Small pet

The vast majority of ferrets are friendly and lovable, but some might irritate humans by nipping. And an occasional problem ferret might be labeled as a “bad biter.” But hope exists for such problem ferrets, because lots of love, training and patience can lead to reform!

In the wild, chinchillas are prey. They are hunted and killed by predators. The chinchilla’s first response to danger is to run away or try to escape. Chinchillas generally live in rocky areas, so they will retreat to a safe burrow in the rocks if possible. This behavior changes when a chinchilla is in a cage. The confinement of a cage may make the chinchilla believe there is no place to escape. With no escape route available, the chinchilla may bite the threat (often the owner’s fingers). This type of biting is most common if the pet owner tries to reach in suddenly to grab the chinchilla. MORE: Out-of-Cage Options For Your Chinchilla Chinchillas have long and extremely sharp front teeth. A bite can be severe, deep and painful. If you use some type of “chinchilla house” in the cage, be sure it has a front entrance and also a rear or side “escape entrance.” Without the option to escape, the chinchilla may feel trapped and be more likely to bite if an owner reaches into the “house.” If the owner provides an environment where the chinchilla does not feel threatened, then chinchillas very seldom bite.,Q.

The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) recognizes 48 different purebred rabbit breeds. Some of the breeds–like the critically endangered American, American Chinchilla and Silver Fox rabbits–are quite rare, while some of the other breeds–like the Netherland Dwarf and Holland Lop–are hugely popular. Of course, only one of the 48 breeds has the distinction of being the most popular rabbit breed, and that is none other than the marvelous, the magnificent, the majestic Mini Rex. In the five-year period between 2005 and 2009, there were 93,853 rabbits shown at the annual conventions of the ARBA. Of these entries, more than 12,000 of them were Mini Rex, an astonishing 12.8 percent of all rabbits shown. This is even more astonishing when you consider that if you swing back the clock a mere 30 years, the Mini Rex breed didn’t even exist. What is it about the Mini Rex that has made the breed so incredibly popular? And how did the breed make such impressive strides in this relatively short period of time?

A raspy, whistling sound is enough to make any cat parent stop in their tracks and wonder, “Why is my cat wheezing?”   Wheezing is never normal in cats and means they’re having trouble breathing. All causes are serious, and some can even be life-threatening.   If your cat is breathing heavily with their mouth open, has blue-tinged gums, or is showing signs of distress, seek emergency veterinary care right away. 

Ferrets can suffer from many infectious diseases. These diseases can be due to infection with bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites and many of them infect other animals and humans too. Two common bacterial infections in ferrets are due to the bacteria Helicobactei mustelae and Lawsonia intracellularis — the former being found in nearly all weaned ferrets. Symptoms and Types Helicobactei mustelae usually display signs of gastric ulcers and inflammation of the stomach (chronic gastritis). Some chronic cases may develop into stomach cancer (gastric lymphoma). Other signs of Helicobactei mustelae bacterial infection are loss of appetite, vomiting, teeth clenching or grinding, diarrhea with stools stained black (by blood), increased salivation, abdominal pain, sluggishness, weight loss, and dehydration. A Lawsonia intracellularis bacterial infection can occur due to stress. The signs of this infection are diarrhea, weight loss, and rectal prolapse (rectum protrudes out of the anus). At times, rectal prolapse (enlargement of mass in or around the rectum) will damage the rectum or prevent defecation. This infection can also cause the ferret to develop a bowel disease.

Melena in Ferrets If you ferret’s stool appears green, black, or tarry, it may have melena, which typically occurs due to the presence of digested blood in the intestines. It has also been seen in ferrets after they have ingested a sufficient amount of blood from the oral cavity or respiratory tract. Melena is not a disease in itself but a symptom of some other underlying disease. The dark color of the blood is due to the oxidation of iron in the hemoglobin (the oxygen carrying pigment of red blood cells) as it passes through the small intestine and colon. Symptoms and Types In addition to the black, tarry appearance of the feces, ferrets with melena may demonstrate some of the following: Anorexia Dehydration Weight loss Hypersalivation Vomiting Regurgitation Pallor of the mucous membranes Poor haircoat or hair loss Bruxism (clenching, grinding of the teeth) Fecal staining around the anus

