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By Dr. Shawn Finch, DVM - View Bio
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Chinchillas will sometimes pull out their fur in response to stress, so yes, it is possible he is responding to the heat, especially since everything else has been constant. Good job with the cool room, Chinchiller and fresh water. I would recommend a wellness exam with his veterinarian to rule out other causes of fur pulling and/or stress. Best case scenario, he gets a clean bill of health. Second best, and still very good, is perhaps you will catch an illness early, before it has the time to do much harm. Let me know what you find out and how he does!
It is easier to say what treats are worst for ratties, so I will start there! Rats may not have chocolate, onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts or any carbonated drink. If in doubt, call your veterinarian before giving your rat a treat to double check that it is safe.
Beyond that, foods that are healthy for us tend to be healthy for our rat friends! Have fun and be creative. Give “junk food” (high sugar, high carbohydrates, trans fats) only in moderation. Give fruits and vegetables in moderation as well to avoid loose stools. Remember their tummies are about the size of a dime, so you are doing them a kindness by keeping the treats at ratty size!
Some of my rats’ favorite treats include crackers, Cheerios, and most recently, strawberry puffed rice cereal made for babies. They received it as a gift from friends, and go crazy over it! If you have more suggestions for fun rat treats, Fuzzy and Wuzzy would love them!
Your question has the power to revolutionize guinea pig health world wide! I really do believe that adequate levels of vitamin C in the diets of guinea pigs (who, like people and other primates, are unable to manufacture their own) is the number one factor in having longer-lived, healthier guinea pigs.
In one cup of Carefresh Complete Guinea Pig Food, there is at least 32 milligrams (mg) of stabilized Vitamin C, which is on the high end as guinea pig foods go! A piggy who ate two tablespoons a day would get 4 mg of vitamin C.
However, I believe that the optimal amount of vitamin C for a guinea pig is closer to 25 mg a day, which is very difficult to achieve with diet alone. I recommend a vitamin C supplement so that your piggy will be sure to get his or her entire vitamin C requirement for the day. Unlike some supplements, too much vitamin C is preferable to too little.
The guinea pig diet I recommend for optimum health is:
-unlimited grass hay, such as timothy hay
-measured pellets, such as Carefresh Complete Guinea Pig food (Start at two tablespoons a day and adjust based on body condition score and the recommendation of your veterinarian)
-occasional healthy treats
-fresh water
-a 25 mg Vitamin C supplement in chewable tablet form once a day.
Bunnies are very susceptible to heat stress, even more so than dogs. Heat stress is treatable, but can rapidly become dangerous and even fatal. If your rabbit shows any signs of discomfort or lethargy after being in a heated environment, bring them to the veterinarian right away. When rabbits are outside, they should have a sheltered area and water available at all times. Temperature ranges may provide a false sense of security, as your rabbit’s well being in warm weather depends on his age, overall health, access to shade and water, humidity, stress level…To be as safe as possible, stay outside with your rabbit. If it is too hot for you, chances are your rabbit is not comfortable either. While you are outside together, you will also be able to monitor his comfort level.
Carefresh of course! Aspen is ok. Do not use pine or cedar (soft wood) bedding for your pet, as these contain phenols-the component of pine and cedar that makes them smell so good is also extremely irritating to the sensitive respiratory systems of small mammals, and can predispose them to respiratory infections. Improper bedding can also be irritating to the bottoms of your pet’s feet, which are very prone to painful infection. For the same reason, do not use wire flooring. Use bedding that absorbs urine and odor well. A paper-based, absorbent, non-scented bedding is best. The bedding should be changed and the habitat wiped clean once a week. If bedding were available that was produced in an environmentally friendly manner, made of a paper byproduct that would otherwise be discarded and was compostable, that would be even better! J
Rabbits get some of their nutrients from copraphagia (the medical term for poop eating). Do not discourage it, as it is necessary, gross as it is, for your pet’s health. In contrast to the normal hard round pellets you will find in your rabbit’s habitat, the feces they eat (often called “night feces”) are softer and rich in Vitamin B12. Should I stop there because I have much more copraphagia information if you are not sufficiently grossed out (or amazed at the complexity and efficiency of the rabbit’s digestive system!)
Hamsters, and other animals, including other rodents and even horses, have teeth that grow continually throughout their life. This is normally not a problem for healthy hamsters-they chew enough to keep their teeth worn. If they are not chewing enough (due to illness, lack of chewing material, oral pain, or another reason) or of their top and bottom jaw do not line up correctly (malocclusion) their teeth may overgrow to the point of making chewing difficult, or poking into the soft tissue of their mouths, which is very painful. Incisors (front teeth) are visible and easier to monitor for overgrowth than the molars (back teeth or “cheek teeth”), but these are equally important. Have all of your pet’s teeth checked at each veterinary visit. If there is any overgrowth, your veterinarian may clip or grind down the affected teeth, or suggest husbandry changes to correct the problem.
