As sure as the sun rises every Easter morning, many moms and dads give in to “Easter bunny” temptation and buy a rabbit for their kids, vastly underestimating the amount of care that bunnies require. Weeks later, when “bunny fever” has subsided, many will consign now-unwanted bunnies to outdoor hutches, dump them at animal shelters, or simply set them free outdoors, where they will starve or be killed by predators. Most will end up dead or abandoned before their first birthday.

Kids Begging for an “Easter Bunny”?

Ask yourself this:

• Are you ready to possibly shell out more than $100 to get bunny neutered or spayed? Bunnies become sexually mature between 4 and 6 months of age. Left intact, they often chew, spray, bite, smell, and make more bunnies.
• Are you looking forward to more potty-training and bunnyproofing? Bunnies suffer horribly in cages and must be litterbox trained so that they can live happily in your home, but if your home isn’t rabbitproof, they will sharpen their teeth on electrical wires, house plants, or your new IKEA chaise or oak table.
• Is your child planning on taking bunny to college? Bunnies can live to be 10 years old, so you’re looking at a commitment that will last for many Easters to come.
• Rabbits must be brushed regularly because they shed like crazy and are susceptible to hairballs; if they get one, they can’t cough it up like cats do. They have to be taken to the vet and treated (possibly even operated on) or they’ll die.
• Do you like playing beauty shop? Clipping nails is no walk in the park, especially when Thumper tries to thump you in the stomach with his powerful back legs!

If you answered, “No way!” to any of these questions, please pass up those cute animals in store windows this Easter and choose stuffed animals instead. Remember, bunnies are not a child’s toy; they are at least a 10-year commitment.

Fascinating Rabbit Facts

Famous for their reproductive abilities, rabbits can have multiple litters of up to nine young, known as “kittens,” each year. Bunnies are born helpless in a shallow hole lined with grass and mamma’s fur, but they grow rapidly and are very social animals who live together as a family.

Although rabbits build nests, the parents do not stick around much during the day after their kids are born since they might attract predators. The youngsters hunker down at the bottom of the nest, hiding until mom shows up for mealtimes.

A rabbit’s teeth never stop growing! Like beavers, they are kept worn down by gnawing on food and wood. But they aren’t rodents! They are called lagomorphs.

Normally, adult rabbits occupy about 2 acres or even more if food is in short supply.

Why Bunnies Aren’t Suitable for Young Children

Rabbits are extremely sensitive, and the enthusiasm of even a gentle toddler is too stressful for bunnies. Rabbits are ground-dwelling animals who become frightened when held and restrained. The result? Children lose interest and the bunny is left alone in a cage or abandoned.

Be Prepared

Spay and Neuter: Rabbits will live healthier and longer lives when altered and won’t contribute to the overpopulation problem. As your companions, they will be calmer, easier to litter train, and able to enjoy the company of other animal friends because they won’t exhibit such aggressive behavior. Surgery can be safe for rabbits, but it is important to choose a knowledgeable and experienced rabbit veterinarian.

Rabbitproof: Since your bunny is happiest being a part of the family, you can provide a safe place for him or her by redirecting electrical wires and moving plants and other furnishings out of the way. Because of their instinct for digging, it is best to provide a large box or basket filled with shredded paper. Your bunny will enjoy lots of toys to play with, such as untreated wood, straw, wire cat balls, keys, paper towel rolls, and hard plastic baby toys.

Caregiving: Rabbits love attention! Groom them at least once a week to control shedding and for quality bonding time. Contrary to the belief that rabbits like to be left alone, bunnies need daily monitoring and space for running, jumping, and using those hind legs. Confining them to a wire hutch without interaction, exercise, or comfort is cruel. A diet of grass, hay, fresh vegetables, and a limited amount of pellets will keep your bunny in shape.

Adopting: Clearly, rabbits aren’t for everyone. Are you a gentle adult living in a quiet household? If you think that you’re someone who would enjoy sharing life with a bunny, please visit your local shelter or rabbit rescue group. Please NEVER buy bunnies from a pet store. These animals often come from rabbit mills, where they are overbred. Dealers and “pet” stores usually request 4-week-old bunnies because they require less space and are “cuter,” but bunnies of this age are ill-prepared to be weaned from their parents. An animal who is purchased at a pet or discount store will be replaced by another one from these rabbit mills, leaving one less home for a bunny already in an animal shelter awaiting adoption.

