4 Tips to Keep Your Rabbit Happy & Healthy

Preparing the Space

• You should have a cage/hutch that is at least 4 feet long, 2 feet wide and 2 feet deep so your rabbit has plenty of room to move around. If you get a pair of rabbits, you'll need more room. 
• If the cage is made of wire, make sure there are plenty of areas where your pet can rest it's feet.
• If the rabbit will be outside, you may have to make weather provisions depending on your climate, or have a place you can bring the rabbit inside when the conditions are not favorable.

Rabbit Diets

• Make sure your rabbit has food and water. The diet should consist of timothy hay, your rabbit will consume a lot of hay daily.
• Dark, leafy green vegetables, including collards, dandelion greens and some lettuce are best. Steer clear of iceberg lettuce and make diet changes gradually. Don't feed those young bunnies their vegetables until they are more than 3 months old and start with small doses.
• Rabbits also enjoy apples, berries, and melons as occasional treats. 
• If you feed pellets, they should be made primarily from timothy hay, other types of pellets contain to many calories.
• Pellets should never be given in place of hay or vegetables.

Rabbit Proof Your Home

• Rabbits like many other animals love to chew, you need to make sure that any areas of access are free from electrical cords, cleaning products and any other chemicals that your bunny could have access to by chewing through the container.
• Put chewable items in the cage and other areas accessed so that the rabbit can chew. 
• Chewing is essential for reducing the length of your rabbit's teeth.

Play and Exercise

• I know when you think about a bunny you think, it will sit in it's cage and look pretty. Not the case at all, rabbits are quite social, and it will be up to you to provide play and entertainment.
• Letting your bunny out of the cage to roam around and interact with you is important, you will find your bunny has favorite spots to be scratched or petted. 
• Petting your rabbit also helps to remove loose hair that can form hairballs when your rabbit is self-grooming.

8 Dog Facts You Didn't Know

The "smell" center of a dog's brain is 40 times larger than humans

• Dogs can smell thousands of times better than we can. Their noses have millions more scent receptors. A human's nose has on average 5 million scent receptors while a German Shepard has about 225 million. Those 225 million receptors makes them useful in sniffing out drugs, dead bodies, bed bugs, explosives, and more.

No two dog noses are the same

• A dog's nose is the equivalent of a human fingerprint, with each having a unique patter of ridges and creases.

Dogs dream like people

• If you've ever noticed your pooch twitching in her sleep, this probably means she's dreaming. Research has found that dogs have similar sleep patterns and brain activity as humans, and that the small breeds tend to dream more than the large ones. 

Dogs are as smart as a two-year-old baby

• A dog can county, understand over 150 words, and even trick people or other dogs to get treats. Intelligence varies based on the breed with Border Collies being at the top of the list.

Dogs only mate twice a year

• Unspayed females only go into heat twice a year, so dog breeders need to plan carefully. If you are not a licensed and responsible breeder, please have your dogs spayed or neutered. 

Tail wagging has it's own language

• Dogs wag their tails to the right when they are happy and to the left when they are frightened. Wagging low means they are insecure; and rapid tail wagging accompanied by tense muscles or dilated pupils can signal aggression.

Puppies are born blind and deaf

• Newborn puppies are still developing, so their ear canals and eyes are still closed. They develop sight and hearing around two-three weeks.

Dogs only have sweat glands in their paws

• Dogs only sweat through the pads of their paws and their main form of cooling down is panting. 

Grooming Your Pet

Grooming is so important and a big part of caring for you pet and keeping him/her healthy. Most animals need some type of grooming, cats and dogs need to be brushed regularly. Animals with long hair should be trimmed and maintained regularly because fur can become matted and cause serious health issues for your pet. Dirt and oil can also accumulate under mats and cause painful skin infections, and the mats themselves can be painful as they pull and stretch the skin underneath.

Animals also require regular bathing, especially dogs, to keep their skin and hair coat clean and healthy. How much you bath them depends on their lifestyle, breed and coat type. Also, always use a shampoo specifically formulated for your animal. Many human shampoos can be too harsh for their skin. If your pet has itchy, red, dry, flaky or oily skin, you should consult your veterinarian.

Pets also require regular nail trims. Long nails can become painful and interfere with your pet's ability to walk. Keeping nails short also helps you protect your floors and furniture from beaching scratched and your clothes from being snagged.

