At McGehee Clinic for Animals, we care for a
variety
of small mammals in addition to dogs and cats. As an exotic veterinarian in Memphis, TN we can offer guidance and quality care for a wide range of furry friends, including rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, rats, sugar gliders, hedgehogs, and hamsters.
Rabbits
Rabbits require care that is as unique as they are. At McGehee Clinic for Animals, we put an emphasis on a nutritional diet as part of our rabbit care. While a balanced diet is vital to any healthy pet’s wellness, it is especially important to ensure your rabbit’s diet provides them with sufficient nutrition to maintain their overall health.
Our rabbit care utilizes the following essential aspects of care:
Regular physical exams & dental check ups
Weight measurement
Healthy diet
Blood work
Hamsters
Our team is here to help educate you on the appropriate care for your hamster to make certain they live happily with you. Hamsters should be housed on their own due to their territorial temperament and their instinct to burrow and hoard their food. They are active mammals and may enjoy exploring their environment in a hamster ball while supervised.
Vital necessities for tending to a hamster include:
High quality hamster pellet diet
Small quantities of fruits and vegetables
Individually housing hamsters
Adequately sized cage with nesting material and bedding
Hamster balls, wheels, and tunnels
Hedgehogs
We recommend hedgehogs receive a complete physical examination at least once, if not twice a year. It can be difficult to discern if your pet hedgehog isn’t feeling well due to their passive demeanor, which makes physical exams even more important. These nocturnal creatures thrive on temperature regulation as they are prone to experiencing a hibernation-like state if they are exposed to excessive hot or cold temperatures.
Proper care we recommend for hedgehogs:
Commercial food diet formulated specifically for hedgehogs
Fruits and insects in small moderation
Spacious enclosure with areas for hiding
Housed in temperatures between 75°F and 85°F
Monitored play time outside of their enclosure
Guinea Pigs
As with all pets, preventive care is the best way to maintain your guinea pig’s overall health. If you notice any changes in their daily habits, such as eating, drinking, bathroom, or behavior, please let our team know. Guinea pigs are more susceptible to various health issues such as upper respiratory infections or ovarian cysts in females. Spaying your female guinea pig is the best way to prevent these cysts, and we do not recommend housing female and male guinea pigs together to inhibit any accidental litters. Your veterinarian can offer other preventive recommendations tailored to your rodent’s specific needs.
Suitable care for guinea pigs includes:
Grass and fresh vegetable diet
Daily Vitamin C supplementation
Well ventilated caging with solid flooring
Routinely cleaning the cage
Chinchillas
Chinchillas do best with a quality grass hay diet and regular playtime and dust baths. They are crepuscular to nocturnal by nature and can be active throughout the day. Chinchillas are social mammals and do well when housed in spacious enclosures with same sex companions. They also require regular dental maintenance to ensure their teeth don’t become overgrown.
Chinchillas require the following:
Diet of grass hay
At least 30 minutes of activity per day
Dust baths offered frequently
Large enclosure with several levels
Cooler room temperatures
Rats
Rats are curious, smart, and loving and can make great companions. Rats are social animals and do well spending time with fellow rats and having quality time with their owners, but should be monitored closely, especially when outside of their enclosure. Enclosures that provide space to burrow, climb, and chew are the most ideal.
Essentials for the best possible rat care consist of:
Rat pellet diet
Wire mesh wall enclosures
Wooden or paper chew toys
Small amounts of fruits and vegetables
Spaying to prevent mammary tumors
Sugar Gliders
Sugar gliders are very active, and therefore do best with spacious housing with various toys including swings and chew toys, as well as a hamster wheel for exercise to keep them engaged. They should also receive a combination diet of insects, nectar, a small quantity of fruit and vegetables along with a commercial insectivore diet. Our small mammal veterinarian can offer guidance on housing and diet during your sugar glider’s next appointment.
Our recommendations for sugar gliders include:
