A cat owner recently lost her beloved pet because she ate the palms that were given out at a church Palm Sunday service. The palms got lodged in the cat’s stomach and punchured some of it’s vital organs. The cat became very lethargic and began vomiting.  The owner rushed her to the vet who performed emergency surgery. Unfortunately, it was too late for this poor pet.

If you own a cat, be aware that they could accidentally swallow something that could possibly be lethal.  Watch out for the house plants that they may be chewing on. Are the leaves hard and sharp such as the palm? In this case, get rid of that plant. Don’t leave small, loose items such as buttons, pins, string or coins in places where your cat may get at them. If you notice any symptoms such vomiting, lethargy etc. don’t  try to administer any pet medication on your own. Get your cat to the vet right away!  Most importantly, you can prevent this from happening by checking your home and removing any items which may cause your cat harm.

Easter is on the way and those cute little pet rabbits are making their appearance in your favorite pet store. We usually talk about cats and dogs but today the subject matter is rabbits. I read an article in todays paper which said that two rabbits were adopted only to be returned to a shelter because the owner didn’t want to be bothered doing the work to keep their cage clean. A rabbit typically lives for about 8 years so the commitment is a long term one.  I once adopted a rabbit about 14 years ago. I learned several things.

• Rabbits need a special diet to remain healthy. They need lots of fiber (hay) as well as pellet food,  fruit and vegetables.
• Rabbits are not low maintenance. It takes a great deal of work to properly care for a rabbit.
• Rabbits are social animals. They need a great deal of interaction with their owners and lots of play time outside of their cage.
• Rabbits chew on everything. They will chew through wires, wood anything. Areas that your rabbit is allowed to run loose must be rabbit proofed. Provide plenty of safe chew toys for your rabbit. I used to put my rabbit in a pen in the living room during his exercise time. This way you could keep a close on on him and make sure that he doesn’t get into any dangerous places.
• Rabbits  are much better off being kept indoors so they could be close to their owners and family. A large cage is necessary so that the rabbit has plenty of room to move around.
• Rabbits are quiet pets and are not a match with young children who could be too rough and possibly injure them,
• Rabbits like being around people but don’t like being held.
• Rabbits should be spayed or neutered like a cat or a dog.
• If a rabbit is ill, it is vital to get him medical attention immediately. Any disease could be fatal if not attended to my a veterinarian right away. Never try to administer pet medication to a rabbit without being directed to by your vet.
• If your rabbit stops eating and stops “pooping” get him to a vet right away. Rabbits cannot vomit so blockages in their digestive system are common.  Dwaft rabbits are even more prone to this. I had my rabbit at the vet many times throughout her life because of this problem.

Be certain that you will be able to care for that cute rabbit and make sure you’ve done your research before adopting one only to have to take it back to the shelter or have it die because the owner was not aware that it was ill!

Lots of things make us sick, there are germs everywhere but some reports have recently surfaced indicating that sleeping with our pets could make us sick. My cat has been sleeping in my bed for over 10 years.  This is certainly not good for allergy sufferers. In a February Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  (CDC)  paper  that was issued, researchers Bruno Chomel and Ben Sun detail a host of maladies — plague, parasites, other bad bacteria and, yes, cat scratch fever — that humans have contracted from sleeping next to or being licked by pets.

So given this information, should we worry?  Maybe, but diseases that are transmitted from pets to humans are rare but they could be very nasty if they do occur.

For those unwilling to kick our beloved cat or dog out of bed just yet, Chomel and Sun do offer some recommendations for reducing risk:

• Any area licked by a pet — especially for children or those with open wounds or a compromised immune system — should be immediately washed with soap and water.

• Pets should be regularly examined a veterinarian, routinely given  pet medication to depworm them and they should be kept free of parasites such as fleas.

• Treat puppies, or mama dogs during the last few weeks of pregnancy, with anthelmintics, drugs that expel parasitic worms.

Of course the risk is higher if your pet goes outdoors. Cats that  always stay indoors usually pose a low risk.

This is a small, happy dog that always has an inquisitive expression in it’s dark eyes.  It has a plumed tail and is often compared to a cotton ball because of it’s  curled double coat consisting of  a textured outer coat and a silky under coat. The coat is white but may have a creamed or apricot color around the ears or on the body.

According to information provided by the American Kennel Club, The Bichon Frise appeared in the 13th century as a descendent from the Water Spaniel. Traded by Spanish sailors and transported from continent to continent, the breed eventually became a favorite of those in the 16th century French royal courts. The breed was also favored by the painters of the Spanish school, who often included them in their works. Although the breed’s colorful past includes use as a circus dog, today the Bichon is enjoyed primarily as a companion animal.

The Bichon is a gentle dog . He’s also playful and loves exercise. He loves to fetch his dog toys and enjoys being played with often. They are also very good dogs for allergy sufferers because they don’t shed. Their hair keeps growing and must be groomed regularly.

We see rawhide dog treats everywhere and our dogs usually love them. They offer the dog something other than your slippers to chew on. However, what most people don’t know is that rawhide dog treats can be very dangerous to your dog.  Here are some facts you probably didn’t know about rawhide treats.

• Salmonella bacteria is often present especially if the rawhide comes from outside the US.  Another problem is that Arsenic is sometimes used as a preservative. Yes I did said ARSENIC! Other additives that are very dangerous include antibiotics which can kill the good bacteria in your dogs intestines.  Small traces of lead can also be found in rawhide.

Health problems from rawhide include a sore throat, acute Pancreatitis, choking and even a blockage in the intestines.

You know your dog better than anyone. If you’ve been giving him rawhide and he gets sick with symptoms like, fever, vomiting, not eating, painful abdomen (he will be hunched over) diarrhea and dehydration, get him to the vet right away. It could be due to the rawhide treats.

There are alternatives to rawhide.  Like dog cookies and treats. Ask your vet for the best advice.