While breeding guinea pigs for a 4-H project in high school, Laura McLain decided she wanted to be a veterinarian. But not just any vet. McLain wanted to provide tender, loving care to the small furry animals often overlooked in a profession focused on cats and dogs.
So, while most of her colleagues only treat cats and canines, McLain expanded her practice to include what she calls "pocket pets." She currently treats guinea pigs, rabbits, ferrets, chinchillas, mice, rats, hamsters and hedgehogs.
"It's just a special interest," she said.
Veterinary school students receive very little, if any, education about small mammals, so most of what McLain knows she learned through outside study. She has no special board certification, but her homework and practice made her enough of an expert that people and small pets come to her from all over the Salt Lake Valley.
There are several differences in treating smaller animals, besides their size. For one thing, they are more sensitive to antibiotics like penicillin. They are also prone to different diseases.
Because pets like guinea pigs and rabbits are cheap and don't live long, many people don't take very good care of them, McLain said.
"A guinea pig, you can buy one at the store for $10, so I think people are less likely to bring them in than a cat or a dog," she said.
But many pocket pet owners bond with their small animals, and McLain is happy to provide the care they want.
"For those people who are attached to their small mammal pets, they do need someone to take care of them," McLain said.
"They're just cuddly," Martinez said of the animals, which she bought last July. "If you can get past the fact that they're rodents, they're very sweet."
"You wouldn't think of a rodent getting attached to humans," McLain said, "but they know their people."
Pocket pets like guinea pigs and rats also have endearing personalities.
"They're fairly curious, interested in their environment," McLain said. "Ferrets are tricksters. They're playful and always getting into things."
Unlike cats and dogs, small mammal pets don't suffer from genetic problems due to inbreeding or poor breeding, but there are a few things to watch out for, McLain said. Rats are very prone to cancer, while rabbits often suffer from gastrointestinal problems, usually due to a lack of fiber. Because smaller animals are easy to replace, many owners don't take the time to learn about things like proper nutrition.
"They just pick out the pretty-colored food at the pet store without education about the nutritional value," McLain said.
While small mammals don't require regular vaccinations like cats and dogs, McLain does recommend bringing them in for regular check-ups, at least once a year. Because small mammals are prey species, they often hide their symptoms.
"In the wild if you act sick, you get eaten," McLain said. "So a lot of times people don't notice they're sick until they're quite ill."
She also warns that, contrary to popular belief, small mammals like hamsters are not usually good pets for small children. And though small mammals don't need to be walked like a dog, for example, keeping their cages clean can be just as much work. But, they can also be just as much fun.
"We consider them members of the family really," Martinez said of Nelson and Elvis. "When we go out of town we take them, along with the dog, to the kennel. You have a love for the animals really, and then it's not a chore to do all that you can for them."
...not all Vets are the same when it comes to Pocket Pets
