FAQ: Health for small pets

A bath is usually offered several times a week for a short time and then removed. A bath left in the cage all the time gets dirty fast, and bathing too often can dry the skin and irritate the eyes.

Because of its very dense coat a chinchilla overheats easily, so keep it in a cool room away from sun and heaters. Heavy breathing, red ears and lethargy in heat are urgent signs: move the animal somewhere cool and call a vet.

No. A chinchilla’s coat is very dense and dries slowly, so getting wet raises the risk of chills and fungal skin disease. The coat is cleaned only with a sand bath.

Dust, draughts or bedding can irritate the eyes, but watering can also be linked to tooth roots or infection. If it lasts more than a day, or there is discharge or the eye swells, see a vet.

Drooling, a wet chin or front paws, reduced appetite, picky eating and weight loss can point to dental problems in a chinchilla. Changes to the cheek teeth cannot be seen at home, so a vet is needed.

Hamsters naturally carry food in their cheek pouches but usually empty them quickly. If a pouch stays swollen, only on one side, smells or the animal stops eating, see a vet.

Yes, some dwarf hamsters are prone to diabetes. Warning signs are heavy thirst and frequent urination; limit sweet fruit and treats for these hamsters, and see a vet if you suspect the disease.

A small pet may drink more in hot weather or when eating more dry food. But a sudden increase in thirst with heavy urination can point to diabetes or kidney disease, so it is worth consulting a vet.

In a cool room a hamster can go into torpor, which is dangerous for a pet. Keep it at a steady room temperature; if you find a cold, motionless hamster, warm it gradually and call a vet.

Occasional sneezing may come from dust or smells. Frequent sneezing, wheezing, laboured breathing or red discharge around the nose suggest a respiratory infection, which is common in rats, so see a vet.

It is usually not blood but a red pigment that rats produce more of when stressed or ill. A one-off may be harmless, but if there is a lot or it keeps returning, have a vet see the rat.

Choose low-dust bedding, avoid strongly scented softwood shavings, clean toilet areas regularly and ventilate without draughts. Do not smoke in a room where rodents live.

Yes, rats, especially females, often develop lumps under the skin as they age. Feel your rat regularly and, if you notice a new lump, see a vet early while it is still small.

Severe itching can be caused by mites, lice, an allergy to bedding or food, and sometimes stress. Sores get infected quickly, so a vet needs to find the cause.

Degus are prone to diabetes, so sugar, honey, dried fruit and sweet treats harm them. A degu’s diet should consist of hay, degu pellets and greens without added sugar.

Suspect diabetes if a degu drinks a lot, urinates heavily, loses weight or its eyes start clouding over. In that case see a vet, who will run tests and advise on diet.

Yes, like chinchillas, degus care for their coat by rolling in fine sand. Offer a bath with special sand several times a week and remove it once the degu has finished.

Occasional sneezing may come from dust in hay or bedding. If it sneezes often, has nose or eye discharge, breathes with difficulty or wheezes, see a vet urgently, as respiratory infections are dangerous for guinea pigs.

Yes, bladder stones and sludge are fairly common in guinea pigs. Blood in the urine, squeaking or straining when urinating are reasons to see a vet, and plenty of water, hay and moderate calcium help prevent them.

It depends on the animal and the flooring: on soft bedding nails wear little, so rabbits and guinea pigs often need trimming every few weeks. Check the nails regularly and trim them when they start to curve.