Prairie dog pet for sale

Prairie dog pet for sale. The Prairie dogs require considerable care and attention. Be sure you can provide the following before bringing a prairie dog home with you:

Food and Water

Try to feed your pet prairie dog a diet that mimics their natural diet in the wild. Prairie dogs are vegetarians, so don’t include any meat products. In the wild, they mostly eat grasses, brush, and roots. Prickly pear cactus gives them much of their water intake. Captive prairie dogs rely on high-fiber pellets, fresh hay and grasses (including timothy hay or timothy hay cubes), fresh fruits, and fresh vegetables like raw sweet potatoes and carrots. Make sure to provide them with plenty of fresh water. Avoid feeding them foods that can make them obese like nuts, dried fruit, other sugary foods, and dog food. Prairie dogs should have access to food and water around the clock as they are grazers.

Housing

Above all, prairie dogs need sufficient space to move around and plenty of hiding places where they can burrow out of sight. Keeping them in a cage without dirt to burrow in or anywhere to hide is likely to cause anxiety and anxiety-induced issues from too much stimulus.

The more prairie dogs you have, the bigger the enclosure needs to be. Make sure to clean the enclosure out at least once a week to maintain a hygienic environment. Also, remember that prairie dogs are adept at escaping inadequate enclosures, so only purchase housing specifically designed or approved for prairie dogs.

Prairie dogs can survive a wide range of temperatures as long as they have somewhere to burrow. For this reason, you can keep them either inside or outside. However, their preferred temperature is around 70°F.

Companionship

Prairie dogs are highly sociable animals in the wild that spend most of their time with other prairie dogs. They need the same kind of frequent socialization in captivity to be happy and healthy. It’s best to keep more than one prairie dog at a time to ensure they get enough companionship. If you’re able to spend a significant amount of time with your pet, you may be able to keep just one.

Are prairie dogs suitable for children?

There’s nothing wrong with children caring for prairie dogs together with adults. But their care should never be left solely in the hands of minors. As cute as they may look, prairie dogs are not cuddly toys. If they feel threatened, they will defend themselves with painful bites.

Furthermore, males may experience significant behavioral changes during the mating and pre-mating season after reaching sexual maturity. These changes sometimes manifest as aggression towards anything that comes too close to the enclosure – including the keeper.

What do I need to know about prairie dogs?

• Male prairie dogs are usually larger than female prairie dogs.
• An adult prairie dog generally weighs 1.5–3.5 lb (650–1600 g).
• Prairie dogs reach puberty at two to three years of age.
• Female prairie dogs usually produce one litter per year. Pregnancy lasts 35–40 days, and the average litter contains 2–10 pups. Pups are weaned by seven weeks of age. Pregnant and nursing females may become aggressive towards other prairie dogs, and should be separated from them.
• If properly cared for, prairie dogs have a lifespan of about 8–10 years.
• Prairie dogs do not hibernate but may have dormant or less active periods during cooler weather.
• Prairie dogs “bark” when excited or as an alarm call if startled.
• Prairie dogs can be nippy; talk to your veterinarian prior to purchasing a prairie dog if you have small children.
• To prevent injury to your pet and family, prairie dogs should not be allowed free rein of the house.