Articles on rodent health

The wide variety of colours we can find in domestic rats is amazing, as we have seen, but behind some of these beautiful and original colours can hide complicated genes that, if misused, can become a danger to our breeding line. These genes are known as: "Lethal genes". 

Hamsters are one of the fastest and "easiest" mammals to reproduce, giving birth to very large litters which may lead some people to believe that it is a quick way to get money or that it can be a great experience for their children, but in reality, we should never take the breeding of any pet, whatever its size, lightly.

Albinism in animals - including humans - is caused by the inheritance of an altered copy of the gene responsible for regulating pigment production. Generally, the presence of a viable allele of this gene is sufficient for pigmentation to occur, so albinism is usually a genetic condition associated with a recessive homozygosity, i.e. the gene must be altered in both copies of chromosomes for albinism to occur.

Rats, like all living creatures, can become ill no matter how well cared for they are; some diseases are more common than others because of their use in the medical field (cancer cure) or because of ignorance on the part of the owners, who do not provide them with the necessary care, do not realise it or unconsciously provoke these diseases (such as malocclusion and pododermatitis). 

You have probably seen, alarmed and with a certain feeling of revulsion, that your hamster has on occasion stored its own faeces in its bowels or eaten them directly.   This is a natural behaviour in rodents (and other animal species) and is called ‘coprophagia’. 

Malocclusion is one of the most common diseases or malformations in rabbits and guinea pigs, especially in those that come from irresponsible breeding (either in pet factories or from individuals who only want to make money and do not care about the breeding, the breed or the animals), as well as from domestic abandonment; what does malocclusion consist of? How can it be avoided or treated?

Ticks aresmallparasiticarachnidsthat can affect our beloved dogs, cats and other pets, causing serious diseases. In this article, we will provide you with complete but simple information about ticks, the diseases they transmit and how to prevent them, so you can protect your pet from these dangerous parasites.