Alternative Medicine for Pets

There are often many misconceptions about alternative medicine for pets. One thing for starters is that alternative medicine for pets is not normally found in a pet store. At a pet store you can get pets and pet medicine and many pet stores stock many varieties of animals. Pet shops commonly carry fish for home aquariums, small birds such as parakeets, small mammals such as fancy rats and hamsters, and small reptiles such as lizards and snakes. Mice, small goldfish, and other animals that serve to be live food (called feeders) for reptiles and fish are also usually sold. Exotic pets like sugar gliders, large snakes and large parrots are available at some pet shops. Because the care of these types of animals is difficult and expensive, usually only stores that specialize in exotic animals carry them as regular stock. Less common in pet stores are larger mammals such as dogs and cats. In part, selling these animals have become less popular in stores because many pet stores have received bad press for inappropriate care of puppies and kittens, which need socialization and are vulnerable to illnesses, and for their purchasing the animals from puppy mills. Some shops that carry puppies and kittens charge higher prices for them the same animal from a breeder, but some also provide valuable services or guarantees not available from a private seller. There are many small, privately owned pet stores that carry puppies and kittens, maintain a superb level of care and get their animals from small, private breeders.