VET’S VIEW: A different kind of pet?

A number of months ago my daughter came to me and exclaimed that she would love a hamster for her birthday, ‘Please, oh please, Daddy, please can I get a hamster? I will look after it, feed it, clean out from it…’ – and on she went. To cut that story of pleading short, I decided to relent (having discussed it with my wife) and we got her Peaches, a dwarf hamster.
We sat our daughter down and told her that she had to prove to us that she would keep her word about Peaches’ care, and we have diligently followed through on that. In fairness to our little girl, she has kept her word regarding regular feeding handling and, most importantly, cleaning and general hygiene.
Whilst most of us consider dogs and cats when we talk about domestic pets, there is an ever-growing trend towards alternatives, everything from hamsters, rabbits, chinchillas, pet rats, ferrets, guinea pigs… the list goes on.
However, these animals can have very different needs – and in lots of cases, even more demanding needs than our dogs and cats – in terms of daily care.
They require specific foods relative to there species, specific habitats and quite different husbandry demands, and these requirements need to be fully understood and accepted before embarking upon ownership of these types of animals.
Also, these sorts of pets can pose some challenges from a health and illness point of view, as well as in lots of cases, much shorter life spans than dogs and cats. This too needs to be accepted, especially if one is deciding on getting such a pet for small children. An ‘alternative’ pet will also have very different behaviours, and some neither enjoy nor tolerate regular or excessive handling from us humans.
In terms of some if not all of these alternative pet species, hygiene in terms of their environments is all important. Regular cleaning and disinfection of their housing and enclosures, as well as their feeding bowls and water containers, is very very important in maintaining good health. This is because these animals are generally confined to relatively small spaces or enclosures, especially relative to that in which they would live in the wild. Another very important factor to consider if one decides to get an alternative pet is that more often than not, they are very timid and shy creatures that can get very stressed at the presence of dogs and or cats and become ill due to fear.
Whilst they are not for everybody, alternative pets are becoming more and more popular. However, if you are going to get one as a pet, it is very important that you do your research and fully understand the particular creature’s specific needs and habits, and that smaller members of the household understand the pets’ needs in so far as handling, hygiene and knowledge and understanding of their life spans is concerned.

Veterinarian Conal Finnerty MRCVS practises at the Skeldale Vet Clinic in Ballinrobe and Belmullet. Follow the clinic on Facebook, or call 094 9541980 or 087 9185350 to make an appointment.