Rodents are popular pets. They are relatively small in size and tend to be easier to care for than a cat or dog. A small rodent is able to become real family members, and his illness will surely upset the owners.
Signs of illness
The animal will not tell you that it feels bad, and will not show with a finger exactly where it hurts. You will have to monitor your pet closely to discover if something is wrong. The situation is complicated by the fact that herbivorous rodents are potential victims of predators who prefer to attack sick and weakened animals, since they can be caught without much difficulty. For the sake of survival, hamsters, rabbits and chinchillas are used to hiding the signs of ailment so as not to draw unnecessary attention to themselves.
Nevertheless, according to the state of the animal, it can be understood that it is sick. Pay attention to your pet's behavior. A sick rodent becomes lethargic, does not want to play with his favorite toys and walk around the apartment. He can sit in the house without getting out or try to hide in another place, dark and protected.
One of the symptoms of feeling unwell is refusal to eat. To make sure that the animal is really out of order, offer him two or three types of treats. Perhaps he is tired of the usual food, but if the animal refuses any food, this is a reason to be wary.
Examine your pet. A symptom of the disease will be dull hair, which may even begin to fall out, dandruff, discharge from the eyes. A foul rodent may have redness and swelling on the skin.
The chair will also tell a lot about the health of the little family pet. You should be alarmed if it has become liquid or, on the contrary, the animal is worried about constipation.
What to do
If you suspect that your pet is sick, you should take it to a veterinarian-ratologist who specializes in rodent diseases as soon as possible. These small animals have an incredibly fast metabolism, so the disease can develop rapidly. Don't waste precious time.
Disease prevention
You may not be able to protect your pet from all diseases, but taking precautions will help you prevent some of them. First of all, carefully monitor the animal's diet. Rodents are herbivores, so they need special food. Table food is not suitable for your pet. You can only periodically feed the animal with vegetables and fruits that are allowed to it. These animals do not like dampness and sudden temperature fluctuations. Heat and drafts affect them equally badly. Set up the cage in a shaded and protected place to keep your pet comfortable.
