HappyPets....... small animals

Food: Feeding requirements will vary depending on the type of small animal you have. Each pet has their own food mix and should be fed exactly that.  One type of small animal food should not be substituted for another type. For example, guinea pigs cannot be sustained on rabbit pellets in the long term because they won't get enough vitamin C and can develop scurvy. Likewise, mice and rats can not be sustained on a hamster mix. They can develop skin problems because it is too rich in seeds for their dietary requirements.

Fresh fruits and Vegetables: Fresh fruits and vegetables like apples, romaine lettuce, and oranges are great extras for many small animals and help to balance their diets.  If not eaten, these should be removed from the cage after a few hours before they start to go bad. Hamsters should get fruit and vegetables once or twice a week.  Gerbils can have a small amount of veggies every day, and an occasional fruit. Not all small animals should be given fruits and vegetables or should only be given them occasionally. Learn more about your small animal pet and what types of foods are safe for it to eat.

Treats: Treats are a great and fun way to interact with your pet. There are all sorts of bars, wafers, chews, drops and mixes available as treats. Be especially careful not to overfeed treats. Keep the treats to less than about 10% or 20% of your pets total diet. Like foods, be sure to feed the right types of treats to your small animal pet.

Exercise:  Exercise  is another favorite activity for most small animals, especially hamsters and mice.

An exercise wheel or exercise ball are great choices for small pets.  Be aware though that your small pet can overexert itself, so don't leave it in an exercise ball for more than 15 or 20 minutes at a time.

Burrowing and Tunneling: Burrowing and tunneling are fun and natural activities for many small animals. Great toys for these activities are funnels and hiding places. Generally you can find them made of plastic, wood, hemp or rope. They come in many colors, shapes and sizes.

Gnawing: Gnawing is a favorite activity for lots of small animals. There are flavored and plain wood chew toys in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes available, as well as hard alfalfa cubes. Some pets like bunnies and guinea pigs have to gnaw. Their teeth grow just like our hair and fingernails. Gnawing is how they keep their teeth trimmed. If chew toys are not available, these pets will chew on other things in their cages, or even the cages themselves!