Rabbits N'Rodents
Got Rabbits, Hamsters, Guinea pigs, gerbils?
Advice on Paying for Vet Bills
Any caring owner wants to provide the best care they can for their pets, and if your pet becomes ill and needs to be seen by a vet, you will want to get them seen to as soon as possible.
However, some parents will refuse to let their children take a sick small animal to the vet, with many having the attitude 'Why spend $50 on it when you could get a new one for $10'. Therefore it is important that before you get the pet, or if you already have one, before it becomes ill, that your parents understand that when the animal becomes ill, you will want to take them to a vet. Sit down with them, at a time they are not busy and are relaxed, asking them in the middle of cooking dinner or when they have just arrived home is never a good idea. Explain to them, that the pet is your responsibility and you want the best care for it, so should it become ill, and need vetinary treatment you want to take it to the vet. If they say no, ask them if they would refuse a dog treatment, they will most likely say no, and try to explain to them, that just because your pet is smaller and cheaper than a dog does not mean it doesn't feel pain and certainly doesn't mean they should be denied treatment!
If they still don't want to agree, explain that you will help pay towards any vet fees, if you can. By saving by just a little bit of money each week and keeping the money in a seperate container, you can have some money set-by for vet bills.
If you currently have a sick pet and your parents refuse vet treatment, then the best thing you can do is hand them over to someone who will look after them, as it is unfair to expect the animal to suffer. The ASPCA or other charity can take them and treat them for free, but sadly you will not get the animal back. It is a very upsetting and distressing situation for both you and the animal, so please, talk to your parents about Vet Fees before you get the pet if you can.
Whether they agree or disagree, if you already have a pet, seek out a local vet that will see your type of animal, in some countries, like the USA, there will be vets that only deal with Dogs and Cats, these are not suitable for rabbits or any rodent, as these vets have not been trained to deal with your type of animal, and may accidently kill or harm your pet. So instead you need to seek out an exotic vet, which are vets which see animals other than dogs and cats. The term exotic, you may think, refers to reptiles and rarer animals like sugar gliders etc, but it actually refers to mice, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils etc as well.
If you have trouble finding a suitable vet in your area, do a google search for vets in your area.
Diclaimer: Parents, I understand that in some households where money is tight, paying for a sick hamster or other small pet may not be possible. In which case, it is better not to get the animal, or save up gradually each week so as you have money set-by, as it is almost certain any animal, including hamsters and mice, will need to see a vet at some point in their relatively short lives.
HamsterBirthday Cake
Obviously, you cannot feed your pet hamster chocolate or other birthday cake, but you can make them a cake that will be healthy and perfectly safe for them to eat. Of course, this is purely a treat, and should not be overfed or given regulary. It is only designed as a 'Birthday Treat' but can be fed once every month as it is a healthy treat that is greatly enjoyed, although you may wish to save it for special days only, like Christmas and Birthday.
Birthday Cake recipe
You will need:
- 1 piece wholemeal bread ( ripped roughly to 3cm x 3cm)
- 1 teaspoon natural yogurt (plain, unsweetened soya)
- 1/2 teaspoon rolled oats
- 1/4 unsalted walnut or brazil nut
- 1/2 teaspoon apple/pear/strawberry (ONLY for syrians or roborovskis)
Instructions:
Mix oats and natural yoghurt together with a teaspoon and allow the oats to soak for several minutes, then spread the oat mixture on top of the bread. Crush nuts and sprinkle over the top. If you have a Syrain (teddybear/blackbear/golden etc) or Roborovski hamster you can add a little bit of chopped apple over the top. Russian Dwarves (siberians etc) cannot have the fruit as they are prone to diabetes.
Serve immediately in a spare hamster bowl as it will not keep, and remove any that has not been eaten within 3 hours, best to feed when your hamster is active in the evening.