A British veterinarian has revealed five species of animals he would not keep as pets and explained why.
Content creator @ben.the.vet shared the list in a video on TikTok, where he has more than 208,000 followers.
In it videoHe noted that by listing these animals, it might seem like he doesn’t like them.
However, he noted, being a veterinarian “exposes you to all the dangers of having certain pets, as well as the rewarding side of things.”
Listing the number one pet he wouldn’t accept, the vet said, “Number one, parrots.”
According to veterinarian Ben (pictured), just because you don’t have an animal as a pet doesn’t mean you don’t like that species, rather, as a veterinarian, you are aware of the disadvantages of trying to keep certain animals as house pets when they are not suitable
“First of all, owning a parrot means never owning a non-stick pan again. No joke, when heated, the coating releases a gas that can be deadly to parrots.”
He added that he has “no doubt” that birds can “make very rewarding pets” and that it would be “great to have an animal that can respond to you.”
However, he continued: “However, I think it is extremely difficult to provide enough space and stimulation for a species that would normally have the freedom to fly and explore a very tropical habitat.”
“A bored parrot easily becomes a stressed parrot that manifests itself in destructive, very vocal, and abnormal behaviors… they’re just not for me.”
He went on to say: ‘Number two for me is the mouse. Although they can live longer if you take good care of them and are lucky, the average mouse only lives one or two years.
“I’ve had a lot of guinea pigs over the years and you get very attached to them.”
He added that it’s hard enough to “say goodbye after four or five years,” but that developing a bond and then losing a pet after a year is too short a period of time for him.
The third pet Ben mentioned may surprise some: rabbits. But he explained why they often don’t make suitable pets.
According to Ben, some animals are never suitable to be pets, and that is monkeys, which
He said: “Contrary to what many people assume, they [rabbits] They really don’t make great pets for children. They are a prey species, so they are very shy by nature.
‘They don’t always like to be picked up and are very fragile. Your arms kick and fall from above to the ground.
“It is not uncommon for bones in the limbs and even the spine to break.”
He added that they have strict needs regarding food, cleaning schedules and socialization.
According to Ben: ‘TThey are also quite vulnerable to intestinal stasis and dental problems, which can lead to some unexpected veterinary bills.
“They can be great pets if you invest time in them, but many people leave them in the hutch and forget about them.”
The fourth animal Ben mentions is one he’s talked about before and is very passionate about in terms of them not being suitable as pets: monkeys.
He said: ‘The number four is any kind of monkey. Now, you might be thinking “why is he talking about monkeys? Nobody has a pet monkey.”
‘Actually, it is estimated [there are] 5,000 primates kept as pets in the UK.’
He added: ‘I talked in another video about how a few years ago, I volunteered at a wildlife charity in Ecuador.
Many baby monkeys that became pets were kidnapped after their mothers were shot so people could trade their babies.
“Many of the monkeys there were baby monkeys whose mothers had been shot and the baby had been taken with the intention of selling it as a pet to people who only want monkeys as pets because they are cute.”
Speaking of monkeys, he concluded: “A monkey is an extremely intelligent wild animal, nor a domesticated species, such as dogs or cats… [it] It is extremely difficult to satisfy their complexities in your home. Do not do it.’
As for the last animal he wouldn’t have as a pet, Ben said: “Lastly, number five is ferrets.
‘They are daring, fun and entertaining pets, but they are an acquired taste. They really smell bad and have nasty stings if they get caught on your hand.
“They are very intelligent…[and] It needs a lot of interaction and a lot of space. Actually, this is not for everyone.”