or less treats (yogurt drops, seeds, nuts) Also grain mix for rodents can be substituted for some of the lab block allotment. They like most fresh or frozen fruits or vegetables. These are some safe foods to give your rat: cantaloupe, bananas, grapes, peas, carrots, melon of any kind, avocado (be careful these are high in fat), small chunks of citrus fruits, green beans. Some foods they may dislike are apples, lettuce, and celery.

Caging

The bigger, the better when it comes to caging, rats love to run around. Keep away from drafts and loud noises. The cage should be 14” wide, 24” long, and 12” tall. Rat cages should not be made of 1-by-1/2-inch wire mesh because rats can catch their back feet in the squares. Also rats prefer cages with solid instead of wire floors. Cage litter is the best for rats if you place only a thin layer on the bottom of the cage. Some litters for rats are made from crinkled craft paper or processed wood pulp and fibers, while others come in pellets made from wheat grass or recycled newspaper. These products contain no toxins and are safe if eaten. Several brands also contain natural ingredients that help control odors.

Rabbits

Diet

Some food for rabbits would be: timothy hay, beet greens, broccoli, carrots and tops, chicory greens, cilantro, collard greens, watercress, dandelion greens, kale, romaine lettuce, leaf lettuce, mustard greens, parsley, sweet peppers, pumpkin leaves, radish and leaves, turnip greens, apples, pears, peaches, papaya, strawberries, raspberries , bananas, grapes, and pineapple. Some not to give would be: all beans, beets, cabbage, coffee or tea leaves or plants, corn, green beans, onions, nuts, peas, potatoes, rhubarb , spinach, and packaged greens mixes in a bag.

Caging

A cage should be at least four times the size of your rabbit. If you must use a cage with a wire floor, you need to provide your rabbit with a rug or resting board for them to sit on, otherwise they will spend all of their time in their litter box.

Handling

Most rabbits do not enjoy being held, but if you do pick up your rabbit, make sure you put one hand under the rabbit and the other around it, and keep it close to yourself, so the rabbit feels secure and will not scratch and try to jump down, which could cause an injury.

Birds

All sizes and species of birds should have cages that are big enough to allow them room to play and jump from perches, the larger the cage the happier your bird will be. Make sure to always supply your bird with plenty of fresh, clean water and a variety of seeds, fruit, and vegetables.

Reptiles

When purchasing a cage for your reptile make sure that it has plenty of room to climb or run and be sure that the wire is small enough to keep them from squeezing out, since many lizards and snakes can get through small openings.

Guinea Pigs

Diet

Guinea pigs also known as cavies are strict vegetarians and eat a variety of fruits and vegetables such as hay, grass (between a handful to several handfuls), green pepper, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, baby carrots, broccoli leaves (tiny) and peeled broccoli stems, Chinese Cabbage (pak-choi), one leaf corn silks and husks when in season, parsley , chickweed, dandelions, young clover, apple, apricot, banana, blueberries, cantaloupe , grapes or raisins, oranges, strawberries, and watermelon. Also guinea pig pellets.

Caging

Provide plenty of room to run around and use wood, pine shavings, towels combined with shaving/hay litter box or hay box, or newspaper liners with a layer of aspen or pine shavings with hay on top. Be sure to always remember to clean the out the cage regularly, to keep your house smelling clean and your pet well.

   
Ferrets

Diet

Ferrets have very similar dietary requirements to cats, but their intestines are built very differently, so some important considerations must be made when choosing a diet. Food passes through the digestive system of a ferret very quickly, and they lack the ability to derive much nutrition from plant matter. So a ferret diet must be high in animal protein, relatively high in fat, and low in fiber. All foods, including foods intended solely for ferrets, are not created equally, so be careful what you are feeding your ferret. Another thing is ferrets have a quick metabolism and a short digestive system, so need to eat about every three to four hours.

Caging

You should pick a cage that is multi-story, because, ferrets require lots of room in a cage, for both exercise and all their furnishings. Also the more time a ferret must stay in a cage, the bigger it needs to be. The absolute minimum size for a single ferret that is caged only for a few hours at a stretch, or only overnight, is about 2 cubic feet (12”x24” bottom, 12” high), this size is often better used as an isolation, travel, or hospital cage. Ferrets also need lots of toys to keep them busy when caged.

Flying Squirrels

Diet

Squirrels need to be provided with a variety of foods to make sure they are getting the proper nutrition, some foods such as celery, carrots, green beans, romaine lettuce, apples, bananas, insects, mealworms, and parrot food. Calcium is also very important, so you should include a calcium supplement for squirrels kept as pets and there are many types of tablets and powders available at pet stores that can be used. Also squirrel's teeth grow constantly throughout their lives, so you should make sure that they are provided with chewing material like hard bark and large bones. Also remember that there is a constant supply of water for your squirrel, so put water in a heavy dish or in a water bottle attached to the side of the cage for them. Also make sure to sanitize food and water dishes daily with hot water.

Caging

It is best to try and imitate being in the woods for your squirrel, so buy a cage that is a minimum of three cubic feet per squirrel. Also it is best to use a mesh wire cage, with a removable tray for easier cleaning. You will also need to provide a nesting box for them to sleep in. To make your squirrel feel more comfortable you should put twigs, leaves, grass, and bark on the bottom of the cage like in the wild. This will also give them a variety of materials to choose from when making their nest more comfortable. When putting in branches make it so they can climb around throughout the cage so they can get their exercise. To ensure the health of your pet, make sure to thoroughly clean the cage with hot water at least once a week.

