Small pet

Sugar gliders bite for various reasons ranging from fear, unfamiliar smells or self defense. Biting is the prime source of defense when a sugar glider feels threatened or trapped. A foreign scent or a human hand can be a scary enemy to a glider. However, once you earn their trust and form a bond with your glider(s), this type of biting rarely happens. A sugar glider’s disposition depends greatly on the type of background it was born or raised into. Most hand-tamed gliders from reputable breeders, or from previous owners who have spent ample time working with their gliders, are less apt to bite. Young joeys, the term for baby gliders, often go through what is called the “teenage phase.” During this time, they bite for no reason. Toes, fingernails, earlobes – anything that looks interesting will get a taste. Such bites rarely hurt, but most likely will take a human by surprise. Once you have earned its trust and formed a bond with your sugar glider, it will enjoy grooming you. When it grooms you, it will bite lightly (more like scraping its teeth on your skin) and lick repetitively. Sometimes gliders become very focused on grooming their human. Sugar gliders are sap suckers by nature, and frequently bite items in search of more food. Be aware of this when hand-feeding your glider, and offer more food before a bite occurs. Understanding and respecting why your sugar glider may bite is the first step to a long and wonderful relationship with your glider. Even the tamest glider bites occasionally, and some glider’s continue to bite for no reason whatsoever. These are the exceptions however.,Q.

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Rats are chatty creatures who make various noises, from bruxing and squeaking to hissing and screaming. These different rat sounds clue you in on how your little friend is feeling and whether they’re happy, bored, uncomfortable, or ​maybe even ​​sick​. ​​  Like other small ​prey ​animals, rats tend to hide symptoms of illness until it’s too late, so being able to decode ​your pet rat’s ​vocalizations can help you know when it’s time to head to the vet.  We talked to experts to learn more about rats and the sounds they make. 

Guinea pigs—those adorable small animals with large heads, perpetual looks of surprise and gleeful squeals—are definitely a pet to be seen and heard. But why do they do the things they do? As a guinea pig parent, you want to get to know your pet and form a solid bond. And one great way to do that is by understanding common guinea pig behaviors—so you know what you’re likely to come across when sharing your home with these cute little piggies. We spoke with a guinea pig expert to round up 10 common guinea pig behaviors and explain what they mean.

Healthy hamsters normally eat well, groom themselves, run and play. They also have full, shiny coats and bright eyes. Hamsters are sturdy little animals, but poor care, an incorrect diet and an unhealthy environment can cause illnesses and even lead to death. If you don’t know what to look for, you might miss important signs of a sick hamster. Even if you’re on top of your hamster health knowledge and well aware of sick hamster symptoms, you may not realize you hamster feels unwell. “Hamsters hide signs of sickness for as long as they can,” says Kristin Valdes, DVM, an exotic vet at Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital in Skokie, Ill. Therefore, it’s critical that pet parents observe their hamster’s normal appearance and behavior so they quickly notice even subtle changes that might indicate illness. It’s also essential to know the signs of a sick hamster so you know what to look for.

You might already know that grapes are toxic to dogs and cats, but what about your pet cavy? Can guinea pigs eat grapes? Well, it’s complicated. Fruits aren’t ideal for guinea pigs. They’re better off chowing down on scrumptious hay biscuits or pellets. But grapes are technically safe for them to eat. 

Ferrets are highly intelligent animals with the ability to be trained and to learn new tricks. Just like cats and dogs, ferrets can be housebroken. And that’s good news for two reasons: A litter-trained ferret can spend more free time outside of her cage, which means more opportunities for enrichment and more time spent together. You won’t have to worry as much about cleaning up accidents. You can start training your ferret as soon as you bring her home for the first time. Starting good habits while your ferret is still young can help her learn faster, though you can also teach your ferret to use litter as an adult.

In addition to being absolutely adorable, guinea pig teeth can make even the crunchiest baby carrot disappear in an instant.   Plus, these teeth are unique since guinea pigs are natural grazers who need a steady diet of hay to keep their tooth growth under control.   Here’s everything you need to know about guinea pig teeth, dental problems to watch out for, and how to keep your pig’s chompers healthy. 

by Matt Soniak While ferrets seems like a less expensive pet than a dog or a cat, that isn’t always the case. All pets, ferrets included, require a significant investment of time, effort and money. Before bringing a ferret into your family, you’ll want to learn more about the kind of financial commitment you’ll need to give it. Find out how much ferrets cost and what you’ll need to properly care for your ferret.  How Much do Ferrets Cost? Ferret purchase prices vary greatly depending on where you get them, said Mary McCarty-Houser, director of the Pennsylvania Ferret Rescue Association and shelter chair of the American Ferret Association. Ferrets can be found in shelters, in pet stores, and from reputable private breeders (which will charge the most for their ferrets).  Adopting a ferret from a shelter can cost around $100, but many shelter ferrets are up to date on their vaccines, saving you the cost of those. Plus, McCarty-Houser says, shelter staff will work extensively with their ferrets to get to know their personalities, do any behavioral training (if necessary), and understand what type of home environment would be best for them. “[Shelter staff] are also a lifelong resource to the new owner for questions and help with problems,” McCarty-Houser added. Pet store ferrets generally cost more (up to $300), depending on the area, but come with no prior veterinary care, creating additional costs on top of purchase price for owners to get their ferrets vaccinated, tested for any diseases, and examined by a veterinarian, McCarty-Houser said. Reputable private breeders who put a lot of time and effort into tracking family lines and socializing their animals generally sell ferrets from $275 and up. “Privately bred kits [baby ferrets] go to the owners with health and temperament guarantees and lifelong support of the breeder to the owner,” McCarty-Houser says. “They are usually given their initial canine distemper vaccine, sometimes their rabies shot, and are Aleutian Disease Virus (ADV)-negative guaranteed.” The new owner will be responsible for additional distemper vaccines, as well as the spaying/neutering of the kit at an appropriate age.