The Ferret at the Faire

I was at a Renaissance Faire over the weekend, and spotted a number of participants who travel with their pets. I encountered a few small dogs, a cat, and a ferret — in or near the owner’s booth, enjoying the day. Thumper the ferret was most impressive, I have to say. He first caught my eye when his owner (a maker of leather clothing, costumes, and accessories) was taking him for a walk. He loped along on his little leash and harness, following the sound of the squeaky toy in her hand. And he isn’t her first squeaky-trained ferret. A … Continue reading →

Guinea Pig Feeding

Guinea pigs — like people and many other animals — are happiest with a varied diet. Kristen brought this up when she succumbed to guinea pig mania — guinea pigs cannot manufacture vitamin C in their bodies. They NEED vitamin C supplements in order to stay healthy. Adult guinea pigs need between thirty and fifty milligrams of vitamin C per day. Experts suggest skipping the vitamin drops that can be added to water. Why? Vitamin drops may have other vitamins and minerals that your pigs don’t need. Some may potentially be toxic! Vitamin C deteriorates rapidly in water and light, … Continue reading →

Guinea Pig Cages

When it comes to housing your guinea pigs, bigger is better. If you have only one guinea pig (this isn’t recommended, as guinea pigs are social animals), you should be sure to provide at least seven and a half square feet of living space. That’s about three feet by two and a half feet. If you have two guinea pigs, provide at least ten and a half square feet of living space (approximately thirty inches by fifty inches). Three guinea pigs will be happy with around thirteen square feet of living space (approximately thirty inches by sixty inches). Why so … Continue reading →

Guinea Pigs are Herd Animals

Studies of guinea pigs in the wild have shown that they tend to live in herds of five to ten. A herd generally has one adult male and the rest female or sexually immature children. You may not want an entire herd of guinea pigs in your home, but your pigs will be happiest if they aren’t alone. Both anecdotal and experimental evidence points to domestic guinea pigs being happiest and healthiest when living with other guinea pigs. So how do you pick the right partner for your pig? A very young pair (under six months) may experience personality changes … Continue reading →

Guinea Pig Fact and Fiction

After talking with fantasy author Joshua Palmatier about his guinea pigs, I noticed that we don’t have a whole lot of info here at the Pets Blog about the breed! Time to remedy that. Here are some basics about guinea pigs (also known as cavies). The average body temperature of a guinea pig is between 99 and 103 degrees Fahrenheit. Like many other house pets with fur, that’s warmer than the average human! An average adult male guinea pig weighs (called a boar) between two and three pounds. An average adult female guinea pig (called a sow) weighs between one … Continue reading →

Taking a Minute to Appreciate Squirrels for Squirrel Appreciation Week

Photo by MadMaven/T.S.Heisele We’re smack dab in the middle of Squirrel Appreciation Week, which runs from October 7th through 13th. Do you take squirrels for granted? It’s easy to, especially if you live in a place where you see them everyday. Unless you’re an avid gardener or backyard ornithologists, you may have no reason to pay the squirrels romping in the gardens and feasting at bird feeders any mind. I grew up in Denver and squirrels were a staple in our backyard. As a kid, I liked to watch Mackie watching them through the sliding glass doors. I liked it … Continue reading →

Pet Mouse Feeding

Your pet mice need a balanced diet in order to be healthy, playful, and happy. In fact, their diet needs much of the same basics a human diet needs! Your mice need carbohydrates: this is basically the main portion of the mouse diet. Whole or rolled oats, hay, stale whole wheat bread, cooked whole wheat pasta. Your mice need vegetables: vitamins and minerals come from fresh vegetables like greens, carrots, peas, and more. Some veggies (or too much of a single veggie) can upset the stomach and leave you with a very messy cage. Your mice need protein: this can … Continue reading →

Taming Your Pet Mouse

Mice are social, active, and curious — and can become used to handling with some time and patience. After they become used to their new cage home, you can start getting them used to you and your family. Spend time around the cage. Let the mice hear your voice. Don’t move too quickly or speak too loudly. Offer a treat through the bars of the cage — try millet or sunflower seeds. Offer a treat on the palm of your hand. You can move the treat up your arm gradually, to encourage the mouse to climb into your hand and … Continue reading →

Pet Mouse Basics

If rats aren’t your first choice in a pet, you may want to think about a pet mouse instead! Pet mice are active, interesting, and can be very social. The basics: Size — mice are generally between six and seven inches long, but half of that length is tail! The body is approximately three to three and a half inches long. Life Span — mice live an average of one and a half to two years. Lifestyle — mice live well in pairs or groups, and are nocturnal. A mouse is a very social pet, and doesn’t do very well … Continue reading →

Taming Your Chinchilla

Chinchillas are active and playful pets, and can become accustomed to human handling with a little time and patience. The younger your chinchilla is, the easier time you’ll have. Try to find a chinchilla who has been handled frequently — this will make your work a lot easier. But you can tame just about any chinchilla of any age. Here are a few basic tips: Take your time. When you first bring your chinchilla home, give him a chance to adjust to the new environment. Keep interaction and cage maintenance to a minimum for the first few days — that … Continue reading →