Dog
Having a dog is like having a best friend! But you need to make sure you look after them properly. Here's some ways you can help!
A healthy and balanced diet is just as important for dogs as it is for us humans, whatever the breed. Obesity is a common problem amongst pets so make sure your dog is getting good dog food twice a day!
If you're using treats to help train your dog, make sure it is getting enough exercise to burn off those treats! Try using healthier treats such as pieces of carrot.
To keep your dog healthy, make sure you visit the vet for regular checkups. This includes everything from healthy teeth, ears and eyes, as well as making sure they haven't got any fleas or nasty illnesses!
You want to make sure your dog is the healthiest and happiest it can be! Make sure you take your dog on long walks and keep them active! Keep them on a lead in busy areas and near roads and only let them off in big grassy spaces where it is safe. You can even throw a ball or a frisbee and play games to keep your dog interested! But make sure the toys are dog-friendly and won't damage their teeth or have small parts which can be swallowed!
When it's bedtime, make sure your dog has a cosy bed all of its own to snuggle up in to get a peaceful night's sleep ready for the next day's adventures!
Rabbit
Your rabbit is a special little creature, so here are some tips to help care for it as best as possible.
Unlike many other pets, rabbits are happy living outdoors almost all year round! Make sure you have a hutch that is the right size for your rabbit (the bigger the better) and an outdoor run where they can explore nature and munch on some grass. This should be a large and secure open space where they're safe to enjoy playing outdoors.
It is also a good idea to provide a tunnel or safe hiding space where they can take cover when feeling a little scared, or to escape any bad weather. This will make your rabbit much happier!
Grass and hay are an essential part of a rabbit's diet, but alongside this, you can provide two meals of specialist nuggets or pellets which contain all the nutrients your rabbit needs! Just like humans pick out their favourite foods, rabbits do the same, so avoid muesli type foods.
Fresh greens and some vegetables are also great food for rabbits or can be used as treats. Dandelion leaves, broccoli, carrot and cabbage are some of their favourites!
Rabbits also need lots of fresh water every day, even in a heavy bowl or bottle. Bottles can be attached to their hutch and run so it is easy to use. Make sure your rabbit has lots of toys to keep it entertained such as balls, rattles or chew toys. Did you know a rabbit's front teeth can grow 3mm a week!! So make sure it has enough food and toys to help file them down! Take them to the vets regularly to make sure their teeth as well as their general health are in good order.
Guinea Pig
Guinea pigs are cuddly creatures and make great pets so here is all you need to know to care for your guinea pig!
Guinea pigs should have a large space to rest and explore, whether kept indoors or out. Fill their run with plenty of toys and things to run around like tunnels and tubes. By allowing outside access, they can graze on the grass which will give them necessary nutrients and help keep their teeth filed.
Guinea pigs love to munch on grass and hay, or leafy green vegetables such as broccoli, kale, herbs and dandelion leaves! But you can also provide treats such as apple or carrot! Small meals of special guinea pig food should also be given to make sure your pet is getting all the nutrients it needs!
Make sure your guinea pig always has access to fresh water too!
Don't forget to take your guinea pig to the vets for regular check ups to make sure they're fit and healthy!
Cat
To keep your cat the happiest and healthiest it can be, here are some ways you can make sure you are looking after your feline friend properly!
Cats need a well-balanced diet with lots of meat in order to stay fit and healthy. Some human foods such as onions are poisonous to cats so make sure you check with your vet which kind of diet is best for your cat.
Believe it or not, milk isn't as good for cats as you might think. Lots of regular fresh water is the best drink for your cat. Make sure their food and drink is away from their litter tray if you're providing one.
Cats are very playful and like to roam around. Make sure they have access indoors and outside whenever they want it so they can explore like a cat should! Putting a cat flap in the door might be the easiest way to manage this!
Make sure you provide lots of toys for your cat to play with to let out some of their energy. A scratching post is also a great way for them to play without tackling your furniture! They use these to stretch their muscles, sharpen their claws and mark their territory.
Cats are clever creatures so toys which test their brains as well as their physical skills are the best!
Make sure you also take your cat for regular check-ups at the vets to stop any fleas, worms or other nasty bugs hurting your pet!
Goldfish
Goldfish are popular pets and it can be wonderful to watch them swimming around all day, but here are some tips to make sure you're taking good care of your fish.
Goldfish should be kept in a tank and not a bowl, as they need more space than you might think! Some goldfish can grow up to 30cm long with the right amount of room to swim in!
If possible, attach a thermometer to your tank so you can tell if it is at the right temperature, and a special filter will not only produce bubbles to make the tank feel more natural for your fish, but will help circulate the water and keep it cleaner!
You can add lots of different ornaments and things for your fish to swim around in, including a colourful gravel for the bottom of the tank, some plants or even a castle! This will help your fish hide if it feels scared but also make their home more interesting! Just make sure they are special ornaments that are safe for fish!
Make sure you choose a good quality fish food for your pet! Fish flakes are perfect as they contain all the yummy nutrients your fish needs! Be careful not to overfeed your fish, and remove any flakes that have not been eaten to ensure they do not rot in the water and harm your pet!
When you clean out the tank, keep the fish in a bowl of the existing water while you clean the tank and make sure they do not get a shock with a change in temperature when placing them back in!
This way you'll have some super happy and healthy goldfish!
Snake
Snakes make fascinating pets, but they can be a little different to take care of than your normal pets! Here's a few things that will make looking after your snake a little easier!
Although they spend most of their time on the ground, they do enjoy climbing around branches sometimes so make sure your snake has a large home, called a vivarium, with plenty of logs, plants or rocky areas to sneak through. However, these vivariums do not need to be giant, because young snakes can get scared if there's too much empty space!
As snakes are coldblooded animals, they get their heat from their surroundings, so the temperature inside the vivarium needs to be between 24 and 30 degrees centigrade. This can be controlled through a special heat mat or a lightbulb.
They also like a nice damp area of plant material where they can hide to cool off if they get too hot.
Snakes love to eat small rodents, so mice are the best meal for your pet. You can buy these mice frozen and then slowly defrost them at room temperature before feeding to your snake. But make sure it doesn't bite you instead of its food when you're placing the mice in the vivarium. You will probably only need to feed your snake once or twice a week!!
You also need to give your snake a large bowl of water so it can drink, but also so it can bathe in it!
And don't forget to clean out the vivarium regularly to keep your snake happy and healthy!
