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Webvet Small Animals Feed http://www.webvet.com/main/index2/id/small This feed contains articles about Small Animals en-us Copyright 2010 Webvet, LLC 2010-03-01T21:35-05:00 advertise@webvet.com advertise@webvet.com Small Animals hourly Valentine's Day survey results: more "quality time" is the greatest gift we can give our pets http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2167 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2167">Valentine's Day survey results: more "quality time" is the greatest gift we can give our pets</a> With <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article/id/2163" target="_blank" title="Valentine's Day">Valentine’s Day</a> fast approaching, we’d like to share the results of our survey in which we asked participants to give us their nominations for the “top-10” Valentine’s Day pet gifts. The results surprised and delighted us and we want to share them with you. As you would expect, the list - see below - includes <a href="http://www.tailsandcompany.com/store/default.aspx?departmentid=228" target="_blank" title="gift items">gift items</a> that you can buy in a store and carry in your pocket (or car trunk). But as much as people want to express their love by giving their pets tangible gifts, the gift they most favor is the one that has no price tag on it. The simple truth is that when all is said and done, it is the only gift whose price cannot be measured in dollars: ‘quality time.’Here are the results, in order:                #10    A new sweater or coat                 #9     Enrollment in doggy daycare                 #8     A Valentine’s card                 #7     A sibling (dog/cat/other)                 #6     A new dog bed                 #5     Prepare their favorite meal                 #4     More trips to the park                 #3     A stuffed animal                 #2     Special dog treats                 #1     More quality time together “Quality time”: what does it mean?It’s a phrase we often hear, but what does “quality time” mean when we’re talking about our pets? WebVet wanted to know. We invited survey respondents to be interviewed so that we could understand just what quality time means for different people and different pets. We were delighted by the number of enthusiastic responders - so much so, that choosing a representative sample was no easy task.The WebVet community is a diverse one, encompassing pet lovers from around the world. We are dog and cat and bird owners, single and multiple pet households, in cities big and small, suburbs and rural towns. This writer had the distinct pleasure of talking to a number of survey respondents, and here is some of what I learned. Who: Linda & Eric KutcheWhere: Flower Mound, TXFor Linda and Eric, the love and companionship of their six-year-old <a href="http://webvet.com/breeds/show/id/263" target="_blank" title="chocolate lab">chocolate Lab </a>(Bailey) and their ten-year-old<a href="http://webvet.com/breeds/show/id/177" target="_blank" title="Beagle"> Beagle</a> (Ginger) are gifts without price: “They bring me a lot of peace; some days it’s laughter, other days, it’s calm,” Linda said. “It would be unthinkable not to have them.” She wishes that she could “bottle up their unconditional love and passion for life.”  As Linda explained, quality time may be something as simple as a long <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1392" target="_blank" title="walk in the park">walk in the park</a> with Bailey and Ginger, filled with play, instead of just the ordinary “walk around the block” to take care of business. Or, it might be rolling around on the floor with each of them, followed by a long back-scratch for Ginger and a game of Frisbee with Bailey. The dogs appreciate and respond enthusiastically to these seemingly small gestures. Linda reminds us of something that we sometimes forget: “Dogs define unconditional love. Everything that happened yesterday is wiped clean. They have a short memory for any act of unkindness they may have experienced. Every day is a new day.”  Who: Kristin CanonacoWhere: Huntington Valley, PAWhen Kristin Canonoco found an abandoned Tabby kitten, about two weeks old, in a dumpster in Philadelphia, he was so “cool and calm” that she decided to name him “Fonz”, after the “cool cat” played by the actor Henry Winkler in the old TV show Happy Days. At first, she had to bottle-feed him every three or four hours. But in spite of his tough start on the mean streets of Philadelphia, Fonz - now 5 ½ - has thrived under her care and, like his TV namesake, never loses his cool.A busy travel agent who often has to travel herself on business, Kristin hates being away from Fonz and calls her sister when she’s away to find out “how’s Fonz?” He can sense when Kristin is approaching the front door and greets her upon her return, something he doesn’t do for anyone else. “Whether you’re in the worst mood or the best, it doesn’t matter to a cat; they’re just the opposite of people.”Kristin acknowledges “it’s a little tougher to get quality time with cats than with dogs. Dogs will play whenever; cats are a little harder to play with.” But for her, “anytime I’m focused on him the most is quality time.” Kristin works with Fonz’s natural playfulness and affection, letting him flop down across her laptop or book when she’s trying to work or read and giving him the attention he’s looking for, even though it may mean deferring her own needs to respond to his.  