The Exotic Pet Vet Blog
You plan an exotic, or perhaps not so exotic, getaway for you and your family. Tickets are booked, hotel plans are made, then you are stuck with the question – what do I do with my beloved exotic pet? Some owners bring in a pet sitter who will come twice a day to visit, feed and clean their pet in their home. While there are benefits to having someone come to your house when you’re away, a lot can happen to your pet during the hours the sitter is not there. Another option is to bring your pet to the…
Why Is My Guinea Pig Coughing?
Why is my guinea pig coughing? A cough in a guinea pig is not normal, and it most often points to a respiratory infection or an irritant in the air.…
Guinea Pig Teeth Chattering: Causes and What It Means
In most cases, guinea pig teeth chattering is a warning. A guinea pig that clicks its teeth together quickly is saying he is annoyed, scared, or protecting his space, and…
Do Guinea Pigs Hibernate?
Do guinea pigs hibernate? No. Guinea pigs stay active all year long and have no natural ability to enter a winter sleep. A guinea pig that suddenly goes still, cold,…
Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes, and More
The first signs of wobbly hedgehog syndrome are usually an unsteady, swaying walk, stumbling, and falling to one side, followed over time by trouble curling into a ball, weakness in…
Hedgehog Care: How to Care for a Hedgehog
Imagine hedgehog care as a job posting. The hours run overnight, the workplace must stay toasty, the catering involves insects, and your new coworker greets you with a hiss and…
Do Hedgehogs Have Quills?
Do hedgehogs have quills? Yes. Every hedgehog is covered in thousands of sharp, hollow spines, which are technically modified hairs made of keratin, the same protein found in human fingernails.…
Hedgehogs as Pets: What You Need to Know
Do hedgehogs make good pets? They can, for the right owner. Hedgehogs are quiet, tidy, and fascinating to watch, but they are nocturnal, solitary animals with specific needs for warmth,…
Hamster Eye Infection: Treatment and Prevention
What causes an eye infection in hamsters? Most cases trace back to bacteria that invade after an irritant or injury, such as dusty bedding, a scratch from a tunnel, or…
Wet Tail in Hamsters: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Wet tail in hamsters is a serious bacterial infection of the intestines that causes watery diarrhea, soaked and matted fur around the tail and hindquarters, and rapid decline. It is…
Are Hamsters Nocturnal? What Pet Owners Should Know About Hamster Sleep
Are hamsters nocturnal? Yes. More precisely, hamsters are crepuscular and nocturnal, which means they wake at dusk, stay busy through the early night, and sleep through most of the daylight…