Dog Supplies and Training

Should I buy gerbils from a small or large pet shop?

Does it make a difference? There is a small pet shop very near my house and I would rather get it from there instead of making a long journey to those really large ones. But does anyone know if gerbils are treated better at the larger shops than smaller ones? Are they healthier when bought from the large stores?

One other thing, the pets at home website said gerbils can live in hamster cages as long as the cages are big enough. Is this true?

A small animal pet shop does tend to care for their animals better than other larger stores but this varies considerably from store to store. Some larger stores will take any animal to the vet if it shows ANY signs of sickness (I do know PetSmart does this) while others won’t. Some small pet stores do this as well while others simply let the animal pass away. Ask your pet store what happens to their animals if for example a hamster gets wet tail or a rat gets an upper respiratory infection while in their care. Also ask what their policy is on returning animals. You want at least a two week guarantee on them.

Some smaller pet stores breed their own animals. This can either be a good thing or a bad thing depending on the quality of animal and how often they breed from the animal they have chosen as a breeder. Larger stores tend to get their animals from large breeders that don’t really breed for health or temperament.

Your best bet is a local shelter. Try petfinder.com for a list of animals in your area already in need of homes. If there are no shelters nearby with gerbils, the pet store should be your last option if you cannot find a breeder in the area. Also try Craigslist.org for your area to see if anyone is looking for a home for their gerbils. Often times these individuals want to see their gerbil go to a good home so they include a cage.

Gerbils can absolutely NOT live in a hamster cage regardless of what others may tell you. You can always try it and pray your gerbil is not a chewer, but 85% of the time they can and will chew through any plastic on the cage. The nice tubes and slides that come with the cages usually are chewed through by the week’s end. Many pet parents come into my store and are upset that they purchased a hamster cage from another pet store because that’s what the employee told them was fine and then they found out the hard way that the gerbil got right through it. Critter Trails are the worst option for gerbils.

There are some options for you rather than a hamster cage. Martins has a nice line of chew proof cages online. You can also get a twenty gallon long (no smaller) aquarium for your gerbils. This needs to be cleaned at least once a week to keep the ammonia down as tanks have poor ventilation. This is the only animal I’d ever say a tank is proper housing for. They also sell wire tank toppers that provide better ventilation for a tank and more room. The only problem with these are that the ramps and levels are more often than not plastic and those get chewed quickly. The wire ramps and levels need to be covered if they are wire holed ramps and levels or little feet can get caught and could possibly end up with bumble foot.

Please let me know if you need any further information and I’d be happy to help you.

Good luck!
=)

~Yelliez

My Large Pet Scorpion XD

FURminator deShedding Tool The patented FURminator Large deShedding Tool quickly and easily removes (it doesn’t cut) the loose, dead undercoat hair that is the underlying source of shedding – a pet owners #1 complaint – and the allergies and cleanliness problems associated with it. The tools unique stainless steel edge grabs loose undercoat hair and removes it without damaging the pets topcoat. Reduces shedding up to 90%….

Omega Paw Self-Cleaning Litter Box, Green and Beige The Roll Away Self Cleaning Litter Box cleans in just secounds without scooping. Inside the litter box there is a unique patented grill that seperates out the clumped waste, depositing it into the pullout tray. The Large Litter Box is great for big cats or for multiple cat households….

KONG RUBBER FLYER RED The price of this product is for 1 unit(s). KONG RUBBER FLYER RED. Label instruction: SOFT RUBBER FLYING DISC. . Product uses: INTERACTIVE PLAY WITH DOG. . Ingredients: RUBBER DISC…

PETRA 90-0306 Appliance Extension Cord, 6-Foot $4.50 15A; 125V; Ul Listed; 6 Ft…

PETRA Appliance Extension Cord …

Armarkat Large Pet Pillow Bed $20.1 Pet bed gives your cat or dog a place to make their ownPet supplies are essential for any animal ownerSpoil your fur ball with a comfortable bed

Animal Planet Large Pet Beds (Case of 4) $47.49 Give your pets the gift of comfort with a case of pet bedsBed keeps your pet warm in cold weather and cool in warm weatherPet supply features contemporary stripes in designer hues to complement any decor

Pet Gear Large Booster Car Seat (Interior Measures 13 x 17.5) $79.99 PetGear console booster seat offers your pet the ability to stay next to you without impairing your drivingSturdy, cozy booster utilizes your car’s consolePet accessory is perfect for dogs up to 25 pounds or two smaller dogs

Sweet Dog Indoor/ Outdoor Large Pet Bed $63.99 Treat your dog to amazing comfort with this indoor/outdoor dog bed Pet bedding has a washable vinyl mattressDog bed a fitted cover that is easy to remove for cleaning

Cool Cot Large Pet Bed/ House $67.99 Ventilated house keeps your pet cool, dry and comfortable even on the hottest daysWater-resistant tent is vented and raised mesh pet bed is well off the ground, for maximum air flowLarge pet house is portable and lightweight

