Small pet

The medical term for the presence of blood in the urine is hematuria. It is a condition that is seen fairly often in pet rabbits and can be due to a number of medical disorders. These problems may involve the urinary system directly or, in the case of unspayed female rabbits, may be the result of a diseased reproductive tract. In order to understand the implications of hematuria, it is helpful to have some knowledge about the anatomy of the urinary system of rabbits and how it functions.

By Samantha Drake Ferrets are often compared to cats and dogs. Like cats, they sleep a lot and can be trained to use a litter box. Like dogs, ferrets are social and crave the company of people. But the truth is, ferrets are in a category all their own. With their friendly, inquisitive natures and furry, cuddly bodies, ferrets make great pets, given the right pet parents. If you’re considering purchasing a ferret, learn more about their care needs, including what you’ll need and how to keep your ferret healthy, below. Ferret Facts Ferrets are a member of the weasel family that weigh between one and a half and five pounds as adults and can live between six and ten years, according to the American Ferret Association (AFA). They tend to sleep a lot—18 to 20 hours a day—and are most active in the early morning and evening. Male ferrets are called “hobs,” while female ferrets are called “jills” and baby ferrets are called “kits.” A group of ferrets is known as a “business.” They come in shades of tans, browns and blacks, with various color combinations and patterns and are usually neutered or spayed and de-scented when they are between five and six weeks old to reduce odor and aggression. Ferrets have a friendly, playful nature, enjoy being around people and love attention. Ferrets are very intelligent and can be trained to come when called, use a litter box and even perform a few tricks, according to the AFA. They require constant supervision when outside their cage, however, and are not recommended for children under six years old as they can bite. Ferrets also like to steal things and hide them, and enjoy exploring (particularly when there’s an opportunity to squeeze into a tight space). Ferrets are also prone to a variety of health problems, which can make them an expensive pet, and will often chew things and swallow foreign objects, making ferret-proofing essential, said Dr. Dan Johnson of Avian and Exotic Animal Care in Raleigh, North Carolina. While ferrets make good companions for larger house pets with careful introductions and supervised interactions, ferrets should be kept away from birds, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs and reptiles, according to the AFA.

Protozoal Infection in Rats The digestive tract in rats is home to a wide variety of microorganisms, including protozoa, single celled organisms that play an important and beneficial role in the digestive balance. In some cases, however, protozoa can be of a parasitic variety, and can bring harm to the host animal. Under healthy conditions the beneficial microorganisms are higher in number than the harmful microorganisms. But when a rat is stressed or in a diseased condition with a lowered immunity, the balance between the beneficial and harmful protozoa is tipped in favor of the harmful ones, which can allow for intestinal infections. There are also some species of harmful protozoa that can be transmitted to rats through various sources, most notably infected feces, and which can also lead to intestinal infections. Protozoal infection is a relatively common finding in young rats. Symptoms and Types Weakness and lethargy Lack of appetite Diarrhea Weight loss Loss of body condition Rough hair coat Bleeding (which, in severe cases, can lead to death)   Causes Stressful conditions Lowered immunity – imbalanced intestinal bacteria and organisms Contaminated feces – fecal-oral route Diagnosis Your veterinarian will make an initial diagnosis by observing the rat’s symptoms. He or she can then confirm the diagnosis by examining the feces under a microscope for the presence of protozoa.   Treatment Protozoal infections can generally be treated with antiprotozoal medications and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Advanced infections can lead to dehydration due to diarrhea, making it necessary to give supportive care with electrolyte-balanced fluids. Complete elimination of infectious protozoa is very difficult in some cases. Living and Management You will need to keep your rat under observation while it is recovering. Diarrhea and associated dehydration can lead to a severe physical condition very quickly. Keep your veterinarian updated about the progress your rat is making, and follow your doctor’s advice until your rat has recovered completely. Prevention Maintaining a clean environment seems to be the best way to prevent this condition from arising. Ensure that the bedding material in your rat’s cage is regularly changed and the cage is kept clean at all times to help prevent and overcome infections due to protozoa. It is also important to prevent stress in your rat by providing sufficient play and exercise material. Overcrowding can also stress a rat. Leaving plenty of space for movement and privacy is important for the mental wellness of your rat.

Thinking about rabbit adoption? Rabbits can make wonderful pets—but before you adopt a bunny rabbit, it’s important to know how to care for them. “Rabbits have a lot of personality,” says Barbara B. Tomaras, DVM, owner of Exoticare Veterinary Services in Miami, Florida. “You can find cuddly rabbits, and rabbits that are fun and entertaining. They’re very easy to keep.” They also are “not an expensive pet,” Dr. Tomaras says. Compared to the annual expenses for dogs and cats, which are upwards of $1,000 dollars, caring for a bunny averages around $500 a year, not including rabbit adoption fees. Read on to discover important information about rabbit care and the rabbit supplies you need before adopting a rabbit.

