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06
NOV
2016
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The purpose of a substrate (bedding) used in small animal cages is to absorb bad smelling, urine odour. Small pets such as hamsters, gerbils, mice, rats and guinea pigs need a clean habitat in order to thrive and remain healthy. Therefore the more absorbent a bedding, the better it controls nasty smells. There are a wide range of substrates available, each with its own positive and negative aspects.
You can use shredded paper as a substrate, but it won’t absorb odours, so your pet’s cage could get stinky fast. Make sure to use only paper that hasn’t been printed, as ink can be very dangerous to small animals. Only newspaper with black ink is considered to be safe.
Another suitable option for substrate are paper and wood pellets. These pellets have the benefit of being very absorbent. It may be difficult for some pets to burrow through it, however, and can be a bit expensive.
Burgess Excel Bedding is also a good option and made from natural straw i.. [More]
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Tags :
Purpose Of Small Animal Bedding South Africa , Importance Of Small Animal Bedding , Carefresh South Africa , Small Animal Bedding South Africa , Wood Shavings South Africa
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21
OCT
2016
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Many rodents such as hamsters, gerbils, mice, domesticated rats, guinea pigs, chinchillas and degus are commonly kept as pets. All of these animals can make great pets when they are cared for properly with the right diet and proper housing. Unfortunately, many people get these animals as pets and don’t realize that in addition to good food, a safe cage, and clean bedding, these pets – just like cats and dogs – need environmental stimulation to be happy and to thrive.
Many wild rodents are very social animals living with numerous others of their own kind in their normal habitat. In the wild, they have “jobs” – searching for food, finding mates, building nests. Most rodents nest in communities and share parental responsibilities. They spend 30-50% of the time they are awake grooming each other. When young rodents are separated from their mothers, they often show an increase in disease, are more anxious and aggressive, and are less likely to.. [More]
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Tags :
Hamsters Need Enrichment For Emotional Health South Africa , Why Small Pets Need Enrichment South Africa , Hamster Toys South Africa
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02
OCT
2016
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When it comes to food, your pet needs a balanced diet as well as lots of clean water to stay in tip top shape. Feeding your bird correctly for maximum health has never been easier than it is now. For a long time, the standard way to feed pet birds was to buy a seed mix, and possibly supplement the seeds with some fresh greens and a piece of fruit. Most kinds of pet birds see seed mixes as tasty, but the mixes are fattening and lack many essential nutrients. As a result, many pet birds died young from preventable diseases.
In the past couple of decades, research into avian nutrition has made huge strides. This research has resulted in excellent pellet foods and ready-to-serve mixes for many species of bird, which will help ensure a long healthy life for your pet. But while it may be convenient to know exactly what nutrients our pets are consuming, many parrots look upon commercial pellets with disdain. And because pellets can be consumed far more quickly that seeds, parrots.. [More]
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Tags :
Seeds Vs Pellet DietsFor Birds South Africa , Parrot Diet & Enrichment South Africa , Are Pellets or Seeds Better for Parrots South Africa
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02
OCT
2016
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Wood shavings are commonly used in South Africa as a bedding product for small animals because it’s cheap, absorbent and masks the odour from urine. It also has natural insecticidal properties and prevents the growth of bacteria (natural disinfectant). However, there has been much discussion over the safety of wood shavings among pet owners. Are wood shavings really dangerous for the animals for which they are intended?
When you open a bag of wood shavings you will instantly smell the "aromatic" nature of the litter. That smell is where the problem lies. The smell is from the natural volatile chemicals in the wood called phenols. Thus one of your best detection methods for determining an unknown bag of shavings is your own nose! If you sniff the shavings and they smell like a freshly cut Christmas tree, those shavings are releasing phenols. That bright, crisp smell is the chemical compound evaporating from the wood. Kiln-dried pine shavings are considered sa.. [More]
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Wood Shavings Are Toxic To Small Pets South Africa
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16
SEP
2016
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For decades the standard diet for most birds kept in captivity has been a mixture of seeds and nuts. This diet was based on the assumption that this is what these birds eat in their natural environment. Over the past several years more information about what these birds actually eat in the wild as well as research on their actual nutritional requirements has become available. This new information coupled with better documentation of avian health problems by veterinary and aviculture professionals has made it clear that these diets are harmful; however many people continue to feed these seed and nut based diets without proper supplementation. Further, proper supplementation may be hard to achieve. Supplements like mineral blocks, cuttle bones, fortified seeds, and vitamins in the water rely on the bird’s willingness to choose the appropriate things to eat and in the proper quantities. Birds typically eat to fulfill an energy (calorie) requirement and will choose the highest energy.. [More]
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Tags :
What makes Roudybush the best diet for your bird South Africa
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07
AUG
2016
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Although seeds are a convenient and affordable option when it comes to feeding your pet bird, they actually aren’t the best in terms of nutrition, and feeding a diet made up exclusively of seeds can result in a number of health problems, including cardiovascular issues and malnutrition, in the long run. Obesity and fatty liver disease is also caused by feeding too much seeds. This disease causes large amounts of fat to be deposited in the liver which eventually loses the ability to function properly. This serious condition is most common in Cockatoos, Cockatiels, Budgies, Amazons, Lovebirds, and Quakers.
