Chinchillas

What is a Chinchilla?

The chinchilla is a South American rodent. Their habitat is the cool high desert areas of the Andes Mountains. Originally brought to the United States in 1923, they are active, practically odorless, parasite-free, and require little housing. A chinchilla weighs about one pound, with a life span of 10 - 15 years. Their fur is very soft, dense, plush, and silky, unmatched by any other animal. Their natural color is an attractive blue-gray or silver. They come in oher colors such as beige, black velvet, white, mosaic, charcoal, ebony, pastel, brown velvet, and violet. Chinchillas are small, gentle, curious animals. Their are easy to care for and simple to feed, making them an ideal family member.

Feeding:

Chinchillas young, growing and breeding eat Alffy C Chinchilla complete pellet ration daily along with alfalfa and timothy hay. An average adult chinchilla will transition nicely to the Timmy C Chinchilla complete pellet ration and eat approximately 2 to 3 tablespoons per day. Feed timothy hay daily with APD pellets, and your pet will be very healthy and happy. Feed alfalfa hay only occasionally. Always have fresh water available in a bottle daily. Supplements can be given 3 to 4 times a week in their water. Chinchillas are rodents and have ever-growing teeth that need gnawing materials. Hard, safe objects to chew on can be wood blocks, apple fruit twigs, rodent chews, manzanita pieces, or pumice stones, as well as our Timbo Snak Cube and Papaya Snak Cube. Commercial toys and chews are practical and decorative, your chinchilla will never get bored. Fruits and vegetables can be given moderately. They include raisins, banana chips with no sugar, papaya, pineapple, dried cranberry, sunflower seeds pumpkin seeds, peanuts,(in the shell and unsalted). Fresh fruits and vegetables are good, but watch the water content. Too much of a good thing results in diarrhea and or constipation. Your pet's droppings (feces)are always a good indicator that you are not loving them to much. Sticking to a balanced diet will keep your pet healthy.

Bathing:

Chinchillas require a unique dry bath, ground lava rock, called chinchilla dust. The dust cleans the fur of oils. dirt, removes dead fur and prevents mats. Dust bowls can be gallon jars, bread pans or even goldfish bowls or kitty liter boxes. Using about one cup or more in a bowl, put the dust in the cage for 10 - 15 minutes at least 2 to 3 times a week for a healthy and happy pet.

Handling:

A chinchilla is a clean, curious, shy, yet very agile animal that responds well to affection and a soft voice. They are not aggressive by nature and are very trusting to a slow steady hand. As with any animal, avoid sudden changes, loud noises, and be consistent. You both will enjoy daily playtime and achieve the pet you always wanted. As with any rodent, when you are not in the room with them put them in there cage for their safety.

Accessories:

For undisturbed sleep during the day, Provide a "hide away" in their cage for privacy. Pine boxes and/or tubes allow your pet a place to get away in private.

Exercise wheels are available for chinchillas. Be sure to find at least a 12" diameter wheel (w/o center bar) or 15"(w/ center bar) for their safety. Many are made of wire mesh, but the best are solid metal or plastic runners. Always secure them to the cage, you'd be surprised at how fast they can run!

Housing:

A multiple level, wire mesh cage is a good house for chinchillas. An average size for one to two animals is 18W X 24L X 24H. Shelving can be either wire mesh or a solid surface of wood or sheet metal. Use recycled paper bedding material, such as APD Critter Litter and Bedding or pine shavings for cage litter, but never use cedar or redwood as they are toxic. The bedding should be spot cleaned daily and be changed on a weekly basis. An outside water bottle, a bowl for pellets, hay rack, dust bowl, tube or box to sleep in and some toys should be the basics to keep your pet in a happy home.

Very important: chinchillas prefer cool - dry, well ventilated household climates of mid range temperatures of 55 - 75 degrees. Keep cages out of drafts and direct sunlight as excessive heat is deadly. 85 degrees and above will kill chinchillas.

Guinea Pigs

What is a Guinea Pig?

Guinea pigs came from South America. The Incas were the first to domesticate them. They are members of the cavy family. It is believed that they are called guinea pigs because in England they were sold for a guinea, which is a coin. Some think it is because they were brought to Europe by Spanish sailors from a country called Dutch Guiana in south America.

