1. Pocket Pets All you need to know about these small critters!
Winnecone High School
Mr. Melby
Adapted By: Mr. Behrends, Bruce Ag.

2. Bedding
Pine or Aspen shavings
Shredded paper
Corn cob bedding

3. Feed Pelleted feed for all species
Good quality hay (Timothy and alfalfa)
These are high in Calcium which may cause kidney stones!

4. Teeth Care Rodents have constantly erupting teeth
Chew blocks should be provided to prevent overgrowth

5. Rabbits Live 8-10 years Litter box trainable
Can’t tolerate heat – suffer from heat stroke
Coprophagy – eat night feces for Vitamin B
Diseases: snuffles, hutchburn, sore hocks, etc.

6. Guinea Pigs Most popular pocket pet! Live 5-7 years
10 inches long and 2-3 pounds (largest pocket pet)
Require additional Vitamin C in their diet
Noisiest of pocket pets
Health problems: scurvy, bladder stones

8. Ferret 2nd most common pocket pet Live 8-10 years
Used for hunting rabbits and rodent control in barns
Prefer hammocks for sleeping

9. Ferrets (continued) Normally spayed or neutered and DESCENTED!
Unspayed females go in and out of heat and die of anemia
Nocturnal and very curious

10. Ferrets (continued) Ferrets can be litter box trained
Only pocket pet that needs to be vaccinated
Distemper
Rabies
Keep toenails trimmed

11. Hamster Live 2-3 years 6 inches in length
Stubby tail is distinguishing characteristic
Nocturnal
Cheek pouches
Sensitive to temperature

12. Rats Live 2-4 years 8 inches in length
Hairless tail about the length of their body
Suffer from tumors
Require more human attention than typical pocket pets

13. Mice Live 1-3 years Only 3 inches long Long, hairless tail
Prefer living with others, although males fight if kept together

14. Mama Mouse

15. Hedgehogs Live 4-6 years 5-8 inches in length
Not as common as a pet anymore
Insectivores – insects make up a majority of their diet

16. Hedgehogs (continued)
Backs are covered with rows of short, prickly spines
Bellies covered with soft fur
When threatened, roll into a tight ball with mass of spines poking out

17. Gerbil Live 2-3 years Usually 4 inches long
Furry tail almost as long as the body
Resemble kangaroos
From deserts of Mongolia – prefer tub of sand to play in

18. Chinchilla Live up to 15 years Short bodied, tail, and ears; long fur
Nocturnal
Shed once every 3 months
Need volcanic dust for grooming
No toenails

19. Chinchillas (continued)
From Andes of South America
Inca Indians raised for fur – now raised on ranches
pelts to make a women’s full length coat

20. Chinchilla Pictures