USEFUL WEBSITES:
EXOTICS
Dr. Jill Sandler has 24 years experience with exotic
animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets,
chinchillas, rats, mice, gerbils, hamsters and even
hedgehogs.  At Heartland Animal Clinic she offers
general health care, surgery, boarding and some
grooming for your small mammals.
Good nutrition and proper housing are very important
for the well being of exotic pets.  For this reason we
have put together a few basics on husbandry.  Please
call and schedule an appointment to have your pet
examined and your questions answered!

Basic care for rabbits
  • Rabbits should be housed indoors.
  • Enclosures should be 3-4 times larger than the pet.
  • Wire flooring should be partially covered.
  • Don't use wood chips for bedding.
  • Unlimited Alfalfa hay for bunnies 6 mo and younger.
  • Unlimited Timothy hay or Orchard grass for adults.
  • Fresh greens should be offered daily.
  • Limit items high in sugar or calcium.
  • Avoid clay based cat litters.
  • Have both male & female rabbits "fixed".

Basic care for guinea pigs
  • Guinea pigs should be housed indoors.
  • Enclosures should be at least 2 sq feet of floor
    space per guinea pig & at least 15" high.
  • Enclosure should have a ramp for exercise and a
    shelter to hide in.
  • Avoid cedar or other bedding w/ aromatic oils.
  • Avoid clay based cat litters.
  • Unlimited Alfalfa hay for piggies less than 6mo.
  • Timothy hay or Orchard grass for adult piggies.
  • Use pellets that have vitamin C.
  • Fresh greens should be offered daily.
  • Limit items high in sugar or calcium.
  • Keep unaltered females and males separate.

Basic care for small rodents
  • Small rodents should be housed indoors.
  • Paper products are good for bedding.
  • Avoid cedar and pine as they can cause respiratory
    illness that can lead to death.
  • Keep unaltered females and males separate.

Basic care for ferrets
  • Ferrets should be housed indoors.
  • Enclosures should be multilevel and at least
      3 ft x 3 ft x 2ft.
  • Feed ferret food or a high quality dry kitten food.
  • Avoid softwood bedding.
  • Avoid clay based cat litters.

Basic care for chinchillas
  • Chinchillas should be housed indoors.
  • Enclosures should be at lest 3 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft.
  • Multiple levels should be provided for jumping and
    climbing.
  • Chinchillas need to bathe in dust 1-2 times weekly.
  • Unlimited timothy hay should be offered.
  • Adults should be given 1 -2 Tbsp of pellets daily.
  • Aspen or paper products work well for bedding.
  • Avoid cedar or pine as bedding.