PetLvr.com - [The Blog]

There has been much discussion about the health concern with regard to owning exotic pets. The Associated Press (AP) sent out a warning in an article stating, “young children should not keep hedgehogs as pets-or hamsters, baby chicks, lizards and turtles, for that matter-because of risks for disease.” This warning originated from the American Academy of Pediatrics who published a report on the adverse health affects from owning exotic pets. While exotic pets have the potential to carry disease and other germs, people should not abandon or become fearful of the exotic pets they already own or would like to own.

It is obvious that every pet owner runs the risk of bringing disease and germs into their home with any animal that they purchase or adopt. Some pets have worms or fleas, but these issues as well as others can be taken care of properly if pet owners take immediate action and see a veterinarian for treatment. It is also important to groom the pet on a regular basis by cleaning their claws and fur and by disinfecting their food and bathroom area. Counters, especially kitchen counters, should be disinfected too.

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By Gary Speer

Unusual or exotic pets carry responsibilities for care and keeping than your run-of-the-mill family cat or dog. But don’t worry, if you’d prefer a snake or turtle, tiger or crocodile, or simply a perky gerbil or hamster, it certainly can be a good choice for you. You just need to plan ahead, and you must start that planning before you shop for your dream tiger or ferret — and the more unusual or exotic the pet, the more important it becomes to do your planning or pet homework. Here are 5 basics to consider before buying that unusual, uncommon, or exotic pet:

1. Check local/state/federal laws and regulations for pet ownership. If you plan on getting a gerbil, a hamster, or exotic fish, chances are that local laws won’t matter, and your biggest issue will be related to pet care and keeping the peace in your home/family. But if you’ve always wanted a pet tiger and now have lots of land and adequate facilities, you really need to be sure you are allowed to keep tigers in your neighborhood. A simpler but unusual pet you might want would be a rabbit or even a chicken. (Don’t laugh — where do you think all those Easter chicks go?) A rabbit or two in the backyard, or a carefully guarded chicken may not seem to be an issue. If your town or city has laws against keeping livestock on your property, your unusual pet becomes a pet legality issue.

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By CS Swarens

Recent years have seen an increasing trend regarding the popularity of exotic pets online. Since most people are not free to travel the world in search of the perfect exotic pet, it will be beneficial for you to learn just how to find exotic pets on the internet. Fortunately, finding exotic pets online is not nearly as difficult as some people would make it out to be. However, it is not quite so simple as performing a Google search for “exotic pets online” either.

Unlike common domestic animals, there are often a great number of restrictions regarding the importing, sales and even in some instances, the ability to own exotic pets. Some animals that were previously considered to be exotic are not quite so mysterious, exotic or anything other than just another animal anymore.

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