Guinea pigs do not have visible tails, however they have a tail vertebrae. Guinea pigs are born with hair and their eyes open. Unlike rabbits and mice that are born hairless and helpless, guinea pigs are born with both. They are so small they can fit in the palm of your hand. Their feet look too big for their bodies! They nurse right away, and may nibble a little food in a couple of days. Guinea pigs are called cavies and are in the rodent family, which means they like to gnaw. Be sure to provide gnawable materials such as wood sticks or hay cubes. This will help keep their teeth from growing too long.

Feeding:

Guinea pigs require vitamin C in their daily diet because they can not produce their own. Make sure the pellet ration you feed has stabilized vitamin C provided in it. Both the American Pet Diner Alffy C Guinea Pig (Alfalfa Based-High Protein) and the Timmy C Guinea Pig (Timothy Hay Based -High Fiber), Complete Pellet Rations have stabilized vitamin C in them. Feed a daily ration of Alffy C Guinea pig pellets , which has 18% protein, an alfalfa based complete pellet ration for young, growing, gestating, lactating or mature guinea pigs. Feed Timmy C Guinea Pig which has 14% protein and is a complete ration to animals that are adult, overweight, or with urinary track problems.

Feed alfalfa hay only to young, growing , lactating or gestating animals. Provide adult or overweight animals with as much Timothy Gold Hay as they can eat. A good choice is 2nd crop timothy or orchard grass. As with all animals, keep a supply of fresh water. Veterinarians recommend supplementing Vitamin C in their water. These Vitamin C drops can be found at your local pet store.

Treats:

Guinea pigs like to gnaw, so provide them with things to gnaw on such as our Timbo Snak Cubes, or wood items such as Busy Bunny basket of sticks. Feed fresh vegetables and fruits high in vitamin C such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, pea pods, dark green lettuce (no iceberg), herbs, grass, apples, oranges, grapes, pears, peaches, strawberries, pineapple, papaya, and blueberries, (remove seeds) in moderation. Always introduce these items slowly as they can have adverse reactions including diarrhea.

Housing and Handling:

Guinea pigs need to be held and loved to create a bond between yourself and your pet. This makes a loving and gentle pet. They may be easily frightened, so speak to them in a soft voice and move slowly around them. A guinea pig's cage must have good ventilation, so don't use an aquarium. The cage should have enough run around room and a solid bottom and mesh sides. Mesh bottoms cause foot injuries and sores. Provide a hiding spot like a small box or tunnel, so they can hide if scared or if they feel like they need to escape, sleep or be alone.

Hamsters

What is a Hamster?

The hamster was discovered in Syria and Russia. It is believed that today's pet hamsters are all descendants of the Syrian hamster. The most common is the golden hamster with long or short hair and range in length from 4 to 11 inches, or a dwarf hamster from 2 to 4 inches.. Hamsters do not have a tail, but have a stub.

They are natural burrowers and need to have plenty of non-toxic bedding material to dig in. They are solitary pets, thus they should be housed separately. Even though they may fight with their own kind, except while mating, hamsters thrive on the company of humans. Give them lots of attention.

Feeding:

Hamsters should be fed a basic mix designed for hamsters and occasionally hay. Then supplement fruits and vegetables such as: apple, banana, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celery, corn on the cob, kale, peas and spinach. Slowly introduce any new food, small amounts and only one at a time to reduce the chance of diarrhea. Always provide a steady supply of water. Do NOT feed sweets, chocolates, onion, garlic or any pellet or feed mix containing antibiotic.

Housing:

Provide a cage of at least 20 square inches. Stick with the single story versions, as hamsters can not climb as well as other rodents. Glass or non-chewable plastic is the best choice. A roomy cage allows the hamster room to move and area for you to add fun toys such as tunnels or wheels for their exercise and amusement. Hamsters have an instinct to run, so you need to provide a wheel or run for the animal to satisfy that urge. They are escape artist. Make sure their cage has no openings, no matter how small, as they can get out easily. Provide your pet somewhere in their cage that they can escape, a tunnel, ball or open ended enclosure for it to escape and hide.

Prairie Dogs

What is a Prairie Dog?:

Prairie Dogs are a rodent and are native to the flat plains of west Texas. They burrow and tunnel and live in colonies. They are very social. The prairie dog has been domesticated only recently and make wonderful pets. They must be handled at a young age to make them tame. They do not breed in captivity or will not rear a litter, so it is not advisable to attempt breeding them. Have them spay or neutered to make a better pet.

