{"title":"Overstock - PETS\/Small Pets","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"complete-care-made-easy-hamsters","title":"Complete Care Made Easy, Hamsters","description":"Ever since hamsters arrived in the United States in the 1950s, they have topped the list as America’s favorite critter. Hailed as ?the ultimate pocket pet,” hamsters are ?small, cute, fuzzy, clean, and easy to care for,” in the words of author Virginia Parker Guidry. Filled with terrific color photographs, this Complete Care Made Easy Hamsters encapsulates all the virtues of these flawless little mammals and gives owners practical advice about how to better understand them and properly care for them. Deciding to add a hamster to one’s household is the subject of the chapter ?The Right Choice,” which discusses the virtues of these easy-to-tame children’s pets and the commitment they require.The chapter ?Locating a Healthy Hamster” offers solid advice about selecting the right pet, where to purchase or adopt, and whether two (or three) is better than one. Two  complete chapters on the hamster’s homecoming offer the reader excellent advice about acclimating the new pet to the home, selecting the best cage, accessories, setting up the hamster’s habitat, and finding a good vet. In ?Life with a Hamster,” the author discusses the hamster’s nocturnal nature, various physical behaviors, temperature requirements, handling, and basic husbandry. The hamster’s feeding requirements are discussed in ?Dinnertime!” which outlines the ideal diet of dry mix, fresh foods, and occasional treats. Sidebars about common poisonous items, including certain people food and household productions, are requisite reading for all hamster keepers. Preventive care is discussed in the chapter ?The Healthy Hamster,” along with common health concerns (such as colds, wet tail, abscesses, etc.) and breeding. The final chapter ?Hamster Fun” explores games, toys, activities, and showing. The appendix includes lists of clubs, organizations, and websites. Glossary of terms and index included.","brand":"Carolyn McKeone | Virginia Parker Guidry","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":49267914440985,"sku":"319","price":9.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/6446\/3129\/files\/978-1-931993-31-9.jpg?v=1697676303"},{"product_id":"guinea-pigs","title":"Guinea Pigs","description":"?Compact, easy-to-care-for, and a bundle of fun” is how author Virginia Parker Guidry describes the irresistible guinea pig. Ideal pets for families with children, cavies (as they’re often called) are clean, odorless, gentle, loving, and entertaining. This Complete Care Made Easy Guinea Pigs encapsulates all the virtues of these perfect small mammals and gives new owners practical advice about how to care for them. In chapter one, ?A Guinea What?” the author talks about the guinea pig’s natural history?they’re neither pigs nor from Guinea, but rather a rodent from Peru?and how scientists classify this very unique mammal. To decide whether the guinea pig is right for you, chapter two discusses who makes the ideal owner and presents thirteen popular breeds of longhaired and shorthaired guinea pigs and the colors available to pet owners today.\nThe chapter ?Finding a Healthy Guinea Pig” offers solid advice about selecting the right guinea pig, where to purchase or adopt, and the preferred sex.  A complete chapter on preparing for the guinea pig offers the reader excellent advice about acclimating the new pet to the home, selecting the best cage and hutch, and pig-proofing the home. The subject of understanding guinea pig behavior is discussed  in the chapter ?Living with a Guinea Pig,” which also covers daily-care topics such as feeding, grooming, handling, exercise, and litter box training.  Keeping the guinea pig healthy is discussed in ?Staying Healthy,” a chapter that covers preventing illness, choosing a veterinarian, and common ailments. The final chapter ?Just for the Fun of It!” explores games, toys, activities, and showing guinea pigs. The appendix includes lists of pig-specific clubs, organizations, and websites. Glossary of terms and index included.","brand":"Carolyn McKeone | Virginia Parker Guidry","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":49058438807833,"sku":"326G","price":9.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/6446\/3129\/files\/978-1-931993-32-6.jpg?v=1757515316"},{"product_id":"rats","title":"Rats","description":"An excellent introduction to the remarkable rat, written by the world-famous Rat Lady, Debbie Ducummum, Rats offers expert advice to all keepers of these popular fancy pets. Held in high regard in Ancient Egypt, major Asian societies, and discriminating homes in America, rats are the most intelligent rodent on the planet and enjoy playing games with their keepers. As with all editions in the Complete Care Made Easy series, Rats offers readers information about selecting the right pets from good sources and acquiring all of the home essentials (for rats: cage, toys, bedding, and furnishings).  The book discusses food options and the importance of feeding a rat a healthy, low-cal, low-fat diet based on fruits, veggies, and legumes plus recipes and menu tips. The author also covers the important considerations of rat proofing the home for keepers who opt to give their pets free run of their dwellings. The chapter ?Beginning Your Friendship” discusses rat socialization, handling, grooming, cleaning, and interactions with children and other pets. The health of a pet rat is covered in the ?Health Care” chapter that includes choosing a veterinarian, the first vet visit, spaying\/neutering, the weekly health exam, plus handling common rat maladies and dealing parasites and emergencies. The real f-u-n begins in chapter seven, ?Fun Activities,” in which the reader can learn how to train his or her rat to walk on a leash, enrich his rat’s life with entertaining games, and learn party tricks to impress visitors to the rat’s home. True rat lovers will enjoy taking their rats to shows?just like dog shows?to show off their rat’s conformation and natural beauty. The chapter ?Show Time” offers advice on preparing for shows, classes at shows, and competing for ribbons. The final chapter on breeding offers rat enthusiasts advice about reproduction, the birthing process, and handling pups. Glossary, appendices, and index included.","brand":"Debbie Ducommum","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":49058718679321,"sku":"646","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/6446\/3129\/files\/978-1-935484-64-6.jpg?v=1757513002"},{"product_id":"ferrets","title":"Ferrets","description":"Even though ferrets are relatively new to the pet world, these charming weasels have been human companions for thousands of years, as author Karen Dale Dustman shares in the opening of Ferrets. The first chapter of the book (?A Nod to Ferret History”) paints a fascinating portrait of ferrets’ place in human and natural history (who knew they were related to minks?). Since ferrets aren’t legal in all states (or cities and counties, depending on local statutes), potential owners are advised to do their homework before purchasing a ferret. (A complete chapter on legal and regulatory concerns can be found at the end of the book.) The chapter ?Choosing a Ferret Companion” offers solid advice about selecting a healthy ferret, where to purchase, and owner considerations such as spaying\/neutering and de-scenting. The author has written two excellent chapters about acclimating the new ferret to the home and living with this clever, fun-loving critter. These chapters detail the selection of the best cage, litter box options, feeding, ferret-proofing the home for safety, grooming, and daily care. The most important chapter in the book focuses on training the naturally mischievous ferret from developing unacceptable habits (including nipping and squirming).  A bright, well-mannered ferret can also be trained to use a litter box, walk on a harness and leash, and perform tricks. The chapter also discusses strategies for dealing with a lost ferret and the importance of microchipping. Keeping the ferret healthy is the subject of ?Medical Basics,” a chapter that covers choosing a veterinarian, routine checkups, vaccinations, rabies, heartworm, and ferret-specific ailments. Sidebars on warning signs and first aid will prove especially helpful in emergencies. The appendices of the book include hints for photographing the ferret and lists of clubs, organizations, and websites. Glossary of terms and index included.","brand":"Karen Dale Dustman | Renee Stockdale","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":50536920580377,"sku":"726","price":9.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/6446\/3129\/files\/978-1-889540-72-6.jpg?v=1757510293"}],"url":"https:\/\/foxchapelpublishing.com\/collections\/overstock-pets-small-pets.oembed","provider":"Fox Chapel Publishing Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}