Who: Leslie WallaceWhere: Staten Island, NYLeslie Wallace, a “semi-retired” professional pet-sitter, dog-walker, and bird groomer shares her home with – are you ready? – four dogs, three <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article/id/1510" target="_blank" title="canaries">canaries</a> (with their own room), and four other exotic birds. The dogs were all rescued as strays, some abused, and the cause of abandoned and abused animals is one that Leslie is passionate about. With so many pets, Leslie’s dance card is quite full: “I don’t do anything for myself until they’re taken care of,” she says. Although her routine day begins at around 5:30 a.m. with walks for the dogs (“on their schedules, not mine”), for Leslie, quality time is more than just hours spent: “I devote time to each as an individual, rather than as a group.” As is the case for Linda Kutche, the unconditional love of a dog is worth all of the effort: “They accept you for who you are with all your infirmities.” Who: Louise RubinoWhere: Coconut Creek, FLFor Louise Rubino, the devoted owner of one dog – a 100 lb. Mastiff/Boxer mix named “Chopper”, - and four cats, quality time has a special meaning. She adopted Chopper as a six-month-old stray who was little more than skin and bones. After a year, he developed Myasthenia Gravis, an immune system disorder that requires a lot of special care: “We try to give him a good life because we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. When he has a bad spell, we try to keep him as comfortable as possible.” In spite of his size, Chopper “thinks he’s a lap dog” and plays gently with Louise’s four cats. They walk between his huge paws without any fear, knowing how gentle he is. Not only that, it was Chopper who discovered one of the kittens himself and led Louise to him. Louise recalled the saying that “Dogs are not your whole life, but they make your life whole.” How true. Who: Debbie DetzelWhere: Bright, INAfter working in construction and as a bartender, Debbie Detzel has recently started a new business, training people how to walk their dogs and interact with them in healthy ways. With years of experience raising her mother-daughter pair of Boston Terriers - Luna and Oregano - and her American Bulldog, Bella, Debbie knows a great deal about what dogs need to be happy and well adjusted. For Debbie, knowing each dog’s particular personality is key to spending quality time: “Luna is laid back, a sleeper, and the last one to come when called. Oregano is the clown and will do anything for a laugh. Bella is the most trusting.” Debbie stresses the importance of spending time one-on-one with her dogs, and emphasizes the importance of understanding the particular needs and personalities of each dog. “Just sitting and watching TV with your dog at your feet is not quality time,” she said. By “training” her human clients to understand the individuality of each dog, Debbie teaches them to end the “vicious cycle” of “no attention = bad behavior = no attention”, etc.Oh, did I mention that she also has two cats?  The key: make time for quality timeOur survey has hit upon a rule that devoted pet owners have always known: don’t try to “find” quality time for your pet; make quality time. You’ll be rewarded with a happier, more well-adjusted animal, and your pet will be rewarded with a happier, more well-adjusted human companion. Then every day will be Valentine’s Day – for both of you.  By Peter Lopatin for WebVet By Peter Lopatin for WebVet Small Animals Respiratory infections in rabbits and cats http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2145 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2145">Respiratory infections in rabbits and cats</a> Q: Is it is possible for a cat to catch a respiratory infection from a rabbit?A:While anything is possible, this is unlikely. It is true that both cats and rabbits develop Pasteurella infections. However, Pasteurella is a normal bacterial inhabitant of rabbits and cats. Rabbits and cats can develop infection without ever being exposed to another pet. Most respiratory infections in cats are caused by viruses such as herpes virus or rhinotracheitis virus, although sometimes secondary bacterial infections also occur. Because most cats are vaccinated against these viruses, infections are not seen in most cats. As a rule, it’s unlikely that your rabbit or cat transmit anything harmful between them. By Dr. Shawn Messonnier, DVM By Dr. Shawn Messonnier, DVM Small Animals Coping with pet loss during the holidays http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2114 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2114">Coping with pet loss during the holidays</a> Opening a box of your holiday ornaments and finding the stocking you hung last season for the family cat or dog, now departed, can unleash a torrent of sadness. Coping with the holidays after <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1501" target="_blank">pet loss</a> isn't impossible, but it can be very trying."The first year without your pet is going to be difficult, because it's a significant loss," said Gary Kowalski, a Unitarian Universalist minister in Burlington, Vt., who wrote  Goodbye, Friend, to help people say farewell to their pets. "Most people consider the pet a member of the family, and they also become a very important part of the holidays," said Richard Timmins, DVM, executive director of the Association for Veterinary Family Practice, an organization to advance the role of primary veterinary care.  