Rats flat out get a bad rap.  They are equated to filth, disease and dirty kitchens and sewers.  But a healthy fancy pet rat can actually be a wonderful pet for any older child or adult. 

A pet rat’s cage should be large or it is unfair to the rat.  If you are purchasing a baby rat, do not judge a cage size by your current rat’s size.  Rats grow quickly and they grow large.  Our rats now resemble small squirrels – so plan on buying a cage that they will grow into.  Many rats can grow to at least ten inches long.  The tail adds an additional six to eight inches.  Our cage is 30″L x 18″ W x 30″H and houses two rats.  You will find literature stating that a minimum cage size for a rat should be 24”L X 12”W X 12” H.  In my opinion, this is too small.  A solid bottom wheel should included in the cage setup. 

Rats are sensitive to strong smells.  Never use cedar or pine in a rat’s cage.  You can use Carefresh bedding as well as low odor bedding made specifically for small animals.  Rats have limited vision, relying on their excellent senses of hearing and smell to explore their world.  Rats enjoy boxes, hammocks and other comfy hiding places for sleeping and playing. 

Female rats can live together if they are purchased together.  They enjoy company, so it is recommended that you purchase two females at the same time.  Two males may fight – so if you are getting a male, one would be best.  Male rat cages will smell a bit more than the female cages. 

Rats are smart, clean and enjoy interaction with people.  They should not be kept by small children as they might bite if agitated.  Tame rats love to sit on the shoulders of their owners and are wonderful companions due to their intelligence and friendliness.  Pet rats are curious and therefore fun to watch when new things are introduced into the cage. 

Provide a high quality rat food at all times.  Change the water every day.  Crunchy rat treats are an excellent way to provide a chewing source for your rat’s teeth.  Fresh greens such as kale or collards can be offered once a day – but only a small bit as too much may upset a rat’s stomach.  A bit of fresh fruit is fine for your rat about twice a week.  And one of our special rat tips?  Rats LOVE cheerios.  We train with them but keep it to a “three cheerio a day” max. 

Give your rat plenty of “human time” each day.  Rats need stimulation to keep them healthy and happy.  Even a stack of cocktail napkins at the bottom of the cage will provide entertainment for your rat.  Watch as your rat takes one napkin at a time up the side of the cage or stairs to the nest.  It is also fun to take a long piece of toilet tissue and put the end inside the cage.  Your rat will pull the entire piece into the cage – something you have to see to appreciate! 

Always wash your hands before and after interacting with your rat. Furthermore, be sure to clean the cage at least once or twice a week to keep your rat as healthy as he can be!

Dogs are a man’s best friend, indeed.  But for some, the expression reaches further to “dogs are a diabetic’s best friend.”  

Amazingly, dogs have been known to detect everything from cancer to low blood sugar.  They can sense odors down to parts per trillion.  Things we could not even begin to smell are strong scents to dogs.  So it does not surprise many to know that dogs will often lick or fuss near particular parts of an owner’s body, only to find there is cancer in that body part. 

Today, dogs are being trained in Britain to detect low blood sugar in diabetics.  There are some people with diabetes who have reported their dogs will lick their faces or whine when their blood sugar gets dangerously low.  Apparently many dogs can detect when a person is about to have an hypoglycemic episode.  Currently there are 17 dogs in training who will be placed with diabetics – particularly with children who are insulin dependent. 

If you or a family member has diabetes and you own a dog, pay close attention to times when your blood sugar is falling.  Is your dog near you, upset, panting or licking you?  If so, praise your dog once you are stable.  After all, you just never know when your dog may be the one to save your life!

A new-generation canine Lyme disease vaccine is now available for dogs, providing protection in two different ways from the dangerous Borrelia burgdorferi infection.  The vaccination has been released by Intervet/Schering-Plough and is called Nobivac. 

When a tick attaches to a dog and begins to drink the blood, Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria begin to multiply inside the gut of the tick.  From there the bacteria move to the salivary glands of the tick, finally being released into the dog through the wound. 

Lyme disease symptoms in a dog include fever, lameness, swollen lymph nodes and a lack of appetite.  Untreated Lyme disease can cause permanent heart, kidney, joint and nervous system damage.  Untreated Lyme disease can be fatal.  Unfortunately, Lyme disease is on the rise in both humans and pets alike. 

The canine Lyme disease vaccine Nobivac kills spirochetes in the tick’s gut, in the salivary glands and in the spirochetes that enter the dog as well.  This is more protection than has been available in the past, which is an exciting advancement in the prevention of Lyme disease in dogs. 

Nobivac is administered subcutaneously once and then another vaccination is given two to four weeks from the first.  Following that, dogs are given a booster yearly.  If you live in an area known for ticks or Lyme disease, talk to your veterinarian about this new Lyme disease vaccination.