Everyday care
Pet Care Library
Daily care, routines, life stages and practical husbandry for every kind of companion animal.
All Pet Care Library articles
26 articles
Before getting a petHow to Choose the Right Pet for Your Life
A structured way to match an animal to your household, budget, schedule and housing — before emotion makes the decision for you.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Before getting a petPet-Proofing and Preparing Your Home
A room-by-room checklist for making your home safe before the animal arrives, rather than after the first accident.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-19
Bringing a pet homeThe First 24 Hours With a New Pet
Calm, quiet and predictable beats exciting. What to do — and what to resist doing — on day one.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-19
Bringing a pet homeIntroducing a New Cat to a Resident Cat
A staged, scent-first introduction over two to four weeks prevents most long-term multi-cat conflict.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-19
Daily careBuilding a Daily Care Routine That Actually Sticks
Predictable routines reduce stress for animals and make it far easier to notice when something is wrong.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Long-term careCaring for a Senior Pet
Ageing is not a disease, but it changes what good care looks like. Practical adjustments for older dogs, cats and small animals.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
End-of-life careQuality of Life, Hospice Care and Saying Goodbye
Compassionate, practical guidance on assessing quality of life, palliative options, euthanasia decisions and grief.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Home nursingCaring for a Pet After Surgery: The First Two Weeks at Home
Confinement, cone use, incision checks and medication schedules — the practical nursing that supports a good recovery.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Life stagesAdopting a Senior Dog: Settling Them In Without Overwhelming Them
Older rescue dogs often carry more history and fewer obvious behaviours to read — a slower, quieter introduction tends to work best.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Multi-pet householdsIntroducing a New Cat to a Resident Cat Without a Turf War
Cats are territorial by nature, so a rushed introduction is one of the most common causes of lasting conflict between housemates.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-19
PreparationPet-Proofing Your Home Before a New Animal Arrives
A methodical room-by-room check before a new pet comes home prevents most of the common early accidents and emergency vet visits.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Senior careCaring for a Senior Dog Without Guessing
How to tell normal ageing from disease, adjust exercise and the home, and use twice-yearly check-ups to catch problems while they are still cheap and treatable.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Reptile husbandryBearded Dragon Husbandry: Getting the Non-Negotiables Right
Heat gradients, UVB output, enclosure size and diet by age — the four things that cause most bearded dragon illness when they are wrong.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-21
AquaticsSetting Up a First Aquarium Without Losing Fish
The nitrogen cycle, why the first six weeks decide everything, and how to choose stocking that suits the tank rather than the shop display.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Small mammalsGuinea Pig Care Essentials: Space, Company, Hay and Vitamin C
The four things guinea pigs cannot do without, plus handling, health checks and the signs that mean a same-day vet visit.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Small mammalsHamster Housing and Welfare: Why Bigger Enclosures and Deep Bedding Matter
Hamsters are solitary, nocturnal burrowers. Getting the enclosure, bedding depth, wheel size and routine right prevents most stress behaviours.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
BirdsKeeping Budgies Happy: Housing, Diet and Companionship
The cage size that actually matters, why seed-only diets fall short, and how much attention a budgie really needs.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
RabbitsKeeping Outdoor Rabbits Safe and Warm in Winter
Rabbits tolerate cold better than heat — but only with dry, draught-proof housing, deep bedding and unfrozen water. A practical winter checklist.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Pet sittingBoarding, Pet Sitter or House Sitter: Choosing Care While You Are Away
Kennels, catteries, sitters and friends all have their place. How to match the option to your animal — and the checks to run before you book.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-15
Seasonal careSummer Safety for Rabbits and Guinea Pigs
Keep small pets safe from heatstroke and flystrike during warm weather.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-21
Exotic petsEnrichment for Bearded Dragons
Simple ways to give a bearded dragon more choice, exercise and natural behaviour.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Backyard animalsKeeping Backyard Chickens Healthy
Housing, feeding, parasite control and legal rules for keeping a few hens.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Emergency planningPet Disaster Planning for Medical and Exotic Needs
Prepare evacuation supplies, treatment records and species-specific backup plans before flooding, fires or power cuts happen.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Home and garden safetyPet-Safe Gardening: Plants, Mulch and Chemical Hazards
Plan a garden that reduces poisoning and injury risk for dogs, cats and small animals without giving up planting choices entirely.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Identification and safetyMicrochipping: Implantation, Registration and Keeping Details Current
Understand how microchips work, why registration details matter more than the chip itself, and how to keep records up to date.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Aquarium husbandryQuarantining New Fish Before Adding Them to an Established Tank
Run a proper quarantine period to protect existing fish from disease, with practical setup, monitoring and timing guidance.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07