• Dogs
• Before You Clip
• Get your dog use to having his paws handled, my suggesting is to start when they are a puppy.
• Begin speaking softly as you massage each paw, gently separating the toes.
• Your pet may pull away. If this happens, repeat whatever it was your dog didn't like, but do it slowly and gently until he/she begins to accept it.
• When you think your pet is ready, only start with one or two nails.
• Have a treat ready for positive reinforcement.
• For dogs that are nervous or resistant to handling, try having someone assist you with holding your dog still, pet gently and reassure him/her.
• Dogs that are unruly or try to bite should be taken to a groomer or veterinarian for a nail trimming in order to prevent injury to both you and your dog.
• Cats
• Before You Clip
• Most cats hate being restrained so it's best to accustom them to being handled while they are kittens.
• Try the "less is best" approach first when it comes to restrain. Try clipping your cat's nails while he/she is napping or snuggling on your lap.
• Give treats for positive reinforcement.
• Have a friend or family member hold and pet your cat while you are trimming nails.
• If necessary you can wrap your kitty in a towel to prevent him/her from scratching you during nail trimming.
• Cats that are unruly or try to bite should be taken to a groomer or veterinarian for a nail trimming in order to prevent injury to both you and your dog.

• How to Clip Nails
• Use appropriate pet nail trimmer, these are available at any pet supply store.
• Hold the paw in your hand and locate the pinkish part of the nail. This is a blood vessel, often called the "quick", and should be avoided. The nail should be clipped slightly above this area.
• If you cannot see the pinkish part, just clip the very tip of the nail.
• Always have a clotting agent on hand in case you accidently cut below the quick and cause bleeding. This is usually in the form of a powder and is available in any pet store.
• Most pets should have their nails trimmed every 2 to 3 weeks. Some dogs that are frequently walked on paved areas will continuously wear down their nails and may need less frequent trimming.
• If you are unsure or scared of the above process, consult your veterinarian or groomer.

Don't Ignore Your Pets Excessive Panting This Summer

Heat: Panting is the main way a dog cools down when he gets hot. The rapid breathing helps him release excess body heat.

Recent Physical Activity: A dog pants to catch his breath and normalize breathing after a strenuous physical activity like running.

Nervousness or excitement: A dog may also pant in response to anxiety or excitement.

Respiratory Problems: A dog suffering from a respiratory disorder may pant excessively or for no apparent reason. Panting is usually accompanied with other symptoms like cough, noisy breathing, labored breathing, wheezing and discoloration of the tongue and gums.

Cardiovascular Disorders: Excessive panting can also be a symptom of a cardiovascular disorder such as, heartworm (cough,lethargy, anemia, jaundice or swollen abdomen), congested heart failure (chronic dry cough when exercising, loss of appetite) and dilated cardiomyopathy (tire easily, chronic cough, lethargic and refusal to eat).

Cushing's Disease: A dog with Cushing's disease has adrenal glands that are releasing to much cortisol, the symptoms include increased thirst and urination, weight gain (often in spite of a reduction in calories), thinning skin, and a change in skin color from pint to grey or even black, bruising, hair loss, urination accidents, and irritability and restlessness.

5 Fantastic Ways to Spend More Time with Your Pet This Summer!

1. Hikes, Bikes, and Beaches

2. Pet Events

3. Shopping

4. Coffee and Treats

5. Lazy Days in the Sun

Top 10 Pet Care Tips

1. Regular Exams are Vital - Just like you, your pet can get heart problems, develop arthritis, or have a toothache. The best way to prevent such problems or catch them early is to see your vet every year.

2. Spay and Neuter Your Pets - Eight million to 10 million pets end up in U.S. shelters every year. Some are lost, some have been abandoned, and some are homeless.

3. Prevent Parasites - Fleas are the most common external parasite that can plaque pets, and they can lead to irritated skin, hair loss, hot spots, and infection.

4. Maintain a Healthy Weight - Many dogs and cats in the U.S. are overweight or obese. And just like people, obesity in pets comes with health risks that include diabetes, arthritis, and cancer.

5. Get Regular Vaccinations - For optimal health, pets need regular vaccinations against common ills, such as rabies, distemper, feline leukemia and canine hepatitis.

6. Provide an Enriched Environment - An enriched environment is another key to the long-term health and welfare of your canine and feline friends.

7. ID Microchip Your Pet - Lack of identification means as few as 14% of pets ever find their way home after getting lost.

8. Pets Need Dental Care, Too - Just like you, your pet can suffer from gum disease, tooth loss, and tooth pain.

9. Never Give your Pets People Medication - Medicines made for humans can kill your pet, consult a vet if you have questions or concerns.

10. Proper Restraint in a Vehicle - You buckle up for safety when you're in the car, shouldn't your pet? Unrestrained pets in a car are a distraction to the driver, and can put driver and pet at risk of serious injury.