Teddy Bear HAMSTERS

Teddy bear hamsters are among the most popular Syrian hamsters that possess beautiful furs. They are also known as fancy hamsters, Angora hamsters and long-haired hamsters. Most female hamsters of this type have plush furs while the men are characterized by their long skirt of furs located at the back. According to most pet enthusiasts, their furs look elegant and those that have longer furs draw the most admiration and attention.

Teddy Bear Hamster Photo: Wikimedia

Most teddy bear hamsters may grow up to five inches in length. Those who have thick furs may look larger than those who have thin ones. According to sources, these species rank as the second largest hamster in the world. Females usually reach their maturity at the age of six weeks while males mature when they reach the age of seven to eight weeks.

As observed by many pet owners, teddy bear hamsters love to live alone. Putting them in a cage with other hamsters would only lead to a fight. They are also known for nipping a person's hand when they weren't gently held.

Their elegant furs draw most people to get them as pets. Teddy bear hamsters usually have gold furs which sometimes have splashes of deep red lines. The fur strands typically range from one to two inches in length.

These creatures are able to groom themselves; however, one may brush them using a clean toothbrush in order to remove tangles. One should consider a toothbrush that has soft bristles to avoid scratching the skin of the hamsters. These soft bristles are capable of separating dead hair from the coat. Always brushing your hamsters will allow their furs to shine.

Hamsters generally face various health issues and they can usually live from two to three years only. However, their lifespan may be extended if they receive utmost care from their owners. According to some pet enthusiasts, some of the health issues faced by teddy bear hamsters include diarrhea, mite infestation and overgrown teeth.

Diarrhea in hamsters is usually caused by a diet consisting of lettuce and other foods that are low in fiber. Moreover, dirty cages also contribute to the onset of this disease.

Hamsters may also be infested with mites. Mites are parasites that cause severe itching. If this problem is left untreated, hamsters may scratch themselves which can result to infections. To treat this kind of ailment, one should apply adequate amount of mitacide to the hamster's body. It is also advised to thoroughly clean the cage and add fresh bedding.

Also known as malocclusion, overgrown teeth is another health concern faced by hamsters. This condition is characterized by the continuous growth of teeth until they no longer fit with one another. This inhibits the hamster to chew its food properly. If this will not be treated, the hamster will frequently experience starvation. According to veterinarians, malocclusion may be prevented during the hamster's early age. They advise pet owners to provide their pets with chew blocks so that their teeth will naturally wear off.

By Jason Richardson Ryan Article Source: EzineArticles

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How To Find a VET For Your CHINCHILLA

An Experienced Vet is Worth the Search

Chinchilla Photo: Wikimedia

Establishing a good working relationship with a veterinarian can be a challenge for any pet owner, but is a special challenge for the exotic pet owner. The exotic pet owner must find a vet who is willing to see their pet, knows something about their pet, and has the facilities, equipment and materials to treat their pet.

An interest in exotics doesn't necessarily equal proficiency in treating them. I say this from experience, as although I am fascinated with exotic pets, I have no special training in treating them medically. When I was practicing as a veterinarian, except for very routine care, I generally referred exotics to a specialist nearby. Thing may have changed a bit since I went to school, but during my training, exposure to exotics was still very imited even though I sought out extra exposure to exotic pets in my choice of clinical rotations. If at all possible, try to locate a vet who specializes in exotics and has taken specialized training (e.g. a residency in exotic animal medicine, or one who is board certified in an exotics specialty).

Such specialists can be hard to come by, so the next best is someone who has lots of experience treating exotic pets. Ask a potential veterinarian about their training, credentials, and memberships in specialty organizations such as the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV) or the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV). At the very least, choose a veterinarian with a real interest in exotic species and who is willing to learn about them and who will consult with a specialist when needed.

Personal recommendation or word of mouth is probably the most efficient way of finding a veterinarian. Friends, breeders, or organizations (e.g. the local herpetological society, other clubs) are good starting points. Other places to locate veterinarians include the yellow pages/phone directories (look for clinics that specifically advertise that they treat exotics), the state/provincial veterinary association directory, or even web pages that have veterinary directories (including the AAV and ARAV sites mentioned above). Several species specific web pages have sections where readers can submit contact information for veterinarians they have used.

Most importantly, do not wait until an emergency to find a vet. If your pet should get sick, a veterinarian with whom you feel comfortable and who is comfortable dealing with your pet will make the situation less stressful. An initial check up is well advised for any new pet and this is a good chance to see how a veterinarian handles your pet and how comfortable they are with your pet, and also to see if you and the veterinarian make a good match - sometimes there is a personality clash and you won't develop a good rapport with a certain veterinarian.

