They are lively, curious, and entertaining, and you will have a lot of fun with a hamster. If you get involved and accept their peculiarities, you can become a really good team. With enough attention for your little darling, nothing should stand in the way of a long, happy hamster life.
First of all, you should know that hamsters are nocturnal animals. As soon as dusk falls, these little treasures become lively. A hamster then needs the opportunity to exercise. It is therefore important to equip the cage—which, incidentally, should be escape-proof—with appropriate equipment and toys.
As a "living area," the hamster needs a cage with a sleeping house, a feeding area, and a water spot. There should also be space for a hamster wheel for sufficient exercise and other play areas. Pay particular attention to the size of the hamster. The hamster wheel should be neither too large nor too small so that your pet cannot injure itself in it. Hay and straw provide a cozy environment. A climbing ladder, small branches, or other climbing opportunities will also appeal to your lively little pet.
It is advisable to have a small transport box for trips to the vet. It is best to practice getting your pet into the box at home first. This will allow it to get used to its "travel home" early on and reduce stress in case of an emergency.
Hamsters are solitary animals and therefore easy to keep on their own. Despite their flight instinct, your little pet can learn to trust you. Be sure to choose the right times of day for this. Your hamster will sleep a lot during the day, and if you wake it up too often and disturb it, it may become aggressive and even suffer health problems. The evening hours are a good time for playing together. You can lure your friend out with treats such as dandelion leaves or apple pieces and get it to come to you. There are also ready-made mixes for hamsters available to buy, which you can use to supplement its diet. Last but not least, your hamster also needs plenty of fresh water.
A little care is important to keep your pet healthy. Apart from cleaning its home regularly so that it does not live in feces and urine, there are a few other checks you should carry out to keep it healthy. The most important thing is to get your hamster used to being handled so that you can easily pick it up to examine it closely. Its fur should not have any rough patches or holes, but should be smooth and shiny. Hamsters usually groom and clean themselves very thoroughly.
Please never bathe your hamster. Water is not good for these little creatures – at least not for bathing. They much prefer a sand bath. The best thing to do is to place a clay pot filled with chinchilla bathing sand in your hamster's cage and let him enjoy himself.
The teeth and nails of these little rodents also need to be checked regularly. With a little effort, hamsters can help themselves here too. Provide small, non-toxic twigs that they can chew on to wear down their teeth. If you let it run over a large rough stone several times a day, its claws should also wear down accordingly. If they still seem too long, it is best to visit a veterinarian to have them trimmed, as claw trimming requires a delicate touch.
Don't forget to clean their ears regularly. You can do this by holding the hamster in your hand while cleaning their ears with moist ear cleaning wipes.
A female dog's heat cycle is a natural process that is necessary for reproduction. Dogs quickly realize when this time has come. During the "heat days," you should therefore be particularly careful if you do not want your female dog to have offspring from a male dog that has wandered into your yard. Conversely, if you want to breed, you need to observe your dog's cycle and take her to the chosen male dog at the right time.
Many things are easier when done as a team – this applies to both humans and animals. There are dogs that help people live with disabilities. These dogs are not only special animals, they are also specially trained.
Cats are among the most popular pets, with around 14.7 million living in German households alone and a total of approximately 46 million across Europe. Only about half of them are vaccinated and neutered, and therefore well protected against disease and unwanted reproduction. Many thousands of them roam the countryside as abandoned, stray, or feral cats.
Cats are very resilient and do not show symptoms of illness until late stages. When is it an emergency? And what is the right thing to do? Here you will find useful information to help you assess your cat's condition. The most important thing is to stay calm and keep a clear head.
This viral disease, also known as canine distemper due to its high contagiousness, is an acute infectious disease that is widespread worldwide. Puppies between two and 16 weeks of age, unvaccinated dogs, and older dogs are particularly at risk. If left untreated, the disease is usually fatal. However, modern vaccines provide effective prevention.
Just like in humans, tartar and plaque are really common in our furry friends. These yellowish, rough deposits show up mainly on the corner and front teeth and can lead to serious gum inflammation. Older dogs, small breeds, and dogs with crooked teeth are especially at risk because their teeth don't clean themselves as well.
Horses are flight animals. They need their sense of sight to spot enemies as quickly as possible. We therefore sometimes have to battle our favorite's instincts, because a horse sees—and flees.
Sarcoid is the most common tumor in horses worldwide. It is a connective tissue tumor involving the skin that does not form metastases in internal organs but often recurs after surgical removal. It is therefore referred to as a semi-malignant tumor. Horses of all breeds and ages are affected, as well as donkeys and mules.
You've probably heard sayings like these before: Cats only see their owners as "can openers"! Cats aren't dogs, waiting to serve their masters... But cats can learn rules too.
One of the horses in your stable has a fever and nasal discharge. This is not necessarily cause for concern, as it could just be a harmless cold. But a few days later, three more horses in the stable have exactly the same symptoms. It is noticeable that all affected horses have severely swollen lymph nodes on their heads. By now, at the latest, the veterinarians who have been called in are alert, because this respiratory disease is obviously very contagious. Swab samples are sent to the laboratory and the suspicion is quickly confirmed. It is strangles, a highly contagious bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract in horses. Even though the disease is not notifiable or reportable, stable owners and horse owners should now act carefully to prevent further spread.
Age is not a disease. We all get older and our bodies show signs of wear and tear. Some of us age faster than others, while others stay fit a little longer. Our horses are similar. From a certain age onwards, the signs can become increasingly noticeable. But this is no reason for us horse owners to get nervous. With keen observation skills and a little support, our beloved animals can grow old in good health.
Tetanus is a usually fatal, notifiable infectious disease caused by the toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. This disease, also known as lockjaw, has been known since ancient times and is widespread throughout the world. Both humans and horses are particularly susceptible to the toxin, whereas dogs have only a low sensitivity and therefore do not need to be vaccinated.
