Owning Small Pets in New England: Habitat, Care and Feeding Tips
Knowing what your pet needs to live a happy, healthy life is the best way to take care of it. Checking in with your pet’s local veterinarian in Southeastern Massachusetts for an initial checkup and then for regular check-ups throughout its life can help you find small problems before they get worse. There are many good things about having a pet, but the most important thing is to take good care of your new family member. It’s a good start to pick a pet that fits your lifestyle, your budget, and the time you can spend care for it.
What Type of Pet Will You Adopt?
There are a lot of different small mice and rodents that could be kept as pets. The animals you see at the pet store are usually what people think of when they hear the words “pocket pet” or “other small animal.” Both kids and adults love mice, rats, chinchillas, Guinea pigs, hamsters, and other common animals. Learn as much as you can about these animals before you bring them into your home.
Small pets in New England need to be kept warm and safe during the winter, and they need proper cooling and shade in the summer. Talk to your vet about how to do this. It will be easier to give them what they need in terms of food, shelter, and medical care if you know more about those things. Habitat, temperature, and food are just some of the things that you must consider before adopting a pet.
Consider All the Requirements First
You should give some thought before adopting small pets in New England. How much room do you have for the new family member? Are you free to take a dog for a walk, play with a cat, or talk to a bird? Little mice are good pets, but they do need your time and care. These other pets are more needy. Most of these small pets will be fine while you’re at work or on the weekend if you give them food, water, a place to sleep, warmth, and any other things your Southeastern Massachusetts veterinarian tells you to do. Small pets can be great if you need to be able to care for them when you want to.
However, if you are scared of small rodents or don’t think you can clean their cages, add food, check their water, and give them all the excitement and exercise they need, they might not be the best pet for you. For your information, rats only come out at night. If the sound of them scratching and running on a plastic wheel keeps you or your family up at night, you might want to get something else. If you already have pets and aren’t sure how your new pet will get along with your other pets, call your vet or talk to them at your next appointment.
Visit a Veterinarian in Southeastern Massachusetts
You should know what kind of care you will be giving a pet before you get one in New England. One animal that needs a “dust bath” to stay clean is the chinchilla. As part of your normal care for them, you need to give them this. Other small mice that people keep as pets may have similar strange needs, so it’s best to learn about them and plan ahead for their treatment, preventative care, and upkeep throughout their life. Ask about care for small pets all year, including tips for the hot summer months and the cold winter months.
When making a budget to get a new pet, things to think about are the cage or shelter, as well as the space needed to set it all up in your home. The cost of ongoing needs, such as food, vitamins, bedding, and treats. Cleaning procedures and requirements to ensure a healthy life for your pet. Also, check to see if the pet you want is allowed where you live. In some places, having certain kinds of exotic pets is against the law, but not in others. In some states it is against the law to own a rat or a gerbil, but these pets are very popular in the rest of the country. You can also get help with this question from your local veterinarian in Southeast Massachusetts.
Contact Anchor Animal Hospital in Dartmouth
You can call Anchor Animal Hospital in Dartmouth to get your new pet checked out by a vet or to talk to a member of our staff about getting a pet. For those who want to keep small mice as pets, we can give you advice and ideas. This includes summer and winter tips for small pets to stay healthy in all seasons. Call us at 508-996-3731 to find out why more and more people in the South Coast area trust Anchor Animal Hospital to care for their pets.