Small Pets · Food
Safe and unsafe foods for hamsters, beyond the seed mix
A hamster's diet is not just the seed mix in the bag. Here is what fresh food is genuinely safe to add, what to avoid, and how much treat food a hamster can actually handle.
Articles by Beth Sanders
Small Pets · Breeds
Chinchilla care, the cool-climate pet with a coat unlike anything else
Chinchillas are not a beginner small pet dressed up as one. Here is what they actually need, from temperature control to dust baths, and who they genuinely suit.
Small Pets · Health
Why is my rabbit or guinea pig sneezing?
An occasional sneeze is nothing. Repeated sneezing, discharge, or noisy breathing in a rabbit or guinea pig can point to a respiratory infection that needs a vet, and both species hide illness until it is already serious.
Small Pets · Breeds
The true cost of owning a rabbit
The rabbit itself is often free or close to it. What actually costs money is the space, the hay, the neutering, and the exotics vet care most people never budget for. Here is an honest breakdown.
Small Pets · Health
Signs of GI stasis in rabbits and guinea pigs
GI stasis is the single most dangerous emergency in pet rabbits and guinea pigs, and it can turn serious within hours. Here is what causes it, the early signs, and what to do the moment you suspect it.
Small Pets · Behaviour
Can you clicker train a rabbit or guinea pig?
Yes, and it is one of the best ways to work with a prey animal that would rather not be picked up or chased. Here is how to start, and what is realistic for each species.
Small Pets · Behaviour
How to litter train a rabbit or guinea pig
Rabbits take to a litter tray fairly readily, guinea pigs less so, but both can learn. Here is how to set it up properly and what to do when accidents keep happening.
Small Pets · Breeds
Guinea pig care, the sociable little pet done properly
Guinea pigs are gentle, vocal, and endearing, and they need company, space, and a vitamin-C-rich diet to thrive. Here is what these popular small pets really need.
Small Pets · Breeds
Rabbit care, what these popular pets really need
Rabbits are one of the most misunderstood pets, often kept in ways that fail them. Here is what a rabbit genuinely needs, from a companion and space to the right diet, to live well.
Small Pets · Breeds
Syrian hamster care, the solitary pet done right
Syrian hamsters are popular first pets, and much of the standard advice about them is wrong. Here is what they really need, from a much bigger cage to why they must live alone.
Small Pets · Behaviour
How to bond a pair of rabbits or guinea pigs
Rabbits and guinea pigs are social animals that should not live alone, but introductions can go wrong. Here is how to bond a pair safely, patiently, and for the long term.
Small Pets · Food
Safe and unsafe vegetables for rabbits and guinea pigs
Fresh greens are a valuable part of a rabbit or guinea pig's diet, but not everything is safe, and how you introduce them matters. Here is a sensible guide to feeding veg.
Small Pets · Health
Why dental disease is so common in rabbits and guinea pigs
Dental problems are one of the biggest health issues in rabbits and guinea pigs, and one of the most preventable. Here is why their teeth cause trouble, and how to head it off.
Small Pets · Behaviour
Why your small pet hides, freezes, or nips
A small pet that runs, freezes, or nips is not unfriendly, it is a prey animal that does not feel safe yet. Here is how to read that behaviour and build real trust.
Small Pets · Breeds
Which small pet is right for you
Small pets are often chosen as easy starter animals, and that is how they end up mismatched. Here is an honest look at what rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and rats really need.
Small Pets · Food
Why hay is the most important food for your small pet
For rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas, hay is not bedding or a snack, it is most of the diet and the thing that keeps them healthy. Here is why, and what a good diet looks like.
Small Pets · Health
The health signs small pets hide, and when to act
Rabbits, guinea pigs, and other small pets mask illness until they are very unwell. Here are the subtle signs to watch, and the ones that mean call a vet today.
Small Pets · Toys
How to stop your small pet getting bored
A bored small pet chews the bars, overeats, and grows withdrawn. These animals need to forage, chew, dig, and explore. Here is how to give a caged life some real interest.