Prairie Dog
Housing
Prairie dogs can be housed within enclosures made of wire, stainless steel, durable plastic or glass. The latter two materials must be used with caution since completely enclosed units greatly reduce ventilation and may lead to respiratory disease as well as humidity and temperature regulation problems.
CIdeally, the enclosure should have at least one side open for adequate ventilation, so be careful when using aquariums. Wood should not be used due to difficulty in cleaning and susceptibility to destructive gnawing. The design and construction of the enclosure must be escape-proof. In addition, the cage must be free of sharp edges and other potential hazards. The size of the enclosure should allow for normal activity. The enclosure can remain opened on the top if the sides are at least 10 inches high, as long as other family pets such as dogs or cats are not a threat.

Cage flooring can be either wire or solid. Wire mesh flooring provides a cleaner environment and easier maintenance, but may result in injuries to the feet and hocks. Housing on wire over long periods of time may result in footpad and hock infections from abrasive rubbing on fecal soiled wire. To reduce the incidence of these problems, provide a solid platform as a resting place in one are of the cage. Solid floored cages tend to be more esthetically pleasing when appropriate bedding is used. In addition, deep bedding on solid flooring provides the best conditions for prairie dogs since they should have the opportunity to burrow.

Bedding materials must be clean, nontoxic, absorbent, relatively dust-free and easy to replace. Acceptable beddings are wood shavings, shredded paper, processed ground corncob and commercial pellets. Make sure the ground corncob is properly processed and stored to reduce fungal spore problems. Cedar shavings may lead to respiratory difficulty and liver disease in some rodents, so should not be used.

The environment surrounding the pet’s cage is another important consideration. Prairie dogs are more comfortable and relaxed when housed in a quiet spot away from noise, excitement and other stresses. Also be sure to select a location away from direct sunlight and avoid cold, damp areas. Prairie dogs do well in a dry, cool environment with adequate ventilation. Drastic environmental changes should be prevented, especially high temperatures and humidity.

Since prairie dogs are social creatures, more than one animal may be safely housed together. In addition, males and females can remain in the same enclosure indefinitely. In fact, in the wild state these animals reside in large colony groups.
© 2004 Midwest Bird and Exotic Animal Hospital