A veterinarian familiar with exotics will spend a good deal of time discussing the care and husbandry of a particular pet, as many problems with exotic pets are related to improper diet or husbandry. The veterinarian should also appear confident handling your pet.

There are several criteria which can be used to evaluate a practice in general and the following web pages discuss these in detail:

- How to Find a Veterinarian - advice from About's Guide to Veterinary Medicine on finding and evaluating a vet, with a link to some online vet finder directories. 

- How to Find an Avian Veterinarian - helpful tips for finding a veterinarian- geared toward bird owners but also applicable to any exotic species. 

For exotics there are more specific considerations, including: 

- special training or continuing education related to exotic pet medicine 

- how often exotic species are seen in their practice 

- special facilities or equipment to handle exotic pets

- experience (personal or professional) and familiarity with the husbandry and medicine of a particular species 

Finding the right vet can be a challenge and may not seem that important when your pet is healthy, but the effort will be well worth it if your pet should fall ill!

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Your GERBIL Should Live in an Aquarium

To understand why your gerbil should live in an aquarium we'll first have to look at gerbils in the wild.Gerbils are a burrowing animal, they dig up the ground and create underground tunnel systems in which they reside.The other noteworthy trait of a gerbil is that it is a rodent, which in short, means they like to chew allot.

A male and female fat-tailed gerbil (Pachyuromys duprasi).  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Gerbil movement is more like hopping than running, and their large back feet are furry on the bottom to protect them from the heat of the sand. Gerbils are fast but overly inquisitive. In their natural environment, they mostly eat insects, and additionally gain moisture from desert plants that store water in them. A gerbil has fur all over its body, including the tail, as this prevents it from getting sunburned.

There are several quite obvious reasons why aquariums make better housing for a gerbil:

When the gerbil starts to dig around through his bedding, the bedding is contained within the aquarium and isn't splashed sideways on the floor (which I just finished cleaning of course).

Cages that have more than one level can become a serious danger, especially to pups. They run around and play around and a fall or stumble and can end up with a broken leg.

Gerbils also tend to chew the wires of the cage which isn't particularly good to the cage or good to the gerbil.

Moreover Gerbils are social animals, and prefer to live in groups. Often very large groups live well together, as long as the living environment is big enough; otherwise, the gerbils may become frustrated and attack one another.That's why it's very important to have a large roomy aquarium for you gerbils. Aquariums tend to be bigger than cages thus provide to the little ones more room play in. Moreover hamster wheels can easily be fitted at the top of an aquarium.

The other choice would going with a plastic habitat. IMO these aren't very good as a gerbil may chew them up and from experience escape is far too easy using those.

If you don't have a gerbil, get one!

Gerbils are a very popular house pet, and there are several reasons for that. They are typically non-aggressive, and they rarely bite unprovoked or without stress. They are small and easy to handle, since they are sociable creatures that enjoy the company of humans and other gerbils. Gerbils also have adapted their kidneys to produce a minimum of waste to conserve body fluids which makes them very clean with little odor.

By James K Taylor James Taylor lives in Orange County. He enjoys spending time with his 4 gerbils. Article Source: EzineArticles

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HAMSTERS Fuzzy Balls Of Fun

As a child, most of us grew up with hamsters or friends who had hamsters. Even our children are fascinated with the small fuzzy creatures. There are many types of hamsters, dwarf, Syrian, Russian, Chinese, and hybrid. The hamster is a burrower so they prefer to have lots of bedding to hide under as well as tubes to create little nests in. The most difficult aspect of hamsters is telling if they are female or male and being wrong. Who has bought two hamsters thinking they were the same gender and ending up with ten hamsters? I certainly have.

Photo: Flickr

A lot of biologists and geneticists use hamsters and other rodents to show genetic possibilities. In genetics, we often discuss the genome and how genes are dispersed in relation to eye color, hair color, and other traits. When you have hamsters as pets you are seeing this first hand. I had one gold hamster and one white hamster. When they bred I ended up with several color traits from gold, white, black, white and black to many more.  Half the fun for kids is seeing the baby hamsters grow up with different colors. It can be a great science project for school as well as having a wonderful pet.

Hamsters are relatively easy to take care of. You can feed them hamster food, vegetables, and little hamster treats to give them a good life. The bedding should be changed weekly or twice a week depending upon how many hamsters you have. The downside to hamsters is their short lives. Most live only a year or two making it difficult on the younger children.

