Care Tip - Chewing

Hello,

Today I'll discuss chewing, and how important it is for rodents, and dogs as well.

(a very young Delilah with an apple tree branch)

Chewing for rodents isn't just for fun, it's necessary. Bunnies and gerbils teeth grow their entire lives, as do rats. Their teeth need ground down by chewing, if they don't get worn down the teeth will eventually grow so long the animal will no longer be able to eat. Chewing is great exercise for rodents as well, it keeps them active and gives their mind some stimulation - for a rodent, chewing is one of their top priorities in life.

Dogs teeth don't need worn down, but chewing is good mental stimulation for them and it also cleans their teeth to an extent. If you give them the right chew, it is also good for them.

So, what are your options?

For dogs I suggest bully sticks. I used to give my dogs rawhide (picture at left) until I found out how bad rawhide is for dogs - it does the trick for chewing, but rawhide is hard to digest and has harsh chemicals (they use chemicals to strip the hide of the fur). Bully sticks are all natural, easily digested, and much safer (from my experience) for your pet. My dogs Sheba, and Ember, used to choke on the bits of rawhide, with the bully sticks I've not seen them have any trouble and while they would at times turn their nose at a rawhide, a bully stick is always a welcome chew.

Rodents have many options available on the market, many stores carry wood blocks, gourd pieces, and wicker baskets all suitable for chewing. My rabbits absolutely love wicker baskets, I bought them a heart shaped one that they sat in, tossed around, and chewed. Make sure the basket is not coated with anything that could be toxic to your pet, it is best to get baskets made just for small animals. Wood blocks seem to work well with my gerbils, while the bunnies ignore these. Gourd pieces are enjoyed by my gerbils and bunnies alike.A good cheap alternative to purchasing items from the store are cardboard rolls from toilet paper or paper towels, or some cardboard boxes (like food-safe boxes, or tissue box). My rabbits don't do much chewing with cardboard (they do enjoy playing with them), but my gerbils go absolutely nuts over these simple and cheap chew-toys. Rats enjoy these as well.



Many foods that are good for rodents encourage chewing too, such as carrots, apples, certain seeds and nuts. Hay is a fantastic food for rabbits (and should be 80%+ of their diet) that promotes chewing, my rabbits always have fresh hay to chew. I give my gerbils hay every so often, they love to chew it and build nests out of it. A bale of hay for rodents will last a long time, if you don't have somewhere to store a whole bale, most pet stores carry bags of different hays - grass/orchard hay being a good staple.

An option both my rabbits and gerbils enjoy, as well as rats, are apple tree branches. I find this to be the best chew as it grinds teeth and provides nutrition. The rabbits tend to shred down the limbs as do the rats, while the gerbils completely gnaw down the sticks to almost nothing. Before giving your rodent pal a branch from outside, ensure it has not been sprayed with any chemicals, check for bugs, and it is also a good idea to freeze the sticks to kill any parasites or germs.

Feel free to discuss, add chews your animals like, etc,

Amber

Care Tip - Dandelions

Hello,

This entry is about something very common, but something that is very healthy - dandelions. A lot of people consider this yellow flower to be a weed, but it can be so much more. Dandelions can be found outside or purchased from a grocery store (look for "dandelion greens").

I did a quick google search and the benefits of dandelions are many,
"prevent or cure liver diseases, such as hepatitis or jaundice;
act as a tonic and gentle diuretic to purify your blood, cleanse your system, dissolve kidney stones, and otherwise improve gastro-intestinal health;
assist in weight reduction;
cleanse your skin and eliminate acne;
improve your bowel function, working equally well to relieve both constipation and diarrhea;
prevent or lower high blood pressure;
prevent or cure anemia;
lower your serum cholesterol by as much as half;
eliminate or drastically reduce acid indigestion and gas buildup by cutting the heaviness of fatty foods;
prevent or cure various forms of cancer;
prevent or control diabetes mellitus," (Gail, P. 2009)

That list is for humans, but it is likely these snacks are helpful to our animal companions as well, and in my years of having rabbits I've never seen an adverse affect from dandelions. My rabbits have lived to be 8 years old+, and dandelions were a staple in their diets.

Rats, gerbils, parrots, and likely other rodents, can also eat dandelions. My gerbils enjoy the flowers, where as my rabbits eat the entire plant leaf, stem, and flower. Parrots can enjoy the flower, leaves, and the roots. My good friend in NJ has a small-scale, very caring, rattery (farmhouserats.com), and her rats enjoyed the dandelions.

I suggest freezing the pieces of dandelion (after being scrubbed clean) for 4hrs+ to ensure outside parasites are killed. The dandelions can also be cleaned with a mild bleach solution, but I personally prefer freezing as there are no chemicals involved.

Feel free to discuss, ask questions, etc,-

Amber

Gail, P. 2009. http://leaflady.org/health_benefits_of_dandelions.htm
Photos (Copyright) Amber (me), 2009-forever.

What do you mean by "Critter Care Review?"

Hello world,

I want to help fellow pet owners take the best care of their pets by making shopping choices easier, and by providing care tips. I've done a lot of research on all of my pets - which I'll list a bit later, and have purchased many different "beddings," litters, foods, treats, brushes, shampoos, etc. Each blog post I hope to post a picture of the item in use, list positives and negatives, and my general opinion of the item.

Why should you care what I have to say? Mostly just because I've purchased - and learned, and have many animals to learn from. I've bought things that I wish I wouldn't have, and hope other owners can save their money, or provide their input. This blog is open for discussion, I enjoy learning about my pets, and it'll help others to be able to read and become more knowledgeable from more than one viewpoint.

My animals - some are family pets, but I buy things for everyone, so I'll include them. You'll get to know them through time in blog entries...

I have a german shepherd border collie cross that is 9 years old, named Sheba. She was adopted by my family in 2002, at only 2 years old. She still is a very active girl, but has a heart condition which she is on medication for.
Ember is my personal dog, though loved by my parents as well. She is a pit bull greyhound mix (to the best of my knowledge), she is only 2 years old, very intense and high energy. I adopted her from NJ, my beloved friend of over 10 years who fostered her gave me the heads up she was available, so out I went to get her.
I have two mini-lop rabbits, Delilah and Henrietta, both just 1 year old. I bought them last year at our local fair, unfortunately I did not realize about rescue rabbits at the time - but supporting a child in 4-h isn't bad in my opinion.
I also have two gerbils, Licorice and Tex, not sure on the age, very spastic little things, my worst impulse buy from a pet store. I've learned and will only buy from a reputable breeder, or rescue now - unless you want unhealthy animals, or if you don't mind being bitten, do not buy from a pet store.
I also have a pair of leopard geckos, and five aquariums with tropical fish and one cold-water tank with goldfish.
Lastly, I have two cats, Rascal a large tiger male, and Tasha, a small dilute tortie female. Tasha was "rescued" from my 4 year old niece who was too rough with her, and Rascal was born outside of our home we kept him, and gave the rest to Centre County Paws and they're now all loved and fixed.


Thank you to any readers,

Amber