What an exciting time! Adopting a new friend can be a big responsibility, and we want to make sure each animal is set up for success in their new home. We encourage you to keep the following tips in mind when you bring home your new guinea pig.
A check-in with your family veterinarian within the first week after adoption is critical to ensure continuity of care for your new friend, and to create a preventative health care plan tailored to their specific needs and to your lifestyle. The goal is to prevent future disease and illness, which will ideally also help reduce future costs of care.
Medical Considerations
Regular veterinary visits are recommended to prevent illness and to keep your new guinea pig as comfortable as possible. Because many veterinarians do not treat guinea pigs, it is highly recommended to find a suitable veterinarian before care is needed. The Ontario SPCA does not
spay or neuter guinea pigs. Surgery can successfully be performed, but it is best done through a veterinarian who has guinea pig surgical experience. Your guinea pig requires Vitamin C in their diet to prevent scurvy. As a rodent, your guinea pig’s teeth will grow continuously throughout their life. To help wear down their ever-growing front teeth, provide your guinea pigs with chewing items such as cardboard and wooden toys. Your guinea pig’s nails will also need to be trimmed regularly.
Housing
When selecting a cage for a guinea pig, bigger is always best. Your guinea pig friend is highly social and typically will enjoy human interaction. Because they are social, another guinea pig companion would be beneficial. Having another guinea pig of the same sex is strongly encouraged. In general, females tend to get along well. Enclosures should have solid bottoms and be covered with shredded newspaper, grass hay, aspen or hardwood shavings. Guinea pigs will usually choose one area as the toilet area. Once they have selected this area, don’t put food, water or toys in the space. As guinea pigs are startled easily, a hiding place must always be provided. Enclosures should remain off the floor to decrease stress.
Nutrition
The majority of a guinea pig’s diet is Timothy hay, which should always be available. Pelleted diets made specifically for guinea pigs, vegetables, and small amounts of fruit account for the rest of a guinea pig’s dietary needs. Guinea pigs are unable to create vitamin C on their own, so this needs to come from their diet.
Enrichment
Your guinea pig enjoys activities that allow them to express their natural behaviours, such as hiding, climbing, constructing and chewing. Enrichment is very important to help keep your guinea pig happy and healthy.
If you have any questions or concerns post-adoption, please reach out to your local Ontario SPCA and Humane Society animal centre.
What an exciting time! Adopting a new friend can be a big responsibility and we want to help ensure each animal is set up for success in their new home. We encourage you to keep the following tips in mind when you bring home your new bird.
A check-in with your family veterinarian within the first week after adoption is critical to ensure continuity of care for your new friend, and to create a preventative health care plan tailored to their specific needs and to your lifestyle. The goal is to prevent future disease and illness, which will ideally also help reduce future costs of care.
Housing
The housing size for birds should be as large as you can accommodate. There must be enough space for your bird to stretch their wings out fully and to fly short distances. Different bird species require different types of cages. To make your bird feel safe, keep the cage off the floor at all times. Cages should have a variety of perches. Birds can benefit from supervised time out of their cage in a safe environment. To keep your bird safe, ensure the environment is free from items that are chewable, keep all windows and doors closed and keep other animals out of the room.
Nutrition
Every bird species has different dietary requirements, so it is best to consult a veterinarian for specific information about your bird. A proper diet promotes good health and can help avoid medical conditions. A good diet generally consists of a high-quality pellet, a variety of fruits, vegetables and grains, and a small amount of seed.
Enrichment
As intelligent and inquisitive species, companion birds can get bored easily, so rotating toys and providing novel enrichment opportunities is critical to their health. Many birds do best with another bird companion, of either the same species or a compatible one. This is especially true if the family works away from the home and the bird is left alone for large portions of the day.
If you have questions or concerns post-adoption, please reach out to your local Ontario SPCA and Humane Society animal centre.
What an exciting time! Adopting a new friend can be a big responsibility and we want to help ensure each animal is set up for success in their new home. We encourage you to keep the following tips in mind when you bring home your new rabbit.
A check-in with your family veterinarian within the first week after adoption is critical to ensure continuity of care for your new friend, and to create a preventative health care plan tailored to their specific needs and to your lifestyle. The goal is to prevent future disease and illness, which will ideally also help reduce future costs of care.
Medical Considerations
As a hind-gut fermenting species, the health of the “good” gut bacteria is directly related to the rabbit’s health. Any digestive disturbances can be catastrophic for rabbits and must be addressed by your family veterinarian. Your rabbit’s teeth will grow continuously throughout their life. To help wear down their ever-growing front teeth, provide your rabbits with chewing
items such as cardboard and wooden toys. Regular visits to your family veterinarian are important to identify if the teeth need to be trimmed. Your rabbit’s nails will need to be trimmed regularly.
Housing
When selecting a cage for a rabbit, bigger is always best. This will allow your rabbit to express natural behaviors, which will decrease stress. Your rabbit should have access to an exercise pen daily, where they can stretch and jump around with more space. They should not be limited to just their cage. Enclosures should have solid bottoms. They can be covered to prevent foot injuries with shredded newspaper, grass hay, aspen or hardwood shavings. Avoid using wood shavings made from pine or cedar, as they can be very irritating to their respiratory system. A hiding place must be provided for your rabbit for when they need some quiet time. Enclosures should remain off the floor to decrease stress.
