A small animal that is sick or injured is often in a frightened state, so if emergency small pet care is deemed necessary it is important to protect yourself – even if the small animal is your own pet – with protective hand covering, such as gloves.

If there is any question as to the seriousness of your pet’s condition, you should follow up your emergency small pet care with advice from your veterinarian. Of course, before an emergency should ever arise, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with emergency small pet care and techniques.

Never leave dangerous objects like pins, needles, nails or fish hooks within your small pet’s reach. And, be well aware of your pet’s normal behavior, so you can easily recognize when he is exhibiting signs of abnormal behavior. Remember, the objective is to relieve pain and suffering…perhaps even save the animal’s life. Emergency small pet care and first aid is always most effective when it is rendered quickly and calmly.

Small animals are at risk for numerous kinds of poisoning from a variety of sources i.e. snakes, plants, and literally hundreds of poisonous materials which are used around the home every day. Here’s what you can do if your pet is poisoned:

1. Keep the small animal warm and quiet
2. Attempt to determine the source of the poison, when it was ingested, and the amount swallowed
3. Call your veterinarian or nearest poison control center immediately

Should you determine it necessary to take your pet to your veterinarian, bring the container (or the label) of the suspected poison source with you. Keep poisonous elements out of reach, know what your pet is doing at all times, and keep emergency telephone numbers in a readily accessible location.

Since you never know when an accident will occur, having an emergency small pet care kit available is an excellent idea. You can assemble a first aid kit yourself and purchase the necessary items separately, or buy one which contains all the first aid items needed for emergency situations. If you make one yourself, use a small plastic container with a tight fitting lid to store the following items:

Important Phone Numbers

1. Veterinary clinic phone number and directions to the clinic
2. Poison control center phone numbers

Equipment and Supplies

1. Travel cage
2. Scissors
3. Tweezers
4. Nail clippers
5. Styptic powder or sticks
6. Cotton swabs and/or Q-Tips
7. Clean towels - cloth and paper
8. Disposable gloves
9. Wire cutters
10. Roll of gauze
11. Sterile gauze or telfa pads
12. Tape
13. Wound disinfectant
14. Triple antibiotic ointment

Taking precautionary measures to ensure that your small pet thrives in a safe and healthy environment is always encouraged – but should a situation occur where emergency small pet care is required – be prepared. Your pet’s well-being is of utmost importance.

One very common aspect of animal behavior that can prove to be somewhat challenging to a pet owner is small pet biting – as well as finding an effective training method to discourage this undesirable behavior. Even though playful biting is an inherent trait for many small animals, it is a habit that should not be allowed to continue without some form of correction. Obviously, the younger the small animal is, the easier it will be to teach him what behaviors you consider to be inappropriate. And, small pet biting is definitely a behavior that should be “nipped in the bud”.

The simplest and most common training method designed to dissuade small pet biting is to withhold attention when biting or nipping occurs. A stern “no” combined with pulling away should send a clear message to your small pet that biting is unacceptable and you want the behavior to cease.

If you find that verbal correction alone is not a sufficient behavior-modifying method for your small pet biting habit, time-out in his cage or other suitable form of confinement may prove to be a necessary and more effective deterrent for biting. This time-out period also provides your pet with an opportunity to calm down, since an excited or overly stimulated animal is more likely to bite – playfully or otherwise. Bitter apple spray on your hands can also be an effective way to discourage small pet biting – your small friend will come to realize that biting tastes bad.

Tapping or flicking the nose in order to discourage small pet biting may be a fairly common form of discipline, but might not produce the positive results you are attempting to achieve. In some cases, physical discipline may encourage aggression and make your pet feel anxious or fearful. Some animals may even misinterpret their owner’s attempt at correction as rough play, which may very well lead to an increase in the biting behavior. It’s not advisable to resort to nose-tapping or other physical discipline with a small animal that may have been mistreated or who exhibits unusually aggressive or fearful behavior. Physical methods of discipline are therefore not recommended as an effective form of behavior modification.

