Cleaning of Substrate in Snake Enclosures

 

When taking care of reptiles, routine cage care is a must. A clean enclosure helps in keeping pet snakes healthy, safe and comfortable.

The lining at the bottom of your tank that provides a natural and pleasant environment for your snake is called the substrate. A snake may dig into anything, such as layers of paper towels down to underneath smooth sand. Old newspaper, cypress mulch, aspen shavings, and dried leaves are all appropriate materials. The ones we use are made of live oak. Avoid using too much cedar or fragrant wood shavings.

You should regularly clean and replenish the substrate as it also acts as a holding area for your snake's waste. Cleaning the whole tank along with this is a good idea. Water with mild soap, glass cleaners with alcohol-base, and dilute Clorox® and Roccal® solutions are all good cleansers. The use of pine cleansers or anything that contains phenol should be avoided.

Your veterinarian Michigan City, IN is a valuable resource when it comes to your pet’s health and needs.

Do Pet Reptiles Need Water?

 

Being the most important source of nutrients,  an accessible source of clean water is essential for pet reptiles. Place the water in a shallow dish where they can soak to promote proper shedding. Also, ensure that getting out of the water is safe and easy to prevent drowning.

Replace the water daily and when the reptile has defecated. Clean the container every day and disinfect it every week. For some lizards like chameleons, the water must be sprayed on plants or cage's sides as they don't drink from bowls.

You may also drip the water in the reptile's tank, which is easier than dripper tubing. Make a hole in a paper/plastic cup's bottom; then fill it with water. How fast the cup empties depends on how large the hole is. Place the cup on top of the tank/cage above a leaf where the water should fall. Be sure that the leaf has another cup/bowl under it to avoid soiling the tank.

A sudden change in your pet’s drinking and/or urinating habits should be brought to the attention of your veterinarian Michigan City, IN. Visit the website.

Stairs for Small Dogs

Small dogs such as toy breeds and miniatures may need a little help when it comes to getting on furniture in your home. Even if some small dogs can make the jump to your chair or loveseat it could do damage to their little joints especially when jumping down. You can help prevent this with pet stairs or a pet ramp. Stairs or a ramp are designed with small dogs in mind. These options allow your small dogs to gain access to and from furniture and even your bed without hurting themselves or placing unnecessary pressure on their joints. Make sure when picking out pet stairs or ramps that you check the weight capacity and not the breed that it recommends using the product. For instance, some stairs may say OK for Pomeranians with a weight limit of 12 pounds. This wouldn’t work for the Throwback Pomeranian which can be over 15 pounds. Click here for more information and talk with your vet Michigan City, IN.

Why your guinea pig needs floor time

You have spent a lot of time with your pet, and you know that she needs you to look after her in more ways than one. You are also aware of the fact that she needs floor time on a daily basis. Why is this so important to your guinea pig?

Your pet needs to be able to get out of her cage each and every day. The space in her enclosure, no matter how nice you’ve made it for her, is still very confining. Her body needs to move about freely and she needs to enjoy some exercise. This means that she will crave this time outside of her enclosure in a safe area where she can take part in different activities, socialize, and take a break from the rest of her day. For more information, please contact your local vet clinic Michigan City, IN.