Rabbits And Other Small Furries

One of the first considerations when thinking about a small mammal as a pet is how long a commitment you are happy to make. Rabbits, guinea pigs and ferrets, on average, live for about 7 to 8 years, mice and hamsters for around 2 years, rats for around 3 years.

As a general rule with small furries, it is best to get them while they are young and handle them frequently to avoid them biting later on. If you do this, they are usually quite fun pets to have.

To find out more, please click on the headings below.

If you do not find all the information that you need, please click onto the Lifelearn link which will take you through to a 'pet information' site that we recommend.

Guinea pigs

Guinea pigs

Guinea pigs, like rabbits, are sociable, lively animals that like company, and therefore ideally you should consider having more than one. They like to be handled and have contact with their owners. Their hutches should be large enough for them to stand up and move around freely, and they should have a run available at least 4 hours a day for exercise. The hutch and the run should be protected from the weather and predators.

Guinea pigs need fresh greens daily to satisfy their crucial need for vitamin C.

Guinea pigs do not make great house pets as they are very difficult to litter train and can easily get lost.

Once you have your new guinea pigs your are welcome to bring them in for a free health check at one of our Nurse Clinics. Please call 01275 832410 for an appointment.