In all cases of small pet biting, patience while your pet is learning what your expectations are and positive reinforcement when he meets them, are always necessary ingredients for behavior modification. Perseverance pays and your small pet will respond positively to training that is immediate and consistent.

The majority of small animals rarely run short on energy, thus the decision to exercise your small pet is a wise one. Just like you, your small friend can benefit in a variety of ways from a regular exercise routine. Exercise improves muscle tone, joint flexibility, digestion and cardiovascular fitness. An active lifestyle also aids in the prevention of obesity, which can lead to a myriad of health problems in pets.

Thankfully, it is fairly simple to exercise your small pet and only requires that you become familiar with your particular pet’s instinctive proclivity for exercise. Once you have determined your small animal’s activity of choice (running, jumping, climbing, etc.) you will know what accessories are needed to make exercise an enjoyable and natural part of your pet’s healthy lifestyle.

In order to provide the maximum amount of space essential to effectively exercise your small pet, you may want to consider an exercise pen. Your pet will then have ample room in which to get the exercise he needs, plus it is also less likely that he will suffer from the health conditions which can result from being restricted in a small cage. If you choose an exercise pen, it is a good idea to place it in an area with easy-to-clean flooring. You will still need to provide a covered area, such as a cardboard box so that your small pet has a place to retreat for a little privacy.

Since some small animals have the ability to jump quite high and even scale an exercise pen, it is necessary that you always supervise your pet. Even if you assume your small pet is unable to escape the pen, it’s still advisable to place it in an area of your home that is fully “pet-proof.” This means taking precautionary measures while you exercise your small pet to ensure that the small animal cannot chew on electrical cords, toxic plants, furniture, etc., or that he cannot squeeze into spaces behind furniture or appliances.

When the weather is suitable, you can exercise your small pet and at the same time easily create an outdoor pet paradise by inverting a playpen or the top of a large indoor cage. By moving the pen to a new location each day, your small animal friend can graze on fresh greens. Be mindful of pesticides and weed killers that can poison your pet – don’t let him graze if you spray your yard.

With a little planning, research, and insight into your pet’s specific needs and preferences, you can successfully exercise your small pet and choose exercise accessories that provide the entertainment and activity your pet requires to thrive.

A specific method of small pet training that has proven to be one of the most effective revolves around the concept of positive reinforcement. Small animals are known to possess a high level of curiosity and well developed problem solving skills. These character traits combined with their inherent intelligence make them well suited for small pet training.

The basic idea of utilizing positive reinforcement as a small pet training technique is rewarding your small animal when he performs a particular desired action. Incorrect behavior is not acknowledged; only correct behavior is recognized and rewarded. The reward indicates to your pet that he has accomplished what you want him to do.

You will need to decide in advance what reward(s) you’re going to utilize. Rewards can be a treat, praise, toys – anything that your small pet enjoys will suffice. Next you want the small animal to associate the desired repeat actions with the reward. Wait for your pet to perform the action, and then offer the reward. Your small pet will very quickly realize that if and when he does something repeatedly, he will receive a reward.

Make sure that the small pet training occurs in a relatively empty space at first. If there are numerous things in the room for the small animal to explore, your training session may not prove to be very successful. You want yourself and the reward to be the most intriguing objects in the room.

Fine-tune your training to ensure that it fits with your small pet’s unique personality and level of intelligence. Some small animals will soar through training, whereas others may have a more difficult time understanding and repeating the desired actions. Because of this, you may need to be creative and come up with a few different training ideas. Make sure to always have the next few steps of your small pet training program planned out in case your pet surprises you! On the other hand, be ready to utilize an alternate, less aggressive training program in the event your small animal progresses at a slower pace.

