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Two Prairie Dogs remain her at the Zoo - Maxine and Skeeter. Over the years I lost Bonzi!, Sassafras and Zipper to old age,
tumors and odontoma, respectively. Although they will ever remain in my heart, I do not plan to acquire any more because
of the traumatic way they are captured in the wild. I purchased Bonzi! and Zipper in 2000, the other ones came to me when
people realized they didn't have the time or resources to handle an exotic pet like a Prairie Dog.
PLEASE REMEMBER PRAIRIE DOGS ARE NOT LIKE CATS AND DOGS - THEY REQUIRE SPECIAL CARE, FOOD AND AN EXOTIC VETERINARIAN WILLING
TO TREAT THEM. YOU MUST ADAPT TO THE PRAIRIE DOG, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND!!
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| Skeeter at full attention |
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Skeeter is an intact male and I have had him for about two years. He does go into rut and becomes extremely aggressive.
The rest of the time he is a sweet Prairie Dog, but I always have to keep an eye on him because it's almost like he's
bipolar. He doesn't recognize me right after I shower because I must smell different to him. He is the only male PD I have
ever owned.
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| Skeeter loves his tube |
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My Prairie Dogs had been housed in a five story ferret cage connected to another larger cage by a tube until two months ago
when I moved them into a cage similar to a Ferret Nation.
I converted the long cage into a play area with sand and wheel for the daytime. I live in Central Florida and the cage
is on my screen enclosed porch. In the summer they have a fan on a timer and in the winter blankets over the cage as well
as lots of hay and snuggle blankets. If the temperature drops below 38 degrees, they are brought inside to a smaller cage
at night.
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Prairie Dogs need a very low protein high fiber diet. The staple of their diet is a low protein hay. Like Timothy, T&A,
Meadow Grass or Brome. Mine get Harlan Teklab rodent diet blocks for snacks at 14% protein along with carrots, apples, green
beans or whatever fruit/vegetable I have on hand. When they get older and frail I feed them oatmeal to keep weight on. I
also pick them fresh greens from my yard because I know that it is safe from pesticides.
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| Maxie, the only time she sits still. |
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| The bowl is under the water bottle to catch drips. |
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