Question:

My ferret, Sparky, is 6 years old, and he has halitosis. When I am playing with him, my hands sometimes smell bad from his saliva. Sometimes he drools a lot.

He won't chew bones to keep his teeth clean. What do you advise?

S.K.L., Springfield, Mo Apr 23, 2012

Answer:

Ferrets, especially older ones like yours, are prone to developing gingivitis, an inflammation and infection of the gums; tartar, especially on the upper back teeth; and periodontal disease.

Have your ferret examined by a veterinarian, especially because any of these dental problems can lead to complications, including heart, kidney and pancreatic diseases due to bacteria, toxins and inflammatory substances that build up in the ferret's diseased oral cavity.

After professional dental care, maintain oral hygiene by providing your ferret with thin strips of raw beef or slices of raw turkey gizzard to chew. Applying PetzLife Oral Care gel or spray will help keep the teeth free of tartar and maintain healthy gums.

Question:

I would appreciate any information you could give me about my parrot. He has pulled out all of his feathers, and now he is completely naked.

How can I get him to stop pulling out his feathers?

Feb 27, 2012

Answer:

Your poor parrot is one of many who develop this feather-pulling problem, which can lead to severe self-mutilation and is difficult to stop.

First, you need to find a veterinarian who specializes in birds. Your bird will be checked for skin and feather mites. The vet will most likely put your bird on a special diet, including fresh fruits and vegetables and a multivitamin and multimineral supplement. Too many parrots and other caged birds are fed the wrong kinds of food, like a mix of birdseed or parrot pellets that may be stale, moldy or lacking in essential nutrients. Lack of sunlight is also a factor in the feather pulling, and provision of a Vita-Lite or other full-spectrum light during the day may help.

Emotional stress, boredom and a high-strung temperament, especially in parrots who do not have a close bond with their human caretakers, play a major role in the development of this problem.

A course of treatment with an anxiety-reducing medication (like Valium or valerian) can be considerably beneficial. But the best solution is to try to identify and correct the cause, which could be boredom from being tied to a perch or imprisoned in a cage most of his waking hours.

Question:

You sometimes deal with aquarium animal health questions in your column, so I hope you have an answer to my question.

I get so disgusted when I read newspaper articles about the chef Andrew Zimmern, star of the Travel Channel's "Bizarre Foods" and "Bizarre Foods America." He goes all over the world eating unimaginable things. I don't know why people watch, except to be grossed out. When I read about Zimmern cutting slices off tentacles from a live octopus and serving them while they are still wriggling, I just about gagged. Don't these creatures feel any pain?

G.W., Fargo, ND Feb 14, 2012

Answer:

I share your disgust. Zimmern gets a thrill out of challenging the squeamish, making a small fortune from his gross gustatory showmanship. Of course, that is not to say that slimy blue-green algae he eats is not a food of the future -- and a biofuel!

In my estimation, Mr. Zimmern is simply an ignoramus, and I trust that once informed of his folly, he may reform. He seems to embody the sad trait of having less and less feeling for other living beings the less and less they look like us. Yet empathy is one quality that makes us human. It may be difficult for some to empathize with a creature like an octopus, which looks and behaves so differently from us. But scientific studies have shown that they are extremely intelligent creatures, possessing great dexterity and the ability to reason, use tools, show fear and avoid pain. Octopuses also have other emotional reactions, including a degree of empathy and cooperative social behavior with one another.

So my philosophy is to show respect and compassion toward all living creatures since we really do not know what they are feeling and thinking, and to give them the benefit of the doubt with regard to their capacity to suffer. For more details see my new book, "Animals and Nature First" (published by CreateSpace, and available at Amazon.com).

As for Mr. Zimmern being a "chef," there are cooks and there are COOKS! In my kitchen, a chef of the highest order is one who considers compassion and environmental sustainability as well as nutrient value when it comes to considering food ingredients, not simply taste and novelty!

Question:

My old gerbil has a lump on the lower part of his chest and partly over his tummy. It seems more swollen than usual, and I wonder if it is cancer. Should I take him to the vet? I guess it will cost me more than I paid for him, but he's worth it to me.

