BIRDS
Many different species of birds are kept as pets but it is a sad fact that many of them die prematurely due to poor housing and lack of nutrition. Just making a few changes in your birds environment can make his life much more interesting and ultimately, he will live a long a healthy life.
HOUSING
The best cage for any bird is the largest that you can afford. For smaller species, pay careful attention to bar spacing. Avoid circular cages at all costs, as they create a stressful environment for any bird.
PERCHES
Most perches come with plastic removeable ribbed perches - throw these away!
All birds from tiny Canaries and Finches to the large Macaws benefit greatly from having a wide variety of diameters and textures of perches that help to keep the feet in good condition. In the wild, a bird is constantly using its feet, in caged birds, many problems occur due to lack of exercise and the feet become permanently damaged. Sandpaper covered perches do little to keep nails trim, and are much more likely to irritate the sensitive skin on the underside of the feet and cause irritation and pain.
There are many types of different perches, that come in all sizes, suitable for all species of birds.
Polly/Sand Perches: these should be placed at the highest point in the cage, for the bird to roost on, as the bird sleeps, it will gently rock and this helps to keep the nails trim.
Manzanita: A South American hardwood, ideal as it comes in multi-branch form, providing slender twigs as well as thicker branches.
Cholla: Holey wood, good for hiding treats in these hollow branches, helping to create an enriched environment.
Filled Cholla: Same as above, but filled with a clay substance that birds enjoy chewing/eating.
Java: Another hardwood made from Coffee trees.
Cotton rope/Sisal/Hemp: All provide different textures and exercise for feet/beaks.
Cactus Wood: Another variation on the above.
Natural branches from your garden are another excellent way to keep your bird occupied, safe woods to use are Apple/Pear/Willow, avoid using Plum as his wood is toxic to birds. Make sure the branches you intend to use are free from pesticides and wash thoroughly in hand-hot water prior to use. Leave on any bark/leaves.
TOYS
Plastic/acrylic toys may look colourful, but they provide little active stimulation for the caged bird. Wooden/rope toys are relished by most birds, as they can be chewed and pulled apart. Bird/Parrot toys can be expensive, so why not make some of your own toys, everyday items can be made into fun, stimulating toys for birds of all sizes. A natural washing line rope from B&Q for around £3 can be pleated and hung in the cage, treats can be fitted into it and the bird will have many happy hours 'preening' and playing. Cleaned fir cones, toilet roll cardboard, plastic milk bottle tops can all make play interesting. 'Pound' shops are great places to buy baby rattles, bells etc that are safe for children, and provide hours of fun for birds.
Try to change toys and perches around on a regular basis to keep your bird interested and stimulated.
Always be aware of long pieces of cord or chain, as these can be dangerous. Regularly check toys for any sign of wear or damage.
FEEDING
All birds should be offered a wide and varied diet. Avian nutrition has come along way and it is no longer acceptable to offer any caged bird purely a seed diet.
Seed: Specific seed mixes are generally available for all different types of small birds/parrots. Whenever possible choose to buy seeds in sealed packets/containers rather than buying loose from the local pet shop , in loose open mixes, there is a chance of rodent/insect soiling, as well as the problem with mould on seeds due to a damp environment.
As a rule of thumb, seed should only be about 65% of the birds total diet. In Parrot mixes, ideally the mix should contain less than 50% black striped sunflowers/peanuts, as they are extremely high in fat, and in time will cause permanent damage and ultimately will shorten your birds life.
Many Birdkeepers all over the world are choosing complete diets eg Kaytee/Pretty Bird/Harrisons. Whilst these diets provide a complete nutritional package, they offer little excitement/stimulation. Birds in the wild spend a large percentage of their day foraging and hunting for food, cracking seeds and having to 'work' for every meal.
Soak mixes: These mixes are available from all good parrot shops and many contain exotic fruits/pulses as well as veg and added vitamins and minerals.The mix should be soaked in cold water for 12 hours, rinsed thoroughly and served.
Germination/sprouted seeds: These mixes should be soaked again in cold water, being rinsed at regular 12 hour intervals. After 24 hours, they should be placed in a shallow dish on damp kitchen roll and put in a warm dark cupboard to allow the sprouting process to begin. Again, the sprouts should be thoroughly washed before giving to the bird.
