Robert Wolf Pet Friendly Blog

Archive for October, 2011

Obesity is becoming an epidemic in our country today but it has not only affect the two legged species. As we have begun to over indulge ourselves with our hectic lifestyles, we have also begun to over indulge our pets and this unhealthy habit is particularly destructive.

Almost 25% of the pet population is considered obese and many under veterinary care for this reason. With our tendency to treat ourselves with food as a reward for a challenging day, we are doing the same things to our animals. But as we are doing so, we are putting their lives at risk.

Our Busy Lives

As we run through our lives juggling more daily expectations we are not only neglecting our own health with fast food and less relaxation but the health of our pets.

With the lack of time for ourselves, our dog walks become short strolls to the nearest park or a quick jaunt around the neighborhood. Our hectic days don’t leave much play time for our pets so we offer treats to keep them busy and assuage our guilt.

Animals are creatures of habit and quick to learn this type of behavior. They easily attach a play time with treats and begin to demand treats more frequently. Their vocal demands are then rewarded just to keep the peace and a cycle is born.

As we move and downsize, our spaces leave less room for play. Apartment living may seem suitable for cats but even cats need room to exercise. The less room there is to move, the more sedate they become and excess weight becomes a problem.

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To the everyday individual who likes to keep an animal sheltered inside their homes, there’s nothing better than finding free pets. Still, the term “free” does not really live up to someone’s expectations, taking into consideration that there are a bunch of hidden costs to take into consideration.

Much like any other pet, they call for the appropriate food, care and environment, and it depends on what kind of animal you’ve got. You must also take into account the grooming and any other facilities vital for appropriate care. Below, we’re about to discuss several of these areas in taking care of a free pet, and how they end up costing more money than you anticipated.

Concerning its surrounding environment, you need to make certain there is enough space and is proper for the type of animal you wish to keep. You see, even pets of the “free” variety come with their own habitat, which will certainly have need of appropriate cleaning together with the right bedding material. You ought to make certain everything’s maintained as much as possible, especially when you have the problem of animal droppings making things a little problematical to put them in a healthy environment. In this regard, non-toxic cleaning agents and animal-specific equipment like litter boxes should be carefully considered.

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In the wild, hamsters tend to live on their own rather than in groups. They are not social by nature and so, apart from breeding purposes, it is best to house them on their own. Allow a minimum area of 625 sq. cm (100 sq. in.) for each hamster (which grows up to 15 cm in overall length); thus, the dimensions of their quarters should be at least 25 cm (10 in) square.

They will burrow into the floor of their cage, so provide a fairly deep layer of bedding material. Be sure that the bedding is not toxic or dangerous in any way. If eaten, unsuitable bedding can cause impaction in the intestines, and this is likely to prove fatal. A metal cage will be strong enough to withstand the onslaught from the hamster’s teeth, but over a period of time the urine is likely to attack the metal, causing bubbles of rust at first. This problem will not be encountered in a cage with a deep plastic base or in a plastic fish tank, but the claws of hamsters may scratch its sides.

Provide an exercise wheel for these active rodents, but be sure that it revolves smoothly, otherwise it will become a major source of irritation as it squeaks in the room. Hamsters tend to be nocturnal in their habits and, surprisingly, studies have shown that pregnant females are most active. They can ‘travel’ 8 km (5 miles) a day, walking on their wheel. Perhaps exercise improves muscle tone in preparation for birth, but even now little is known about the habits of hamsters in the wild.

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