Precision Pet Large Country Club Cabin Dog House $142.99 Treat your dog to a good night’s sleep using this country club cabin dog housePortable house boasts a custom wood molding and an asphalt shingle roof

PetSafe Freedom Premium Large White Pet Door $56.49 Durable PetSafe Freedom Door allows your dog to come and goPet door’s flexible transparent panels are safe and easy for your dog to push openBarrier panels also keep drafts and insects out of your home

Huck’EM Large Pet Toy $13.89 Enhance your pet’s play time with a large Huck’Em pet toyPet supply set is fun, durable, and aerodynamicPet toy is great for hours of exercise at the park, the beach, or in the backyard

Guardian Gear Soft Collapsible X-large Pet Crate $104.77 Travel in comfort and style with a Guardian Gear collapsible pet crateDurable, water-resistant and easy-to-clean crate makes travel and pet shows easierPet supply has large mesh windows on four sides for maximum ventilation

PetSafe Classic X-large White Pet Door $102.77 Pet door has a heavy-duty white aluminum frame that withstands stress from even the most powerful dogsPet supply has a soft, transparent flap with maximum energy efficiencyPet door is the strongest and most secure available

BISSELL Shedaway Pet Grooming Tool – Blue $19.99 Keep your pet cool and your house clean with this pet grooming tool that helps remove loose hair from your pet. The hose bends and swivels, so you can move around your pet with ease.

BISSELL Pet Pack Vacuum Tool Kit $36.99 Pick up pesky dirt and dander from your pet’s favorite spot on the couch with this pet vacuum tool kit. The included adapters accommodate most vacuums.

LeapFrog Leapster: Pet Pals $24.99 Learn more about Leapster: Pet Pals. (Flash demo) With Leapster: Pet Pals, you’ll get to adopt and care for your very own puppy. Along the way, you’ll learn fun-filled reading and math skills as you feed and groom your new friend. Take your puppy for walks, play fetch and pamper your pooch with costumes and other goodies. The more you interact with your new companion, the more you can learn. In-depth tutorials teach new concepts and help you gain a better understanding of addition, letters, writing and more. Bonus activities allow you to earn secret Web codes that unlock cool rewards and fun content.

Hoover T4 Pet WindTunnel HEPA Bagless Upright Vacuum – Billowy Blue $151.99 Eliminate pet hair and give your carpets and upholstery a thorough cleaning with this bagless upright vacuum that features a carbon filter to cut down on pet odors and pet tools with rubber blades to protect your furniture’s fabric.

Hoover 48 oz Premium Pet Cleaner Detergent $9.99 Target pet stains and odors on your carpets and upholstery with this detergent that deters resoiling and is compatible with a variety of deep cleaners.

The Sims Pet Stories – Windows $19.99 SynopsisThis second release in The Sims Stories collection of games is all about the pets that your Sims care for. You can create your own Sims and their pets, design homes and more in Freeplay mode. The Story mode features two different Sims whose stories you tell. In the new pet show, help your Sims train their pets to navigate an agility course and earn rewards. You’ll unlock bonuses that will add to your enjoyment as you achieve goals for your Sims and their pets. Simple shortcuts and a new auto pause feature make it easy to play on your notebook computer. You can even IM and e-mail friends while playing by running the game in a window. Get ready to take control of your Sims and their pets and see where their stories take you.

BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Bagless Hand Vac – Black Pearl $29.99 Remove pesky pet dander from your carpet, upholstery and floors using this bagless hand vac that features a pet contour nozzle for eliminating pet hair from stairs and furniture and a hard nozzle that makes cleaning pet debris a snap.

Eureka Capture Pet Lover HEPA Bagless Upright Vacuum – Mystic Purple $179.99 Easily clean up your pet’s hair with this upright vacuum cleaning which features exclusive pet upholstery tools and charcoal odor-eliminating technology.

Eureka Boss SmartVac Pet Lover Upright Vacuum – Purple $149.99 This powerful 12-amp upright vacuum features a Pet Power Paw TurboBrush attachment that tackles tough dirt and pet hair on stairs and upholstery.

Littlest Pet Shop City Friends – Nintendo DS $29.99 SynopsisThere’s a party coming up at the Littlest Pet Shop, and you and your friends are invited. In Littlest Pet Shop City Friends, you’ll enter a cosmopolitan world filled with cute, cuddly virtual pets ready for fun, fashion and affection. Team up with a friend and bring your pet’s best friend along as well as you get ready for the sweetest and most surprising party the Littlest Pet Shop has ever seen. Littlest Pet Shop City Friends is packed with adorable animals filled with personality, and each precious pet comes with an equally cute best friend for double the delight. Play fun mini games and complete a variety of tasks as you get closer to the highly anticipated party, and share the fun with a friend using the game’s enhanced multiplayer features. Dress up your pets with accessories of your own design to help them celebrate in style. And expect the unexpected as surprises pop up throughout the game, including an all-new mystery pet.