Ferrets, rabbits, rodents, and exotic companions.
Chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) are extraordinary animals: soft-furred, intelligent, and capable of living 10 to 15 years — sometimes even longer —…
Sugar gliders are marsupials, not rodents, and their care requirements reflect this entirely different biological heritage. Veterinary surveys…
Scurvy can develop in guinea pigs in as little as 2 weeks without adequate vitamin C. This is a genuine medical emergency. If your guinea pig shows any…
According to FEDIAF, the European Pet Food Industry Federation, rabbits are the third most popular pet in Europe, with millions of households across…
Hamsters and gerbils often get lumped together in the same mental category — small, furry, cage-dwelling rodents that are broadly suitable for…
The term "hamster" covers several species with distinct care requirements. Understanding which species you're getting — and why it matters — is the…
Guinea pigs share something important with humans: they are among the very few mammals that cannot synthesise their own vitamin C. Every other molecule…
Rabbits are prey animals with a deeply ingrained instinct to conceal illness. By the time a rabbit shows obvious signs of being unwell, the condition…
Tarantulas are among the most low-maintenance exotic pets you can own — and among the most misunderstood. They do not need daily interaction, they eat…
Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease is one of the most serious threats to domestic rabbits in the UK, and yet a significant proportion of pet rabbit…
Several hamster species are kept as pets across Europe, and understanding the differences between them is essential because their care requirements…
Guinea pigs, also known as cavies, are highly social creatures that live in groups in the wild. Keeping a guinea pig alone causes genuine psychological…
The Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF), the leading UK organisation for rabbit welfare, is clear on the subject: rabbits are social animals…
For decades, the standard image of a pet rabbit was an animal in a small wooden hutch at the bottom of a garden. That image is now widely recognised as…
The African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) has grown in popularity as an exotic companion animal, but it comes with a steep learning curve.…
A rabbit that stops eating for just 12 hours is already in danger. Gastrointestinal stasis — commonly called GI stasis — is one of the leading causes…
Guinea pigs share an unusual metabolic characteristic with humans and a small number of other species: they are unable to synthesise Vitamin C…
Domestic rabbits in Europe face three diseases that are each capable of killing an unvaccinated animal rapidly and without warning. Myxomatosis, Rabbit…
Guinea pigs are not solitary animals that happen to tolerate company. They are fundamentally herd animals whose psychological and physiological…
Guinea pigs, also known as cavies, are gentle, sociable animals that can make excellent companions for families and individuals alike. However, their…
Prospective rabbit owners are often surprised to learn that rabbits are long-term companions. The days when rabbits were considered disposable pets…
Gastrointestinal stasis — commonly called GI stasis — is one of the leading causes of death in pet rabbits. Unlike many conditions that give owners…
Chinchillas are among the most striking small mammals kept as pets in Europe, with their extraordinarily dense fur, curious personalities, and…
Rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and rats are four of the most popular small mammals kept as pets in the UK and Europe. They are very different animals…
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