Do you have a Guinea pig, gerbil, hamster, bunny, or another small animal? These little guys can all make very cute and lovable pets! You can definitely include your pint-sized pal in the holiday festivities. Just be sure to always put your pet’s health and safety first. Read on as a Bowmanville, ON vet discusses holidays with pocket pets.

Decorating

There’s no reason you can’t make your pet’s cage look nice and festive for the holidays. Look for hidey-holes with seasonal shapes or patterns. Offer your hamster a tiny igloo, or make your Guinea pig a little Santa’s village. You can also add paper snowflakes or cardboard shapes. You can even put some decorative items, like lights or tinsel, on the outside of the cage. Just be sure to put them in a spot where your pint-sized pal can’t reach them.

Photo Ops

One of our favorite things about the holidays is seeing festive pictures of our furry friends. You can get an adorable shot of your cute pet wearing a Santa hat, or sitting in a little reindeer sleigh. Just be sure to supervise these photo sessions carefully: you don’t want your furball eating the props!

Presents

Chew toys are both fun and necessary for pocket pets, so they really make great gifts. Many wood, wicker, and cardboard items are fine, as long as they don’t have small parts, sharp edges, or dangling threads. Offer your pet a wooden spoon, an unfinished wooden ornament, or a children’s block. Just be sure to only give your pet plain, safe woods. Mazes, tunnels, and other toys also make great gifts. Of course, a bigger habitat would also be another wonderful present for your furry buddy.

Treats

There’s no reason you can’t give your tiny furball a special snack. Just make sure to only offer safe, suitable foods. Every type of animal has their own specific nutritional needs, as well as their own taste. A bunny may love some dried pineapple, while a little cheese would make a better snack for a hamster. Always do your research before offering your pet a new food, to make sure it’s safe for them. Ask your vet for recommendations. All of us here at Clarington Animal Hospital PC, your Bowmanville, ON pet hospital, want to wish you and your tiny pet a wonderful holiday season. Feel free to contact us anytime!