by Christine Cameron

Created on: January 26, 2008

Choosing a pet for you and your family is a decision that should not be taken lightly. With the advances in veterinary care, holistic diets, and an overall increase in breeder education, many pets have doubled their life span.

Always consider life span norms when choosing your pet, as many times adults are left with a geriatric pet when children move out. A hamster, for example, has an approximate life span of five to seven years, a chinchilla is approximately ten years, while a sugar glider may live fifteen to twenty years. Reptiles and birds also have extremely long life span averages if properly cared for.

Housing your new pet will be another consideration. Every animal needs a place to hide or feel comfortable, even if you chose to have a "free range" pet. Thunderstorms, loud children, new animals, whatever the stressor your pet will appreciate having their own area. Pet habitats come in literally every shape and size. Do not skimp on space, even the smallest pet loves to explore (if they feel it is safe to do so). Some tiny pets, such as sugar gliders that only grow to approximately twelve inches, need an extremely large habitat to jump around in. These pets will not be happy in a small habitat and may become aggressive or sick.

Feeding a new pet must also be researched prior to adoption. With pet owners trending toward holistic and all natural diets, manufacturers are scrambling to meet the new needs. The most basic instinct is to feed a store bought diet marketed FOR that particular pet. For example, ferrets should only be fed Purina Ferret Chow. However, with the advances of the Internet and Google searches, pet owners are now allowed direct access to "secret family recipes" of prize winning breeders. These holistic or all natural pet diets often combine a mix of raw fruit and vegetables, whole grains (many times in the form of baby cereal), nuts, and yogurt. Pet owners can also find store brands labeled "holistic" and "all natural", but USDA standards vary so widely for pet food there is no way to be sure without cooking your own.

Before adopting your new pet, find a veterinarian in your area offering services to this breed. Not all veterinarians treat all animals; some veterinarians specialize in exotics and small animals. Many veterinarians now involved in holistic medicine for pets. Flea treatments with Neem, and homeopathic wormers are becoming quite popular. While more gentle on your animal and the environment, the jury is still out on the effectiveness of these products.

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