More than half of pet owners buy holiday gifts for the family pet, said Timmins, citing a survey done by one of his students when he was on faculty at the University of California, Davis.To complicate the problem, the extent of a pet loss is underestimated by our culture, Kowalski finds. "Most grief counselors will tell you it takes at least a year, maybe two, to regain your equilibrium, to get back to normal,"  Kowalski said.  So it is understandable, he said, that ''all those important holidays and anniversaries are going to hit you hard, but especially in the first year."Here, Timmins and Kowalski offer advice on how to cope with your first holiday after pet loss. <h4>Acknowledge the emotion</h4>Don't deny your sadness and grief about the pet loss, Timmins said. Don't try to pretend everything is fine. It's understandable that emotions come to the fore at holiday time, especially when something reminds you of the pet loss, such as finding a stocking you hung for the deceased pet. "It will be like it happened yesterday," Kowalski said.<h4>Celebrate the relationship</h4>To honor the departed pet's memory, you might take a moment at a holiday dinner to recall an endearing trait, such as: "Remember how Sparky used to beg nonstop when we had Christmas dinner?"  The idea is to acknowledge the relationship and be grateful for it, Timmins said. In a family with children, realize that some of the kids might have had a stronger bond with the pet than others and may especially need an opportunity to remember the pet and cope with pet loss. You might create a remembrance ritual, Kowalski said. "If your cat was 16 years old, light a candle for each year of her life, over Hanukkah or Christmas," for 16 days. "Light it in the evening. Keep it lit for half an hour.  That will be your time to mourn, remember, reconnect."<h4>Baby yourself</h4>"People who are grieving tend to lose physical resistance," Kowalski said. Take extra care of your body when coping with pet loss. Eat well and exercise.He warns people not to medicate themselves with food and alcohol, which can be even more tempting during the holidays when coping with pet loss.Spend time with nature. Going for a walk in the woods or a park, or going to the ocean, can be a huge help, he finds.<h4>Keep the status quo</h4>Coping with pet loss during the holidays is challenging enough. It's not the time to make a big decision in other areas, such as your job, your relationships or your living situation.Nor is it probably a good time to <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article/id/1560/med/0" target="_blank">get a new pet</a>, but that varies from person to person.  So if you think you're ready for a new pet, be sure your loved ones are, too. It's not a good time to surprise someone with a pet, even your children. The decision should be unanimous, Kowalski said. By Kathleen Doheny for WebVet By Kathleen Doheny for WebVet Small Animals Animal sex: The scent of a woman http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2262 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2262">Animal sex: The scent of a woman</a>   <h4>"I am calling you-ou-ou-ou-ou-ooo!" </h4>Whether bringing individuals together from miles away or from right next door, sending and receiving chemical signals is the oldest form of communication on the planet. Whether secreted from skin, tongues, or glands, sexual "pheromones"  -- wafted through the air, suffused in water, or deposited on the ground -- send their distinctive "come hither" message to the opposite sex:"I am ready. Now!" The word ‘pheromone' comes from the Greek, pherin, to transfer, and hormon, to excite or stimulate. While pheromones perform a variety of functions -- like identifying male territory, and warning away rivals -- sexual pheromones are designed to attract and arouse the opposite sex. <h4>How it works</h4> Animals produce hormones. When secreted externally they become pheromones. The "scent" is received by the opposite sex through the ‘vomeronasal organ,' a part of the olfactory system -- the system by which animals smell things and get their brains stimulated. The effects of all this olfactory ‘Morse Code' are as diverse as the animals that employ it, as these examples show: <ul><li>Female pigs become sexually aroused by the sex pheromones in the saliva of male pigs. </li><li>Golden male hamsters are stimulated to mount females after getting a whiff of vaginal pheromones. </li><li>Female goldfish release their pheromones into the water at night, and the males, picking up the scent, find themselves producing sperm for fertilization. The next morning, when the females are ready to spawn, the males enthusiastically make the journey in search of the goldfish beauties with that alluring scent. However, it's a little disconcerting to discover that all the guys in the neighborhood are making the same commute. </li></ul> <h4>That signature scent</h4> Part of the work of sex pheromones is to help members of the same species identify each other, so it won't be a waste of time to have sex. For instance, there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moths, but there is only one particular, chemically correct, sexual pheromone per species. A male silk moth will receive a female's sexual invitation from as far away as seven miles, but he won't bother to waste his time and energy flying over -- making himself vulnerable to predators and competing with all the other males she is beckoning to -- unless the pheromone is from a female of his own kind. When the right call gets the attention of the male's antennae, it's then pretty much irresistible. <h4>How about them red garter snakes?