(Source: helpinganimals.com)

Many hotels nowadays allow animals. Call ahead to

be sure your pet will be welcome.

It seems that today’s pets are more pampered than ever.  Pet owners indulge their furry friends with premium food and treats, colorful toys, and even dress them in posh, fashionable outfits.  They get them kitty condos and obedience lessons, vitamins and vaccines. But there is one aspect of pet care that even the most loving owners tend to miss: Pet dental disease prevention.

Dental care is one of the most commonly overlooked aspects of pet ownership, but ignoring it can not only cause major dental disease in pets, it can lead to more serious health problems including heart, kidney and lung disease.  Shockingly, according to the American Veterinarian Dental Society, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show some signs of gum disease by age 2.

There are many types of dental diseases that dogs and cats can acquire.  The most common are :

• Gingivitis
• Tooth abscess, especially of the carnaissal teeth
• Cavities
• Cracked teeth
• Worn down teeth

So what should a conscientious pet owner do to prevent dental disease in their pet?

It’s essential that dental care in pets, as with people, be preventative.  Your pet’s teeth should have the tarter scraped off of them every 3-6 months, and be professionally cleaned under general anesthesia at least once a year.

The most important thing you can do at home to stave off dental disease is to brush your pet’s teeth.  Brushing regularly will keep gums healthy and prevent tartar build up. Obviously, some pets will be more complacent about having their teeth brushed than others.  Cats especially tend to balk at the idea of human fingers poking around their pearly whites. In these cases, you can slowly get your pet comfortable with tooth brushing by progressing from a finger, to a gauze pad or cotton swab (perhaps dipped in their favorite treat) on the gums, to eventually using a soft bristled toothbrush.  Remember to always properly restrain your pet before brushing their teeth to avoid problems.

If you think these precautions seem over the top or unnecessary, think again: Studies have shown that taking measures to prevent dental disease in your pet may add as much as 5 years to their life. So go ahead and buy Spot that fancy collar and splurge on a new toy for Tabby.  Just don’t forget to pick up that toothbrush while you’re at it!

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When you get a puppy, it’s a lot like having a new child. It is your responsibility to take care of it, protect it, and make sure it stays out of harm’s way. And just like a child, puppies and their immune systems are subject to plenty of diseases that we can help prevent by taking the right steps when we first bring our new puppies home.VACCINES

Once you procure ownership of your puppy, immediately go to a veterinarian for an examination. Veterinarians can determine how healthy your brand new puppy is and what kind of vaccinations he/she needs. By looking at the puppy’s breeding/vaccination report, a vet can determine if the puppy does or does not need to receive any more vaccinations. If the puppy’s never been vaccinated it will most certainly receive the necessary vaccinations during that first visit. Most veterinarians use multivalent vaccines when vaccinating your puppy. Multivalent vaccines combine several different disease antigens into one shot so your puppy doesn’t have to receive several shots. Puppies receive vaccinations to prevent them from getting diseases at ages when they are most susceptible. Make sure to set a schedule with your veterinarian regarding when your puppy should come in for another vaccination (or “booster” shot).

SPAYING OR NEUTERING

If your puppy is not spayed or neutered, ask your veterinarian what might be a good time to have it done. Spaying a female dog prevents her from having unwanted puppies from the future. It also prevents the probability of disease, such as breast cancer and uterine infection. Male dogs that aren’t neutered are more at risk for testicular cancer and prostate disease. A male dog that isn’t neutered also tends to be more aggressive towards people and dogs alike. As a general rule of thumb, it is best to spay a female dog before her first heat cycle, and for a male dog it is normally best to have him neutered at 6 months. Regardless, check with your veterinarian to know the optimal time for either.

WORMS

Worms are parasites that can grow in your puppy’s intestines and feed off nutrients that pass through them. These are nutrients that your puppy needs. As soon as you can, bring your veterinarian a sample of your puppy’s stool. Your vet can examine it for worm eggs to determine if your puppy does in fact have them. If your pet does have worms, the veterinarian will be able to determine exactly what kind of species they are and give you the appropriate medicine or “wormer” to help get them out of your puppy’s system. Even if the puppy does not have worms, he/she can get them by exposure to another infected animal’s feces. Make sure to clean up feces left by your puppy every week and pick up after it on walks.

