General Exotic Questions
- Can a male guinea pig or rabbit be neutered?
- How can I tell if my parakeet is male or female?
- My rabbit's urine is very dark, is that a problem?
- What is wet tail in a hamster?
- My cockatiel laid an egg, what should I do?
Q: Can a male guinea pig or rabbit be neutered?
A: Male guinea pigs (boars) and male rabbits can and should be neutered to decrease unwanted pregnancies. Neutering can be performed at any age. It's a good idea, however, to wait until the pet has reached his mature weight. This way his organs will be developed enough to process the anesthesia well.
The pet will feel some discomfort at the surgery site for about a day or so, but these pets, like most other animals, usually don't let a little pain stop them from taking part in all of their normal daily activities.
Q: How can I tell if my parakeet is male or female?
A: Luckily for us, most parakeets come color-coded. The boys usually have ceres (the patches of skin over their beaks) that are blue, and girls generally have pink or white ceres. There are some exceptions, but the rule is usually very reliable. If your parakeet doesn't fit the pattern, we can do a gender check for you.
Q: My rabbit's urine is very dark, is that a problem?
A: Actually, rabbits normally have very dark urine, which can be cloudy or have crystals in it. It can also be a bit lighter and still be perfectly normal. A better sign of your rabbit's health than color is how much or how often she urinates. If you see changes in the volume or frequency of urination, you should take your rabbit to our veterinarian for an exam and urinalysis.
Q: What is wet tail in a hamster?
A: Wet tail is caused by a bacterial infection of the intestine and can often be fatal. Symptoms include diarrhea accompanied by a strong, unpleasant smell. The hamster often walks hunched up, is weak and lethargic and may squeal in pain.
If your hamster is showing signs of this disease, it is very important to take him to a veterinarian immediately. Treatment includes antibiotics as well as electrolyte and fluid replacement. Some hamsters that survive the initial infection will later experience intestinal or rectal problems.
Q: My cockatiel laid an egg, what should I do?
A: Cockatiels are proficient egg layers and generally start in early spring. They are stimulated to begin laying by the lengthening daylight hours. Taking away the eggs will most likely stimulated them to lay more. It's probably best to leave the eggs in the cage in a quiet box that they can use as a nest box.
Whether the eggs are fertile or not, I'd let them "play house" with them as a means of keeping them focused and busy. One very important consideration is nutrition. Birds that are heavy egg layers like cockatiels need diets that are adequate in calcium and other nutrients. Half or less of their food each day should be seed. The other half should be all of the table foods that you eat everyday with the exception of chocolate and avocados. Emphasize high calcium foods like cheese, tofu, kale, bok choy. A separate tray of crushed oyster shells should always be available. With a well-balanced diet, you can help to avoid problems such as egg binding.
Don't be surprised if you see more eggs this spring and summer. The only way to prevent egg laying is to have your female birds surgically spayed. Another alternative that decreases egg production is to cover the cage early each evening to decrease the total daylight hours available.
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