MommaToni
Posts:1045
 | | 07/26/2007 9:57 AM |
 Alert | I know I spelled that wrong..... <img src='http://www.85239.com/desktopmodules/ntforums/images/emoticons/crazy.gif' height='20' width='20' border='0' title='Crazy' align='absmiddle'>
My toddler really wants on. Has anyone had one before? Are they hard to take care of? How often do you need to change the stuff in the cage? Are they smelly?
Thanks for any help! | |
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Tjtellez9
Posts:228
| | 07/26/2007 10:49 AM |
Alert | Yes, they are smelly, yes they are noisy, yes they bite, no they are not good pets for toddlers.
Sorry./ | | | |
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Sinbad
Posts:3053
| | 07/26/2007 10:53 AM |
Alert | ***official stop by***
I have read and understood the posting on this thread and have nothing to add.
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Just doing it one day at a time. Change is good and it should be looked upon as an improvment! not a problem.
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San Diego Super Chargers! GO!!!
Joined old forum March 2006
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MommaToni
Posts:1045
| | 07/27/2007 3:47 PM |
Alert | | Okay, thanks. I will tell her "no" then =) | |
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Tjtellez9
Posts:228
| | 07/27/2007 5:14 PM |
Alert | a good pet for a toddler is something from build a bear workshop.
Or a puppy. but remember YOU will be responsible for the maintenance. | | | |
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LoveScience
Posts:81
| | 07/27/2007 8:31 PM |
Alert | Actually,a guinea pig may make a great pet. I have had several in my preschool classrooms and as my pet at home. They are sweet and lovable animals. If you get a young pig, you can train it (sort of!) to not be afraid of you and to not bite.
The piggies can be stinky- I changed the cages of ours once a week- more if he was "extra" stinky. They really are sweet and super talkative. My piggie used to squeak so loudly when I opened the fridge because he always thought he was going to get a yummy treat.
guinea pigs can live anywhere between 5 and 7 years, so you'd have to be ready for that type of commitment. Their food is not expensive, but their litter can get a little pricey. Wood shavings and regular cat litter should not be used. My vet (who specialized in "exotic pets" haha) recommended "Yesterday's News". It is made from recycled newspaper and is a great absorber.
Ok, if you have any other specific questions I would be happy to help!
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MommaToni
Posts:1045
| | 07/28/2007 3:26 PM |
Alert | LOL
my daughter has about every animal at Build a Bear... Triceratops being the most recent...plus we have 3 dogs, a cat and a whole lotta fish.
Thanks for all your help! | |
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Tigg
Posts:549
| | 07/28/2007 3:37 PM |
Alert | Bunnies can make good pets too and are a bit less smelly than guinea pigs if you're looking for something smaller than a dog or cat (although not all rabbits are smaller than cats). IF you go the rabbit route, I'd suggest a male, and have him neutered (it helps to encourage a more gentle temperent) - females can be VERY aggressive (I'm sure not all are, but some are and the males are in general much less agressive). As a kid, I had a female rabbit that was extremely aggressive and would actually hiss at some people and sent 1 person to the hospital (never got the chance to do that a 2nd time).
Many many years later I had a male rabbit, that I had neutered when he was young, and it was the sweetest bunny ever. He was such a little love and would sit on someones lap for as long as they would let him and would gently eat out of anyones hand. He would also let anyone pick him up and snuggle with him. He and my cats also got along great. | | | |
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Fritzydoodle
Posts:1023
| | 07/28/2007 6:25 PM |
Alert | When my daughter was a teen she raised both rabbits and guinea pigs (also known as cavies) for 4H. We had upwards of 50 at one time. Under the right circumstances they can be good childrens pets. Not toddlers pets however.
Both can bite and scratch. Getting them as babies and getting them used to handling is a must. But until they are comfortable with handling, they will scratch. If they are not held properly they get scared and squirm.
Both get smelly - the pigs more than rabbits. You can use wood shavings but NOT cedar, only pine. Cedar is toxic. It is available at Chitwoods in 50# bales. We changed our cavy cages daily - the rabbits 2x a week.
Both are noisy. Cavies more than rabbits. They communicate by chirping. It's very cute in the day and annoying at night. And they are nocturnal! So most of the noise is at night.
I'd suggest waiting until your daughter is about 8 - both for her safety and the animals safety. We had a rabbit unexpectedly jump in my daughters arms. She didn't fall just lurch. But as she twisted, she dislocated her spine and had to be put down. This was a show rabbit. A VERY expensive show rabbit. And my daughter had been showing and breeding rabbits for two years when this happened. So accidents can happen even to someone accustomed to handling an animal. | |
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heat sprite
Posts:334
| | 07/28/2007 6:52 PM |
Alert | | A friend of mine had his bunny trained to use a litter box. Sure beats a cage. They did have a problem with them chewing on wires and had to coat the cords for lamps and such with a fire sauce to train it. But it was great running around the house like a cat or dog. | |
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Heat beats snow!!!
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CF Splash Pad Police
Posts:102
| | 07/29/2007 1:02 PM |
Alert | | People. Guinea pigs are not smelly! They are only smelly if their owners do not clean their cages 1x per week. Yesterday News is the best litter, btw...... | |
When only cops have guns, it’s called a “police state”. --Claire Wolfe | |
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MommaToni
Posts:1045
| | 07/30/2007 3:54 PM |
Alert | No bunnies... she would love one butthe hubby said"no way!"
I will have to workon him for the guinnea pig...maybe... still undecided. I already have a house full teehee | |
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TU Pablo
Posts:21
| | 08/01/2007 3:24 PM |
Alert | We have a Guinea Pig that we keep in a large cage in our living room in our primary home in Tulsa, OK. He is not smelly as long as the cage is cleaned about once a week. I buy grey litter for him which seems to work well. Guinea Pigs are social animals which is why we have him in the living room. We also have a travel cage and we take him in the car several times a year to our second home in Maricopa. (We have a second large cage there). From time to time I have left him at home for by himself for up to six days. He has a self feeder and waterer in his cage. In both of the large cages we have an "igloo" that he spends most of his time in.
He reacts to opening of the refrigerator by whistling or chewing on his cage until he is fed. Guinea Pigs eat lettuce (particularly romaine), tomatoes, fruit, carrots, etc. They also eat dry mix food that can be purchased at all pet stores.
Guineas are easy to take care of. In five years with this pet I only had one vet bill.
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MommaToni
Posts:1045
| | 08/01/2007 3:46 PM |
Alert | | But good with toddlers? | |
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