Neil - Owner, Paradise Pets Swindon 
From the counter at Paradise Pets – August 2026 Owners often notice illness when a bird refuses a favourite food. With cockatiels, even a small appetite change deserves attention. A cockatiel may ignore food because it is stressed, frightened, adjusting, moulting, too hot, picky or unwell. The issue is whether it is eating enough overall. … Read more
From the counter at Paradise Pets – August 2026 This guide explains what to notice when your hamster is scratching and losing hair, and when to contact a vet. A hamster scratching and losing hair may be reacting to bedding, parasites, rubbing, stress, age, skin disease or another health problem. The owner should not guess … Read more
Updated 24 September 2026: clarified when to contact a vet and removed waiting-period advice that could delay care. Practical checks or notes must not delay help for an unwell animal. See the supporting welfare guidance. From the counter at Paradise Pets – August 2026 Owners often panic when a small pet drinks more. With hamsters, … Read more
From the counter at Paradise Pets – August 2026 Clicking or wheezing can be different from a hamster’s normal squeaks. Breathing changes need prompt veterinary advice. Hamsters make small sounds, but breathing-related sounds are different. Clicking, wheezing, crackling, repeated sneezing or noisy breathing should make owners check the environment and consider veterinary advice. This guide … Read more
From the counter at Paradise Pets – August 2026 A hamster sleeping in the open can surprise owners because hamsters usually like secure nesting areas. Sleeping outside the nest can be linked to heat, damp bedding, poor nesting material, stress, cage cleaning, age, illness or simply a new habit. The owner needs to look at … Read more
From the counter at Paradise Pets – August 2026 Bar chewing is one of the signs owners may notice after lights out. It is worth checking your hamster’s enclosure and routine. Hamsters may chew bars because of boredom, stress, unsuitable cage size, lack of enrichment, escape attempts, habit or attention. It can also damage teeth … Read more
From the counter at Paradise Pets – August 2026 Guinea pig sounds are emotional for owners. A squeak during handling can be communication, fear or a sign something hurts. Guinea pigs are prey animals, so being lifted can be frightening even when the owner is kind. Some squeak because they dislike being picked up. Others … Read more
Updated 24 September 2026: clarified when to contact a vet and removed waiting-period advice that could delay care. Practical checks or notes must not delay help for an unwell animal. See the supporting welfare guidance. From the counter at Paradise Pets – August 2026 A water bottle that empties faster than usual can worry guinea … Read more
From the counter at Paradise Pets – August 2026 Guinea pigs and hay go together. When a guinea pig stops eating hay, owners should not treat it as simple pickiness. Hay is vital for guinea pigs because their teeth keep growing and their gut needs constant fibre. A guinea pig that stops eating hay may … Read more
From the counter at Paradise Pets – August 2026 Recent UK pet heat warnings have focused on small animals because rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas can go downhill quickly when a room, hutch or shed gets too hot. The dangerous part of small-pet heat stress is that it does not always start with drama. A … Read more