I have hamsters and ferrets, and they can get stinky. How often should I bathe my little pets? 

The animals only get stinky when they're kept in stinky cages, so the cleaner you keep the cages, the cleaner your ferrets and hamsters will be. Pet stores do sell shampoos that work well on both these kinds of pets; however, don't bathe them too often. It will dry out their skin and coats. 

Wash your pocket pets once a week, and be sure the water is tepid to slightly cool -- most animals don't like very warm water. After the baths, remember to keep your hamster in a very warm place until he or she is completely dry. They chill very easily when wet.

It's a dog's life -- and a cushy one at that. This soft bed, suitable for small pooches, can be refreshed with a quick switch of covers. You'll need 2 same-size dish towels, 2-inch-thick foam (cut 4 inches shorter and narrower than the towels), and iron-on Velcro fasteners. Lay towels on top of each other, good sides facing. Sew 3 sides, about 1/2 inch in from towel edges. Turn inside out, insert foam, and iron the fasteners to the open side. For a neat appearance, fold that end as if gift-wrapping a box and use the fasteners to keep in place.

Keeping your dog's paws clean is simply a matter of a little preparation prior to walking out the door. 

You'll need a towel or Spotless Paw glove and a shallow container filled one-third of the way with room-temperature water. Place these items by the door you'll use upon returning. Once the walk is over, dip each of your dog's paws into the water. Dry them off and let your dog go about its business.

This practice is especially useful during the winter months when sidewalks and driveways are often covered with ice-melting agents.

Resources
Get more information on the Spotless Paw.

More than 20,000 people from around the world check in on author Terry Golson's chickens each month via streaming video on hencam.com. Three live webcams run at all times on Terry's Little Pond Farm in Massachusetts, giving viewers a peek at eight beautiful hens (Lulu, Buffy, Betsy Ross, Coco, Petunia, Marge, Tina Turner, and Siouxsie), one lop-eared rabbit, and two twin goats.

Resources
To learn more, visit hencam.com.