Bearded Dragons

HOUSING – should be in a terrarium at least 72 inches long, 16 inches wide and 16 inches high.

-best to house alone

-avoid sand or bark substrates.  Newspaper ,  indoor/outdoor carpet, or paper pulp best.

-cage temperatures should be 85-90 during the day, and 75-80 at night.

-provide fresh water daily in bowls that they can crawl into.

COMMON MEDICAL PROBLEMS – watch for the following symptoms:

-weight loss, poor appetite, abnormal stools

-twitching, tremors

-swelling, inability to close mouth properly

-discharge from the mouth or nose, difficulty breathing

-distended abdomen 

Parrots

HOUSING – Very important, as the larger a bird is, the more space they require.  Multiple perches should be available.  Floor should be covered with newspaper and cleaned daily.  Avoid nests as this may induce unwanted reproductive behavior.

DIET – Primarily high quality pelleted ration (Zupreem, Harrison’s, Roudybush), and supplemented with darkly colored vegetables (broccoli, green peppers, beets).  Offer fruit in moderation, and avoid starches (potatoes, pasta, corn).

BEHAVIOR – Birds exhibit many different behaviors, and it can be different depending on the type of bird.  Feather-plucking, screaming and aggression are all examples of different types of behavior that may or may not be normal.

MEDICAL ISSUES – Chronic egg-laying, upper respiratory problems, tumors, foot diseases and parasites are some of the many different problems that can affect birds.

Hedgehogs

HOUSING  - Minimal 2 x 3 ft plastic cage.  Hiding places of PVC piping or a wooden box should be provided.  Recycled paper bedding is preferred.  Keep temperature around 75-80 degrees.  Exercise wheels are highly recommended.

DIET – Commercially prepared hedgehog diets are best.  If not available, then a less active cat food is an option.  Water can be provided from a water bottle.  Limit treats to rare fruits or mealworms/crickets.

HANDLING – Small towels or garden gloves can be used to prevent injury from the hedgehog’s spines, however with frequent handling hedgehogs are far less likely to curl up into a ball.  If frightened, sometimes all that is needed is a dimly lit room and patience to get the hedgehog to uncurl.

MEDICAL ISSUES – Mites, obesity, fatty liver syndrome, dental disease, tumors, and Salmonellosis are different conditions that may require a veterinarian to diagnose and treat. 

Guinea Pigs

HOUSING -  Minimal 2 x 3 ft plastic cage.  NEVER use wire-mesh bottoms.  Use recycled newspaper as bedding (Carefresh or Yesterday’s News), or even just regular newspaper.

DIET – Timothy hay free choice, pellets, dark leafy greens, water, and vitamin C (either in liquid and pellet form).

HANDLING – Always use 2 hands and be very gentle.  Try to avoid excessive noise, needless excitement and over handling.  If children are handling the pig, have them sit on the floor and hold it on their lap.  Only allow them to handle the pet with adult supervision.

MEDICAL ISSUES -  Malocclusion (poor teeth), vitamin C deficiency, lice and mites, upper respiratory infections, ringworm.

Ferrets

HOUSING -  Minimum 2 x 4 ft cage, with several levels to allow climbing and playing.  They love “ferret hammocks” to lay in, boxes to play in, and tubes to hide in.  They use litter boxes most of the time, so provide a low-dust litter like recycled paper.  If you provide toys, use ones that they aren’t able to chew apart (hard rubber).

DIET – Use only a high protein/low carbohydrate commercial ferret food, such asa Marshall’s Totally Ferret or Evo.  Since they are strictly carnivores, they need a meat-based diet.  Cat foods are not recommended unless there is nothing else available. 

HANDLING -  Ferrets love play, and it can be tricky to really handle them if they don’t to be held!  They do need grooming with regular nail trims, and they may need periodic bathing (once a month is enough).

MEDICAL ISSUES – Foreign material – ferrets love to chew on things, and if they swallow something big enough it can become lodged.  Things like remote control buttons, stuffing from toys, or the rubber from a shoe’s sole are favorites to watch out for.  “Green Slime Diarrhea” (potentially fatal viral disease), adrenal gland issues, and insulinomas are other medical issues that may need a veterinary to diagnose and treat.

Sugar Gliders 

Small marsupials native to Australia.  Females have pouches, and can have “joeys” after just a 16 day pregnancy.  Gliders are sexually active after 8-14 months, and can live from 10-12 years.  They have risen in popularity in recent years.

HOUSING – Due their extremely active nature (at night), sugar gliders should have the largest cage possible – 3 x 3 x 3 ft. at least.  Wire mesh is preferable to allow them to crawl, climb and jump.  Plenty of branches should be available for climbing along with toys to play with. 

DIET  - Several commercial sugar glider diets are available and should be 75% of the glider’s diet.  Fresh fruits and vegetables should make up the other 25% of the diet – melon, berries, papaya and mango are all good choices for a glider.  Do NOT include grapes, bananas, apples, pears or canned fruit.

HANDLING – Care must be taken as these animals may bite when agitated or disturbed.  When well-socialized and handled frequently, these animals are docile and easy to work with.  Gliders are usually very active during the evening hours, so veterinary visits are best done earlier in the day when they are easier to handle.

MEDICAL ISSUES – Sugar Gliders can have problems related to an improper diet – calcium deficiency, gastrointestinal issues, as well as a host of genetic problems.