| How to Keep Hamster Teeth Healthy Posted: 18 Mar 2018 05:00 PM PDT Are you worried about your fuzzy friend's dental health? Hamsters are great pets that are typically easy to care for. However, they are prone to dental problems because their front teeth grow consistently throughout life. If hamsters don't wear down their teeth enough, the teeth can become overgrown, infected, and painful. In order to keep your hamster's teeth healthy, you should give them preventative care, be on the lookout for signs of infection, and get your pet dental care if a problem occurs.[1] EditPreventing Dental Problems - Provide your hamster with chew sticks. You can throw in 1-2 chew sticks or chew toys into your hamster's cage as needed. Although these fun treats look fantastic and colorful to you, they are usually just slabs of wood brushed over with a non-toxic paint.[2]
- Packages of chew sticks generally cost $1-$10 USD, depending on what brand, quantity, and store you buy them from. You can also give your hamster popsicle sticks, which are available at most craft and big box stores.[3]
- Chew sticks are often made out of balsa wood or another light-weight wood.
- Make sure chews are constantly available or your hamster could face dental problems in the future, such as overgrown teeth.
- Give your hamster untreated wood to chew on. If you are looking for a more nutritious, environmentally friendly way of keeping your hamster's teeth shaved down, you can use pesticide-free fruit tree branches. Cut off a section that is about thick and give it to your hamster.[4]
- Wood from an apple tree is best but cherry, peach, or pear wood works as well.
- Allow your hamster to chew on a dog biscuit once a month. You can use dog biscuits as a replacement for chew sticks and wood. However, they can be very high in fat, so you should only give these in small quantities on occasion.
- Consider dog biscuits a special treat that will also keep your pet healthy if eaten in moderation.
- Make sure items you give your hamster are safe for it. Hamsters will chew on most things they are given. Therefore, you should never give them anything that is toxic or indigestible. Do not give them plastic to chew on. Also avoid giving them pieces of plants that are hazardous to them, including the wood of English ivy, hydrangea, and azaleas.[5]
- Make sure that every chew is non-toxic. Look for a label that states that items are non-toxic and appropriate for pets. Also, be sure of what you are giving your hamster before you give it to them. For example, don't give your hamster a random piece of wood you find if you are not sure what type of wood it is.
- A great chew for hamsters are empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls. This will give the hamster something to chew, and the hamster will even turn it into bedding.
- Feed your hamster a healthy diet. In addition to overgrown teeth, your hamster can develop dental problems from eating a poor diet. Make sure that your pet gets a combination of commercial hamster mix and fresh fruits and vegetables. These foods, in addition to items to chew and plenty of fresh water, will help keep your hamster's mouth healthy.[6]
- Get annual veterinary care for your hamster. Even if you don't see any developing dental problems with your hamster, you should still have it looked at by a vet every year. A veterinarian will be able to assess the animal's health and spot developing problems that you may not be able to identify.[7]
- Some hamsters may have a misaligned jaw, which can it make impossible for them to grind down their teeth. If this is a problem with your hamster, your vet can help prevent overgrown teeth.
EditIdentifying Potential Tooth Troubles - Inspect your hamster's teeth weekly. Because hamsters are so prone to dental problems, you should inspect their teeth every week. Hold the hamster still and gently open its mouth by pulling the fur at the back of the head, so the animal is forced to smile. Make sure that the teeth at the front of the mouth, called the incisors, meet each other.[8]
- If the top or bottom incisors are overgrown, they will not meet and grind against each other.
- If the teeth still meet but are so long that your hamster cannot fit a piece of food between them when it has its jaw wide open, then its teeth are too long.
- You should also look for broken or misshapen incisors. Broken or otherwise misshapen teeth should be looked at by a veterinarian.
- Pay attention to your hamster's appetite. A hamster that is having dental problems will likely eat less food than normal. If your hamster's dish suddenly remains full, it could be because of overgrown teeth or another dental problem.[9]
- Hamsters do tend to hide stashes of food in their cages, so your hamster may be hiding food even though it is not eating any. When you clean out your hamster's cage weekly, be on the lookout for stashes of food.
- Look for signs of weight loss. While it is hard to tell if a hamster is losing weight because of its fur coat, you may be able to tell when you pick it up. Weight loss is a sign that your hamster isn't eating enough, which is often caused by a problem with its teeth.[10]
- Try to weigh your hamster regularly so that you know what it weighs when it is healthy. This will make identifying weight loss much easier.
