diarrhea or caked-on stool. Many baby hamsters at pet stores have a disease called "wet tail", which is usually fatal. Ask the employee for help in determining the animal's sex. Keep in mind that pet store employees may know little more than you about the pet: the sex can be correctly determined during your pet's first veterinary visit.

Visiting your Veterinarian

Within 48 hours of your purchase, your rodent should be examined by a veterinarian knowledgeable in the treatment of pet rodents. A fecal test is test should be done to check for internal parasites. The veterinarian can also determine the sex of your pet. If all turns out well, your pet will be given a clean bill of health. Like all pets, pet rodents should be examined annually and have their feces tested for parasites during the annual visit.

What type of cage?

It is most convenient to house pet rodents in a glass aquarium, although cages are available specifically for these pets, just make sure the size is such that your pet can have sufficient room to exercise, play, eat, drink etc. Wooden cages can be chewed through. The cages can be left open at the top providing that the rodent can't escape and other pets (such as the family dog or cat) can't get at your rodent! ALL PET RODENTS ARE MASTERS OF ESCAPE. The cages must be escape-proof. Letting a pet rodent have free run of the house is DISCOURAGED, due to the potential for injury and death to the pet, as well as to destruction of furniture by the pet. They can be handled outside of the cage if care is used (supervise young children). The environmental temperature should be kept between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit (18 - 29 Celsius); warmer temperatures predispose pet rodents, especially guinea pigs, to heat stroke.

Housing together or alone?

(just remember un-neutered males and females put together will BREED!)

Guinea Pigs

Guinea Pigs can be housed together. Sometimes they fight when they are put together but you should let them sort out their pecking order. This may take a couple of days. Sometimes guinea pigs will continue to squeak at one another intermittently and appear to be aggressive. Do not worry they are just re-establishing the pecking order.

Hamsters

Hamsters are best housed individually. Sexually mature females are aggressive to other females and to males.

Mice

Male mice are usually housed alone. Female mice rarely fight and are often housed together. Newly assembled male groups, new males entering established territories, and mice previously housed alone are more likely to fight.

Rats

Unlike mice, rats rarely fight and can be housed in groups. Occasionally, females that have just given birth may fight with other females.

Gerbils and Degus

Gerbils and Degus are usually housed individually. A monogamous pair can be formed

if the male and female are bonded before 8 weeks of age. The pair should not, as a rule, be separated.

What kind of bedding to use in the cage?

Wood shavings, such as pine or cedar, are usually provided for bedding material. Shredded paper or towels are also fine. Avoid sawdust, sand, or dirt. The cage should be cleaned and the bedding changed as often as it gets dirty, but at least weekly. A frequently cleaned, well-

ventilated environment is important in controlling respiratory infections. Any toys should be cleaned weekly as well.

Toys

Regarding cage toys, these can provide psychological stimulation as well as exercise for the pet rodents. Tubes and mazes are popular, as are exercise wheels. "Open track" exercise wheels, can be dangerous and broken legs are not uncommon occurrences. While not every animal with an exercise wheel will be injured, it is a risk best avoided. The safest wheel is composed of plastic and has no openings in the track ("solid track") where a foot can get caught. Cardboard tubes from paper towel rolls or toilet paper rolls can be used as "tubes" as well as chew toys. Other types of chew toys can be offered to help prevent overgrown incisors; anything suited for dogs, such as Nyla-bones or well-boiled meat bones, are fine. Many owners offer their pet rodents wood sticks to chew, which helps control overgrown incisors beware of splinters!

What else to put in the cage?

Since rodents like to burrow, they need some type of hiding place for them in the cage. Round, hollow objects can be purchased at the pet stores, or cleaned cans (such as an orange juice can-no rough edges please to avoid cuts) or paper towel cardboard rolls can be provided.

What to feed?

All of the pet rodents can be fed a good, high quality rodent chow (pelleted food) available at pet stores. Many veterinarians also recommend offering hay to the rodents; check with your veterinarian about this first. The diets containing seeds and nuts ARE NOT RECOMMENDED. If offered these good-tasting seeds and nuts, which are high in fat, many rodents will eat these instead of the formulated pellets (low in protein, high in fat and bad for the liver!).  Fresh food and water should be available at all times and changed fresh daily.

Please make sure your Guinea Pig gets sufficient vitamin C!  No other pet rodents require extra vitamins except for Guinea Pigs if the diet isn't supplemented and sufficient fresh fruit made available. They are like humans and cannot make their own vitamin C thus will develop scurvey if not supplemented properly. Check with your veterinarian for quantities needed for your pet Pig.

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