M.W., Norman, OK Dec 12, 2011

Answer:

I am glad that you are not one of those people who say that seeing a veterinarian isn't worth the expense for an animal you paid only a few dollars for.

First, you should know that what you are seeing on the underside of your gerbil is a scent-marking gland that tends to get bigger with age. Rarely does it become cancerous. More often, it is a mild infection and inflammation that can be treated by careful cleaning and application of an antibiotic ointment the veterinarian can prescribe. Call first, tell them how old you are and ask what they might charge you after my provisional diagnosis. After applying the ointment, you should keep your gerbil actively distracted for as long as you can -- at least half an hour -- to stop him from licking off the medication.

Question:

I took my son to our local pet store, and he was fascinated by the African dwarf frogs. He wanted me to buy a pair, but I said I would write to you first and get your opinion.

My son is 10 years old and loves animals, and I want to encourage his interest. The store manager told me the frogs were not taken from the wild but were "captive-bred."

D.K.W., Sarasota, FL Sep 12, 2011

Answer:

Captive-bred or not, these are not domesticated animals, and they require proper habitat and special care. During the last couple of years, this variety of frog has caused salmonella infections in more than 200 people, most of them under the age of 10, and some 30 percent had to be hospitalized. Fortunately, there were no deaths. Terrapins (water turtles) pose a similar hazard.

While your son might be able to follow strict hygiene measures, I would not run the risk. Encourage him instead to join a local nature club or Audubon Society and learn about the wildlife in your state. Some school districts, in collaboration with municipal zoos, wildlife rescue and rehab centers and conservation organizations, have excellent in-field programs for children and internships for those in high school that can lead to a meaningful career or avocation.

Question:

We adopted a blue male parakeet who is still jittery around my husband and has nipped his fingers more than once. He's fine with me and likes to nibble and rub my ear. Sometimes I think he's courting me.

So what to do about his nipping? Is he jealous of my husband?

B.K.G., Arlington, Va Aug 15, 2011

Answer:

Your bird is probably used to being around and being handled by women, since birds naturally imprint or develop strong attachments early in life. Ideally, therefore, they should be socialized with both male and female handlers and, where possible, with children.

Parakeets are highly social birds that live in large flocks in the wild, and I consider it borderline cruelty to raise and keep them alone in separate cages their entire lives. While they compensate to a degree by bonding with humans (even engaging in courtship behavior, as well as social preening as they would with a mate), they generally fare better in pairs or small groups in large flight cages. With time and patience, your "rival" husband may win him over. In the interim, wear a protective glove.

Question:

We have a small Dutch rabbit, and you can see her front lower teeth when she's sitting up. They seem to have grown too long, but my brother says it is natural and is best left alone. What is your opinion?

S.G.L., St. Louis, Mo Aug 07, 2011

Answer:

Rabbits, like people, can suffer malocclusion, a condition often associated with a congenital deformity and misalignment of the lower jaw.

This can lead to uneven wear of the teeth. Unlike human teeth, rabbits' teeth continually grow. When there is uneven wear or a lack of wear, especially of the front lower teeth, the rabbit will have difficulty eating. Neglected teeth can cause injury to the inner lining of the mouth and lead to starvation and death.

Have a veterinarian examine your rabbit. Snipping the teeth is a simple and painless procedure, but it is not something you should do by yourself. One preventive is to provide the rabbit a piece of hardwood or boiled marrowbone to gnaw, which will help keep the teeth trim once they have been shortened as needed.

Question:

You never write much about small pets like gerbils and hamsters, or tropical fish, parakeets and other cage birds. Is there a reason for this, since I do have a fish question?

My son thinks his goldfish Goldie is lonely, and so he wants us to get him another one. How do we know they will get along?

Aug 01, 2011

Answer:

I am generally opposed to people keeping wild-caught or captive-bred amphibians, reptiles, birds (especially parrots) and small animals (such as sugar gliders and hedgehogs). These animals take expert care and are rarely provided the proper environment for their health and well-being.

I rarely receive letters concerning the care of small domesticated species that you mention. Those that I do receive I usually publish, since proper care and understanding are important.