- To weigh your hamster, place a treat on a digital scale and then zero out the weight. Once the scale reads zero, allow the hamster to climb up on the scale for the treat and read the weight.
- Notice excessive drool. A hamster that has an unhealthy mouth may produce excessive saliva. This excess saliva occurs because the hamster cannot close its mouth or swallow properly. Excessive drooling also occurs simply because the animal is stressed and in pain.[11]
- Excess saliva can often be spotted by the staining it creates around the hamster's mouth and on its chin.
- Smell your hamster's mouth. If you suspect that your hamster is having dental problems, the smell of a hamster's mouth can clue you in to a problem. Hamsters with infections in their mouth often have a bad smell emanating from it. This is not the normal smell of your hamster's food and body, but a more rancid smell.[12]
EditTreating Dental Issues - Trim your hamster's incisors if you're trained and confident. You can trim down overgrown teeth with a pair of nail clippers, but this can lead to fractures in the tooth if not done carefully. Because of this, it's important to talk to your veterinarian before attempting to trim your hamster's incisors. They can show you the way to hold the hamster still, the way to trim the teeth, and what mistakes to avoid.[13]
- If your are hesitant at all to do this at home, then have your veterinarian do it. Poorly trimmed teeth can cause further health problems instead of eliminating them.
- Overgrown back teeth need to be clipped with special tools, and this procedure should be done while the hamster is sedated in a veterinary office. Your vet will likely use an ultrasonic dental machine to safely grind down the hamster's teeth.
- Have your veterinarian trim your hamster's teeth instead. If you are having trouble keeping their teeth down with chew toys, make an appointment with your veterinarian. They will gladly trim the teeth down and give you some tips on keeping your hamster's teeth healthy.[14]
- Make sure to go to a veterinarian that has experience working with rodents. These vets are typically labeled as exotic pet veterinarians.
- Get treatment for related medical problems. If your hamster has had overgrown teeth or other dental problems, it may have underlying issues, such as an infection. Your veterinarian will prescribe treatment for these health problems and it is your job to follow through with treatment at home.[15]
- In the case of an infection caused by overgrown teeth, your veterinarian will likely prescribe your hamster a round of antibiotics. Give this medication to your pet as directed.
- Try purchasing flavored chews. The added flavor will make your hamster want to gnaw on them more.
- Give your hamster a piece of untreated wood that has a hole drilled in it that is at least in diameter. This will give the animal something to chew on and something to crawl through.
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| How to Celebrate Environment Day at School Posted: 18 Mar 2018 09:00 AM PDT World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated each year on June 5. Like Earth Day, it's a day to learn about the environment, participate in conservation activities, and learn about ways to help in the future. To celebrate at school, you can commune with nature, create new environmental programs, use nature-centered lesson plans, and work on earth-centered activities. EditGetting Outside - Go on a nature hunt. Divide a sheet of paper into sections, and label each section with something a student could observe outside, such as trees, flowers, birds, insects, and mammals. The students can then explore outside for a set period, writing down what they observe in each category. At the end, discuss what you observed, and talk about ways nature can be conserved.[1]
- Clean up a local area. Cleaning up a local park or even the school's grounds can help students appreciate how important it is to conserve. Talk about why littering is harmful and how recycling can help.[2]
- Grow an appreciation for nature by going on a hike. Have students go outside and observe nature. You can even take a guided hike in a local park. Let the students get creative by encouraging them to write a poem, story, or song about what inspired them. They can even just draw a picture.[3]
- Have class outside. A simple way to increase students' love of nature is to hold class outside. Pick a nice, shady area, such as under a tree or pavilion, and conduct class as you normally would. The kids will love the change in environment.[4]
EditStarting New Environmental Initiatives - Set up a reuse program with the arts and crafts classes. Most art teachers love projects that reuse household items. Talk to your art teacher, and figure out what they need. Then on WED, work with the school to set up an area where items can be collected. Students, teachers, and staff can bring in items to be reused.[5]
- Plant trees or a garden. Creating a little more green space in the world is a great way to celebrate WED. Ask a local nursery to donate trees, and then plant them around the school as part of your WED celebration.[6]
- Alternatively, stake out an area to start a community garden. You can grow food that students and teachers can take home or that can be used in the cafeteria.