</h4> Nature is never satisfied until a species evolves the best strategy for mating and surviving. So it should come as no surprise that some animal groups will break or bend the pheromone attraction rules. Take the case of the Manitoba red-sided garter snake. Some males mimic the pheromones of the females, thereby tricking other males into trying to have sex with them. Yes, that's right; they become "she-males." Manitoba garter snakes spend the entire winter in the frigid Canadian region between Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg, arriving by the thousands, after slithering their way over miles of rocky terrain. Males and females hibernate together in crevasses as small as six feet wide and sixteen feet deep to keep from freezing to death. When spring arrives, each den disgorges as many as 10,000 snakes. The males are the first to emerge from their winter retreat. When the females finally appear, seething balls of hundreds of male snakes form around one female. These snake balls remain intact, rolling around the rocky terrain until one male has successfully mated with the female. <h4>Trick or treat?</h4> Here's the interesting part. Some mating balls have no female. In that writhing horde of snakes, the only way a male can identify a female is by her pheromones, secreted through her skin. Snakes flick their tongues in and out, picking up chemical cues from the air, and transfer them to a sensory organ in the roof of their mouth. So, why would any self-respecting male garter snake become a she-male? One theory is that this subterfuge keeps the other males from "getting the girl" and passing on their genes. They're all busy mistakenly trying to mate the imposter. <h4>Are we at the mercy of our body chemistry?</h4> Do humans also emit and receive pheromes? Do we "smell" as good as the rest of the animal world? To find out you'll have to read my next Animal Sex blog-"The Scent of a Woman." [LINK to the blog] <h4>Coming Attractions</h4> Next up on Birds Do It, Bees Do It, you'll read about a sea creature with a penis that can grip like a hand. "What is tugging on my leg? Oh noooo..." By Sally Schloss for WebVet By Sally Schloss for WebVet Small Animals Should your pet's diet go 'natural?' http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2110 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2110">Should your pet's diet go 'natural?'</a> As you scan the choices in your market's pet food aisle, you've no doubt noticed the labels promoting "natural" foods for dogs and cats. Natural pet foods are popular, according to a survey of 1,090 respondents conducted by Hill's Pet Nutrition, which makes Hill's Nature's Best, a natural product. But the pollsters also found confusion about what the term means.  To complicate your shopping and feeding tasks, veterinarians don't all agree that pets need "natural" formulas.First, the survey findings:<ul><li>A third of respondents say they feed their pet a natural food, the majority for health reasons, and about half choose the natural food based on ingredients.</li><li>More than half of respondents believe natural pet food is the best option for their pet's health.</li><li>More than half say they <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1582" target="_blank">read the label</a> before buying a pet food, but understanding the label or all of it is difficult for most who do.</li></ul>The survey answers trigger several other important questions, such as what constitutes a "natural" pet food and whether it beats out other types.<h4>What is a natural pet food?</h4>Guidelines for natural pet foods are made by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), says Kurt Gallagher, a spokesperson for the Pet Food Institute in Washington, D.C.  Among other requirements, the use of the term natural in reference to the food product as a whole is acceptable only when all of the ingredients meet the definition. Natural means none of the ingredients are chemically synthesized.The association does, however, make an exception when chemically synthesized vitamins, minerals or other trace nutrients are present in an otherwise natural food product if a disclaimer is used that these parts of the food aren't natural. In this case, the label would probably say: "Natural with added vitamins and minerals."If only some of the ingredients are natural, look for such labels as "natural cheese flavor."<h4>Is natural food a necessity? Three views</h4>There's no official policy or advice about natural pet food from the American Veterinary Medical Association, according to spokesperson David Kirkpatrick. Individual vets do have their opinions, however."Natural" means different things to different pet owners, finds Tony Buffington, DVM, PhD, professor of veterinary clinical sciences at the Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital, Columbus, and diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition.  "If they mean raw food, I want to see the recipe," he says. If pet owners are asking about feeding their pets a diet labeled as natural from a commercial manufacturer that has years of experience making pet foods, he says: "Have at it."But he adds a caveat: Don't expect health miracles just because your pet is eating "natural" foods. "Natural pet foods are just another kind of pet food made available for people who are interested in those kinds of food," he says. "There's no evidence I am aware of [that] they are any different from the point of view of the health of the animals or that they are any worse."However, Heidi Hulon, DVM, a consultant for Hill's Pet Nutrition and a small animal practitioner in Louisville, Ky., sees benefit to natural foods--assuming the food lives up to its label claims as natural.If so, she says, "it provides complete and balanced nutrition, and it helps maintain ideal body weight when fed appropriately." Some kinds of natural foods include high levels of antioxidants, which help maintain cellular health, she says, by protecting cells from damage done by unstable molecules known as free radicals.In a nutshell: "The natural products are good, provided you know who the manufacturer is and they can confirm that the food follows the AAFCO guidelines," Hulon says. By Kathleen Doheny for WebVet By Kathleen Doheny for WebVet Small Animals Four things you should know about your vet http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1923 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=1923">Four things you should know about your vet</a> The treatment your veterinarian and their <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article/id/1471/med/0" target="_blank" title="vet technicians">vet technicians</a> provide is worth the price you must pay.  Often you're finishing up with the vet when the receptionist delivers the good news: The bill is ready for you. Now for the bad news: It'll cost you a chunk of change for baby's Bordetella shot and its freshly emptied anal sacs. But why should you have to pay so much to help a poor, defenseless (not to mention super cute) creature? After all, if you can't find charity at the vet's office, where can you?Ask Georgette Wilson, DVM, manager of vet operations at Pfizer Animal Health in New York City, and she'll tell you that charity is all a matter of perspective. "If you're looking for an educated, compassionate, and fair hand in the care and well-being of your animal, chances are your vet's already giving it in droves,'' Wilson said. "Unfortunately, too many people fail to recognize the value vets bring to their pets. We're asked over and over again that, if we love animals so much, why aren't we offering our services for free?''To answer that question -- and help you understand why veterinarians are worth their weight in currency -- the following are four things you may not know about them, but should. They just may change the way you think about paying on the way out.<h4>#1: They are trained as vigorously as doctors of human medicine. </h4>Consider this:<ul><li>It takes four years of college and four years of veterinary school to become a vet. Then, students must pass both national and state exams to practice, and take continuing education courses to keep up with new developments.</li><li>It's statistically harder to get into veterinary school than it is to get into a human medical school because of the limited number of vet schools, as compared to medical schools. (There are only 28 vet schools in the United States).</li><li>Vets going into <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article/id/2176/med/0" target="_blank" title="Veterinary specialty practice">specialty practice </a>(there are about 20 in veterinary medicine, from cardiology and ophthalmology to behavioral medicine and surgery, etc) go on to do an internship and residency, with each step becoming more competitive. </li></ul>"When all is said and done, a vet can have as many as 11 to 12 years of additional training after high school,'' Wilson said. "Most people don't know that.''<h4>#2: It's not about the money for vets.</h4>While today's veterinarians can make a good living, it's not nearly as much as their counterparts in human medicine. Depending on where they live and their specific field of practice, they can make anywhere from about $35,000 (for equine veterinarians) to $117,000 a year (for laboratory animal veterinarians), according to the most recent estimates. Vets in private practice earn around $50,000, and those in government earn around $70,000. "The reward for us is really not about money, because we don't make as much as many people think,'' Wilson said. "It's really about seeing pets get better.''<h4>#3: They love science and medicine.</h4>"People always say I must love animals to be in veterinary medicine. And I do, but I also love science and medicine," Wilson said. In fact, she and others agree it's the combination of all three that draw people into veterinary practice.And that's a good thing, since there's plenty of each involved in treating the broad spectrum of species examined and treated by veterinarians. While human physicians must learn about male and female anatomy and physiology, vets need to understand cats, dogs, cows, pigs, goats, sheep, horses, birds, rodents, rabbits, amphibians, reptiles, and so on. Vets also need to know how each species functions and responds to available medications, and have a solid understanding of the basic behaviors, care requirements, diseases and parasites related to each species.