You know that your cat and dog need vaccinations, but did you know that rabbits can get vaccinations too?

There are two different vaccinations that rabbits can get. They protect against myxomatosis and Rabbit (Viral) Haemorrhagic Disease. These diseases can make life very uncomfortable for your furry friend at the least, and turn deadly at the very worst. That’s why they are sometimes recommended by professional vets.

Rabbits can be vaccinated starting at five weeks of age and may require various doses throughout their life. However, not all rabbits are at risk. Most diseases are spread by insects or the interaction with other animals. If you don’t expect your pet to be introduced to insects and other animals, you may not need vaccinations.

To learn whether or not your rabbit should be vaccinated against these serious diseases, sched ... Read more »

It can be a lot of fun to take your pet rat out of his cage to play! You can play with him inside your home, or you can take him outside, but if you really want to have fun, you should head to the park.

If you want to visit the park with your pet, it is extremely important to make sure that you’ve planned for his safety. Purchase a harness that fits your pet snugly. You should look for a harness that is specially designed just for small pocket pets. It should be adjustable. Jacket type harnesses are especially effective.

When you’re at the park, choose a quiet spot for your pet to play. Rats are easily spooked, so picking a spot near dogs or loud children probably isn’t a good idea.

For more tips on keeping your pet safe at the park, call your veterinary clinic Cy-Fair.

When feeding your pet rat, you probably focus on feeding him a pelleted diet with special treats like fruits, vegetables, and seeds. That must mean that rats are herbivores, right?

Although rats eat a lot of vegetable matter, they aren’t strict herbivores. Instead, they are omnivores! That means they eat plants and animals. As a matter of fact, rats can’t survive on a diet of fruit and vegetables alone. They need plenty of protein in their diet!

In the wild, rats eat seeds and vegetables, but they also eat worms, insects, and eggs. There is plenty of protein in your pet’s pelleted diet, but you can try feeding your rat cooked meat as well. Try a piece of chicken or ham.

Want to make sure your pet eats a balanced diet? Schedule an appointment with your veterinary clinic San Jose, CA for advice on what to feed your rat.

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You may be familiar with how people often get stressed, but did you know that pets can get stressed as well? People stress can also cause pet stress. If you own a Basset Hound make a mental note of how you act around him when you are stressed. Canine companions can sense the stress in your life and often worry or become anxious. If you’ve been going through some stressful situations and you’ve noticed your dog’s behavior has changed, call your vet and ask about stress in dogs. He may also be stressed if he’s bored, lonely, or going through separation anxiety because your schedule has changed. Signs that your dog may be stressed include urinating in the house, excessive barking, irritability, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, development of skin allergies, and destructive behaviors. You can help your dog cope by creating a more consistent routine for him with the help of your veter ... Read more »

Cat flu is often considered to be the most contagious medical illness in cats. Unfortunately, many cats are not vaccinated against the disease, or fail to have their vaccine updated. But truth to tell, new strains of cat flu virus are continually appearing, thus vaccines only give incomplete protection.

Cat flu can range from mild to fatal. For some cats, cat flu symptoms are only seen whenever they are stressed. Experts refer to these cats as “in contact” cats because they easily transmit the infection to vulnerable cats.

Kittens whose immune systems are still developing, senior cats with failing immune systems, and those with concurrent infections often tend to suffer from the more severe form of cat flu. Cats that are healthy and vaccinated may only have runny eyes and some sneezing. Treatment may not be necessary if the cat remains active and the eye and nasal discharges are clear. However, if your pet suddenly loses his appetite or the discharges get ... Read more »

One of the worst things about owning a dog is dealing with all that dog hair! You have to deal with it on carpets, furniture, and clothing, but there are many other places where dog hair can hide.

It is extremely important to clear vents of dog hair. This is especially true of your HVAC system’s air intake. Dog hair can quickly collect here, forcing your system to work harder than it needs to. Plan to clean the air intake vent at least once a month, and have your entire system cleaned out at least once a year.

Vacuum not working like it should? Check the roller. Even vacuums that are created to deal with pet hair can get bogged down. You may have to clean or replace the rolling brush in order to clear it of dog hair.

For more tips on dealing with dog hair, call your veterinary clinic Jacksonville Beach, FL.

