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prairie dogs

When you hear the phrase domesticated animals, you probably automatically think of cats or dogs. But, what about fennec foxes, prairie dogs, pigs, sugar gliders, and even skunks? Although it’s not very common, each of these animals can also be domesticated. More and more people are opting out of getting a traditional pet and deciding to add a more unusual addition to their family.

Before you decide to become an owner of one of these animals, it’s important that you take into consideration the special care it will need compared to other, more typical pets. You will also need to review your state’s laws and regulations to make sure that it is legal to own one of these animals. Select one of the articles below to find out more about the options you have for domesticated animals as well as what they eat, what type of habitat they need, and more.

  • Prairie Dogs
    Category: Choosing Your Pet, Small Mammals, Domesticated Animals, Choosing Your Pet, Small Mammals, Domesticated Animals, Prairie Dogs

    Prairie dogs are cute, affable creatures. But before taking one on as a pet, check your local laws. In some states, such as Colorado, it's illegal to keep prairie dogs as pets. Mostly, this is because they may spread monkeypox. If you live in a state that welcomes pet prairie dogs, be sure to buy from

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  • Skunks
    Category: Choosing Your Pet, Small Mammals, Domesticated Animals, Skunks, Choosing Your Pet, Small Mammals, Domesticated Animals

    Home and Veterinary Care for Pet Skunks If you're an adventurous pet owner, you may love exotic animals such as skunks. You'll be happy to learn that skunks can indeed make excellent domestic pets, but only if they receive the proper care to enjoy a happy, healthy life. Your veterinary team can help

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  • Flying Squirrels
    Category: Choosing Your Pet, Small Mammals, Domesticated Animals, Flying Squirrels, Choosing Your Pet, Small Mammals, Domesticated Animals

    Much like sugar gliders, flying squirrels make affectionate pets when purchased young and raised by their owner. Unlike sugar gliders, however, flying squirrels are rodents that need veterinary care specific to the species. Your veterinary team can help with the care and treatment of flying squirrels.

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  • Fennec Foxes
    Category: Choosing Your Pet, Small Mammals, Domesticated Animals, Fennec Foxes, Choosing Your Pet, Small Mammals, Domesticated Animals

    Fennec Fox Care Guide With oversized ears and mischievous faces, fennec foxes are cute as can be. But these exotic pets require a lot of care to stay healthy and happy. Health At just three pounds, fennec foxes are the smallest member of the fox family. Native to the Sahara desert, fennec foxes are

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  • Sugar Gliders
    Category: Choosing Your Pet, Small Mammals, Domesticated Animals, Sugar Gliders, Choosing Your Pet, Small Mammals, Domesticated Animals

    Thinking of getting a sugar glider? These tiny marsupials are energetic and friendly, making them popular choices as pets. Though they weigh less than a half-pound, they're more closely related to kangaroos than they are flying squirrels. If you think a sugar glider would make an ideal pet for your family,

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  • "First vet for my first pet! It is a really wonderful experience. They have really lovely staff members and even take us to tour in their really fantastic clinic!They have different room for different animal so they can feel great without other pet smell. We see that they pay a lot of attention on our puppy and give a lot of great advise for me as a new owner and we are really surprise that when we use the little tricks that the doctor told us, our little puppy feels nothing when she's doing her shots! My puppy even give the doctor a high five after the shoot is done! We can see all their staff members love animal and we are totally coming back for coming appointment!"
    Tina Li / Edmonton, Alberta
  • "Just as I posted on my Facebook wall, try Dr Hany Naguib at Rutherford Veterinary for the most excellent and thoughtful care! Tucker and I have never experienced better!!"
    Michele Hamilton- Friesen / Edmonton, Alberta
  • "The staff at Rutherford Vet are outstanding! Very helpful, caring and obviously very passionate in caring for animals! I will highly recommend them to everyone!"
    Cheryl Moroszczuk / Edmonton, Alberta
  • "We first visited Dr. Naguib several years ago when our dog Flûte, a cock-a-poo, had had several months of repeated skin irritations which often lead to infections. At that time, he told us that non shedding dogs were often subject to skin problems due to a reaction to protein and recommended a dog food in which the protein is hydrolyzed. Flûte has been happily eating this food and has been allergy free since that visit. Recently, we visited Dr. Naguib in his own clinic which is a very welcoming and state of the art facility. He quickly diagnosed an acute problem and kept Flute for further tests. Shortly after taking x-rays, he sent them to us by e-mail and communicated with us by phone to enable us to understand what we were seeing."
    Michele Foley / Edmonton, Alberta

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  • Rabies

    Rabies is a fatal viral infection that is transmitted primarily through bite wounds. Skunks, bats, raccoons, and foxes are the primary carriers. Rabies is also fatal to humans, there has been only one case of a person surviving rabies when treatment was started after clinical signs were present. Puppies ...

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  • Parasites

    There are many types of parasites that are found in the GI tract of cats and dogs. Worms such as roundworms, whipworms, and hookworms are very common in almost all parts of the world. These parasites shed their infective eggs in the pet's stool and contaminate the environment; some eggs can live on yards ...

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  • Hookworm

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  • Obesity

    Excess weight is a serious health problem for dogs and cats and is common in many countries. The two main causes of obesity are too much food and too little exercise. Other contributing factors can be due to hormonal influences, certain genetic factors, and other disease processes. If you pet is carrying ...

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  • Mites

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  • Heartworm

    Heartworm has been diagnosed in dogs in all parts of the world and is actually very common. This may be due to the fact that heartworm has a virtual 100% prevalence rate in unprotected dogs living in highly endemic areas. Heartworm, also known as Dirofilaria immitis, is transmitted by mosquitoes. The ...

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  • Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV)

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