PetLvr.com - [The Blog]

I love my many pets, and they all get along fairly well, even the cat and rats. Interactions between pets of different species can be fascinating and humorous. However, there are certain common pets that simply don’t play well with others. Here are a few combinations that shouldn’t be permitted to interact, even with supervision.

Ferrets and Rodents

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With the current financial crisis, if you’re not cutting back on expenses already, it’s likely that you will be soon. Pet parents are feeling the crunch even more than those without pets. It can be hard to justify spending extra money for fancy pet toys, especially when some families and pets are still coping with the aftermath of Ike and Gustav. Of course, to make matters worse, prices are going up on just about everything, and show no signs of coming down any time soon.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to save money on pet care without compromising your pets’ health or happiness. Making pet toys at home is one way to cut costs while keeping pets happy and stimulated. More →

Every pet owner should maintain a good working relationship with a veterinarian. Owners of multiple types of pets, particularly exotic or unusual pets, may need several veterinarians. However, sometimes the decision to take a pet, particularly a small mammal, to the vet for an illness or injury is a difficult one. Small pets are particularly sensitive to stress. Some are also susceptible to airborne viruses. For both these reasons, it’s best to avoid unnecessary stress.

While I am not a vet and a consultation with a veterinarian is always the best choice if you are uncertain or think your pet may be in need of treatment, here is some basic information on symptoms and injuries and their severity. More →

Dear PetLvr Mailbag …

Okay, a 1-2 year old male feral/stray/whatever cat moved into my back yard. Got attacked by, I think, a raccoon, as the possums left and I have a few kits, one mom, and prolly 2 males right now.
He wont go into a trap, so how can I catch him ( the cat ) so I can get him checked out at the vets ? Several released ferals live in backyard so withholding food is not an option.

–Friend of Ferals

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Let me begin by saying that, as a pet rat owner and fancier, I detest the mill-style breeding that Rainbow Exotics practices. As a result of these conditions, as well as the treatment of animals seen in stores, I avoid shopping at Petco or Petsmart whenever possible. In general, I prefer Petsmart if I must choose to shop at a chain pet store that sells live animals, because they keep only one gender of mammals at a time and do not sell live feeders. However, I was forced to enter Petco today due to a crisis– no cat litter left, and Petsmart was out of our brand– and was pleased to see some changes occurring.

Changes at Local Petco Stores

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Many people seeking a new pet bypass the adoption option for one reason or another. While there are certainly some situations in which purchasing from a reputable, responsible breeder is ideal, consider this list of five myths about pet adoption before bypassing rescue to look for a breeder.

1. Shelter dogs are all mutts.

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Ferrets are typically vaccinated against rabies and canine distemper

The first is rare, even rarer in ferrets. But the fear of catching rabies from a bite is so intense that many will choose to get the shot for their ferret anyway. It helps protect the animal, the owner and ward off lawsuits from visitors who might accidentally get their fingers in a ferret’s playful mouth.

Canine distemper is much less rare, and it is airborne. So even if your ferret never comes in contact with another animal, the vaccination is important. Canine distemper can be transmitted from one ferret to another (or a dog to a ferret) by a sneeze. It survives in the air fully long enough to infect the animal. There are other transmission routes, as well.

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Aw … Kittens .. Ferrets .. together …

Kitten Vs Ferret - Click here for this week’s top video clips

Ferrets, like many of the cousins in the weasel family, have a natural musky scent. Over time that can build up to an unpleasant level. That happens too often in pet stores and the homes of careless owners who don’t house and clean the cage properly. But some odor can be present even in the best circumstances. Fortunately, dealing with it only takes a little thought and effort.

Many commercially sold ferrets will have their natural scent glands removed. These are similar to the anal glands in skunks, which the ferret can use to spray with when fearful. Though, the emitted spray is different in skunks. Removing them can certainly reduce the potential odor problem, but some see that as unnecessary and extreme. Some odor will remain even then, since it’s excreted through the skin.

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Ferrets require more care than cats or dogs. Though they sleep about 18 hours per day, when they’re awake they’re very active. They’re also extremely curious and love to explore. Unless they’re always caged, that makes them somewhat accident prone. If they’re always caged, they may not get the proper stimulus and exercise, representing the other side of the dilemma.

Beyond basic safety, though, there are regular actions that any caring ferret owner will want to take to ensure their companion is kept in optimal mental and physical health. Ferrets live on average between 6-8 years and much of those they will need attention and checkups.

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