Millet: greatly enjoyed by many of the smaller birds, limit to 1-2 per week for smaller birds.
Fruit/Veg: Most leafy green veg (not cabbage/iceberg lettuce/round lettuce) Romaine lettuce, fresh spinach leaves, raw peppers, raw chillis, apple, orange (skin on), pear, grapes(seedless), pomegranate(in skin), kiwi(in skin), figs, passionfruit, carrots, broccoli, fresh peas(not in pod), sugar snap peas, mangetout, garlic, safe varieties of herbs/flowers.
Nuts: Nuts are a healthy part of a birds diet..in moderation, an African Grey sized bird should only have 1 walnut and 2 monkey nuts per day. Almonds, pecan, brazil nuts, hazelnuts etc are also safe...always crack the nuts slightly to check there is no mould present.
Human foods: Again, fine in moderation, most birds will enjoy a corner of toast or a piece of sweet/baked potato but any foods offered must be free of salt/pepper/sugar etc.
For additional protein, poached white fish or for larger birds a chicken thigh bone or tuna in spring water are a relished treat.
Unsafe foods: Crisps, salted nuts, chocolate, avocado, any fizzy drinks, tea and coffee.
POINTS TO REMEMBER
* Never keep your bird in the kitchen, the fumes that are released from Teflon coatings are fatal.
* Its worth remembering that most irons produce Teflon fumes also.
* Any airborne sprays ie furniture polish, air fresheners and Febreze are all harmful.
* Plug in air fresheners/scented candles/incense sticks are not advised.
* Birds NEED to fly, every bird regardless of size should be given the chance to fly daily.
* Birds need stimulation and company, denied of this they can become mutilators/pluckers.
* Most birds benefit from having a friend of their own kind. They need this interaction/closeness if you are not home during the day.
If you are looking for a bird, please be very careful. There are many wild caught birds currently on the market right now. These birds only very rarely make good pets as, due to the trauma they have endured, they are nervous and unhandleable. Sadly too often, these birds are ill and do not live long. Be very wary of adverts in the local paper offering young African Greys for around the £200 mark, with free delivery.
From the tiny Finch to the intelligent African Grey, from the popular Budgie to the majestic, rare Hyacinth Macaw, these 'breeds' all come under the banner of 'Birds'. But unlike dogs and cats, they all have very different feeding, housing and care requirements.
CATS
Cats make good companions with most enjoying (demanding?) high levels of attention. It is very relaxing to see the response to some serious stroking. Some cats stay in as house cats, though most are allowed out, where they do become instinctive hunters, catching small vermin mainly, but occasionally small rabbits and birds. Wear a bell to make it harder!
Pedigree kittens may cost as much as a pedigree dog (£300-500) but many moggies are available from rescue societies in your area. Be responsible and have a pet cat neutered at 6 months of age, before any seasons start.
When a cat is first acquired, it is best initially to continue with the food it has become accustomed to until you decide which diet to choose. Always avoid sudden or frequent changes of diet as this can result in diarrhoea.
At your cat's first health check, Sundean will be able to advise you about a suitable diet. This can then be gradually introduced so that after 7-10 days it has replaced the original diet if necessary. Remember that first checks for young kittens are free, so come along as soon you have your new pet. It is possible to feed a home-produced diet, but it can be difficult to ensure that it is well balanced. Mostly, prepared pet foods are used and these can provide the important aspects of a balanced diet i.e. nutrition, palatability, digestibility, suitable energy density, safety and convenience. There is a huge variety in the texture, cost and nutritional value of different foods available and it is advisable to discuss this with us. Always use a kitten food for young growing cat.
To some extent, the choice of presentation of the food e.g. dry, canned or semi-moist is down to personal preference. If your cat only eats some of the food at the first visit, it may be more hygienic to feed a dry food. Cats have a higher protein requirement than many other mammals and several other special nutrient requirements. Therefore, it is not suitable to feed them dog diets. Most cats are normal adults and the majority of foods are supplied for this life stage. However, there are several circumstances when adult foods are not suitable:
Always use separate feeding equipment for your cat and ensure that clean, fresh water is always available. It is commonly assumed that cats need a variety in their diet. This is not the case and often leads to upsets. A cat will eat the same food happily day after day for many years.
