Pocket Pets 101

The most common pocket pets are rats, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, degus, sugar gliders, and chinchillas. These animals might be in the same group as pocket pets. Yet, they have distinct needs that owners need to address. They do not have the same behaviour and attitude toward situations and things. 

Pocket pets are more manageable than regular pets like cats and dogs due to their small size. This might be true. Still, you must research beforehand to ensure you’re capable as an owner and meet the needs of the pocket pet you plan to adopt.

One of the basic needs of pocket pets is vet care. Your pet must get checked at least once yearly to ensure he is healthy. If there is a critical issue regarding your pet’s health, never think twice about calling your veterinarian Fort Collins, CO.

Housing Pet Chinchillas

Small rodents known as chinchillas are endemic to South America and are located in rocky, arid regions of the mountains. They are arguably most recognized for having luxuriant, thick, exceptionally silky fur. 

Although their fur shields them from components in the wild, captivity puts them at risk of overheating. This needs to be taken into account while choosing a location for your chinchilla inside the home. The ideal location for a chinchilla cage is a cooler, peaceful part of your home.

The chinchilla should not be bothered or stressed during the daytime by human activities if the cage is kept in a peaceful part of the house. The enclosure also needs to be placed in a cool location free from drafts and away from direct sunshine, which could lead to overheating. It's important to keep an eye on summertime temps to ensure the air isn't much hotter than 77 degrees. If you don't have air conditioning, you might try putting some ice cubes in a shallow pan inside the cage or covering a portion of the cage with a moist cloth (the water evaporation is cooling).

Your veterinarian Fort Collins, CO is a valuable resource regarding your pet’s health and needs.

Why Do Cats “Mark” With Urine?

 

Cats leave their imprints on the places they dwell or visit in a variety of ways. Cats not only use the scent glands found on their paws, face, cheeks, and tail to mark their territory, but they also use their urine for marking. Scratching and cheek rubbing are also kinds of marking. The cat does these to signal to the others that it has been there, and the scent stays even after a long time that it has gone.

Cats mark their area to demonstrate ownership and also to express sexual availability and receptivity. Other cats, whether outside or among the same household, can trigger cats to mark.

Cats also mark their territory when frightened or stressed. Changes in home habits, composition, new living places, new living arrangements, and other social and environmental can all cause this. In these instances, the cat may mark the new things added to the household or family members' property. Urine is frequently discovered in conspicuous spots or at access and egress to the outside. The most common areas to find this is near doorways and windows because this is a technique of distinguishing their territory. When cats are outside, they tend to mark the perimeter of their property, notable things on the property, and new objects added to the property. They even mark areas other cats have marked.

If your pet’s spray marking behavior bothers you, it is a good idea to talk to your vet Fort Collins, CO about it.

Which Deworming Medication Should You Use On A Pet Cat?

 

There are a lot of commercially available deworming products and the availability of various drugs differ between countries.  Yes, some deworming products might be available for purchase in certain supermarkets and in pet stores, but it is likely that these are less effective or old products.  Some of them might not even be safe for cats. 

The best thing to do is to always ask your veterinarian for recommendations.  They will know which kinds of parasitic worms are commonly found in your local area.  They should also recommend to you the safest and most effective deworming treatment for your pet cat.  In addition, treatments vary in their methods of administration, some easier than others.  There are injectable treatments that your veterinarian could administer, and there are also ones that come in tablet form that you can sneak in through your cat’s meals.  There are also products that are applied to your pet’s skin as drops.

Consult a veterinarian Fort Collins, CO for a safe and effective deworming product for your pet. Read more here.

Will Your Rabbit and Dog Get Along Okay?

 

If you have a pet dog and want to add a rabbit to your growing family, consider if your dog has a history of pursuing smaller animals. Consider your pet's behavior when you take it on outdoor walks and attempt to figure out if it gets thrilled when it sees smaller creatures.

This information can help you determine if your dog will assail the new pet rabbit when it comes home for the first time. Because rabbits can die of terror, it is critical to understand your dogs' predatory behavior.

Several dog breeds, such as Golden Retrievers and Terriers, undergo training to catch rabbits. So, avoid acquiring a pet rabbit if you have these canine breeds at home. Ensure that you get a rabbit-friendly dog breed to prevent any unexpected accidents.

If your dog loves interacting with smaller, curious creatures, a rabbit might be a perfect fit and a terrific buddy for your pet.