While every piggy is different, these small animals check a lot of boxes when it comes to being kid-friendly pets.   Here are a few common traits that make them a good option for families with children.   Gentle personalities: Unlike some small pets, guinea pigs are usually calm and not prone to biting.  Social animals: They love attention from humans and enjoy being held and petted. Many even recognize their caregivers’ voices and faces.  Entertaining: Guinea pigs have more than 10 different vocalizations, from excited squeaks to soft purrs, each with its own meaning. These sounds can keep kids amused and curious about what their pet is trying to say.  Additionally, Laurie Hess, DVM, DABVP (Avian), owner and medical director at Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics, in Bedford Hills, New York, explains that caring for a pet, such as a guinea pig, teaches children empathy and responsibility by helping them understand that another living being depends on them to stay healthy and happy.  ,Bringing a pet into the family can be a great way to teach kids responsibility and the joy of animal companionship.   Guinea pigs are often seen as a kid-friendly choice due to their small size, but are they really the right fit for children?   Before bringing one home, here’s what parents should know about caring for these squeaky little companions. 

Rabbits are amazing creatures that provide companionship and joy for many families. Part of our job as caretakers is keeping our rabbits safe from harm. Traumatic injuries are fairly common in pet rabbits, and in many cases may be avoidable. Make sure to do your homework so you know how to keep your rabbit safe and what to do in the unfortunate situation that your rabbit suffers an injury. This article will review some common injuries and how to address them, as well as some helpful tips on rabbit first aid and rabbit-proofing your home.

A common symptom of just about any illness, disease or lack of water supply. It could be caused by the water bottle balls sticking and preventing water flow. A sugar glider can totally dehydrate and die in as little as 12 hours. Dehydration can be easily tested for by pulling up the skin at a glider’s shoulders. If the skin stays up or goes down very slowly, there is a good chance the pet is dehydrated. Veterinarians can treat this with shots of fluids under the skin. This is only a symptom, try to find the cause.,1. Trauma/Accidents

What should you bring with you when you walk your ferret? Just like dogs, ferrets are indiscrete about where they relieve themselves; in fact, ferrets will often mark new territories with feces and urine. Thus, if you walk your ferret outside, be prepared with a “pooper scooper” and poop bags. You will also want to bring a small bowl and water, particularly if it is warm outside when your ferret is walking, as well as some treats, especially in the event your ferret slips out of the harness, hides somewhere, and you need to coax her out. Finally, in case your ferret gets tired of walking or gets spooked, you should have a bag or carrier in which you can put her safely to travel home.,The key to successfully walking your ferret Some ferrets love walking on a leash, and others hate it. When trained properly, many ferrets will enjoy short walks outside. The key to successfully leash walking a ferret is to keep walks brief (no more than 5-10 minutes at a time, especially if the ferret is older and may be arthritic), be patient, and to not push if a ferret resists. The good news is that, unlike most dogs, ferrets don’t need to go outside on a leash to get adequate exercise or to go to the bathroom. If your ferret won’t walk, no worries. Just ferret-proof a room or a smaller area in your house, provide a litterbox, and let your pet run free! Related How to Train Your Ferret to Use a Litter Box Measles (Canine Distemper Virus) in Ferrets,By Laurie Hess, DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Avian Practice) I was recently at a large pet expo in Florida where hundreds of pet owners attended with their dogs on leashes. Big dogs, little dogs, old dogs, young dogs — hundreds of dogs. Looking down at the floor, among the dogs, I saw three ferrets on leashes. Two were happily prancing along at the end of their leashes, several feet in front of their owner, while the third was splayed out flat, being dragged along like a sack of potatoes several feet behind the owner. Why did these leashed ferrets behave so differently? They did so because not all ferrets like to walk on leashes. How can you tell if your ferret will walk on a leash? Some ferrets enjoy leash walking, while others simply hate it. Some don’t like it initially but can be trained to tolerate it over time. A handful of ferrets just don’t get leash walking and will never take to it, extending their arms and legs and refusing to walk when they are attached to a leash, or twisting and spinning on the leash as the owner tries to move forward. These ferrets should not be forced. If you have tried on several occasions to get your ferret to accept wearing a harness and leash and he/she just won’t cooperate, it’s probably best to abort the leash-training plan.