- Begin a recycling program. If you're school doesn't already have a recycling program, WED is a great day to set one up. Designate an area for recycling, and offer a program on how to recycle and why recycling is important.[7]
- Connect students to local initiatives. Your community likely already has a number of ways that they are working to help the environment. Research ones that your students can help with. Talk to them about these programs. You can even help them get connected by taking a field trip to one.[8]
EditCreating Nature-Centered Lesson Plans - Invite people to talk about nature and conservation. You likely have a number of experts in your area who can talk about environmental issues. Invite them to come talk to your class or even an after-school environmental club.[9]
- For instance, you could invite someone who works for the local parks and recreation department or a person who works at the recycling center. Another good choice would be someone who works for a nature center or preserve or even the zoo.
- Talk about ways to conserve energy. You can discuss things like turning off the lights when you leave a room, turning up the AC a few degrees warmer, doing laundry in cold water, and unplugging devices when they're not being used. You could also talk about making energy-efficient choices in the home, such as switching out incandescent bulbs for fluorescent bulbs or LEDs.[10]
- Go on a field trip to a science or natural history museum. Connecting kids with science centers helps them learn about ways they can conserve. Plus, most science museums will have special events for WED day.[11]
- Watch a few professional videos. Videos are a great way to engage students in learning, and you can find a large number of professional videos for kids on conservation. For instance, PBS has a nature section at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/classroom/.
EditPlanning Earth Friendly Activities - Create seed balls to spread around. These are little balls filled with seeds. You leave them in bare areas, and the seeds will sprout, leaving plants growing in the area. Use plants native to your area so you don't encourage new species that will try to take over.[12]
- Mix of native wildflower seeds with of potting soil. Add in of dry clay, such as red powdered pottery clay. Mix the ingredients together.
- Slowly add in water until you have a thick paste. Roll the paste into balls, and let it dry on a cookie sheet covered in wax paper.
- Leave the balls in areas where the ground is bare. The balls will break down and sprout plants when it rains.
- Turn old t-shirts into bags. Have everyone bring in t-shirts or buy enough thrift store t-shirts for everyone. Cut the sleeves off the shirt, and then cut around the inside of the neck. The bits you have left at the top are the handles.[13]
- Turn the shirt inside-out. Mark a line across the bottom that's about up from the bottom. Cut strips that are wide by cutting up until you reach the line.
- Tie each set of 2 strips together, one each from the front and the back. Then go back and tie each set together by taking one strand from one set and one from the next set and knotting them together. Turn the bag inside-out again.
- Create bird feeders. Start with an empty toilet paper roll or paper towel roll. Poke a hole in both sides of the tube at the top, and run a string through them. Tie the string above the roll. Using a butter knife, coat the roll in peanut butter. Coat the tube in bird seed by rolling it in a plate filled with seed. Hang your bird feeder outside using the string.[14]
- Make jump ropes from plastic bags. Start by making strips from plastic bags. Lay a bag out flat and cut the top off, including the handles. Cut the bag horizontally into strips. Tie the strips together. You'll need 12 long strips, and they should be a bit longer than you want your jump rope to be. Tape 6 strips together on one end.[15]
- Tape the 6 strips to the back of a chair, and braid them together. Tape the other end. Do the same with the other 6 strips. Tape the other end. Pull them off the chair.
- Tape the 2 sets together on one end, and then tape it back to the chair. Twist the 2 braids tightly together, and then tape them together at the other end. The tape forms the handles for the jump rope. Pull the taped end off the chair.
