January, 2002

Happy New Year!

From the doctors and staff of East Hilliard Veterinary Services

We have now archived our previous newsletters to make them easier to find for your reference. A link to the archive will be found at the bottom of all future newsletters.

This month, in the last of our articles about "exotic" pets, we will discuss pets in the rodent family. Although many people are totally turned off by the term "rodents", we urge you to not allow that classification to turn you against considering one. They can make very good pets.

Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs are rodents that are native to the Andes Mountain region of South America. They were domesticated by the Andean Indians of Peru. Because of their docile nature and clean and quiet behavior, guinea pigs are popular pets.

• Housing - Enclosures made of wire, stainless steel, durable plastic, or glass are all acceptable housing options. Wood should not be used due to the difficulty in cleaning and susceptibility to destructive gnawing. The enclosure should have at least one side open for adequate ventilation. Do not use aquariums. Cage flooring should be solid and waterproof. Although solid flooring requires more effort to keep sanitary, it is safer. Acceptable bedding options are unscented, undyed wood shavings, shredded paper, and commercial pellets. Cedar shavings have been associated with respiratory difficulty and liver disease in some guinea pigs and should not be used. Sawdust should also be avoided. Bedding must be changed 1-2 times a week. They prefer a dry, cool environment - drastic environmental changes should be prevented. A raised platform accessible by a ramp is a nice addition and it is a great place to feed the guinea pig. It would also increase exercise. Because they love to chew, they need to be provided with safe chew toys.

• Nutrition - Commercially available pelleted chows specific for guinea pigs provide nearly all the essential nutrients required by guinea pigs. In addition, Vitamin C supplements are recommended. Check with your veterinarian to determine the proper dosage. Food should be offered in a heavy ceramic bowl that is high enough to keep out bedding and fecal pellets but low enough for easy access by the animal.

• Water - Clean, fresh water should be available at all times. Guinea pigs do best with a water bottle equipped with a sipper tube.

Hamsters
Hamsters are rodents with large cheek pouches and short stubby tails. Their original habitat was in the Middle East and southeastern Europe. Domestic hamsters were first introduced to the United States in the 1930's. They are inexpensive, generally friendly, and fairly easy to care for. They have become very common household pets.

• Housing - Wire, stainless steel, durable plastic, and glass are acceptable housing options. Wood should be avoided due to its susceptibility to destructive gnawing. Good ventilation is important but the cage must be escape-proof. Solid floors and deep bedding are best. Shredded paper or tissue and processed corncobs are all appropriate bedding materials. Cedar chips and chlorophyll-scented shavings have been associated with respiratory and liver disease in rodents and should be avoided. Hamsters need lots of "toys" and should be provided with things such as exercise wheels, tunnels, and nest boxes. Hamsters like to make nests and providing them with the proper nesting materials makes for a happier hamster. The cage and accessories should be thoroughly cleaned at least once a week.

• Nutrition - Pelleted rodent rations containing 18-22% protein are recommended for feeding hamsters. These rations are typically processed as dry blocks or pellets designed specifically for rodents. Seed diets are also formulated and sold for hamsters, but these diets should only supplement the basic rodent pellet as a treat. Many hamsters prefer sunflower-based diets to pellets, but these seeds are low in calcium and high in fat and cholesterol. When fed alone, seed diets can lead to obesity and potential nutritional deficiencies.

• Water - Clean, fresh water should be available at all times. Hamsters do best with water bottles equipped with sipper tubes.

Mice and Rats
Mice and rats make excellent pets when they are properly cared for. They are social animals and are fun to watch as they perform their natural behaviors of burrowing, searching for food, and playing.

• Housing - Wire, stainless steel, durable plastic, and glass cages with good ventilation are good for housing mice or rats. It must be escape-proof. Wood should be avoided due to its susceptibility to destructive gnawing. Solid floors and deep bedding are best. Shredded paper or tissue and processed corncobs are all appropriate bedding materials. Cedar chips, pine shavings, and chlorophyll-scented shavings have been associated with respiratory and liver disease in rodents and should be avoided. Rats and mice should have an exercise wheel, tunnels, and nesting boxes with good nesting material available. Rats and mice are colony-oriented and do well with more than one animal in a cage. Overcrowding can lead to aggression and territorial disputes however.

• Nutrition - Pelleted rodent rations containing about 14% protein and 4-5% fat are recommended for feeding mice and rats. These rations are typically processed as dry blocks or pellets designed specifically for rodents. Seed diets are also formulated but these diets should only supplement the basic rodent pellet as a treat. Many mice and rats prefer sunflower-based diets to pellets, but these seeds are low in calcium and high in fat and cholesterol. When fed alone, seed diets can lead to obesity and potential nutritional deficiencies.