These are only some of the basic health issues to keep in mind when deciding to get a puppy. You should generally make sure to feed your pup well and exercise it to keep its health and immune system strong.

With summer’s high temperatures, the heat can be deadly to your pets. It may be time to make some changes in how you care for your pets. This includes things such as more water and shade. Above all, you need to be watching for the signs of heat stress in your furry friends. Also in this warm weather, you may be tempted to take your pet with you in the car, but the interior of a car can reach 120 degrees in a matter of minutes — even if you’re parked in the shade. You might want to play it safe and leave your pet cool at home for the dog days of summer.

Pet owners often love their pets in the same way that they love their children. So isn’t it important that you care for your pet’s health just as you would care for your child’s? The only way to make sure that your pets are healthy is to bring them to regular veterinary check-ups and feed them a nutritious diet. There are five basic treatments that you should follow in order to ensure that your animal will live the longest, healthiest life possible.

1.       While you and your pet are at their yearly check-up, your veterinarian should draw a small amount of blood. The blood will be screened to check for any possible organ problems, thyroid disease, or diabetes. If the blood is normal, then that sample will provide a comparison for future blood work.

2.       Just as vitamins are essential to the health of people, they are also essential to the health of animals. Vitamins can help pets avoid suffering from common problems including arthritis, skin problems, and tumors. As your pets get older, it becomes more and more important to give them vitamins since vitamins can also help many of the affects of age.

3.       Make sure that the food you are buying for your pets are made with raw meat. Many pet foods are now being made with grain, but true nutrition comes from meat. Pets are animals that could survive in the wild and wild animals eat meat, raw meat. Animals’ digestive systems are made to digest raw meat, not processed grain.

4.       However, even though your pets could be wild animals, chances are their ancestors have been domesticated for generations. This means that their digestive systems may have begun to adapt to grain food. It is still important to include raw meat in their diet, but make sure that your pet’s diet consists of other foods too, such as vegetables.

5.       The best way to ensure that your pets are maintaining a nutritional diet is to make them food at home. Sometimes it is hard to find pet food that is made with raw meat. If that is the case, then you can feed your animal real meat, such as chicken, beef, lamb, etc.  Just be sure to feed them raw meat sparingly. They need a well-rounded diet just like us!

Maintaining pet wellness is the most important part of making sure that your beloved animal will live a long and healthy life. The best way to do this is through regular veterinary procedures and proper nutrition. We wish you and your pet a long and healthy life!

Choosing the right veterinary hospital for you and your pet is almost as important as actually choosing your pet! It’s a good idea to choose the hospital before you choose your new pet. That way if you have a sudden emergency, you will not have the added stress of picking a veterinary hospital on the spot. Start your search by asking family and friends for recommendations. Doing this helps you begin to narrow down the hospitals. Once you have done that, visit the hospitals that are on your list.

Here are some things to keep in mind during your visits to potential veterinary hospitals :

• Office hours : Be sure to notice if there are regular office hours and make sure that the hours work with your schedule. Also make sure you find out who covers the hospital when the veterinarian is not available.

• Professional staff : The attitude of the staff is very important when choosing a hospital. Take notice of how routine phone calls are handled. Find out if you can request appointments with specific veterinarians and most importantly, make sure that you feel comfortable talking to the entire staff.

• Services : Some hospitals offer services that others do not. Find out what kinds of services are offered at the hospital you’re visiting.

• Emergency care : Not all veterinary hospitals handle emergencies, especially after hours. If the hospital doesn’t handle during or after hour emergencies, find out if they have an affiliate hospital where they send their patients to in the case of an emergency.

• Fees and payment : Find out what types of payment the hospital accepts. Also, are payments required on the day of a visit, or can you use a payment plan?

• Professional affiliations : Find out if the veterinarians are part of any national veterinary associations.

• Facility : Take a tour of the hospital and make sure that it looks clean and orderly. Also, check for any foul odors.