Bunnies are naturally curious, and if they can be engaged, will hop around to explore a new area. Bunny-proof a room or a section of a room and allow them to hop around the area once or twice a day. Even a playpen can be a bunny-safe play area. Remember the other side of the fitness equation for all of us-diet. Make sure your bunny is getting plenty of grass hay (such as timothy hay) and cut back on the pellets and treats if needed.
Our goal for all our pet friends is a healthy body conformation, which will serve them well for their overall health and longevity. You may be used to judging your dog our cat’s body condition, but never thought to watch your hamster’s weight! While we want our dog and cat friends to have a visible waist, we want a similar, but not identical conformation for our rodent, rabbit and ferret friends. As a general rule, they should be uniformly wide from their shoulders to their bottom. Run your hands gently down their bodies and make sure you can feel their ribs and their tummy is not too prominent. If you are unable to easily feel their ribs, or they have a big tummy, they may be overweight. Work with your veterinarian on a diet and exercise plan to slowly get back to a healthy weight. If you are able to see their ribs, or their tummy seems sunken in, they may be underweight, which can be a sign of a serious underlying condition. Have your veterinarian do a thorough health assessment, and work together to get your pet healthy and at an ideal weight.
Treats are wonderful for bonding your rats to you and training them to do tricks. Rats are very smart, and learn quickly, especially when there are yummy treats available. Most everything we can eat is permissible for rats in moderation, with very important exceptions! Do not let your rat ever have any carbonated drink. They also are not allowed chocolate, onions, garlic, grapes, raisins or macadamia nuts. If in doubt, call your veterinarian before giving your rat a treat to double check that it is safe. Remember that rats have tiny stomachs, so one very small treat once a day is enough, though your rat may not agree!
Currently it is not recommended that pet rabbits and rodents in the United States be vaccinated. Though they are susceptible to infectious diseases, they are not often exposed as many other pets as our dogs and cats might be, and there are no approved rabbit or rodent vaccines available in the United States. In other countries, some rabbit diseases are more prevalent, and vaccines are available and recommended. Check with your veterinarian for up-to-date and area-specific vaccine recommendations. As an aside, ferrets should be vaccinated against distemper and rabies.
Bunnies and hamsters shed, and a gentle brushing is a good idea about once a week for short-haired rabbits and even hamsters, and more often for long-haired pets.
Good question Henry! Rabies has only been documented in mammals, but not in birds. Though rabies may occur in any mammal, it is very rare in rodents and rabbits. Humans can get rabies, and it is almost always fatal if untreated, and sometimes even fatal with treatment. Most cases of rabies are from wild animals, such as bats and skunks. To keep people and pets safe, all dogs and cats in the United States must be vaccinated against rabies. There is even a vaccine available for people. I have been vaccinated, since I spend so much time with pets.
The average lifespan of a hamster is two years, and can vary by breed. Good nutrition, housing and care can help your hamster’s longevity, though there are no guarantees. The oldest hamster in the world was reported to be seven years old!
Our goal for all our pet friends is a healthy body conformation, which will serve them well for their overall health and longevity. You may be used to judging your dog or cat’s body condition, but never thought to watch your hamster’s weight! While we want our dog and cat friends to have a visible waist, we want a similar, but not identical conformation for our rodent, rabbit and ferret friends. As a general rule, they should be uniformly wide from their shoulders to their bottom. Run your hands gently down their bodies and make sure you can feel their ribs and their tummy is not too prominent. If you are unable to easily feel their ribs, or they have a big tummy, they may be overweight. Work with your veterinarian on a diet and exercise plan to slowly get back to a healthy weight. If you are able to see their ribs, or their tummy seems sunken in, they may be underweight, which can be a sign of a serious underlying condition. Have your veterinarian do a thorough health assessment, and work together to get your pet healthy and at an ideal weight.
Hi, Peter! Good question! Bunnies are always seen in cartoons eating a carrot, so naturally, most people assume they should have an endless supply! In reality, bunnies need a much more balanced diet than just carrots. Bunnies should have an endless supply of grass hay, such as Timothy hay, a small amount of commercial bunny food (pellets) and all the water they want. Healthy treats (including carrots) should be given in moderation. For a small bunny, one baby carrot or other small treat a day is ideal. A big bunny could have two baby carrots or one large carrot a day.
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