Pet rats are fun, inquisitive, social, clean, and friendly creatures who can make a great addition to families. Pet rats are also known as fancy rats. Humans selectively breed pet rats for specific characteristics—typically physical or behavioral traits, as well as longevity. Breeders even started showing their pet rats as early as 1901. Through this selective breeding, there are now seven different recognized types of pet rats. While there are more than 60 types of wild rats, all pet rats come from the same species: Rattus norvegicus. Because all pet rats are R. norvegicus, different types are known as varieties—not breeds. Below are the most common varieties, colors, and markings currently recognized by the American Fancy Rat & Mouse Association (AFRMA). Pet Rat Varieties Standard Standard rats have short, smooth, and glossy hair coats. Male rats may be larger and have coarser hair coats than females. This variety comes in many coat colors and is the closest to the wild brown rat. They have no unusual diet or medical needs. Rex Rex rats, similar to other Rex pets (cats, guinea pigs, rabbits), have curly fur with few guard hairs. Their whiskers may even be curly. They may feel wooly, especially male rats. Rex rats may lose hair as they get older. Sometimes this variety is also called a Manx. Tailless Tailless rats are quite simply named. While most rats have a tail as long as their body, tailless rats are bred to have no tail whatsoever. These rats may be stockier with a rounded rump than other varieties. Breeding tailless rats can result in physical deformities and medical issues. Specifically, this variety can have hind leg and vestigial tail deformities and bladder or bowel problems. A tailless rat may also be referred to as a Sphinx. Hairless Hairless rats are also aptly named. This variety does not have any hair at all, with smooth, imperfection-free skin. They may or may not have whiskers. Hairless rats can easily acquire illness and especially need added warmth. Because they often get sick, this variety may have a shorter life span and some breeders are pushing to limit or stop breeding of this variety altogether. Satin Satin rats have long, smooth, silky coats. Their whiskers are long until the very end with a tiny curl. Satin rats may come in many colors and markings. Dumbo Dumbo rats are one of the more common varieties. They have larger, low-set ears, conjuring images of the Disney classic elephant character. Some rat fanciers believe dumbo rats are more friendly and may even live longer—however, this has never been scientifically proven. Bristle Coat As the name implies, bristle coat rats have coarse coats, like a wire brush. Their fur may even feel crunchy, like the coat of wirehair terriers. Young bristle coats may have curly hair similar to a Rex but will change as they mature. They may have curled tips of their whiskers, like satins. Rat Coat Colors and Markings There are over 40 distinct colors of fancy rats with black, ruby, red, or pink eye colors. To describe a rat’s color and marking, they are first grouped into sections, and then further broken down by more specific colors and markings. Self: The entire body is the same color. Beige, black, blue, blue-beige, champagne, chocolate, cocoa, lilac, mink, platinum, powder blue, Russian blue, Russian dove, sky blue, black-eyed white, pink-eyed white Any Other Color (AOC): The body is the same color, but the individual hairs may have two or more colors. Agouti: coat is dark gray at the base and rich brown at the top. The coat also has evenly distributed black guard hairs. The eyes should be black, and the belly silver. Blue Agouti: coat is gray at the base of the hair and yellow-tan at the top. The coat has evenly distributed blue guard hairs. The eyes should be black, and the belly silver-blue. Chinchilla: similar to agouti, but silver-gray instead of rich brown. Cinnamon: similar to agouti, except russet brown instead of rich brown. Cinnamon Pearl: coat has three bands of color from the base—cream, blue, and orange with silver guard hairs. Fawn: deep gold with a lighter belly. The eyes should be ruby. Lynx: gray-tan with lighter gray at the base and brown guard hairs. Pearl: the palest shade of silver with gray tips. Russian Blue Agouti: Dark steel blue with fawn color at the top of the hair and blue guard hairs. Any Other Color Pattern (AOCP): a combination of two or more colors other than white. These colors may resemble similar markings in other animals (dogs, cats, rabbits). BE Siamese, Blue Point Siamese, Burmese, Himalayan, Russian Blue Agouti Burmese, Russian Blue Point Siamese, Seal Point Siamese, Merle Silvered: white hairs are evenly distributed throughout the coat. Amber, Silver Black, Silver Blue, Silver Chocolate, Silver Fawn, Silver Lilac, Silver Mink Marked English Irish: white triangle on the chest Irish: white feet, a white tip on the tail, and a white mark on the abdomen Down Under: marlins on the top and similar belly stripe or spots Berkshire: white abdomens, tails, feet, and a small spot between the ears Essex: similar to Berkshires, but with a more muted color Variegated: colors on the head and shoulders, a white spot on their head, white abdomen, and color splashes everywhere else Blaze: white blaze on the face Dalmatian: different color splashes throughout the body, similar to the dog breed with spots Hooded: white body with a colored head and a marking down the spine Bareback: white body with a colored head and neck Capped: white body and a small color marking on the head similar to a hat Masked: white body and only a mask of color around the eyes