Caring for your small furry pet

Hamsters: Hamsters currently don’t need any vaccinations. Their greatest risk of disease is when in a large group with other hamsters, such as a pet shop.

Guinea pigs: Vaccinations for guinea pigs are not recommended.

Ferrets: We strongly recommended getting your ferret vaccinated to help protect them against distemper, a viral disease they are highly susceptible to. This can be fatal, and causes severe respiratory distress, fever and skin issues. The vaccine carries a chance of a medical reaction, so beforehand, our vet will walk you through all associated risks and suggest you wait at our clinic for 30 minutes post-vaccination to check for signs of a reaction.

The influenza virus can also affect ferrets, however, there is currently no vaccine available. If you are suffering from the flu, we strongly recommend keeping your distance from your pet.

Rats: Vaccinations are currently not recommended for rats.

Chinchillas: We don’t recommend vaccinations for chinchillas at this moment in time.

Nothing’s more exciting than bringing a new pet home, but before you get settled into your new role as a doting pet parent, we recommend bringing them to see us first. We’re animal lovers just like you, and want to make sure your new friend is healthy enough to be introduced to the rest of the family, human and furry alike.

We will perform a full clinical examination, paying careful attention to their eyes, ears, teeth, mouth, and skin, check their hydration levels, muscle and fat deposits, and look for any parasites. Our vets will then feel their lymph nodes, assess their scent glands, examine their abdomen for any abnormalities and listen to their heart and lungs. It’s also of value to understand the cage setup and general diet of your small furry pet, so please bring along some pictures so we can offer advice, if needed.

After this, we recommend check-ups every six months to stay on top of any developing health conditions and help keep your tiny companion in tip-top shape.

Hamsters 

Though your tiny friend might disagree, we’d recommend avoiding the seed, nut and pellet mixtures you can buy from pet shops, as too many seeds containing high fat levels can be detrimental to your hamster’s health. Instead, it’s best to feed them pelleted complete foods, with access to fresh water in a sipper bottle, changed daily.

Along with this, use a very small amount of fresh food such as three to five different types of fruit and vegetables. This can be spinach, lettuce, broccoli, pumpkin, tomato, carrot, corn, strawberries, blueberries, grapes, apples, and choi sum.

Guinea pigs 

Your guinea pig needs a balanced diet comprised of vitamins, no fat, restricted protein and carbohydrate, and high levels of fibre. The last one is particularly important, as their teeth continuously grow throughout their lives, and this will help wear them down and prevent dental problems. Make sure first cut, high-quality loose hay is available for them to forage to their heart’s content, along with a small amount of guinea pig pellets.

To incorporate vitamins into their diet, provide one to two bowls of three different types of fresh food a day, such as choi sum, pak choi, yau mak choi, romaine lettuce, bell peppers, broccoli leaves, Chinese lettuce, carrots, spinach and parsley. Next time you’re enjoying your favourite fruits, share with your pocket pal – it can also be given as a bi-weekly treat, with half a teaspoon being the perfect portion size.

Similar to their favourite person (that’s you), guinea pigs can’t make their own vitamin C, so like us, it’s important to supplement this into their diet. Unsure of the best products? Chat with our vets, who are always happy to help!

Ferrets 

An obligate carnivore, ferrets are required to have a diet consisting mostly of meat and animal products, avoiding a large amount of vegetable proteins, fibre or carbohydrates. This can result in poor pancreatic health and may cause intestinal blockages.

It can be notoriously tricky to get just right, so don’t worry – our vets can help steer you in the right direction about your ferret’s nutritional needs, so pop in!

Rats 

When they’re in the wild, rats are happy to live on whatever they can find, but in your loving home, we’d recommend something a bit different. A combined seed and cereal mix is a good choice – a large teaspoon morning and evening – supplemented with fresh fruit and vegetables. Variety is the spice of life for them just as much as us, so try and mix up what they eat and if possible, offer five different types.

If you plan on making any changes to your rat’s diet, be careful that it’s done gradually, as failure to do so can result in a gut bacteria imbalance. You’ll need to also be careful of obesity, as they love nibbling on whatever they can find. Be mindful of overfeeding, and find time in amongst their passionate noshing to get some exercise in!

Chinchillas 

To support their digestive system, chinchillas need a diet that is high in fibre, is restricted of protein and carbohydrates, and contains no fat.

Like their fellow furry friend the guinea pig, their teeth also grow continuously across their lifespan, so a diet that’s in high in fibre – such as bark, grasses and leaves – helps file them down and keep them nibbling away stress-free. This can be done by giving them free-roaming, unlimited access to first cut, high-quality loose hay, and a very small amount of chinchilla pellets.

Of course, part of being a good pet owner is giving your beloved pet some yummy treats, and fruit is the perfect choice – but make sure it’s given in tiny amounts, up to twice a week. Fresh vegetables are another option, but many chinchillas avoid these, as they can upset their stomachs. The introduction of any new foods should be done slowly, as bacterial imbalance in your chinchilla’s gut can be fatal.

Hamsters: We don’t believe hamsters should be neutered, unless otherwise recommend by an experienced vet. They should be kept individually, avoiding the need to have them neutered.

Guinea pigs: Unless there is a health problem that requires it, we don’t recommend the routine neutering of female guinea pigs. However, to prevent unwanted behaviours such as fighting between males or uncontrolled breeding, we do recommend neutering male guinea pigs. It’s suggested to do this around six to eight months of age, and is performed under general anaesthesia. Contact our team to make an appointment if you plan on getting your male guinea pig neutered.