<h4>#4: They offer value beyond the prescription.</h4>Finally, while vets bring their medical skills and knowledge in treating their patients and educating their patient's owners, they also offer the softer side of what it takes to be a communicative, concerned and knowledgeable caregiver - and a great advocate for your pet."Becoming a vet is a lot of hard work and we take seriously our duty to act in the best interests of our client's pets,'' Wilson said. "Even if owners don't like our recommendations or paying for them, we try to help them understand the value of our experience, education, and expertise. I always hope, as all vets do, that at the end of a visit, owners leave feeling good about how we've helped them.'' Rather than skimping on visits to the vet, pet owners should consider <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2109" target="_blank" title="pet insurance overview">pet insurance</a> and <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2070" target="_blank" title="financial aid for pets">other forms of financial assistance.</a> By Jill Sherer Murray for WebVet By Jill Sherer Murray for WebVet Small Animals Is your child ready for a pet ferret? http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2011 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2011">Is your child ready for a pet ferret?</a> Readying kids for pet ferrets. Playful puppies can be irresistible and frisky kittens adorable. But when it comes to pets, there are few as undeniably cute and snuggly as ferrets. And if you have a child who ever gets an opportunity to see or hold a ferret, chances are that you'll be inundated with pleas to own one. Before heading to the pet store to ferret out the right furry companion for your family, however, experts say it's important to consider the age and maturity of your child first: Is your son or daughter old enough to handle and care for a ferret responsibly?<h4>Age-old question</h4>Ask Shana Savikko, DVM, veterinary advisor for the American Animal Hospital Association, Lakewood, Colo., and she'll tell you that young children and ferrets probably won't make a great match. "I do not recommend ferrets in household with children under six years of age because of the possibility that they may inadvertently harm the ferret,'' Savikko said. "Ferrets are curious little creatures and tend to bite when startled or handled roughly.''Troy Lynn Eckart, ferret behavior specialist with Ferret Family Services, Manhattan, Kan., said that while some children as young as six years old can be responsible, "others may not reach that level of care until they are 12. A very activities-involved child, such as with school, groups and church, may not want to devote the necessary time to care for ferrets.''When children are hungry or thirsty, "they go to their parents and tell them, or they get food or water themselves,'' Eckart said. "But they may not understand that the ferret depends on that same care from the young child.''Mary McCarty-Houser, director of the Pennsylvania Ferret Rescue Association of Centre County, Boalsburg, Pa., has more stringent standards. She usually recommends that children be at least 10 years old, "unless the family is well-versed with pets or the parent thinks the child is mature enough to be left alone with the ferret at a slightly younger age.''<h4>Critter commitments</h4>Ferrets demand more from their owners than a fresh dish of food, a large, clean cage and a few minutes of fur stroking."If a child has chores to do, it isn't a big deal if they miss a day or two. But if they miss a day or two of caring for a ferret, it could be stressful and possibly deadly to the ferret,'' Eckart said. "Ferrets are living, breathing beings that experience emotions and depend on their caretakers for their very lives.''Single ferrets will need at least one hour a day of play time with you and another hour or so of play time on their own, out of their enclosure, Savikko said. "Ferrets require a good amount of time for socializing, playing and interacting with their human family every day,'' Eckart said. "The more socialized time, the more relaxed and responsive the ferret is.''"A routine is necessary for the health and well-being of any ferret, including routines for daily feeding, exercise, cleaning and interaction,'' Savikko said. "Ferrets also need to be groomed on a regular basis. And regular veterinary care needs to be part of your ferret's routine, too.''<h4>A room with a chew</h4>It may also not be a good idea to place the ferret's cage in your child's room, where it can be easily forgotten about, Savikko said. "If the room is 'ferret-proofed,' the ferret can stay in the child's room as long as a responsible adult frequently checks on the enclosure to make sure it is clean and safe and that the ferret has been fed and watered each day,'' Savikko said."I know of a situation where a 10-year-old boy with a ferret cage in his bedroom almost starved his pet to death,'' Eckart said. "He got busy with school and friends and wasn't feeding, watering or cleaning the cage.''