A prairie dog's digestive system houses bacteria that enables all necessary amino acids to be manufactured from hay and grass. The system is efficient and even wild prairie dogs are able to live on low protein sources. Mimic nature's way the best you can. Avoid high protein, alfalfa, fatty food like dried corn, seeds, fruit or rodent blocks. Over feeding and improper diet will lead to serious health problem or even death for your pet.

Feeding:

Adult prairie dog eat course grass, prickly pear cactus, roots and seasonal greens. When kept as a pet, try to emulate nature's diet. Pet prairie dogs can become overweight if not careful. So feed Timothy High Fiber Hay (1st cutting timothy) high fiber and low caloric feeds. You can also feed Mountain Grass Hay (orchard grass hay)and oat hays are healthy diet staples. Timmy Rabbit Complete Pellet Ration, (timothy hay based, may be fed in small quantities. For example 1/8 cup per day per adult prairie dog. In late summer it will be necessary to reduce the pellets to 2 to 3 times per week. The prairie dogs body begins to store fat at this time for the lean winter months, (in captivity this means they will get fat, and you don't want that). Always keep a fresh supply of water on hand, although prairie dogs don't require a lot of water.

Treats:

Another good feed choice is the Timbo Snak Cube (timothy hay cube). It is comprised of sun dried timothy hay and binder. The cube is tidy and may be used when traveling. Adding this into the diet gives diversity and helps to wear down the continuously growing incisors teeth.

For treats a small sliver of raw sweet potato, one plain mini shredded wheat, carrots, fresh grass or a spoonful of oats. Be frugal with treats and do not offer all three in one day. Prairie dogs are prone to obesity. Treats may be fed 2 to 3 times per week and only if your pet maintains a healthy body weight of 2 to 3 pounds.

Housing: Not available at this time.

Rabbits

What is a rabbit?

Early rabbits were natives of the land bordering the western Mediterranean sea. They were first domesticated about 4000 years ago. Like rodents, rabbits have incisors that grow constantly, and must be worn down. However, rabbits are not rodents. It is estimated that about 12 million rabbits are raised in the USA every year and that number is increasing. Rabbits do well in captivity. Rabbits do not readily acquire diseases from humans and they are not likely to transmit them.

Rabbits make wonderful pets. They are commonly litter box trained, very quite, and being kept in a cage, they are easily contained and not underfoot . Always supervise your rabbit when out of its cage, so that they don't gnaw on furniture, electric cords or eat house plants.

Rabbits range in size from 2 to 20 pound, so you need to decide which breed is better for you.

Feeding:

Feed a daily ration of American Pet Diner Alffy Rabbit Complete Pellet Ration, an alfalfa based pellet ration for young, growing, gestating, lactating rabbits. Feed Timmy Rabbit Complete Pellet Ration (Timothy Based Hay), which is high fiber and low calorie and protein and is a complete ration to animals that are adult, overweight or with urinary track problems.

Feed alfalfa hay only to young, growing , lactating or gestating animals. Provide adult or overweight animals with as much high fiber hay as they can eat. A good choice is our Timothy High Fiber (1st crop timothy), Timothy Gold (2nd crop timothy) and Mountain Hay (Orchard Grass and other Grass Hays). As with all animals, keep a supply of fresh water.

Treats:

Rabbits like to gnaw, so provide them with things to gnaw on such as Timbo Snak Cubes, or Apple fruit twigs. Feed fresh vegetables and fruits such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, pea pods, dark green lettuce (no iceberg), herbs, grass, apples, pears, pineapple, and papaya in moderation. Always introduce these items slowly as they can have adverse reactions including diarrhea.

Housing:

Get your pet spayed or neutered as soon as they are fully grown. The rabbits disposition makes them a better pet after. Before housing two or more rabbits together, make sure they get along and don't fight. Most rabbit will be happier if they have a friend to live with. Just make sure they are compatible by spending time with them.

In order to know the size of cage you will need for your rabbit, you will need to know how big the rabbit is going to get. So, you will need to know the type or breed of rabbit you are getting. An adult rabbit should have one square foot of floor space per pound of weight. Smaller varieties need no less than four feet of floor space.