Fill-out your name & email address below for a FREE subscription to our newsletter.


Click Here to Read More>>
Exotic Nutrition Archive Page
Saturday, August 13, 2011

The zinc issue is one that is not without a lot of controversy within
the pet industry. There is
unfortunately a lot of misinformation on the web regarding this topic
and we can't blame pet owners for feeling concerned, we were too when we
first heard of it several years ago. By making this post we hope to
present our perspective which has been developed through discussions
with other pet professionals.
"A lot has been mentioned recently about zinc toxicity in pets. Many
pet toys are made with zinc coated (galvanized) metal components.
Zinc is also commonly found in cage powder coatings. Some avian health
specialists have stated that in order for zinc related health problems
to result that the pet must actually swallow the metal components
and that touching the parts is insufficient for toxicity to develop
unless the galvanized coating is extremely brittle and flaky. If a
pet spends a lot of time chewing on toy hardware (i.e., washers,
quick links, wire) then it is possible they will ingest enough zinc to
build up toxic levels in their systems over time. Owners who are
worried about the possible health effects can often find stainless
steel replacement components at their local hardware store. This
option is also often much more cost effective to the consumer than
buying toys constructed with stainless steel parts."

All of the Exotic Nutrition pet toy hardware is "zinc free" with the
exception of our wire, hanger bolts and washers which are
electro-galvanized.


Galvanization is the name of the method used to treat steel to prevent
rusting. Not all methods of galvanization are "equal" when it comes to
posing a risk of zinc ingestion. The two main methods of galvanization
are hot dip galvanization and electro-galvanization:

* Hot dip galvanization is where the metal is dipped in essentially a
bath of molten zinc. Metal treated in this fashion has a dull, rough
and flaky surface of zinc which does pose a risk of zinc ingestion to
birds if chewed.

* Electro-galvanizing is process where a thinner, tighter-bonding coat
of zinc is applied to a metal via electroplating. The surface of
materials treated by this method are smooth and shiny in comparison to
those treated by the hot dip method. In other words, there are no
loose and flaky zinc components available for pets to swallow. Metals
treated by this procedure do not pose a risk of zinc ingestion as long
as the metal object can not be swallowed in it's entirety.

For a wealth of pet care information, visit Exotic Nutrition today !

Labels:



by: Exotic Nutrition

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Before bringing a hedgehog into your family, find a veterinarian who deals with exotics and has experience with hedgehogs. Not all vets do. Although hedgehogs don’t need vaccinations like some animals, they can get sick, and vet bills can be expensive. Several medical issues are fairly common with hedgehogs, including wobbly hedgehog syndrome, which has pretty specific symptoms but cannot be positively diagnosed other in a necropsy, jaw tumors and other types of cancer, heart issues and uterine issues in females, especially those that have not been bred.

No significant difference exists in the personalities or the size of male and female hedgehogs. It’s just a matter of preference which to get as a pet. Just keep in mind that unaltered males and females should never be housed together. Female hedgehogs become fertile in the presence of a male and can breed as early as 6 or 7 weeks of age (although it’s not medically safe for them to do so). Because of this, males and females (including Mom) should be separated as soon as the babies are weaned.
With few exceptions, a male hedgehog should be housed alone. Even if male hedgehogs seem to get along, sooner or later a fight is likely to occur that can result in serious injury or death. Females can be housed together, although some prefer to be alone. If you get two females, have the room for separate housing should you need to separate them. Hedgehogs in the wild are solitary animals, so you don’t need to have two to keep each other company.

Products to help keep your pet Hedgehogs healthy are offered on-line. Exotic Nutrition Pet Company sells high quality Hedgehog Foods and Supplements along with Hedgehog appropriate cages and cage accessories.


by: Exotic Nutrition

Home