The term "pocket pets" refers to small animals, often rodents that are kept as pets and could fit in your pocket. This definition has expanded to include a few animals that are not quite that little, but that are housed in cages. Common pocket pets include rats, mice, rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, and ferrets as well as rodents bought to feed other animals such as snakes. Owning a pocket pet can be a big responsibility. It is very important that you learn how to properly take care of your pet and about diseases that it might give to people.

• Salmonella from Pocket Pets

• Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus from Pet Rodents