Rabbit Care and Diet
Lifespan Rabbits can live 7–10 years. Diet Grass or timothy hay should be offered free choice and should make up 90% of the diet. Alfalfa is not preferred. Green leafy vegetables should be offered as a loose pile the size of the rabbit’s head. Large, unlimited amounts of fresh hay should be offered daily. Young […]
House Training Your Rabbit
Most rabbits can be litter box trained. However, there is not a guarantee that every individual rabbit is going to succeed. They are not like cats, who instinctively seek some loose litter in which to bury their waste. Try these steps to housetrain your rabbit: Litter Box Training Steps Rabbits may spend several hours just […]
Switching to Hay
Introducing Hay Many rabbits have simply never seen that long, dry stuff, also known as hay, and don’t recognize it as food. For them, always keep an abundant supply of hay in the litter box. If the rabbit seems disciplined not to sample on his own, a long piece of hay can be tapped on […]
Ferret Care
Basic Information Lifespan: 5–8 years Weight: Males: 2–4 lbs, neutered Females: 1 ½–2 lbs, spayed Housing: Rabbit or larger sized cages. Most will use a litter box. Ferrets can be destructive if left to run free unsupervised and will definitely eat things you may not suspect, especially if left to run unsupervised. General Information There […]
Ferret Immunization Schedule
Four to Six Weeks of Age Pediatric physical examination. CDV, distemper, vaccination, if dam was not vaccinated. Six to Eight Weeks of Age Pediatric physical examination. CDV, distemper, vaccination. Fecal examination for parasites. Deworming, if required. Nine to Eleven Weeks of Age Pediatric physical examination. CDV, distemper, vaccination. Fecal examination for parasites. Deworming, if required. […]
Ferret House Training
Ferrets can be easily housetrained. However, many will need reminders throughout their lives, particularly if they are engaged heavily in play and a litter box is not handy. Steps Place a small box with low sides or a similar container in a corner of the ferret’s cage. Triangular-shaped boxes are available specifically for ferrets. It […]
Ferret Diseases
Ferrets are susceptible to a number of diseases, most notably canine distemper, which is considered 100% fatal. Ferrets can be protected from distemper by vaccination. After three years of age, ferrets become prone to several “geriatric” diseases including adrenal neoplasia, polycystic kidneys, lymphosarcoma, insulinoma, and skin neoplasia. Aplastic Anemia Female ferrets that are not spayed […]
Adrenal Gland Disease in Ferrets
Adrenal Gland The adrenal gland is an endocrine gland that sits above the kidneys. It is divided into a cortex and a medulla. The main responsibility of the adrenal gland is to regulate the stress response through the synthesis of corticosteroids, such as cortisol, and catecholamines, such as adrenaline. Adrenal Cortex The adrenal cortex is […]
Hamster Care
Basic Information Hamsters are peculiar little rodents with large cheek pouches and short stubby tails. They have gained popularity as pets and research animals since the 1930’s. The Syrian hamster’s, golden hamster, wild habitat extends through the Middle East and Southeastern Europe. In 1930, a litter of eight baby hamsters were taken to Israel and […]
Guinea Pig Care and Facts
Guinea pigs are friendly, social pets that make wonderful companions when provided with proper housing, nutrition, and veterinary care. Understanding their unique needs is essential for maintaining their long-term health and wellbeing. Guinea Pig Facts Housing The larger the enclosure, the better. A guinea pig enclosure should provide enough room for: Guinea pig urine contains […]
