Small pet

Those who share their lives with a pet mouse know just how smart and inquisitive these little pipsqueaks can be. They play hard and sleep hard too! If you are new to mice as companions or are perplexed by some of the behaviors your pet mouse displays, here is a rundown of common mouse behaviors and what they might mean.

Yes, guinea pigs can eat blueberries—as long as they’re fresh and thoroughly washed, and fed in moderation.   Avoid canned, frozen, dried, or sugared varieties; these often contain added sugars or preservatives that can upset your guinea pig’s digestive system. ,While snacking on a handful of blueberries, you look over to find your furry potato standing up on their two back feet with their little paws pressed up against their habitat, looking adorably hungry. Can guinea pigs eat blueberries too?  Yes, they can!  Blueberries can be a nutritious treat for guinea pigs when fed in small amounts. Because guinea pigs have sensitive digestive systems, new foods should be introduced gradually.   Before introducing any new food into your guinea pig’s diet, always check with your veterinarian. 

If you’ve recently added a bunny to your home or you want to expand your current rabbit’s snack routine, you might be wondering, “Can rabbits eat cabbage?”   The short answer is yes. Cabbage can be a healthy addition to your rabbit’s diet, if it’s fed in moderation and prepared properly.   Like many vegetables, cabbage is packed with nutrients, but there are a few considerations to keep in mind before offering it to your adorable companion.  Always check with your veterinarian before giving your rabbit any new foods. 

Living and Management With proper management and care, ferrets with less severe forms of dyspnea, tachypnea, and hyperpnea do well. However, it is best if you confine your ferret to cage rest so that it does not overexert itself.,Dyspnea, Tachypnea, and Hyperpnea in Ferrets Dyspnea, tachypnea, and hyperpnea are all terms that describe disturbed breathing patterns in ferrets. Dyspnea refers to the distress often associated with difficulty breathing or labored breathing; tachypnea, meanwhile, is rapid or fast breathing; and hyperpnea is deep breathing. Typically these breathing difficulties are associated with some ailment or stressful situation. Symptoms and Types The type of breathing difficulty (dyspnea, tachypnea, hyperpnea) experienced by the ferret will typically determine what type of symptoms are displayed. Some of the more common signs and symptoms include: Restlessness Pneumonia Open mouth breathing Nostril flaring when breathing Noisy breathing (stridor) Upper airway obstruction Excessive sneezing with discharge, especially among ferrets with concurrent respiratory tract infections Insomnia or trouble sleeping, especially among ferrets with congestive heart failure or those with hernias in the diaphragm Also, although it is rare in ferrets, coughing may occur in ferrets with dyspnea.

Guinea pigs, and many of the small exotic mammal pets we have, show vague signs of being sick when they develop a disease condition. Your guinea pig is showing classic signs of illness. No matter what is wrong with a guinea pig — be it a kidney infection, abnormal tooth growth, disease of the liver, or even an abscess — the only signs your guinea pig may show is not eating or drinking. This eventually causes your guinea pig to become even sicker, there is weight loss and sometimes the liver becomes affected, too. Unfortunately, there are no home remedies that can help your guinea pig if offering his favorite foods and water do not help him start eating again. My suggestion is to get him to a veterinarian as soon as you can. One who is familiar with guinea pig medicine and can get a diagnosis for you. As soon as you have a diagnosis, you can get your guinea pig back on the road to health. Want to know more about the health and wellness of your guinea pig? Check out: Guinea Pig Body Language Common Guinea Pig Health Issues Guinea Pig Seems To Have A Cold,Q:

Like other small mammals, mice have specific dietary needs that must be met to ensure their health and well-being. Knowing what to feed your pet mouse (as well as what not to feed them) is a critical part of keeping them happy and healthy. Your curious little nocturnal buddies need a balanced diet designed to meet their nutritional requirements. Healthy foods for mice include fresh fruits, vegetables, and high-quality pellets. They’ll munch on crackers, popcorn, nuts, and seeds too. But these should be considered treats (not meals) and only offered as a supplemental snack to enrich their diet, or as a training reward when you’re teaching them new tricks.,Jump to section What Can Mice Eat? Providing A Healthy Diet for Your Mice What Not To Feed Your Mice How To Pick the Best Food for Your Mice Drinking Water for Mice FAQs About What Mice Eat