• Water - Clean, fresh water should be available at all times. Mice and rats do best with water bottles equipped with sipper tubes.

Prairie Dogs
Yes, I said prairie dogs! They are becoming a popular pet! They are in the rodent family, they are diurnal (active during the day and sleeping at night), and they are herbivorous although they will occasionally eat an insect. They are busy and curious critters with an instinctive need to chew and dig. It is not legal in every state to keep prairie dogs as pets. They are legal in some parts of Ohio, however, they are not legal here in Franklin County.

• Housing - Pups can be kept in a 15-20 gallon aquarium but don't overcrowd them. As adults it is recommended to have a 2'x3'x3'multi-level cage made of wire with no larger than ˝" openings. The wire floor should have a pull out tray for easy cleaning. The 2nd level must have a continuous floor with a ramp, tunnel, or stairs for access. Since prairie dogs are very social animals they are happiest in groups. It is best to have all males, all females or 1 male with the rest females. It is highly recommended that they be spayed or neutered. Aside from the health benefits it will make them less aggressive and easier to handle. They can become very friendly if handled properly. Bedding should be lint-free material, dust-free shredded computer paper, or Yesterday's News bedding. They often make nests out of their hay. Many like to have small containers such as clay flowerpots in which to make their nest. Avoid placing the cage in direct sunlight and avoid drafts. Soiled hay must be removed daily and the cage should be cleaned entirely at least once a week. The pull out tray should be cleaned daily unless they have been litter box trained. Offer a litter box (chew safe) with scoopable litter and secure it to the side of the cage. Many prairie dogs will prefer to use this. Be cautious using regular litter for males as the litter can cling to their genital opening causing blockages. The litter box should be cleaned daily. Because they love to chew, they need to be provided with safe chew toys.

• Nutrition - Prairie Dog diets should be low protein (~13%), low fat, and high fiber (~60%). They can have free-choice timothy, fescue, brome, grass, and dandelion greens. Their rationed food should be about 1/8 cup per day per prairie dog of Basic T Pellets or Prairie Dog Delight from OxBow (www.oxbowhay.com), or other commercially available brands. As treats, they may have horse grain oats (1 tsp every other day), plain Cheerios, carrots, raisins, or plain Mini-Wheats cereal. Obesity is a major problem in pet prairie dogs however so use treats sparingly.

• Water - Clean fresh water should be offered in a bottle with a sipper tube.

For more information about prairie dogs, check these websites: www.rzu2u.com/pdhealth.htm & www.petswarehouse.com/prairiedog.htm

The information contained in the article about prairie dogs was taken from "Bringing a Prairie Dog Pup Into Your Home" by Karen Stoica and Betsy Callis.

Chinchillas
Chinchillas originated in South America in the Andes Mountains. They are quiet, agile, intelligent animals that quickly bond with their owners. They can be litter trained (at least to urinate). They are basically nocturnal but in captivity they can be active during the day also. They are extremely inquisitive and investigate everything they come across. Their life span is 9-17 years.

• Housing - Chinchillas require a relatively large cage. They are able to leap as much as 3 feet straight up in the air so the larger the cage the better (minimum acceptable size 36" x 24" x 24"). Welded wire mesh is acceptable with solid flooring in one area. Multiple levels can be provided with perches or pesticide-free branches for climbing and jumping. They should be housed by themselves. Provide a "hide box" for sleeping; they prefer to have it up high in the cage. Bedding should be kiln-dried pine. Cedar bedding must be avoided. Their teeth grow continuously so they need to be provided with safe wood objects for chewing. Temperature should be 50° - 68° F with humidity levels around 40%. Temperatures over 80° F can be fatal to chinchillas. Chinchillas need to take a dust bath at least 1-2 times weekly. Commercially available chinchilla dust must be used. Place 2-4 inches of the dust in a 6" x 6" x 9" dust box and enjoy the show. They really enjoy their dust baths. Daily activity outside of their cages is good for the chinchilla but their exercise time must be closely monitored. Their small size and their aggressive chewing behavior could lead to serious problems if left unsupervised.

• Nutrition - Commercially available chinchilla diet is the best along with free-choice timothy hay. Adults require 1-2 tablespoons of pellets daily. Treats may be offered sparingly. Raisins, fresh carrots, and green vegetables are OK but avoid high fat foods such as sunflower seeds and peanuts.

• Water - Clean fresh water must be available at all times. Chinchillas do best with water bottles with sipper tubes.

To honor the pets that have died this year and the families they loved…

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water, and sunshine and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the pets who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing: they each miss someone very special, someone who was left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. Their bright eyes are intent. Their eager body begins to quiver. Suddenly they break from the group, flying over the green grass, faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into those trusting eyes, so long gone from your life, but never from your heart.

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together…

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