There are lots of hamster accessories from tubes to wheels. Hamsters like other pets need to have exercise so giving them wheels to run on or having a hamster ball to run around the house in is good for them. The tubing and cages come in a variety of colors to add to a child’s fun. You can create straight pathways to other larger home areas or curve them around to reenter the same cage. Most of the caging is plastic and your hamster will try to chew or claw there way free. You will want to monitor their activity when you clean the cage to make sure they are not producing a hole. Some hamster owners go with a metal wire cage with tiny slits to avoid the chewing escape. Your preference will determine the type of accessories you purchase.  

Handling hamsters should be kept to a minimum and you should always wash your hand before and after. Hamsters can have a tendency to bite if they are not handled at least once a day or if they become scared. Be cautious with little children.

Hamsters are a lot of fun for all ages whether you have a budding scientist or just want an easy pet your child can care for. You will want to make sure you feed your hamster properly by not over feeding them while maintaining proper exercise. When your hamsters procreate, you will want to separate out the mother and children from the rest of the crew. A cautionary note before concluding this article: Dwarf hamsters are very susceptible to infections with cedar chips because it can tear holes in their tiny mouths.

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SUGAR GLIDERS, The Perfect Pocket Pet

If you have been thinking about getting a great small pet that is friendly, fun and entertaining then you should consider a sugar glider! Here is some great information about these cute little critters.

Sugar Gliders are marsupials which means that the babies are born extremely immature and then grow in a pouch on the mothers abdomen until they are mature enough to survive outside her body on their own.

Sugar Glider Petaurus breviceps at Cincinnati Zoo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The adult sugar gliders size is usually around 5-6 inches long with a weight of 4-6 ounces.

Between the wrist and the ankle, sugar gliders have a fur covered membrane called a patapium. To see an example of a sugar glider in flight visit http://www.LittlePawsPetClub.blogspot.com. By spreading out their hands and feet the sugar gliders patapium acts like a parachute allowing the sugar glider to float through the air.

Sugar gliders have large apposable toes on their hind feet which allows them to grip branches. This assists the sugar glider while gliding from limb to limb and while climbing. Sugar gliders second and third toes form a grooming comb which they can use to groom their fur.

Sugar gliders are extremely social and enjoy companionship. Because of this fact sugar gliders usually bond well with their owners. If you do not have a lot of time to spend with your sugar glider it is a good idea to keep more than one.

If you plan on keeping more than one sugar glider it is advisable to raise them together from a young age as it can be difficult introducing unaquainted adults.

Be sure to purchase an appropriate cage for your sugar glider. It is best to get the largest cage that you can afford to give your sugar gliders plenty of room.

Before purchasing a sugar glider as a pet, be sure to research their nutritional needs. Sugar gliders have some special dietary calcium requirements that are important to follow to keep your sugar glider in optimum health.

Sugar gliders are nocturnal animals, so if you plan on owning a sugar glider be prepared to have a pet that is most active during the night. Sugar gliders make a chainsaw like sound, so you may want to place their cage in an area where their talking does not disturb you while you sleep.

In spite of the fact that sugar gliders are nocturnal, they are usually happy to spend time with their owners during the day by sleeping in a pocket or pouch. Many sugar glider owners find this trait particularly charming and take their little sugar glider pocket pets with them everywhere they go.

By Julie Jones For more free pet tips, recipes, and fun visit http://www.LittlePawsPetClub.blogspot.com Article Source: EzineArticles

6 SMALL PETS for Almost Every Household

Focus is always on dogs and cats in the pet world, but what about those of us who can't own a larger animal? Don't overlook the benefits of small pets-they can be good pets just like any other animal, and are often easier to take care of. There is a large variety to choose from so it's hard to pick just one, that's why we broke it down for you so you can decide which pet is right for you!

Photo: Flickr

• Rabbits: These furry animals are social and friendly, and adapt very well to human companionship. They actually have longer life spans compared to other pets-in fact, some rabbits live to be 7-10 years old! Rabbits are kid friendly-but a downfall is that you need lots of room indoors for them. They also need to be socialized just like a dog, so if you're very busy and don't have time for that, rabbits probably aren't right for you.

• Birds: Pet birds have been known to reduce depression in owners because of the color and charming, calming sounds they bring to the home. They are one of the cleanest animals and only need to take up a small area in your home. Several birds have been selectively bred for human ownership and adapt well to domestic life, including finches, cockatiels, canaries, parakeets, and lovebirds. Some downfalls are that some birds, such as parrots, are better off in the wild and can be loud and destructive. When deciding to purchase a bird, you must consider getting two because most birds are flock animals and need a friend to keep them company.

