“Pocket Pets,” are small furry creatures. Gerbils, hamsters, mice, and guinea pigs are examples of pocket pets. Great for classroom pets and easy to care for by small children, these animals are popular and inexpensive pets.
These animals are usually pretty hardy, but they have special needs. A little pre-purchase research should be done by anyone wanting to purchase a new pet, especially these little guys. Guinea pigs, for example, can not make their own vitamin C and must have a vitamin C supplement daily (kale and oranges are great ways to provide this important vitamin). Most manufactured guinea pig diets will have vitamin C added at the time the food is packaged, however, it is extremely important to know that vitamin C is very fragile and breaks down easily. Just because the food contains it when it is packaged, doesn’t mean the vitamin will still be there when your pet eats it!
Stella Link Animal Clinic has many free handouts on the care, housing and feeding of all sorts of “critters”. We will be happy to answer any questions you have concerning the care of your special furry friend. Don’t hesitate to ask!