Rabbits N'Rodents

Agouti - An animal that has different colours on each strand of hair ie the wild rabbit colour

Albino - An animal which lacks pigmentation, its hair is white, it has red eyes and all ears and feet are flesh coloured

Banded - A pattern found in hamsters and guinea pigs, a white 'band' of hair around the middle of the animal

Binky - The term to describe the jumps, twists and running of a happy and excited rabbit

Boar- A male guinea pig

Buck - A male rabbit

Castrate- The term used to refer to the sterilisation of a male animal

Cavy - Another term for guinea pigs

Cedar - A harmful bedding sold in the US and Canada which can cause kidney failure, skin irritations and hairloss in pets

Dewlap - The layer of skin under a rabbits chin, can buldge out in females or in overweight rabbits

Doe - A female rabbit

Dominant Spotted- A hamster which has patches of white and coloured hair

Kale - A popular vegetable amongst rabbits and cavies, but should be limited to 2-3 small portions a week as its high in oxalates which can cause poisoning.

Molar Spurs - When teeth grow sideways cutting the tongue of a cavy or rabbit due to improper forage or poor genetics, spurs will require filing, usually under general anthestic. Proper breeding and feeding can prevent them.

Mongolian - The species of gerbil most often kept as a pet

Myxmatosis - A deadly disease which all UK and Irish rabbits must be vaccinated against every 6 months

Neuter- The term used to refer to the removal of the reproductive organs of a male or female animal

Pine bedding- A softwood commonly used as bedding material but contains phenol toxins causing breathing and kidney problems. Kiln dried pine still contains the phenols and should not be used.

Popcorn- The term given when a guinea pig runs and jumps in excitement

Roan - A coloured animal heavily ticked with white hairs. In syrians a double dose of this gene causes eyeless white babies

Roborovski - The smallest of all the species of hamsters kept as pets

Scent Gland- Glands used by animals for scenting, found on the chin of rabbits, hips of syrians, stomach of dwarf hamsters etc

Self - An animal which is one solid colour, ie black

Sow - A female guinea pig

Spay- The term used for the removal of the womb and ovaries of a female animal.

Syrian - The most popular and largest type of hamster kept as a pet, also incorrectly labelled as a 'teddybear', 'blackbear' or 'pandabear'

Ticking - Refers to coloured hairs which are flecked through a coloured coat; ie golden syrians have black ticking

VHD - A deadly virus which only effects rabbits, so all UK and Irish rabbits must be vaccinated once a year to protect them

Wet tail - A deadly disease in syrian hamsters which causes severe diarrhoea and lethargy, without prompt veternary treatment it results in death. Most common in young stressed animals, those kept in unclean/crowded conditions and is highly contagoius to other syrians.