• Hamsters: These small animals are cuddly, friendly, and inquisitive. They do not require a large amount of attention, so they're great for people with busy lifestyles. A downfall is that they are nocturnal, so if you're planning on keeping one in your bedroom you may want to reconsider so you can sleep. They can also bite and carry diseases like salmonella, so you should handle them carefully and wash your hands after touching them. Hamsters also have very short lifespans-if you have small children in the household, be prepared to explain death after 2.5-3 years.

• Ferrets: These are very fun and engaging small pets with playful attitudes. They have long life spans and become very cuddly as they age. You must keep a close eye on them when they are out of their cage, and you should not keep one in its cage for a long period of time. Ferrets can get pretty smelly and it takes time to keep them clean. But if you have the time and energy, ferrets are probably perfect for you!

• Guinea Pigs: These pets have a lifespan of 5 to 7 years and are very sweet and social. They require grooming and do better when they have another guinea pig for companionship. Like hamsters, they can carry salmonella and other diseases so it's important to wash your hands after handling one.

• Chinchillas: These small pets also have a longer lifespan of 5 to 10 years and are quite adorable. They tend to be solitary so there's no need for a companion. Chinchillas are usually clean and odorless and friendly to humans. A downfall is that they require dust baths at least once a week and should be handled very carefully because they are easily startled. They can get to be large and hard to handle.

There are so many small pets to choose from-hopefully you are able to determine which small animal is right for you!

By Emmy E Bill Article Source: EzineArticles

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RAT and MICE Health - Tips on Medications and Neutering

Just like cats and dogs, rats and mice need regular medication and the occasional visit to the vet. As always, prevention is best, and this article gives you some tips and advice to help your pet mouse or rat live longer and healthier and be the best companion for you.

A female pet mouse standing in hand. It's an adult, but it's smaller than a pet mice usually are, because it's bred to be small.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Rats and mice need worming three to four times a year. They also may need spraying to keep mites away. However, this can be done cheaply if you purchase your products from your local pet store owner and you buy a generic brand. There are vitamin supplements that can be added to their water too. Most of these products can be purchased for approximately $10 each and are well worth keeping just in case your pet becomes ill. By administering vitamin syrup or worming, for example, you may be able to save your pet's life or at least prevent if from getting very ill.

Cages and toys should be sprayed for mites at least once a week when they are cleaned. By keeping cages and toys clean, you will provide a much healthier environment. I always soaked toys and bowls in hot water and disinfectant; they were then rinsed thoroughly. They never went straight back in the cages, however. I always had two or three sets of everything. That way items could dry properly and there was little risk of the mice and rats becoming ill from the disinfectant I used.

Both rats and mice have a fantastic sense of smell and will benefit from the use of essential oils. These oils will aid with healing wounds and regulating behaviour. However, as with dogs and other pets, you will have to dilute it and read the instructions carefully. If the male mice were fighting, I used to apply a tea tree cream. It has great healing qualities and is so pungent that the other mice would live the victim alone. As male mice tend gang up on just one, the use of this cream allowed the poor thing to recover and heal its wounds.

Get professional advice from your health care expert about which oils would be best for your pet. There are also some great websites available that can offer advice about which oils to use, dosage rates and much more.

You can desex rats but not mice; they're just too small. Desexing male rats is much simpler and painless than desexing females. However, the easiest and cheapest option is to keep separate cages for your males and females or just keep one gender.

You shouldn't breed your females too young as this may stunt their growth and cause problems later on. Females will need to be rested for months between litters as over breeding will cause health problems. Proper diet is also essential for lactating females and I have covered it in another article.

Rats are not as territorial as mice and we mix rats from different litters together all the time and we have never had any problems with one rat accepting another, in fact, they welcome the company after a brief investigation. I have seen females grooming small young that are not their own in both mice and rats too. Both species seem to have a very community spirited idea to caring for the welfare of their young.

If you are concerned about introducing a new animal to your existing ones, do it in neutral territory like your bathroom; clean the cage thoroughly and then give them fresh food. Put both animals back in the cage at the same time. They will be so busy running around investigating the new food and new bedding they won't bother with each other.

If these animals do start fighting, there is not much you can do but separate them in different cages.

By Sue Day Sue Day has worked in the pet industry for many years. Now a full time dog trainer, Sue has put together a website of over 50 pages to share her knowledge and experiences of pet care. Article Source:  EzineArticles