These prey animals naturally wake at night to forage for food, says Dr. Teresa Manucy, DVM, a Chewy pet health representative in Jacksonville, Florida. In the wild, it’s safest to be out and active in the darkness to avoid predators, so wild hamsters get most of their sleep during daylight hours. Hamsters will wake some during the day to eat and drink water. However, those activities are accomplished in short periods of time. Then, it’s back to sleep! Hamsters are most active at dusk and dawn. Dusk refers to the period just before dark after sunset, while dawn is the time just before sunrise when the sky starts to brighten.,Jump to section What Is a Hamster’s Normal Sleep Schedule? How Many Hours a Day Does a Hamster Sleep? Why Do Hamsters Sleep So Much? What if My Hamster Is Sleeping More Than Usual? Should I Wake My Sleeping Hamster? How Do I Accommodate My Hamster’s Sleep Schedule? FAQs About Hamster Sleep

Hamsters come in a variety of colors and names, and the Winter White Dwarf Hamster has caught your eye. So how can you tell if this is the best species for you? These 10 facts can help you learn more about this charming breed and make sure he’ll be a good fit for you. The Winter White Dwarf Hamster, also called the Siberian or Russian hamster, hails from Siberia and Kazakhstan, and its Latin name is Phodopus sungorus. They are common pets in Europe, Asia and North America—one of the five most popular hamster species in the United States.These hamsters often are confused with Campbell’s Russian Dwarf Hamsters (Phodopus campbelli), which have a similar size and appearance. As a dwarf hamster, your Winter White likely will grow to 3-4 inches long, says Erin Ramsey, co-president of California Hamster Association in Southern California and owner of Cheeks and Squeaks Hamsters. They sport a round, oval-looking body shape with fur covering their feet and legs. There are three main color varieties: sapphire, pearl and natural pearl. This charming hamster’s coat turns white in winter, thus its name. The rest of the year, Winter White Dwarf Hamsters are adorned in a grey-brown coat color with a dark dorsal stripe down the back. In the wild, this coat change provides camouflage against the snow. The change in color can take a few days to a few weeks, and some people report seeing their Winter White Dwarf Hamsters change in waves from head to tail.The color-change occurs extent to which your hamster’s coat might change during the short, light periods may vary from a few faded patches to a whitening of his entire coat. Lack of exposure to seasonal light cycles usually prevents this coat-color change in captivity. Male Winter White Dwarf Hamsters generally are larger than females, and “the male has a more prominent scent gland on the belly,” Ramsey says. Winter Whites live an average of 1½-2½ years. They are not particularly prone to any illness, but they can suffer from the same illnesses as other hamsters. Generally speaking, Winter White Dwarf Hamsters have a more tolerant personality than Campbell’s hamsters, and they are less likely to bite. Their small size makes them better suited to older teenagers and adults than younger children, but families with youngsters can do great with these hamsters if they put in the time, Ramsey says. “They all have different personalities and are very interesting to watch when in proper habitats. They enjoy play time in a safe playpen and socializing with humans.”What if you share your home with other pets? “Hamsters should never be exposed to other pets,” Ramsey says, “but they do fine in the same environment as long as they are secure in their cage.” This sociable species is best kept in pairs or groups.”Same sex, same litter usually works out, but they do have a pecking order,” Ramsey says. “If one is more dominant or bullies the other, they must be separated immediately.” The decision to keep a mixed-sex pair or group should not be taken lightly because breeding will occur, and hamster litters can be produced every three weeks. If this is your first time caring for a hamster, Ramsey recommends starting with a solitary hamster. For a more successful multi-hamster living situation, introduce Winter White Dwarf Hamsters who will live together at a young age—preferably 5-8 weeks. Even better is if they come from the same litter or shared living quarters. Hamsters who have lived alone may not accept a companion peaceably. The best cages for Winter White Dwarf Hamsters offer at least 450 square inches of unbroken ground space, and the bigger the better, Ramsey says. Options include bar cages, aquarium tanks(40-gallon breeder), and bin cages made from 110-quart plastic storage tubs. Use a wire-mesh lid to prevent escapes and injury from falling objects. And because dwarf hamsters can squeeze through the bars of many wire cages, keep bar spacing in mind when choosing your hamster’s habitat. Your new pet will love to burrow, so provide your Winter White Dwarf Hamster with soft bedding. You can choose from wood shavings, fluffy bedding and shredded paper, like CareFresh Small Animal Bedding. Ramsey recommends about 4 inches of bedding for your pet to burrow in in his enclosure.

Hay is the most important part of a guinea pig’s diet.,Jump to section Hay Vegetables Guinea Pig Food Fruits Treats Supplements Water Feeding Tips for Guinea Pigs FAQs About What Guinea Pigs Eat