<h4>Handle with care</h4>If you've decided to introduce a ferret into your family, it's vital to teach your child how to properly pick up and handle this delicate pet."Very young children do not realize their strength and could easily harm a fragile ferret,'' Eckart said. "I know of one case where a two-year-old boy threw a ferret down a flight of stairs and broke its neck while the parents were only a few feet away.''Savikko offers the following tips for ferret handling:<ul><li>Grasp the animal around its abdomen or chest and carefully pick it up.</li><li>Always handle the pet gently and calmly.</li><li>Be aware that ferrets have poor eyesight and should not be put into situations where they could fall from any height or where they feel trapped, to which they can react with aggression.</li><li>If you do not know the temperament of the ferret, don't bring it close to your face. A nose or ear can look like a wonderful chew toy.</li></ul>While most socialized ferrets don't present a major biting risk, a startled or roughly handled ferret, however, "will defend itself with its teeth,'' Savikko said. "They need to be kept up to date on their rabies vaccine in case there is a bite that breaks the skin.''Additionally, teach your children about dangers to ferrets such as reclining or folding furniture, closing doors, and walking carefully to avoid stepping on the animal, Eckart said."Children who have been taught to handle a ferret appropriately still need supervision when it comes to the care of these little creatures,'' Savikko said. "I've seen teenagers drop a wiggly ferret, leading to escapes and injury.''Ultimately, McCarty-Houser said, "I don't think children should have pets -- families should have pets. Children are unable to be completely responsible for pets, so I think parents need to figure out what type of pet they want and then work with the children to be able to be around that pet and handle them appropriately.'' By Erik J. Martin for WebVet By Erik J. Martin for WebVet Small Animals Litter box training for rabbits http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2076 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2076">Litter box training for rabbits</a> Despite the all too common view of pet rabbits, rabbits are not best kept outdoors in small cages with limited human contact. Many rabbits now live indoors with their owners, allowing them much more of the social contact they need. Many indoor rabbits use a litter box, just like house cats. In fact, spayed and neutered rabbits are actually quite easily trained to use a litter box. Litter-box training requires a little bit of space, litter boxes, bunny-approved litter and a little patience. Keep in mind that litter-box training is likely to be successful only for spayed and neutered rabbits, because most unaltered rabbits will continue to mark their territory. <h4>Litter and a box</h4>Litter boxes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the standard large cat box, without a lid, seems to work the best for rabbits. Small corner boxes sold in pet stores for rabbits are usually too small and don’t allow the rabbit to lie down and stretch out. Sometimes bigger is better, especially with multiple rabbits that might try to use the box at the same time. Litter is readily available at many pet stores; however, rabbit-savvy veterinarians do not recommend the wood shavings most often sold in these stores. Pine and cedar shavings release oils that can be toxic to the liver and irritate the respiratory system, and clay litters can cause blockages in a rabbit’s digestive tract. While sitting in and after leaving a litter box, a rabbit will clean himself, ingesting the small grains of clay or sand. This clay builds up in a rabbit’s stomach as it absorbs liquid and expands, sometimes forming deadly blockages. Instead of wood shavings or clay litters, recycled paper products are recommended by veterinarians for use as bunny litter.<h4>The “bathroom”</h4>Set up a small area, about four by five feet, to start training your rabbit. A “puppy pen” works well for both rabbit housing and training. These pens allow the rabbit to hop around while still being near the litter box. Place the litter box, containing some soiled litter, in a corner. If starting with a cage, place the box in the location your rabbit already uses to eliminate. Also place a small amount of timothy hay in the box to coax your rabbit to jump in. This will familiarize your rabbit with the box and keep him coming back for more hay.If your rabbit uses another area to eliminate, place a litter box in that area as well. Sometimes rabbits don’t approve of the location you picked, but are still willing to use a box. After the rabbit uses the box well for a few days to a week, increase the size of the rabbit area by a couple square feet. Over time, you can increase the size of the training area to reinforce good litter box habits, or decrease the size if your rabbit “misses.” After training, placing litter boxes in one area often works well for an entire house; however some rabbits require a box in every room, especially if there are multiple rabbits.Some rabbits have a tendency to mark their territory despite being spayed or neutered. Other rabbits tend to use multiple areas of their cage instead of just the litter box. It is always possible to cover the entire floor of a cage with litter boxes. You can also slowly “trick” the rabbit into using a box by placing pellets and a water bowl in the box.  