Management and Care of Small Animals

Rabbits make wonderful indoor pets for first time pet owners. In fact, many domestic rabbits are meant to be kept indoors. Domestic rabbits are not like their wild cousins; they do not fair well in extreme temperatures. They also do not react well to predators. Domestic rabbits are very attentive and affectionate. They care about their owners and are very social. Domestic rabbits are meant to be played with and loved by the entire family.

Rabbits are herbivores, which means that they only eat fruits, vegetables and grasses in the wild. You should keep a bowl of commercial rabbit food in your pets eating area. However, you should feed your rabbit hay every day, as well. Many rabbit owners also feed their pets a few fruits and vegetables, such as a carrot or a bit of apple. Always provide something hard and crunchy for your rabbit to gnaw on. This will keep his teeth from becoming overgrown. You should also make sure your rabbit has access to water and that it is changed every day.

Guinea pigs are popular pets for many reasons. They come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. They are docile, friendly animals that enjoy attention and social interaction. Many families without the yard and housing space for dogs find satisfying companionship with guinea pigs.

Rabbit Equipment Checklist

Rabbit Equipment Checklist
Habitat & Care Equipment:

 
  • Large cage or x-pen with solid flooring
  • Cardboard box to nest and hide in
  • Litter box & Litter
  • Bedding
  • Water bottle
  • Heavy food bowl

 
For Proper Nutrition:

 
  • Food pellets
  • Grass hay
For Staying Fit:

 
  • Exercise pen

Guinea Pig Equipment Checklist

Guinea Pig Equipment Checklist
Habitat & Care Equipment:

 
  • Large wire cage with solid flooring
  • Cardboard box to nest and hide in
  • Bedding
  • Water bottle
  • Heavy food bowl
For Proper Nutrition:

 
  • Food pellets
  • Grass hay
For Staying Fit:

 
  • Treadmill

Other Resources:

http://www.associatedcontent.com – how to care for your new rabbit

CareFRESH Critter College

CareFRESH® Critter CollegeTM is a program designed to teach students about the unique characteristics of small animals – such as rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, rats and mice – which ones make good pets, and how to care for them. The curriculum is geared towards students in grades  K-6 and is flexible, so one segment or several segments can be presented during a classroom session.

The kit includes coupons for free CareFRESH® bedding and food, information for parents, a teacher lesson plan, master sheets for student lessons that can be photocopied for each student, a 2-year wall calendar, a master take-home care sheet, a fun video series, stickers, graduation certificates, discount coupons for parents and referral cards to share with other teachers.

Also included are additional resources for small animal care, online communities for sharing ideas, and creative activities for enhancing the program.

For more information visit www.crittercollege.com or www.carefresh.com/crittercollege.