The cuddly soft chinchillas are nimble climbers and jumpers. They are great fun to watch. And with a little patience, they will even become tame!
Chinchillas need a stable, well-protected habitat with a cage that offers several levels. An outdoor enclosure is not suitable for them. Temperature and humidity should be kept at a moderate level. Chinchillas do not tolerate excessive heat (above 25 degrees Celsius) well. A room aviary equipped with various climbing, playing, and sleeping facilities is best suited.
Chinchillas should not live alone. They should be kept in pairs at least, or even better in a small group. A group consisting of one neutered male and two or three females is recommended. However, same-sex groups are also possible. It is best if the "living group" is put together when the animals are young. Integrating older chinchillas is always difficult and causes stress on both sides. Chinchillas are very active and nocturnal. They need enough space to exercise. An outdoor enclosure in the home is ideal. But be careful: this area should be free of hazards such as cables and similar objects.
The cage should be placed so that the animals' nocturnal activity does not disturb your sleep. Water bowls, feeding areas, and anything else you put in the cage should be made of natural or very durable materials. Wood, cork, and ceramic are good choices. Plastic items, on the other hand, could be chewed up by the little rodents and cause injury if swallowed. A sand bath is a must for chinchillas. Small animal litter mixed with straw and hay can be used as bedding for the cage.
Chinchillas are herbivores. Your soft cuddly friend will love fresh hay every day, along with herbs, leaves, and flowers. Nibbling on hay helps wear down their teeth. Chinchillas' teeth grow throughout their lives, which can lead to problems if they don't wear down enough. The digestive tract of these animals is complex, so their diet should be adjusted accordingly to prevent life-threatening diarrhea. Fatty treats and sugar do not belong in a chinchilla's diet, as they pose a serious risk to your pet's health. Treats such as supplementary feed, fresh vegetables, or fresh leaves should only be fed in very small quantities. It is best to feed your chinchilla by hand at first to strengthen your bond. Clean drinking water must be provided daily.
Cleaning the cage is a daily must, as chinchillas poop everywhere. Remove these traces once a day. The cage should then be thoroughly cleaned once a week.
A quick health check should also be part of your daily routine. Always keep an eye on whether each of the animals appears lively and mobile. Warning signs in chinchillas include changes in fur or skin and loss of appetite. If your pet appears apathetic or has diarrhea, take it to the vet immediately.
The anal area should also be checked regularly, as should the incisors.
And one last piece of information: chinchillas are excellent jumpers, and it is not uncommon for them to suddenly leap a meter into the air.
The dog, which is descended from the wolf, has teeth that are designed for hunting, killing, and tearing food apart. However, the search for food has changed for our four-legged friends: today, we open a can or even cook for our beloved furry friends. Breeding different breeds has also changed the length of dogs' noses and the spacing between their teeth. Unfortunately, all of this can lead to dental problems.
A dull coat, hairless, inflamed areas of skin and often very severe itching are characteristic of this parasitic skin disease, which occurs worldwide and can affect dogs of all ages. It is triggered by a mite, Demodex, which is also found on healthy dogs. Why it multiplies at an above-average rate in certain cases and leads to the skin changes mentioned above is still not fully understood. The disease is not considered contagious.
The decision to neuter is difficult for many dog owners. On the one hand, you want to see a change in behavior, but on the other hand, you are concerned about irreversible consequences. With a Suprelorin implant, you can test how neutering affects your dog's behavior and health without taking the final step right away. The implant can also be used for ferrets.
What do these five letters stand for? This abbreviation comes from English and literally means "feline lower urinary tract disease." It describes all diseases of the urinary tract in cats that cause difficulty and pain when urinating. As a rule, almost exclusively indoor cats are affected; outdoor cats almost never develop this condition. Male cats are also more susceptible than female cats.
It's really special when your own dog has puppies – and for us as dog owners, it's probably just as exciting as it is for the animal itself. It's important that you, as the companion of the expectant dog mom, always remain calm – and have the emergency number of your vet handy.
There are many reasons why a mare that has previously been a riding horse might be turned into a broodmare. There are a few factors to consider on the way to your first foal.
Fancy a little fun and games with your rabbit? Rabbits are intelligent animals. With patience and the right steps, they can even perform a "high five" or "sit."
What is a fun night of dancing for many people is unfortunately a sensitive issue for a lot of dog owners: New Year's Eve fireworks frighten our noise-sensitive four-legged friends and can lead to major problems.
Uveitis is an inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye. It can be divided into anterior and posterior inflammation and manifests itself through a narrow pupil and reddened conjunctiva.
Due to its appearance, the neck lump is also known as a talpa, which means mole tumor. It describes all inflammatory enlargements of the soft tissues in the neck area of the horse. The majority of cases are due to inflammation of the bursa located under the neck band.
In centuries past, looking into a horse's mouth played an important role, albeit primarily to determine the animal's age. Today, the focus is more on dental care and dental disease in horses. Dental hygiene is a very important aspect of keeping horses healthy. Regular veterinary checks of the mouth and teeth should be carried out at least once a year. The annual check-up and routine dental treatment can be carried out by any equine practice. In the event of specific dental problems or complications, it is advisable to consult a practice that specializes in equine dentistry. Typical dental problems in horses include tartar and the formation of hooks and edges on the molars due to uneven wear. These issues can be quickly resolved during routine treatment, preventing further damage. But how can we, as horse owners, tell if our horse has dental problems?
Hoof cancer is a chronic disease of the hoof corium. Unlike hoof abscesses, hoof cancer does not cause individual cells to die, but rather leads to uninhibited growth of individual parts of the hoof corium, accompanied by a foul-smelling discharge and a lack of keratinization of this tissue. The term "hoof cancer" was coined due to the appearance of this excessively grown, cauliflower-like tissue, although it is not a form of cancer.
