by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

You notice your child's hamster is a little dirty. Should you give your child's hamster a bath? Is it safe? Does the hamster really need a bath or is there something else you should do instead? As a pet grandparent to a few rescued hamsters, I would never recommend bathing a hamster in water for several reasons.

Hamsters naturally bathe themselves in sand. When in their natural wild habitat, hamsters roll around in sand for cleansing purposes. They finish it off by grooming themselves. Many pet supply stores have Chinchilla sand and ceramic sand dishes you can provide to your hamster for this purpose. Never use the scented varieties or those made with powder. Only the unscented sand is safe for your hamster. The other products may irritate your hamster's respiratory system.

Bathing a hamster can remove essential oils. Hamsters naturally produce an oil that is essential to protect their skin and fur. Bathing your child's hamster will remove these oils, causing the hamster's skin to become very dry and irritated. This will be extremely uncomfortable for the hamster and will leave his skin very vulnerable. If the purpose of washing the hamster is to produce a shiny coat, it is unnecessary. The natural essential oils a hamster produces will provide shine without the act of bathing.

Wet baths are not recommend unless absolutely necessary. Because wet baths can cause chills, they are only to be used in extreme circumstances, such as your hamster getting covered in oil. Bathing your hamster can cause illness and even death. Hamsters get cold very quickly because of their small frame. Their skin is also irritated easily. Also, bathing products get absorbed into the hamster's fur and skin. When the hamster grooms later, these products will be ingested, which can cause poisoning. Even many of the products marketed for this purpose are not safe.

What if my child's hamster is dirty? Hamsters being properly cared for are not likely to get dirty enough to require bathing. Provided your hamster does escape and get into something messy, a bath may be warranted. Generally, you would use special pet wipes that are safe for use on hamsters or a damp cloth to spot clean the area. If your child's hamster is getting dirty often, check to see that the bedding is being changed properly and as often as needed. If your child's hamster smells, take the hamster to a vet to make sure there is not cause for concern. Foul odors can be a sign of illness.

When in doubt, call the vet. If something happens to the hamster that may require an emergency bath, call a 24-hour emergency vet for proper instructions. Only a licensed professional should ever bathe a hamster in water without proper advice and only a licensed professional should advise someone on how to bathe a hamster this way. In all other instances, wiping down the hamster with the proper wipes or a warm moist cloth should be enough.

*Always contact a licensed veterinarian for the health of your animals. The information above is not meant to replace the advice of a qualified professional and is derived solely from the author's own personal experiences.

More Hamster Care Resources:
Hamsters; Dumb Friends League
Small Mammals; American Humane
Small Angels Rescue Hamster Care Packet; Small Angels Rescue, Inc

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Are you thinking about getting your kids a dog? Don't let that cute doggy face lure you in before your kids even know what to do. My kids have adopted several small animals before, most of them with special needs. However, hamsters and dogs are entirely different. My method for preparing the kids for dog adoption includes plenty of exposure to dogs. Based on our experiences, I firmly believe that prior dog exposure educates kids before dog adoption.

Utilize time with dogs belonging to family and friends. My sister has three cute Dachsunds (aka 'weiner dogs'). When she first started bringing them over, two of my kids were terrified of them. But she kept at it and now all of the kids adore the dogs and get excited each time they come over. The kids have also spent quality time with other dogs belonging to family and friends. I feel this opens them up to a wide range of experiences with dogs, both large and small.

Give kids a chance to take over feeding time. If you have a family member or friend who won't mind the kids taking over one or more scheduled feedings, it can be a big help. My sister lets the kids give her dogs water and special treats when they come over. This is only a good idea with dogs who are not protective over their food. Feeding the dogs helps to prepare the kids for becoming a responsible pet parent. It teaches them what it's like and gives you and your kids an idea of whether they can handle it or not.

Let the kids give basic commands. Part of being a responsible pet parent involves teaching dogs commands. These commands are important for strengthening the bond between your child and the dog. They are also vital in various situations. My sister has already taught her dogs the basic commands. However, she allows my kids to command them and reward her dogs with treats when they comply. This helps to educate them on the kind of commands they should be teaching their future dog. My seven year old has taught her hamster a trick and I believe the idea came in part from giving commands to my sister's dogs.

Spend quality time with shelter dogs. One of our favorite things to do is visit the animals housed by one of the local shelters. The kids and I go interact with the dogs and cats every week, many times more than once each week. Each dog has their own personality. Because of this, I feel it is teaching the kids to adapt to various scenarios they may encounter with their own dog. Some dogs will come up to us right away. Yet others may shy away in the corner until they feel comfortable. We also make toys for the shelter dogs. We sell some of the toys to earn money for the shelter pets and we donate some of the toys as well.

A well-rounded experience with dogs teaches kids what isn't in books. Sure, a book may touch on some of the things kids will experience as a dog parent. In fact, the kids should be studying up as well. But just reading the text is not enough. In order to be fully prepared and well-educated on dog care, one-on-one interaction is an absolute must. What are you doing to prepare your kids for adopting a furry family member?

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Thinking of getting a dog? Just want your kids to know how to interact with them? Either way, it's an important lesson for all kids to learn. Teaching kids to interact with dogs takes time and patience but is well worth the effort. Before ever adopting a dog or having your kids around one for an extended period of time, they need to know what to do.

Dog safety lessons come first. Before your kids start interacting with dogs, they need to learn some important safety rules. While dogs can be great for kids, they are still animals and animals are unpredictable. Be sure your kids know what to do in various scenarios that may come up when interacting with dogs. Animal behavioral and care classes can often be taken at local animal shelters, rescues, and even some major pet store chains. Proper care is important. But so is injury and accident prevention.

Teach based on the reaction kids have to dogs and vice versa. How do your kids react to dogs? Do they run away? Are they gentle or rough? How do dogs act around your kids? Are they scared or in attack mode or are they gentle and loving. Reactions from both ends can tell you a great deal about what lessons your kids need to learn about dog interaction. It's not always a kid's fault when an animal feels threatened and vice versa. But the actions of both your kids and the dogs you expose them to can get you thinking about various positive actions you can teach to both for the best result. Even if all interactions are positive, there are still lessons to teach, such as certain things your kids can do to get dogs do tricks, follow commands, and be loyal.

Teach kids proper interaction firsthand. There is no better way for your kids to learn how to interact with dogs than actually doing it. If you are just talking to your kids and reading things from manuals, there is no one-on-one experience for them to better understand the lesson. If you can get both a professional dog trainer and dog behaviorist to work with your kids and a potential adoptive dog, that's even better. These experts can work together with kids and their dog to help them learn how to bond with each other and develop a positive relationship from the start. The experience can also help kids in knowing how to deal with other dogs as well.

Expose kids to dogs regularly. If a child is never around dogs, it is going to be exceedingly difficult to retain the knowledge. Once you begin teaching kids about proper interaction, they need to be around dogs as often as possible. The more exposure, the better for instilling the lesson and keeping it. If you have no dogs in your family, find friends with dogs or visit the local shelter. If your kids are old enough, they may even be able to volunteer to spend time with the animals, which would give them even more experience.

Talk to the experts. Vets and pediatricians will also have important knowledge and insight about the way kids should interact with dogs. Pediatricians are likely to have safety in mind for your child. Veterinarians are likely to have pet safety and care in mind. Talking with both experts will give your child a well-rounded lesson on dog interaction. By listening to the experts talk to your kids, you may also learn a thing or two.

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network