1 Kittens have very different nutritional requirements to adult cats and different diets are available for their needs.
2 Older cats have requirements that are different again and appropriate preparations are available. Some brands provide diets for all life stages and it is easy to change to the relevant product of the same brand as your cat ages.
3 Pregnancy and lactation also bring changing dietary needs and food for these circumstances can be discussed with Sundean Vets.
4 Obesity can be a problem among the cat population and special diets are available to help control this.
5 'Prescription Diets' are occasionally prescribed. These are used to help treat certain conditions, but are only available on veterinary advice.
More info can be seen at
Cats protection - great for finding new pets
Feline Advisory Bureau - top tips for all things CAT
CHINCHILLAS
Chinchillas are small herbivorous rodents related to Guinea Pigs. They come from the high mountains of South America. Chinchillas are generally nocturnal animals but can be active during the day. They are shy & nervous, but can make a very clean and odourless pet for adults or older children who have had small pets before. If well handled, they are relaxed, easy to catch, do not bite - but they are fast if they decide they want to stay out to play!!
They are very cute with big ears and a bushy tail and are characterised by a dense soft coat (which almost led to the extinction of wild chinchillas through trapping). Most are a bluish grey colour, but white, silver, beige and black colours have now been bred. Like all herbivorous rodents and rabbits their teeth (both molars and incisors) continually grow and they must have plenty of roughage to prevent overgrowth. To help this they must have a constant supply of hay and to encourage eating this and to avoid overweight Chins, do not leave them with pellets all day.
They must have very little moist food in their diet as they tend to develop a very persistent diarrhoea. A few raisins at night is a favouite treat. Dry apple wood is lovely and safe to nibble. They must have water at all times, with a special sand bath every day to keep their fine fur in good condition. You would use a special chinchilla cage for housing which has wire floors, but it is nice to have a flat wooden area for comfort and even more nibbling. Give them some suitable toys for interest and try not to keep them singly. They enjoy the company.
For more info:
http://www.chinquest.co.uk
DOGS
Dogs are domesticated mammals that are descended from the wolf. Dogs are omnivores (can eat meat and veg) and in the wild usually hunt in packs. There are large numbers of breeds of dogs as well as crossbred animals (mongrels). Because of this, there are a tremendous variety of physical features to be seen across the breeds. Size can vary from the small Chihuahua (approx. 15cm tall) to the huge Irish Wolfhound (up to 100cm tall). Correspondingly, weight too can vary enormously, with the St. Bernard being one of the heaviest (approx. 75kg).
Ears may be pointed and erect or drooping. As most dogs are covered in hair and they have no sweat glands, they can only keep cool by panting, losing heat through their throat and tongue. Dogs' coats may be of various lengths and textures and most have two coats, an outercoat and undercoat. However, all dogs in the wild shed their coat (moult) twice a year, triggered by daylight hours and temperature. Animals that live indoors may moult all year, as these two factors are more constant.
Dogs are one of the most intelligent of domestic animals and can be readily trained - as well trained as you train them. Different breeds have different natural instincts e.g. herding, hunting, and guarding. Dogs also have very acute senses of hearing and smell. All these specific traits are used to train working dogs - guide dogs, sniffer dogs, helping dogs, hearing dogs, even therapy dogs, whose job is to go round hospitals and homes and be stroked. Now there's a niche!
The breed of a dog is most important when choosing one for a pet. Feeding and exercise requirements vary along with temperament and a lot of thought is needed to find one to suit the individual's needs. A dog is not suitable if no-one is home during the day all week-days. Do not get a St Bernard if you have a 2-room flat. Call us if you would like advice. Allow us to check your new pup for free as soon as you have bought it - just to ensure all is well.
Some Useful addresses are
the Kennel Club
Champ Dogs - for all breeds
GUINEA PIGS
Guinea Pigs are small rodents related to Hedgehogs and Chinchillas. They come from the highlands of South America where they are used for meat.(!) They are strict herbivores, (no meat) but are unusual in having a requirement for Vitamin C. They are generally more active around dusk and dawn, but can be active during the day.