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Do you own more than one American guinea pig or other breed of guinea pig? If so, you may have witnessed one guinea pig greeting another with a friendly nose to nose touch. If your guinea pig suddenly withdraws to himself and doesn’t socialize with the others, you may need to call your vet. For the most part, guinea pigs are quite sociable. If your guinea pig is distancing himself from the group he may not feel we. Typically, guinea pigs enjoy the company of other guinea pigs and humans. They use body language and vocalized squeaks and squeals to communicate with one another and to speak to humans. Like dogs and cats, guinea pigs also like to sniff one another as a way to say hello and explore. Guinea pigs will sniff each other’s nose, ears, chin, and even rear end. A simple sniff can tell guinea pigs a lot. Ask your vet Livonia, MI for more details.

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If you own a dog like the Golden Retriever then you’re probably familiar with how much dogs like to eat and explore a variety of people foods. It’s important to understand; however, that not all people foods are good for them especially gum. If you think your dog has swallowed gum, please contact your vet. As a general rule, chewing gum is not recommended for your dog because he will not chew it; but instead, he will simply swallow it. In addition, the ingredients of gum could be toxic as it contains a variety of ingredients such as artificial sweetener. There is currently no study to show whether a dog should have gum or not have gum, but it’s best not to give your dog gum for any reason. If you’re thinking of using gum to fight your dog’s breath, please ask your veterinary clinic Livonia, MI first.

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Did you know that litter boxes can have an important effect on the health and behavior of your kitty? Litter box maintenance, location, and even how many litter boxes a cat has access to, can all have an important influence on your pet’s elimination habits.

As a rule of thumb, the number of litter boxes should be N+1, meaning if you have N=2 cats, you will need N+1 litter boxes or 3 litter boxes. Investing in an extra litter box is a better idea than having to deal with your pet’s elimination problems and other undesirable behaviors associated with litter box problems.

Make sure that litter boxes are placed in various strategic spots around the house so each of your cats won’t have any problems reaching it and doing their business.

Any changes in your pet’s potty habits should be brought to the attention of your Aurora, C ... Read more »

Cherry Eye is characterized by abnormal orientation of the dog’s third eyelid, which is accompanied by inflammation. The third eyelid is a membranous structure found in the inside corner of the eye. It appears like a cherry when it becomes swollen and inflamed, hence the name. One or both eyes can develop the problem. More cases of cherry eye have been diagnosed in younger dogs. It is also assumed that there is genetic predisposition because some dogs are more prone to developing the problem, such as Beagles, St. Bernards, Lhasa Apsos, Shih Tzu, and Chinese Shar-Pei to name a few. There are also instances when the inflammation of the third eyelid is a consequence of inflammatory processes in the body.

The cherry-like mass in the eye is the most important sign that can be observed. Affected dogs may also have reddish eyes, increased tearing, and pus-like eye discharge. In addition to a thorough examination, your ... Read more »

Dogs always look forward to a bite or two of their favorite treats. Whether used for positive reinforcement of desired behavior or just a treat, pet owners should be aware that treats are important sources of calories. In fact, experts recommend that calories from treats should not exceed 10% of a dog’s daily intake of calories. Treats also include people foods which are also high in calories.

Treats differ in quality depending on the ingredients they are made with. Calorie-rich treats contain high amounts of fat and sugar, a combination that makes treats tempting to pets. One high-cal treat can already meet about a quarter of a small dog’s daily calorie needs. Treats are often called “calorie grenades”, and if you are generous in giving treats to your dog, you will eventually have an overweight or obese pet. Your Glendale, AZ vet can provide you additional information and recommend treats which are healthy ... Read more »

Have you ever noticed your dog whining, moving his legs in a paddle-like motion, or twitching his muzzle while he is sleeping? These behaviors often lead many pet owners to think whether their dogs are dreaming or having nightmares.

A good number of research studies have been able to demonstrate that dogs do dream. A part of their brain, called the hippocampus, functions to collect and store memories; and the hippocampus of all mammals are structurally similar. Thus dogs are able to replay past experiences while they are asleep. And also, just like in humans, these unique behaviors associated with dreams and dreaming are usually displayed during the REM (rapid eye movement) phase of sleep. Dogs that are in REM phase have irregular shallow breathing; muscle twitching may also be observed. Your Aurora, CO veterinarian is an important source of knowledge when it comes to understandin ... Read more »

Your cat needs a litter box, and you want to make sure you are providing her with an option she will get a lot of use out of. However, you aren’t quite sure what to choose. How can you decide which litter box is right for your pet?

There are many different litter box options, and you can find the best one for your cat by looking at her needs and preferences. If she is larger, choose an option that she will be able to fit into comfortably. If she doesn’t prefer chunkier litter because it gets caught in her paw pads, opt for a litter box that can use a finer type of litter. Your cat may also need a hooded option to give him the privacy he deserves, so take the time to evaluate the area you plan on placing it. For additional information, please contact your local Fox Chapel, PA vet clinic.

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