Your pets will benefit from regular health and wellness checks at your vet hospital Fort Collins, CO. Click here to know more about their services.

Pet Chinchilla Essentials

 

A pet chinchilla will need a big enclosure for comfort.  Cages often labeled as a “chinchilla cage” found for sale in pet supply stores are usually so small that a mature chinchilla is not able to comfortably move around.

Like all pets, chinchillas will of course require a food bowl and a water source.  The food bowl has to have enough weight to support the animal because they tend to sit on top of the bowl’s edge when eating.  Therefore, the food bowl must be strong enough to properly support your chinchilla’s body weight or clipped into something that does not tip over and spill food.  There are chinchilla enclosures that have a built-in hole in their frames where you can slide in a food bowl.  They are practical designs because you can clean the food bowl and change the food without the necessity of having to open the door of the cage every time.

The water bottle usually also used for pet mice can be a good option because these “gravity” bottles are designed to resist leaking.  The bottle has to be cleaned and the water has to be replaced daily to avoid bacteria from building up inside the straw.  It is not recommended to offer your pet tap water because it may contain chemicals that may be hazardous to your chinchilla’s health.  To get by this, try cooling tap water in a bottle first.

Your veterinarian Fort Collins, CO is a valuable resource when it comes to your pet’s health and needs.

Food Portions Are Healthier For Pet Cats

 

Study shows that pet cats lived healthier when put on a regulated food intake. Unlike their predecessors that had to roam far and wide every day to hunt for food, pet cats live a more comfortable but inactive life. Living together with people has altered their way of life, heightening their possibility of accumulating on the extra weight and turning into obese.

Generally, cats eat a considerable amount of food, particularly when presented with tasty food that appeals to their senses. High caloric consumption, more than the ideal intake, will sooner or later cause extra weight and obesity.

Pet cats do not need a lot of energy for the reason that they do not need to hunt for food, unlike their predecessors. Their food is provided to them every day. A neutered or spayed cat does not also need a lot of energy because it won't have the desire to wander to seek mates.

Your pet’s diet and nutritional needs should be one of the important things that you should discuss with your veterinarian Fort Collins, CO during your pet’s wellness checks.

Why Weight Management Is Important For Your Pet

Obesity is a growing problem among dogs across the US. This health issue continues to worsen and has affected more than 50% of canines. There are a series of diseases that come along with the extra pounds. Your role as a pet owner is to be watchful of the daily caloric intake of your pet.  

Health problems can be a lot more frequent and are more common in overweight dogs. Canine obesity is associated with several health issues including diabetes, cardiorespiratory and kidney disease, osteoarthritis, even some cancers. With all these conditions and their complications, their lifespans are tremendously reduced to 2.5 years.

The excess weight will exert a lot of force on their joints which can lead to arthritis. Not only will it cause limitations in how your dog moves, but it can cause them severe pain. For cats, a significant change in their appearance provides the best clue that they are already obese. Obese cats would appear unkempt in some areas of their body because they can no longer twist and stretch to groom themselves.      

Losing weight can be a challenge but this is something you can openly discuss with your veterinarian Fort Collins, CO, and ask about weight management plans for your pet.

Caring for a longhaired cat

 

You have a longhaired cat coming into your life soon and you want to make sure you are able to give her the best life you possibly can. This makes you wonder – what’s it like caring for a pet like this?

 

Looking after a longhaired cat is very similar to looking after a shorthaired companion, but additional attention will need to be paid to her grooming needs. This means that you will need to find the right brush for her and use it regularly to help prevent tangles, matting, and other issues. This can help her stay more comfortable in your care and lessen the chances of her having to deal with hairballs, as these can accumulate more quickly in a longhaired feline friend than a short haired one. For more information, please contact your local pet clinic Fort Collins CO.

Guinea Pig Playtime

Your guinea pig is a highly social animal. Give your guinea pig apparatus to climb on and tunnel through in his cage. This will keep him busy and add exercise to his routine. Plan for supervised play sessions outside the cage daily. He will need room to run around but protect him from accidental kicks falls or attacks from other pets. Keep him away electrical wires and don’t allow him to eat toxic plants. Let your guinea pig climb on you or run through a maze. Consider hiding treats throughout the room to entice your guinea pig to run around. Never use a hamster ball or even one that seems large enough for your guinea pig. These balls put too much stress on the spine. Exercise wheels aslo cause too much curve to the spine and could injure your guinea pig. Visit this website for more information.