{"id":195,"date":"2020-08-30T15:27:32","date_gmt":"2020-08-30T15:27:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/?p=195"},"modified":"2020-08-30T15:27:32","modified_gmt":"2020-08-30T15:27:32","slug":"the-peaks-pitfalls-of-raising-rodents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/the-peaks-pitfalls-of-raising-rodents\/","title":{"rendered":"The Peaks & Pitfalls of Raising Rodents"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

The name \u201crodent\u201d brings to mind filthy scavenging creatures, but some of the most popular pets the world over are rodents. Even rats and mice, which are hazardous pests in the wild, can make wonderful pets. Other popular rodent pets include guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, and the more exotic degus.<\/p>\n

These cute furry friends can bring a lot of joy into your life, but there are some downfalls to owning them. We\u2019ll go through the peaks and the pitfalls of pet care, from the feeding to the cleaning, when you share your life with rodents.<\/p>\n

Socialization<\/h4>\n

Rodents are easy to tame and generally quite friendly with humans as long as they are treated gently. That makes them great pets. If you are looking for intelligent animals that crave your attention, choose rats or degus.<\/p>\n

Guinea pigs are really chill and will let you cuddle them or just sit on your lap, but are way more motivated by food than love. Hamsters, gerbils, and mice are fun to hold, but also quite small and flighty, so they get away from you quickly.<\/p>\n

Just as important as how your rodent gets along with you, is how they get along with others of their kind. Most pet rodents prefer to live with a friend or two and can actually get depressed if kept alone. Hamsters are a notable exception \u2013 they are solitary creatures and should be kept singly.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Feeding<\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Feeding rodents is pretty easy. Most subsist primarily on commercial pellets and water. Some rodents need supplementation with hay and fresh veggies, like guinea pigs and degus. You can provide treats in moderation for any rodent pet, being careful not to feed too much sugary fruit, as rodents can also get diabetes.<\/p>\n

The main challenge with animals that need fresh food is keeping it stocked, since leafy greens and vegetables are quite perishable. It can also be challenging in the beginning to learn what veggies are safe for your rodent. And it sounds like a little thing, but cleaning and prepping the food can also be somewhat time-consuming.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Health<\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Pet rodents are relatively (but not entirely) free of diseases that can pass to humans, but rodents kept in poor conditions by the breeder can easily pass disease amongst each other. When you buy a new animal, it is wise to ask if the breeder has a health guarantee, a period of time during which they will refund your money if the animal becomes ill or dies.<\/p>\n

After the first couple of weeks, if your rodent is still healthy and happy (and you are not exposing it to new animals on a regular basis), you can feel more confident in its health. However, rodents are prone to tumors and respiratory illnesses as they age.<\/p>\n

Because of their small size, it can be hard to save them \u2013 which is not to say that you shouldn\u2019t try. Caught early, benign tumors can potentially be removed, and respiratory illnesses respond well to antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, or steroids.<\/p>\n

Sadly, many rodents are good at disguising signs of illness, so by the time you notice, time is very short to intervene.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Breeding<\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

If you are interested in breeding rodents, the good news is that it is not challenging to accomplish. Plenty of rodent owners let it happen accidentally. Rodents come into sexual maturity at a young age, most within the period of one to two months of life.<\/p>\n

The flip side of that is that the overall window for breeding is small. Guinea pigs shouldn\u2019t be bred after they are 10 months old, though female rats can breed for most of their relatively short lives, up to about 15 months.<\/p>\n

If you plan to breed your rodents, be sure to do careful research on their unique needs. New rodent mamas can be touchy and you don\u2019t want to handle the babies before it is safe to do so. Some rodents have been known to eat their young if they get stressed out.<\/p>\n

While that prospect can be alarming, it underscores the fact that the most important job you\u2019ll have is making sure your pets are comfortable and then leaving them alone.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Lifespan<\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

One of the saddest parts of keeping rodents is that they don\u2019t live terribly long. Mice, rats, and hamsters all have a lifespan of just 2-3 years. Gerbils live for an average of 3-5 years. Guinea pigs and degus live longer, for an average of 5-7 years. It can sound like a lot on day one, but as you grow to love your pet, you\u2019ll find that the days pass very quickly.<\/p>\n

If you develop an affinity for a particular type of rodent, know that there will be many sad goodbyes over the years.<\/p>\n

Rodents make wonderful pets. They are easy to keep and bond with their owners. However, like any pet, rodents will need veterinary care. Keeping their enclosure clean can be labor intensive, too. But as long as you are willing to put in the time and effort, you\u2019ll find yourself rewarded with a unique and sweet friendship with your furry little buddy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The name \u201crodent\u201d brings to mind filthy scavenging creatures, but some of the most popular pets the world over are rodents. Even rats and mice, which are hazardous pests in the wild, can make wonderful pets. Other popular rodent pets include guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, and the more exotic degus. These cute furry friends can […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":196,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=195"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":213,"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195\/revisions\/213"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/196"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=195"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=195"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}