Rabbits with true urinary incontinence should be treated by a veterinarian, but these rabbits may still have accidents on occasion.<h4>Unwanted “presents”</h4>Many people litter-train their rabbits only to be frustrated with the few fecal balls occasionally left behind on the floor. Rabbits also mark their territory by dropping fecal pellets, and as they defecate, the anal sacs on either side of the rectum release a small amount of scent onto the fecal pellet.  This is normal behavior and means that even the best of rabbits will drop a few here and there. So you should not be discouraged if a litter-trained rabbit leaves a gift from time to time. Thankfully, these “presents” are dry and can be easily cleaned up. By Deana Mae Nelson for WebVet By Deana Mae Nelson for WebVet Small Animals Understanding your rabbit's dietary needs http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2077 <a href="http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=2077">Understanding your rabbit's dietary needs</a> A rabbit’s dietary requirements differ slightly depending on its age and living area and environment.  Young rabbits require more calcium and carbohydrates than adults rabbits for growth. Rabbits that live indoors need more vitamin D-rich foods than rabbits with access to direct sunlight.  Determining the correct diet for a rabbit companion can be difficult for a new pet owner, especially with the variety of “expert” advice available.A surprising number of people do not feed their pet rabbits the proper diet. Celina Andrade, a House Rabbit Society supervisor in California, says that she “meet[s] people who feed their rabbits the ‘wrong things’ all the time … 99 percent of what they sell in most major pet stores are the wrong foods or poor-quality foods.”  It is important to keep a wild rabbit’s diet in mind when considering what a pet rabbit should eat. Wild rabbits do not have access to pellets, cereal, or large amounts of fruit and vegetables.  They generally eat grasses and some flowering plants.<h4>The bare necessities:</h4>A pet rabbit's staple diet should consist of the following three necessary food items:• Unlimited amount of timothy, oat and grass hay: Rabbits need fiber to keep their digestive tract moving. Without fiber, their digestive tract shuts down, which is painful and can lead to death in a relatively short time. A rabbit should never go more than six hours without eating fiber-rich, low-protein foods.• Daily variety of greens and vegetables. Rabbits, like other animals, need a daily dose of vitamins and nutrients from natural sources. A variety of green, leafy vegetables provides these much needed nutrients and acts as a special treat for your friend.• Fortified alfalfa or timothy pellets: These pellets contain vitamins and nutrients found in fruits and vegetables. If you do not feed your rabbit daily vegetables, adding a small handful of pellets is necessary. The type of pellet to feed depends on the condition and age of the rabbit. Underweight rabbits or bunnies younger than 7 months old should be given alfalfa pellets daily. After the rabbit has reached adulthood or the desired weight, the alfalfa pellets should be slowly changed to high-quality timothy-based pellets to prevent obesity and excess calcium intake.  Veggies that can be fed to pet rabbits: • Cilantro • Parsley • Romaine, red leaf, and green leaf lettuces • Celery, including the leaves • Kale • Collard greens • Green bell peppers • Mustard greens<h4>Treats</h4>Only small amounts of treats should be given to prevent your rabbit from becoming overweight or having gastrointestinal upset from excessive sugars and fat. For example, give only a slice or two of apple, or a 1-inch slice of banana or carrot.  Too many treats overfills the rabbit’s stomach and prevents intake of the fiber content needed to keep the digestive system moving.  Many all-natural, high-fiber treats are available online through rabbit-friendly retailers.<h4>Bad for bunnies</h4>Many foods that people regularly eat or consider treats are usually not healthy for rabbits.  Nuts contain too much protein and can cause digestive upset as well as fatty liver problems.  Chocolate and onions are poisonous, as they are to most animals, and potatoes are guaranteed to cause obesity, because they fill a rabbit’s stomach and don’t provide the much needed fiber. To prevent food-related health problems, do not give your rabbit any of the following items:• Chocolate • Onions • Iceberg lettuce • Potatoes • Radishes • Rhubarb • Cereal • Seeds • Nuts • Bread • Crackers<h4>Benefits of proper nutrition</h4>Providing rabbits with the proper nutrition is crucial to their health and well-being. Rabbits fed the proper diet are less likely to develop tooth root abscesses and malocclusions, fatty livers, and obesity. If your rabbit changes its eating habits (eg, stops eating hay), you should contact a rabbit-savvy veterinarian as soon as possible.  This can be a sign of an illness, such as arthritis, tooth overgrowth or cancer. Visit the House Rabbit Society at <a href="http://www.rabbit.org/">www.rabbit.org</a> for a plethora of information, or contact your local exotic animal hospital. By Deana Mae Nelson for WebVet By Deana Mae Nelson for WebVet Small Animals