Small pet training sessions should be brief at first, and if your pet appears to be getting bored or distracted, change the direction of the training to another action. The object isn’t just to train your small pet, but also to enhance your relationship with him. Small pet training provides a form of enrichment for your small pet and a great opportunity for the both of you to interact – so be patient and enjoy!

When in the process of selecting small pet toys for your special friend, one of the primary considerations should be the safety factor and whether or not your particular choice of toy is appropriate for your always-chewing, highly inquisitive pet. Next, a little creativity on your part is also beneficial when choosing small pet toys that will pique your pet’s interest and appeal to the animal’s natural penchant for exploration and entertainment.

You will want to make sure that the small pet toys you select are made of non-toxic materials since it is highly likely that your pet will chew on them. Take special precaution to ensure that there are no small pieces that could potentially loosen and become a choking hazard to your small animal. A good rule of thumb is to check for the notation “Pet Safe” on the toy. Also, if you allow your pet to play outside of the cage or habitat, make sure he cannot access electrical cords, heating/cooling vents, wood furniture, or anything else that might be unsafe for your small animal. Your pet may have a different idea as to what falls into the toy and entertainment category.

A myriad of household objects may also be introduced as toys, so long as they meet the standard criteria of small pet safety. If you use a little imagination, chances are you can provide your pet with toys available right in your home. Any safe, non-toxic objects that your small pet can climb or explore will likely keep him enchanted for hours. In addition, your pet will also take pleasure in the many small pet toys that are commercially available for his enjoyment.

When selecting small pet toys, keep in mind that chew toys are also an absolute must for your small animal. Because the incisors of most small animals grow continuously, your special pet will need a chew toy to keep his teeth filed down. There are a variety of chew toys which are available for every type of small animal…your pet included.

It’s a good idea to rotate the small pet toys frequently so there is always something new for your small animal to explore and entertain himself with. Likewise, you will ensure that your small pet does not become bored or lose interest in his toys. Consider engaging your small pet in interactive play that requires his participation and your encouragement. Play is not only beneficial to the growing relationship between you and your small pet, but also keeps him mentally stimulated and physically healthy.

The familiar old adage “the more, the merrier” is not necessarily applicable in all situations and in the case of an ever-growing overpopulation of unwanted animals, there are a myriad of reasons to consider neutering your small pet - the most obvious being the prevention of pregnancy and reproduction.

Neutering your small pet can easily eliminate or reduce the incidence of a number of health related issues that can be very complicated and/or expensive to treat, such as diseases of the reproductive system – many of which can pose a life-threatening risk to your small pet. A female small animal that is neutered before her first estrous cycle has a substantially reduced risk of developing ovarian, uterine, or breast cancer. In addition, the threat of developing pyometra – a serious infection of the uterus – is eliminated once the procedure of neutering your small pet has been performed. Males are also subject to a number of hormone-related medical issues, especially as they age. They may develop prostate, perianal, and testicular cancers. Neutering greatly reduces the risk and incidence of these diseases, as well.

A number of behavioral issues can be resolved or minimized by neutering your small pet. Some small animals – male and female – will mark their territory by spraying urine on vertical surfaces. Although the spraying of urine is a sexual behavior, if it continues for an extended period of time it may become a troublesome habit – and not one easily corrected, even with eventual neutering.

The majority of aggressive or fighting behavior in small animals is territorial by nature. Both small animal sexes (especially a pregnant female) will forcefully defend their established territory – often resulting in serious injury or even death. No doubt about it, neutered small animals not only make a better pet for their owner, but they also get along better with other small animals, as well. Multiple small animals can often be housed together, if neutered, and live quite peaceably under the same roof – since there is less fighting over territory and mates.

Once you have considered the numerous health benefits and made the decision that neutering your small pet is wise in many ways – for you and your special companion – you will want to make an appointment with your veterinarian. He or she can fully explain the neutering process, discuss the cost involved with the procedure, and answer any questions you may have regarding pre and post operative small animal care.