Guinea Pigs are social and active animals and have a wide range of vocal calls. They are gentle, rarely scratching or biting and can be accustomed to human company quite readily. However they are messy animals and scatter food and bedding. Frightened Guinea pigs can freeze or may stampede - if this occurs young pigs can be crushed or trampled. Non circular enclosures may help prevent stampeding.
Guinea pigs come in a great variety of colours and may be a solid colour, or a mixture of two or three. The hair coat can be English (short), Abyssinian (long hair arranged in whorls), Peruvian (long straight hair) or Silky (medium length fine hair). Guinea pigs can become imprinted on particular diets within a few days. Therefore it is important to make sure that they have the full range of food available from birth in order to reduce the risks of Vitamin C deficiency. Like the other herbivorous rodents, all their teeth continually grow and they must have plenty of roughage and fibre in the diet to prevent overgrowth. Take out pellets for half the day so that they are forced to eat hay and veg. This helps to avoid teeth overgrowing.
Click here for more information
HAMSTERS
Hamsters are short tailed nocturnal small rodents that come from desert environments. Several genera are seen as pets: Golden (Syrian), Chinese (striped) and Russian (Hairy footed or Djungarian). The commonest pet species is the Golden and these are all derived from just 3 individuals imported into the UK in 1931. In the wild they live a solitary existence in deep burrows with large grain stores.
Generally pet Golden hamsters are kept singly to prevent fighting. Mutations have led to the development of a variety of coat colours and a longhaired coat. The smaller Chinese & Russian hamsters are becoming increasingly popular, as they seem to be less aggressive, though some Vets would not agree! In the wild these dwarf hamsters tend to live as family groups and can be kept as pairs as pets. Hamsters as pets are relatively odourless and have simple needs. However they can bite and will gnaw through cages.
All hamsters have a relatively short life span. Hamsters have large cheek pouches and can carry large quantities of food in them. Males have large testicles, which stick out backwards either side of the tail - we have some calls from owners who think they are growths!! They also have dark coloured glands on each flank - also mistaken for small sores or growths. Hamsters' front long incisor teeth continue to grow throughout life, but the cheek teeth do not.
RABBITS
Rabbits are strict herbivorous (no meat) and coprophagic (eat droppings) lagomorphs and share many characteristics with rodents. Rabbits now come in a great variety of shapes and forms. They are kept as pets, as show animals or can be bred for meat.
Loosely, the breeds can be divided into two groups - the fur breeds (which then sub-divides into the normal fur, rex fur, the angoras and satin fur groups) and the fancy breeds. The fancy breeds vary from the Netherland Dwarfs (weighing about 1Kg) right up to the Flemish Giant, which can weigh 8Kg. Most pet rabbits are of mixed breed, with lyon heads becoming very popular. Rabbits are rarely aggressive and can make wonderful pets.
Most rabbits in the UK spend their lives in hutches with runs outside. However an increasing number are now kept as house bunnies. They train to litter trays very quickly and can be very clean companions. Rabbits do breed like....rabbits, so early neutering is advised. Like the herbivorous rodents, all their teeth continually grow (the incisors grow over 10cm per year) and so rabbits must have plenty of roughage to encourage chewing, appropriate wear and thus prevent overgrowth. To aid this, avoid leaving high quality pellets with them all day, so they are forced to eat larger amounts of lower quality hay, roots and greens. Lettuce is best avoided or given in very small amounts.
Click here for more rabbit reading
RATS
Rats are long tailed nocturnal sociable rodents, which can make gentle, affectionate and intelligent pets.Well handled rats enjoy human contact and do not bite. They are omnivorous and their long incisor teeth continue to grow throughout life, but the cheek teeth do not. Rat urine normally contains protein; this can lead to allergy in some people and is responsible for some of their odour.
Rats as pets are relatively robust, male and female rats can be left housed together with their litters. They do need secure housing and sufficient space to make an interesting environment, with lots of interest in their cages, from toys. A variety of colours are now seen, with white albinos (which tend to have poor eyesight), self or solid colours (often brown or black). There are also mixed colours for example the hooded - the Japanese Hooded is white apart from a coloured head and shoulders and a stripe along the back.
Have a look at the National Fancy Rat website for more information.