It’s All About Variety and Whole Foods
When it comes to avian care and nutrition, things are more complicated than they appear on the surface, and while you may have thought that purchasing seeds from your local pet store was enough to keep your feathered friend happy and healthy, the truth is your bird’s diet should contain a lot more variety in or.. [More]
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Tags :
Problem with Feeding Birds an All-Seed Diet South Africa
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31
JUL
2016
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Rabbits need a generous outdoor space to run around in and cosy indoor quarters where they can rest and find shelter. Providing them with this will allow them to express their natural patterns of behaviour and so lead happy, healthy lives.
Hutch/Shed and Runs
Rabbits should be housed in a hutch or shed with a run permanently attached to it. The hutch/shed provides shelter; the run provides space for the rabbits to express natural behaviour such as running, digging, jumping and exploring. The two areas should be connected by a tunnel or the run built onto the front of the hutch/shed. The run can be on grass or concrete, if grass it's advisable to dig mesh under the grass to help prevent escapes and predators getting in.
The minimum sizes recommend by animal welfare organizations for a small-medium pair of rabbits are:
Hutches
2 metres long by 0.6 metres deep by 0.75 metres high
All doors should have strong bolts on to keep safe from predators.. [More]
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Tags :
The Ideal Rabbit Accomodation South Africa
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20
JUL
2016
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Rabbits are continuing to be seen in increasing numbers in veterinary clinics with dental disease. The main staple of a rabbit's diet should be grass and timothy hay. Your rabbit will consume a lot of hay daily; it’s vital for digestive health. When rabbits become adults, they will be able to eat some alfalfa hay (lucerne) on occasion, but young bunnies need to stick with timothy hay.
Once the rabbit has snipped off that tasty dandelion, he uses his tongue to thrust it back to his cheek teeth. These are the grinding teeth that break the harsh fiber down into short sections that can be swallowed. Obviously this is hard work for the teeth, and constant chewing on fibrous grass or hay wears the teeth down. But happily, the teeth love a challenge and just grow a bit faster. However, the opposite is not true. If the rabbit eats a low-fiber diet and wears the crowns down less quickly, those stubborn old teeth just keep on growing.
Signs of Overgrown Teeth
Overg.. [More]
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Tags :
Diagnosing Rabbit Dental Disease
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26
JUN
2016
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We live in a land of fast food, fatty snacks, and junk food junkies. French fries dripping with grease, hamburgers packed with calories – most of us are painfully aware that our diets are less than ideal. Could our pets also be suffering from a similar situation? If that pet is a bird and it's on an all-seed diet, the answer's an emphatic “Yes!”
While nature lovers can safely supplement wild birds with feeders full of seed, too much seed for your pet bird can lead to serious problems. Just ask Dr. Vanessa Rolfe, an avian veterinarian at Avian & Exotic Veterinary Services in Salem, Va. “Seventy to 80 percent of the problems I treat in birds are due directly or indirectly to inadequate diets – usually seed-based diets,'' Rolfe says. “Seeds are high in fat and deficient in many other nutrients, including amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. So an all-seed diet can be associated with a long list of medical problems.”
These p.. [More]
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Tags :
Birds Need More Than Seeds South Africa , Roudybush Bird Diet South Africa
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27
MAY
2016
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There is a major problem in South Africa where so many pet stores, breeders and pet owners don’t realize that feeding muesli foods can kill pet rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas, according to latest scientific research.
Their attitude is that they have been feeding these foods for many years and their pets seem to be okay. They seem to turn a blind eye to any new scientific studies or recent changes in feeding guidelines announced by animal welfare organizations or FEDIAF.
The two year scientific study on the 200 rabbits by Professor Anne Meredith from University of Edinburgh made headline news all over the world in June 2013. The results from this study proved to the pet industry that feeding any type of muesli food (dry mixes) including pellets can have fatal consequences. This research is supported by every animal welfare organization thoughout the world including the RSPCA, PDSA, Blue Cross, Wood Green, RWAF and FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Fede.. [More]
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Tags :
Muesli Can Kill Pet Rabbits & Guinea Pigs , Dangers of Feeding Muesli To Rabbits & Guinea Pigs , Pet Rabbit Food South Africa , Guinea Pig Food South Africa , Chinchilla Food South Africa
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