Goldfish, a member of the exotic carp family, can live for decades. They normally live in small groups and are highly social, so I consider it inhumane to keep a goldfish alone his or her entire life in a glass bowl. Studies have shown that they grow more and are healthier in pairs or small groups. Also, goldfish show signs of depression, becoming less active and disinterested in food when a companion fish is removed due to illness or death.

Their tanks must be cleaned regularly and filled with purified water, or municipal tap water first left to stand in a bucket for 24 to 48 hours to get rid of chlorine and other volatile chemicals. They should be provided plenty of swimming space with various environmentally enriching hideaways, and the tank should include a charcoal water filter and aerator to keep the water clear and cleaner longer. The latter are not essential for hardy goldfish but are for tropical fish, along with an immersion heater. A cover is advisable since excited fish can sometimes leap out of the tank or bowl and be found dead on the floor.

Quarantine any new fish for two to three weeks before introducing, and return to the supplier if any signs of illness appear, notably white spots or erratic movement.

Question:

Would you please comment on "Undercover TV," regarding the filming of mistreated livestock and dogs used for food in China.

It bothers me a great deal and I'd like to know if things have improved, because a lot of the videos are dated.

S.G., Highland, NY Jul 04, 2011

Answer:

Many "undercover" films have been produced that document the cruel and ignorant mistreatment of "downer" cows going to slaughter and the unimaginable conditions under which pigs, hens, broiler chickens and veal calves are raised on factory farms and cows-and-beef-cattle feedlots. Check my website for my own photo-documentation. These food animal production systems must be phased out for animal health and welfare.

Being informed, thousands of people have chosen to become vegetarian or vegan or to only consume meat and poultry from certified, organic free-range systems.

Documentary films showing dogs and cats being captured and butchered in China and some other countries in the Far East are part of the process of social change. Making such undercover films is not without risk and could mean imprisonment in some countries, notably here in America, where states such as Iowa, Minnesota and Florida have legislation pending to make it a criminal offense for anyone filming what goes on in puppy mills and livestock and poultry factories, slaughter plants and animal-testing laboratories. Such legislation should be opposed, since financial interests should not trump ethics and compassion.

Question:

I have a male red-eared slider turtle. He is approximately 4 years old. Normally, I feed him floating turtle sticks and a grape once a day, with an occasional bite of carrot. About once a week, I give him some cooked chicken that he seems to like particularly well. In the past, the turtle has stopped eating for periods of time. It usually lasts about a week. The first time this happened, I took him to the veterinarian who could find nothing wrong and, eventually, the turtle started eating again.

Recently, he stopped eating again, but this time it lasted about three weeks! I've tried everything: vegetables, fruit, turtle sticks and chicken. He completely ignores all of it, except the chicken that he will eat, but not every day.

His tank is kept clean, and I take him out of the tank for a while every day to just let him roam indoors. There have been times when he would follow me from room to room, almost like a puppy. He has a lot of personality.

What could be causing the loss of appetite? I would be most grateful for any suggestions.

K.F.T., Stuart, FL Jun 05, 2011

Answer:

Yes, turtles and other wild creatures who habituate to captivity and show no fear can indeed reveal the distinct personalities they have. You might see even more if your turtle had the company of his own kind.

But, regardless of how much expertise you may have and how well you provide for the animal's physical and environmental needs, the fact remains that they are not domesticated. This means that they do best in their natural environments, and that is why I am opposed to their commercial exploitation and sale as "pets." Reptiles, notably terrapins, and amphibians like African clawed frogs have been the source of bacterial (salmonella) infections in children.

Both reptiles and amphibians will go through periods of anorexia in captivity. They often have a fungal or other infection, a nutritional deficiency or are infested with internal parasites. You should add crushed oyster shell or other sources of calcium to his food and check the Internet for more natural foods for your animal.

Turtles like and need to sun themselves and this could be an indirect source of vitamin D and subtle energies we have yet to fully understand. Many such species show significant improvement when given a full-spectrum artificial light over their enclosures during daylight hours, as with Vita-Lite or Dr. Ott's fluorescent light.