Ferrets: To support their ongoing health and wellbeing, it is wise to have your ferret neutered. This is commonly done by breeders before selling, as the hormones can negatively affect the female ferret during her cycles, while males can develop a pungent odour if not neutered, making it difficult to keep them in enclosed spaces.

If you have any concerns or would like to know more about the procedure and any associated risks, please talk to one of our veterinary surgeons.

Rats: The chemical de-sexing of female rats is preferred to surgical neutering at Claygate Vets. For more information, please don’t hesitate to make an appointment with our team. If you plan on keeping a male and female rat without breeding, neutering is recommended – though it’s ideal to keep pairs of the same sex.

Chinchillas: Unless otherwise specified or in certain cases – such as an infected uterus – we do not recommend the routine neutering of female chinchillas. If you intend for two or male chinchillas to live together, then we do recommend castration to avoid aggressive behaviours, or in the case of a male and female, unwanted pregnancies.

This should be done between the ages of six to eight months. To learn more, have a chat with our long-standing team of vets.

Hamsters: It is not a requirement that hamsters receive routine worming treatments. However, it’s important to note that skin disease can occur due to skin parasites. If you believe your hamster is suffering from this or you have any concerns, please book a consultation to discuss it further – we’re always here to help.

Guinea pigs: Guinea pigs may experience pinworms – white, 2-3mm-long wriggly worms visible in their faeces or around their bottom. This will require treatment. Skin parasites can affect your pet, so make an appointment if you’re concerned.

Most importantly, flystrike poses a serious risk to guinea pigs, a condition that is most often fatal and occurs when flies lay eggs on or near your guinea pig and hatch into flesh-eating maggots. Take preventative measures to reduce the risk, such as ensuring your pet and environment is clean and dry and using a fly net around the hutch in warmer weather.

Ferrets: To prevent intestinal worms and heartworm, ferrets may need a worm treatment. Chat about your options with our lovely team!

Rats: Parasites are rarely found in pet rats, so worming isn’t necessary.

Chinchillas: Chinchillas very rarely need any de-worming treatment.

Sadly, due to their teeth continuously growing throughout their lives, dental disease and tooth breakages are very common in our tiny friends, causing severe pain every time they eat and greatly impacting their quality of life.

To keep them healthy – and bring back the gentle, fun personalities we love so much – our team of dedicated professionals at Claygate Vets uses modern technology and comprehensive equipment – after introducing ourselves to your beautiful pet, of course!

Learn more about our dental care at Claygate Vets and make a booking with our team.

Your pint-sized pet loves experiencing the world around them, and as their proud parent, they look up to you – literally – to provide an exciting and mentally stimulating environment that is beneficial to their physical health and mental wellbeing. Here are a few tips that allow your itty-bitty explorer to live their best life by your side:

Hamsters 

Our hamster friends are naturally intelligent and inquisitive, and need an environment where they can truly be themselves. This means creating a space in their cage that allows for burrowing and the digging of several chambers that double as a toilet, food storage, and place to sleep. Keep them on their tiny toes by also putting food in different spaces around their cage to encourage foraging, along with a running wheel to keep them fit and fabulous.

Guinea pigs

Guinea pigs love strutting around open spaces with confidence, so it’s a good exercise to let them out of their cage every day to do exactly that. But much like us, they also need their own quiet space to relax or sleep, so make sure they have a hide box in their cage, along with plenty of wooden chew toys to keep them happy. They’ll love you forever.

Ferrets

Ferrets are famously cheeky and mischievous, and they like their surroundings to match this contagiously playful nature – and if they’re bored, you’ll certainly hear about it! To avoid this – and keep them mentally stimulated – provide companions, food-puzzle toys, and a big running wheel. They also have a nose for adventure, so when you let them out of the cage, ensure that tubes, tunnels and a dig box are waiting on the other side.

Rats

Sweet and social, rats need companionship and a stimulating environment that allows them to engage in their unique – and lovable! – activities. This can be in the form of boxes, tunnels, tubes, rat-safe chew toys and a forage tray in their cage. Given their nature, they also enjoy the company of a rat friend – so if possible, add a cage mate to the mix and watch them become furry friends!

Chinchillas 

In the wild, chinchillas live in groups, a reflection of their innately social personalities. This is just as true at home, where these gentle mammals thrive in the company of others. If you don’t plan on adding another companion to the household, make sure to give them plenty of love and attention. Between bonding moments, add several layers to their cage to encourage exercise, and make sure they have safe hiding spaces to keep stress levels low. Chinchillas also enjoy daily time outside their enclosure in a fully chinchilla-proofed pen or room. Around an hour or two of supervised exploring and foraging — using a forage box or hiding treats — gives them valuable enrichment without letting them find trouble.

Sadly, we encounter many small furry pets at Claygate Vets who are classed as being overweight, due to overfeeding and inadequate exercise.

We’re always happy to help, so book a consultation with one of our friendly nurses, who will tailor a diet and exercise plan that encourages healthy weight loss for your beloved pet.

If your pet is visiting us for a procedure such as neutering or is receiving treatment requiring constant monitoring, they’ll receive the utmost comfort at Claygate Vets with our compassionate nurses. We have a specialised hospital ward available for small furry pets, complete with cages – and bars – designed to prevent any sudden disappearing acts!