The primary reason for grooming your chinchilla is to remove dead fur and matted areas from the coat. Often a chinchilla is not able to easily shed all the dead fur, and some fur becomes trapped close to the skin. If the fur is not removed, the chinchilla will not have as clean a coat (because the dust does not penetrate all the way down the hair shaft) nor will the chinchilla be able to regulate temperature as easily. The dead fur does not allow air flow or ventilation. Chinchillas typically replenish their coats every three or four months and may exhibit mild to heavy degrees of shedding. They tend to shed more during seasonal changes such as fall to winter and spring to summer. By removing dead fur, you are doing your chinchilla a favor. Many times chinchillas ingest large amounts of dead fur during self-grooming, which can lead to intestinal blockages. Keeping your chinchilla well groomed helps avoid that. Chinchillas that shed heavily should be removed from the cage regularly so the cage interior can be vacuumed. This removes loose fur from the cage that might otherwise be accidentally ingested. Rabbit cages are great options for housing. Chinchillas with thick, cottony coats tend to have more dead fur trapped within the coat and require more frequent grooming than chinchillas with thinner, coarser or straighter fur. Breeders typically use fine metal combs with sharp, pointed teeth to comb out chinchillas. Most have a set of four combs that they use to gradually work through the coat from its roughest phase to its finest one. These combs are very sharp and if used improperly can hurt either the owner or the chinchilla. Many pet owners find they can use a good slicker brush made for rabbits and sturdy metal comb to remove the dead fur from their chinchilla’s coat. Often, dead fur tends to collect near the base of the tail, on the back and near the back legs. Depending upon how good a “personal housekeeper” your chinchilla is, mats may form around the genital area, and these should be gently removed. You will be amazed at how much dead fur can come out of one coat. Sometimes the pile of dead fur is as big as your chinchilla. Most chinchillas do not enjoy the grooming process. It may take several grooming sessions for your chinchilla to accept the process and relax. A few chinchillas relax so much that they fall asleep in your lap. What seems to work best is to place a towel across your lap. Settle your chinchilla on your lap, keeping a good hold of it at all times. Do not place your hand or fingers in front of the chinchilla’s mouth while you are grooming. It is an open invitation to get nipped or bitten if the chinchilla feels stressed. Some people like to hold the chinchilla’s rear end, others like to have a firm hold of the backside and base of the tail closest to the body. This leaves your other hand to gently run the comb or brush through the fur. If you run into a mat, gently remove it with the comb by using many short, gentle comb strokes. Gradually work down into the coat until you can draw the comb smoothly through each area. Use a pair of scissors to cut through large mats. Run one blade of the scissor gently along the skin under the mat and then cut up gently. This cuts some of the mat hairs and makes it easier to untangle and disconnect the mat. Fur can come out very easily, so be gentle as you groom. Chinchillas often grump and groan during the grooming process, but they seem to be more lively and energetic when they return to their cages. By: Marty Hull,Q.

If you’ve spent any time around ferrets, you might know they have a signature musky odor that many pet parents find endearing. But why do ferrets stink? Turns out, a lot of their unique odor comes from their biology—specifically the scent glands all over their body—but their environment can play a role too. We talked to two exotic pet experts to get the scoop on ferret smells and what you can do to freshen things up if you want to keep one (or two!) in your home.

Living and Management If there is little or no improvement, you will need to consult with your veterinarian to see if your pet needs to go back for further evaluation. Do not experiment with medications or food without your veterinarian’s approval, and remember that it is important that you follow through on your doctor’s recommended treatment plan so that the illness can be thoroughly eliminated. Often, he or she will recommend offering bland food such as canned chicken baby goods, even warming the food to body temperature and offering via syringe. Otherwise, monitor your ferret’s attitude, body condition, and fecal volume for any irregularities. ,Why Do Ferrets Throw Up? Much like in humans, the ejection of a ferret’s stomach contents through the mouth is known as vomiting. It occurs less frequently in ferrets when compared to dogs and cats, but you should be aware of it nonetheless. Vomiting may be brought on by neurological issues, adverse drug reactions, or motion sickness. Various metabolic or bacterial toxins or inner ear imbalance will also trigger vomiting. Symptoms and Types

Like all species, the ferret personality is unique to each individual. Some ferrets climb, jump, cuddle and give kisses but some don’t. This is their unique personality and it further develops with age and experience. Love and kindness foster the development of the best ferret personality.