Once you have made sure that the hospital facilities meet your standards and expectations, you want to make sure that you are comfortable with the veterinarian as well. You should be able to comfortably communicate with your pet’s doctor. Make sure that you feel that you can ask questions and that the answers are clearly explained. Your relationship with your veterinarian is essential to your pet’s health. Your pet cannot tell the doctor when something is not right, so you need to be able to.

Choosing the right veterinary hospital is an important step in choosing a new pet. Be sure to carefully choose your hospital. Be sure that your pet is going to be as important to the veterinarian as it is to you! 

Did you know that your dog’s dental health is just as important as yours? Just imagine what would happen to your mouth if you did not brush your teeth regularly.  Well, the same thing will happen to your dog’s mouth if you do not clean their teeth.

There are two main types of bacteria in your dog’s mouth that can cause disease and infection:

• Plaque. Plaque is the initial build-up of bacteria and sugars on your dog’s teeth. It is a sticky, colorless film that is constantly forming. It is the main cause of mouth and gum disease.

• Calculus or Tartar. Tartar is plaque that has hardened on the teeth. It can also form underneath the gum. Tartar gives plaque more surface area to grow on and a stickier surface to adhere to.

A number of diseases & infections can develop as a result of tartar & plaque. These infections occur not only in the dog’s mouth, but in other parts of the body:

                • Gingivitis is an inflammation of your dog’s gums as a result of a buildup of plaque and tartar.

• Periodontitis is an oral cavity disease that attacks the gum, bone, and tissues around the teeth.

• Pyorrhea is an inflammation of the gum and tooth sockets, often resulting in puss and the loosening of teeth.

• Caries is the decalcification of the tooth enamel, leading to cavities.

• In addition to infection of the mouth and gums, tartar and other mouth infections can contain bacteria that can spread to other parts of your dog’s body, infecting the heart, kidneys, intestinal tract and joints.

In order to prevent infection in your dog’s mouth, you need to prevent plaque and tartar buildup. There are many ways to do this:
 

• Tooth brushing. This is the best way to prevent tartar. Veterinarians recommend that all dogs have their teeth brushed at least twice a week. You can buy special toothpaste and toothbrushes just for your dog.

• CET Chews. While tooth brushing is the best way to protect your dog’s oral health, it is true that most people don’t have the time or patience to brush their dog’s teeth multiple times a week. Giving your dog chews is another way to maintain oral health. CET chews are made of tough rawhide that has been treated with enzymes to help control plaque buildup. This makes them more effective than regular chews. CET chews work to keep your dog’s teeth healthy and clean and its breath fresh. You can either use them daily or on the days when brushing just isn’t possible.

• Drinking Water Additives. This is another great way to control the plaque and tartar buildup on your dog’s teeth and it’s really easy to use. Simply add the medication to your dog’s water bowl. Drinking water additives reduces plaque and tartar by killing the bacteria in your dog’s mouth. Using drinking water additives also helps to reduce tooth decay.  

Maintaining your dog’s oral hygiene is one of the most important aspects in maintaining their overall health. Prevention of oral disease should be a regular part of your dog’s grooming routine.  Whether you choose to use brushing, chews, drinking water additives, or a combination of the three, be sure to consistently support your dog’s oral health.  They’ll love you for it!

Here is our Pet Dental product that is available in our online pet pharmacy : http://shop.corneranimal.com/category_s/49.htm

C.E.T.’s exclusive antibacterial system and time-tested Dual-Enzyme System to control plaque and eliminate bacteria buildup. They can be fed as a treat once a day (on non-brushing days) or as directed by your veterinarian. Chews are the easiest method of care for pet owners but should be used with brushing for best results. Contraindications/precautions : Pets with food allergies to beef should avoid these treats since they are made from beef hide.

Does your cat suffer from hairballs? Hairballs in cats are actually quite common. Cats have many rough projections on their tongues that are called papillae. These papillae are used to help cats groom their fur. While the cat is grooming, it often ingests fur which gets caught in the cat’s stomach or small intestines. This causes a blockage or what is more commonly known as a hairball. Even though they are common, there are ways to help your cat prevent and treat them.

What types of cats are most susceptible?