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| How to Paint Furniture White Posted: 18 Mar 2018 01:00 AM PDT White furniture is perhaps the easiest color to incorporate into your home. It can easily add a touch of simplicity and refinery to any space, and coordinates well with any other color you may choose to decorate your home. Painting furniture white on your own also presents a more affordable alternative to buying new furniture or requesting the services of a renovator. Sanding and priming the furniture, painting it, and applying a finisher are part of performing the best possible job and getting an attractive final product. EditSanding the Surface - Work on taking the furniture apart piece by piece (if applicable). Remove any drawers or shelf slots first, if necessary. Use a screwdriver to loosen and take off any hardware from the furniture, such as hinges and knobs. Take off the back of the furniture if you plan to paint the insides. Set the hardware aside in a box or container for safekeeping.[1]
- Sand your furniture with coarse (30 to 50 grit) sandpaper. Rub the sandpaper in a circular motion along the surface of the furniture. Use the sandpaper on every part of the furniture you plan to paint. Keep sanding until the furniture's varnish is visibly roughened all over.[2]
- Sand the furniture again with medium (60 to 80 grit) sandpaper. Move the medium sandpaper in the direction that the wood grain moves in. Continue sanding until the furniture looks smooth. Afterwards, use a wet rag to wipe down the furniture and wait around an hour for it to dry.[3]
- Mold water-based wood filler into any dents or holes you find in the furniture. You can purchase wood filler online or from your local home improvement store. It typically comes in putty form. Shape it so it fills and covers the holes in the wood. Depending on the depth of the hole, wait between 2 and 8 hours (for large holes) or 15 minutes (for small holes) before sanding the area and continuing work.[4]
EditPriming the Surface - Assemble your workspace. Your workspace should be in a dry, preferably windowless area. Sunlight may harm the quality of your paint job. Make sure your workspace is large enough for you to move comfortably, as well as well ventilated to protect against fumes.[5]
- Set up a lamp at an angle, so you can more easily see every area of the furniture as you paint. It should provide shadows to make it easier to spot mistakes in your paint job.[6]
- Sweep and vacuum up any dust left behind from your sanding. Let the area air out for a few hours so it can become clear of any extra dust. Afterwards, wipe off any remaining dust off of the furniture with a clean rag, using smooth, circular strokes. Lay down tarp on the floor if you can.[7]
- Cover any hinges and inside edges of the furniture with tape. If you were unable to remove any hinges from the furniture beforehand, wrap it with painter's tape. Press tape over the inside edges of the furniture, as well as any other areas you don't want to get paint on. You can also apply tape to the sides and back of the furniture. Be judicious and try to apply the tape as thoughtfully as you can.[8]
- Apply primer to the furniture with a roller or brush. Rollers are better for applying primer to large surfaces. Brushes are best for getting into tight corners or priming smaller areas. Cover the entire area you intend to paint.[9]
- Use knot block primer on furniture with knotty and/or dark wood.[10]
- Try to apply the primer to the furniture in a thin coat. Keeping your primer thin will prevent dripping. Afterwards, give the primer time to dry. The primer will take between 4 and 6 hours to dry.[11]
- If your primer starts to drip, simply wipe off the dripping and reapply the primer in the affected area.
EditApplying the Paint - Use latex paint. Latex paint is the standard for home improvement projects. When you choose your bucket of white paint, pay attention to the label. There are two different types of latex paint for furniture: indoor and outdoor. Indoor latex paint is, naturally, for indoor furniture. Outdoor latex furniture is meant for outdoor furniture, and is sturdier against the elements.
- Apply the first coat of paint with a roller or synthetic brush. Keep your first layer thin, just like when you applied the primer. Try to paint one stroke at a time and make your strokes follow one direction. If you're using a roller, avoid moving it back and forth; this may create uneven areas in your paint layer. Afterwards, let the paint dry for 1 hour.[12]
- If you're using brand new brushes, wet them with clean water and shake them dry. This will make it easier to use them with latex paint.[13]
- If you notice drips in your paint job, you can scratch it off with a utility knife. Then add thin strokes of paint to cover the area.[14]
- Sand the dried paint layer with fine (100 to 180 grit) sandpaper. Doing this will get rid of dust or dripping. Sand each layer of paint after applying it and letting it dry. Work in gentle, circular motions.[15]
- Paint 3 or 4 layers to ensure an even job. Working in multiple coats will help the paint to be as opaque as possible. It should take around 24 hours for your final paint layer to dry. Don't apply a new layer of paint until the first has dried.[16]
- Add 2 coats of varnish once the final paint layer has dried. Work thin, just as you did with the primer. Use a soft paint brush to add the varnish, and work in unidirectional, long movements. Use fine sandpaper (100 to 180 grit) on the first layer of varnish before painting on the second.[17]
- Put your furniture back together. Let the paint and varnish dry for around 72 hours before you start putting the furniture back together. Slide the shelves or drawers back into place. Use a screwdriver to re-attach any hinges and knobs. Now you can use and enjoy your newly painted furniture![18]
- Finished!
- Take a picture of your furniture from all angles before taking it apart. This will give you a better idea of how to put it back together. Retrieve any assembly instructions that came with the furniture if you still have it.
- Don't try to paint your furniture before the primer has dried.
EditThings You'll Need - Screwdriver
- Soft paint brush (for varnish)
- Small paint brush (for hard to reach or small places and corners)
- Drop cloth
- Foam rollers
- Cleaning rag
- Paint tray
- Painter's tape
- Varnish (water-based)
- Fine, medium, and coarse sandpaper
- Latex paint
- Primer (oil-based)
- Wood filler (if necessary)
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