Nutrition
When you feed your rabbit, a proper diet is essential to keep them healthy. Rabbits are herbivores and require a high-fibre diet to ensure good gastrointestinal health. The majority of a rabbit’s diet should consist of unlimited, high-quality Timothy hay, which should always be available. A smaller amount of fresh vegetables and a limited amount of pellets should be offered with the occasional treat.
Enrichment
Rabbits enjoy activities that allow them to express their natural behaviours, such as hiding, climbing, constructing and chewing. Enrichment is very important to help keep your rabbit happy and behaviourally healthy. Rabbits need at least an hour out of their cage every day. Your rabbit may enjoy a walk indoors with a harness or hop around a pen, but don’t let the rabbit roam your home unsupervised – rabbits love to chew! Rabbits are quite social and need quality interaction every day.
If you have questions or concerns post-adoption, please reach out to your local Ontario SPCA and Humane Society animal centre.
What an exciting time! Adopting a new friend can be a big responsibility, and we want to make sure each animal is set up for success in their new home. We encourage you to keep the following tips in mind when you bring home your new dog or puppy.
A check-in with your family veterinarian within the first week after adoption is critical to ensure continuity of care for your new friend, and to create a preventative health care plan tailored to their specific needs and to your lifestyle. The goal is to prevent future disease and illness, which will ideally also help reduce future costs of care.
Environment
Set up a well-ventilated crate or a separate doggie-proofed room for your new dog or puppy. It’s one of the easiest ways to help them successfully transition into your home. Make this a positive space, not a form of punishment. The goal is to provide a quiet retreat and/or to help
with housetraining. Remember, the dog must be allowed appropriate breaks (every few hours) for feeding and potty breaks, as well as lots of time spent out of the crate or room for walks, training and playtime.
Vaccines
Vaccines play a vital role in protecting your new dog or puppy from diseases that can be devastating to their health, as well as keeping other furry and human family members safe. Core vaccines for dogs include DA2PP (distemper, adenovirus (hepatitis), parainfluenza, parvovirus) and rabies. Rabies vaccination is a legal requirement. All dogs adopted from
the Ontario SPCA have received their rabies vaccination, provided they are old enough to receive it at the time of adoption.
Disease Testing
Heartworm & Tick-Borne Illness: Mosquitoes and ticks can transmit diseases to dogs. There is a blood test to screen for exposure to heartworm and tick-borne illness. This is not something your dog has received yet and, based on lifestyle and age, may be recommended by your veterinarian. Internal and External Parasites: Your new furry friend has received routine deworming and external parasite prevention prior to adoption, but further doses may be required. Please follow up with your family veterinarian for testing and treatment moving forward.
Dog-to-Dog / Cat Introductions
Dogs can safely be introduced to one another with some positive encouragement and body language awareness. With time, many cats and dogs can learn to coexist peacefully and may even become friends!
If you have questions or concerns post-adoption, please reach out to your local Ontario SPCA and Humane Society animal centre.
What an exciting time! Adopting a new friend can be a big responsibility, and we want to help ensure each animal is set up for success in their new home. We encourage you to keep the following tips in mind when you bring home your new cat or kitten.
A check-in with your family veterinarian within the first week after adoption is critical to ensure continuity of care for your new friend, and to create a preventative health care plan tailored to their specific needs and to your lifestyle. The goal is to prevent future disease and illness, which will ideally also help reduce future costs of care.
Environment
Creating a safe space for your new cat is very important. Remove any toxic plants and hide any electrical cords that the cat might have access to. Set up your cat’s litter box, bowls, scratching post and toys in a quiet, safe place for the first week or two. Once home, adopters are encouraged to reassemble the cat cabin from the animal centre, as it has the cat’s scent on it and helps ease their transition into their new home by offering a familiar place to perch, sleep, hide and rub. We recommend keeping cats indoors.
Vaccines
Vaccines play a vital role in protecting your new cat or kitten from diseases, as well as keeping other furry and human family members safe. Core vaccines for cats include FVRCP (feline herpes virus, calicivirus & panleukopenia) and rabies. Rabies vaccination is a legal
requirement. All cats adopted from the Ontario SPCA have received their rabies vaccination, provided they are old enough to receive it at the time of adoption.
Disease Testing
Retroviruses like Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) are transmitted between cats. If you have a multi-cat household, testing prior to introducing your new cat should be discussed with your veterinarian.
Internal and External Parasites
Your new furry friend has received routine deworming and flea prevention prior to adoption, but further doses may be required. Talk to your veterinarian about future testing and prevention. We also recommend that other family pets be tested and treated for internal and
external parasites prior to bringing your new furry friend home.
Cat-to-Cat / Dog Introductions
Retroviruses like Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) are transmitted between cats. If you have a multi-cat household, testing prior to introducing your new cat should be discussed with your veterinarian.