Cats

Diet

Commercially prepared, high-quality cat foods have been scientifically developed to give your cat the correct balance of nutrients and calories. Your veterinarian will be able to recommend the optimum diet to keep your kitty healthy. Buy the highest-quality food you can afford. Lower-quality foods may save you money today, but they can increase your cat's chances of developing health problems in the future. Obesity is a serious health problem in cats. Ask your veterinarian to help you determine the ideal body weight for your cat, and adjust your cat's diet to attain and maintain that weight accordingly. It is common for cats to get bored of the same food day in and day out. Provide variety in the form of different flavors and textures. Always gradually introduce any new brand of food to prevent digestive upset. Never feed your cat "human" food such as table scraps, bones, or high-fat meats. Contrary to popular myth, milk is not necessary for cats and may cause digestive upset. Meat, however, is necessary for cats, because it produces essential metabolites; which is why placing your feline on a low-meat or no-meat diet is not recommended.

Chinchillas

Diet

Chinchillas need good quality pellets created specifically for them and the pellets should combine a blend of fruit and nutrient rich pellets and should be fortified with essential vitamins and minerals.  Also chinchillas are herbivores and require a special diet that is rich in vitamins and high in fiber, so to promote intestinal motility and minimize intestinal disease, a chinchilla's diet needs to consist of hay and pellets, and maybe a few fruit based treats.

Caging

Your chinchilla's requirements for a cage are a dry, hospitable home. Also it should be very spacious, ventilated, chew-proof, and secure. The cage will also need proper bedding; so do not use cedar shavings, pine shavings, or sawdust. Some you can use are aspen bedding, shredded papers, or other natural materials that do not contain irritating oils or preservatives.  The cage should also have these things: food and water containers, toys, treats, tooth-grooming toys and chews, things to exercise on, a container with dust for bathing, and last some hay. Chinchilla's are excellent jumpers, so they need room to hop around their cage. So you really should get a cage that is two or three stories with shelves for sleeping and playing. The cage also should have at least half of the flooring covered to prevent foot injuries . The cage should be no less than two by two feet and without plastic, since they love to chew.

Gerbils and Hamsters

Diet

Hamsters and gerbils should be fed a very high quality food. A good diet consists of about 12% protein and 7% fat. They also love dried vegetables like dried peas and carrots. You can give fresh fruits and vegetables, but only very small amounts because they could get sick. Some safe chooses are small pieces of fresh apple, broccoli, carrot, or cucumbers.  You may also feed them plain dog biscuits to chew on because their teeth are constantly growing. Also they love to eat, shred, and make nests with timothy hay.

Caging

A wire cage with horizontal bars about 1/2 to 3/4 inches apart works very good, since they like to climb and will use the walls for climbing. When choosing shavings, avoid cedar shavings and use aspen or other hardwood shavings are the preferred choice as even pine shavings may emit irritating aromatic oils. Also the bedding should be changed weekly. Hamsters like to burrow, so provide a good depth of shavings for them to dig in and you will need a nesting box. Also you should provide soft such as strips of facial tissue or soft paper towels. You will also need an exercising wheel, tubes and tunnels, and blocks of wood for climbing and chewing.

Prairie Dogs   

Diet

You should feed timothy high fiber hay because it is high fiber and low in calories. You also may feed mountain grass hay and oat hays, since they are healthy diet staples. Timmy rabbit complete pellet ration may be fed in small quantities and always keep a fresh supply of water on hand, although prairie dogs don't require a lot of water. For treats feed a small slice of raw sweet potato, one plain mini shredded wheat, carrots, fresh grass or a spoonful of oats a few times a week.

Caging

Your prairie dog's cage should be large enough to allow plenty of room to play and to house two prairie dogs should be at least 24" by 24" by 36" and should be two stories. In order to prevent leg or foot injuries, wire mesh spacing should be no more than inch. When housing 2 prairie dogs together, separate compartments with a common play area is ideal. Also prairie dogs also love tunnels for playing and lots of bedding for digging. Prairie dogs will chew up furniture and wood molding, so it is important to provide chewing material. Cedar and pine shavings are not recommended for bedding, so you should use straw for bedding.

Hedge Hogs

Diet

Hedgehogs may appear to be omnivores but they really are classified as insectivores. At the moment we are still unsure of their exact nutritional requirements of a hedgehog, since they are relatively new as a pet. We do know that hedgehogs need a diet that is fairly high in protein (30%+ has been recommended), and a diet low in fat (no more than 20%). A diet high in fat has been linked to the problem of fatty liver diseases in hedgehogs. Also most vets and owners will agree that a hedgehog's diet should include a variety of hedgehog and cat foods along with fresh fruits, vegetables and cooked meats, this will help to ensure that your hedgehog is getting enough variety to meet the nutritional needs of your hedgehog.

Caging

You should get as big of a cage that you can afford. A wire cage with a plastic floor is best. Never use a floor with holes or wire because your hedgehog could catch its foot and break it. Glass aquariums are not recommended because they can be hard to clean and do not provide proper ventilation for hedgehogs. The recommended size for a hedgehog is 39” by 21” by19”.