There are three different types of coats that your cat can have: short hair, medium hair, and long hair. Cats with long hair get hairballs more often. Cats with soft fur also tend to get more. The soft fur sticks to the tongue easier than coarse fur. Indoor cats are also more likely to get hairballs. Since they do not spend time exploring outdoors, they spend more time grooming.

What are the symptoms?

Vomiting is the most common symptom of a hairball. The vomit may or may not contain fur. Other symptoms include not eating as often or as much, and hiding because they do not feel well.

How can I help to prevent them?

To prevent hairballs, you need to help your cat reduce the amount of fur they ingest and help the fur that is ingested pass easily through the digestive system. The best way to reduce the amount of hair that is ingested is to thoroughly brush your cat daily. Make sure to use a good wire brush, which pick up hair that your cat would otherwise lick up. Brush your cat for 5 to 10 minutes each day, making sure that the brushing is done slowly from head to tail. Most cats love being groomed and will enjoy the daily activity.

You should also let your cat go outside and eat some grass. Grass works as a laxative that helps them pass hair through their digestive systems. It also helps them to vomit up hairballs that have already formed in their stomach or intestines.

How do I treat hairballs?

To help the ingested fur pass through the digestive system, you could give your cat an intestinal lubricant, such as Laxatone. The lubricant breaks down the cat’s fur and keeps it from sticking to the lining of the stomach and intestines. To give your cat the lubricant, simply put a few drops on their nose or paw and let them lick it off. The recommended dose in cats is ½ to 1 teaspoonful for 2 to 3 days, then ¼ to ½ teaspoonful 2 to 3 times a week. If vomiting increases or continues after the treatment, bring your cat to the veterinarian for a more serious treatment.

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Is it time to bring your pet to the veterinarian for a checkup? Are you unsure of what to expect? It’s actually very important to understand what your veterinarian does to your pet during its annual exam. This helps you recognize when your pet is healthy and also if something is wrong. Here are the normal procedures that a veterinarian goes through on an annual physical exam:

Temperature
Taking the temperature of your pet is one the most important parts of the physical exam. A dog or cat’s average temperature is somewhere between 101 and 102.5 degrees. Even if an animal seems healthy, a veterinarian can often tell that something is not right if the animal has a high temperature.

Skin and Coat
A healthy pet should have a shiny coat and clean skin. A brittle, dry coat or flaky skin is an indication that something is wrong. If the skin and coat are not healthy, the veterinarian will likely suggest that you switch your pet from a grain-based diet to a meat-based diet. Within a few weeks, your pet’s skin and coat should be much healthier.

Ears
Normal ears should have smooth skin and should be without any wounds. The ears should be clean, dry and almost odor free. If your pet has an allergy or ear infection, you should be able to see it. However, infections usually start deep in the ear canal. The veterinarian will check for any infections that are in the early stages in order to eliminate them before they become a problem. Your veterinarian can prescribe any necessary medications and can show you the correct way to clean your pet’s ears.

Eyes
The veterinarian will examine the interior of your pet’s eye structures. Usually, pets do not have serious eye problems. The most common eye irritations among pets stem from contact with pollen, dust, or grass.

Paws and Toenails
Paw injuries usually heal on their own relatively quickly, but if your pet has really long toenails, they should be clipped shorter.

Mouth
Often pets with an infection in their mouth do not display any symptoms. However, many infections can be found in animals’ mouths including infected gums, objects stuck in between teeth, and even tumors.

Abdomen
A seemingly healthy pet can also have problems with its abdomen. A veterinarian can discover that your pet could have bladder stones, a tumor, only one working kidney, or is pregnant. By feeling the outside of your pet’s abdomen, the veterinarian can tell what’s going on in the inside. Often what’s on the inside is just as important, if not more important, than what’s on the outside.

Heart
During any physical exam, it is important that your veterinarian listens to your pet’s heart and lungs. By doing this, they can detect any heart valve or heart rhythm problems. If any heart problems are detected, further testing is usually recommended.

Bringing your pet in for a physical exam is an extremely important part of your pet’s health. Many times, a seemingly normal pet is actually unhealthy. Only a veterinarian would be able to detect such problems. Understanding the physical exam will help you understand your pet’s health and this will help your pet live a long and healthy life.