The Curious Case of the Carrot

Meet Toby. He’s a 3-year old guinea pig, and a very loved member of the family. Every day, he wakes up to a clean cage, fresh water and timothy hay, plentiful food, and–his favorite–carrots. Oh boy, does he love carrots! His “mom” gives him about 2-3 baby carrots every day, which he… Read more

Care of Guinea Pigs

Introduction Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) are rodents native to South America and were raised by the Incas for food and for use during religious ceremonies.  Today, these animals are raised as pets and laboratory research animals.  Guinea pigs are lively, interactive, gentle pets.  They are… Read more

Care of Ferrets

Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) are carnivores in the family Mustelidae, and are related to weasels, mink, badgers, and otters.  Male ferrets are called hobs, females are called jills, and babies are kits.  Breeding age is reached between the ages of 4 and 8 months of age, although most ferrets… Read more

Care of Bearded Dragons

Adapted from a handout written by Scott Stahl, DVM, DABVP (Avian). Housing Bearded dragons can be housed alone, in breeding pairs, or in groups with one male and two or more females.  Provide a terrarium size of at least 72 inches long by 16 inches wide by 17 inches high for a single adult… Read more

Box Turtle Care

Box turtles are among the most popular reptiles kept as pets in the United States.  The ornate box turtle, the eastern box turtle, and the three-toed box turtle are commonly sold in the pet trade.  However, several subspecies exist and identification can be difficult.  Regardless of the species,… Read more