Pet Insurance – What’s The Point?

Posted on February 3, 2011 by admin



A survey published by Mintel recently revealed that 1 in 3 pets need an unplanned visit to the vet every year. So the odds that you’ll be making a claim on your pet insurance are higher than the chances of you claiming on your home & contents policy or your motor insurance.

The word “unplanned” is key here. We don’t mean routine treatments such as vaccinations or worming, you won’t find a pet insurance policy that covers preventative treatments. Nor you will you able to get cover for ‘elective treatments’, like neutering for example. Basically, the common reasons for visiting the vet cannot be insured against.

As I’m sure you’re aware, it’s the unplanned visits that are the expensive ones! Animal care has progressed a lot in recent years, and all kinds of maladies can be treated, at a horrendous cost. Emergency care is always expensive, and if your cat gets run over, you could be looking at Continue reading →

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Danger to Your Rabbitry – PAWS Legislation

Posted on February 3, 2011 by admin



Many of us have heard some of the horror stories of puppy mills.
News programs describe the unsanitary conditions, the uncontrolled breeding and the poor condition of the animals.
Congress has responded by introducing a billed called the Pet Animal Welfare Statue of 2005. This bill is an amendment to the Animal Welfare Act. It’s in the Senate as bill S1139 and in the House as HR2669. Currently this bill is in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry’s Subcommittee on Research, Nutrition and General Legislation. Its most recent hearing on this bill was held on November 8.

On the surface one would think that this bill is a good thing. However, after taking a closer look clearly this bill is designed to do more than regulate the poor conditions of puppy mills. In fact this bill reaches breeders of all types including Continue reading →

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Getting Ready For Your Pet Bunny Rabbit

Posted on February 3, 2011 by admin



Children are naturally innately drawn to cute, cuddle-y little creatures, and they will probably want to pick up, stroke and play with your new pet rabbit. But while this may be tempting, it’s potentially quite dangerous — both to the bunny and to your child.

Rabbits are sociable animals and generally like human companionship, but unlike dogs and some cats, they do not enjoy the same type of close contact. They are ground-dwelling creatures and prefer to have all they’re legs on the ground. If your child tries to pick up your new pet, the rabbit will likely squirm, claw and perhaps even fall to the floor. Moreover, children may want to rough-house with their new pet, but rabbits can easily be harmed by such behavior, because their bodies are so fragile. Continue reading →

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Gastrointestinal stasis: What is and why it is so dangerous for some rabbits

Posted on February 3, 2011 by admin



Gastrointestinal stasis (or G.I. stasis) is a serious and potentially fatal condition that occurs in some rabbits in which gut motility is severely reduced and possibly completely stopped. Treatment should be sought immediately from a veterinarian specializing in exotic animals and with significant rabbit experience. When untreated or improperly treated, G.I. stasis can be fatal in as little as 24 hours.

G.I. stasis is the condition of food not moving through the gut as quickly as normal. The gut contents may dehydrate and compact into a hard, immobile mass (impacted gut), blocking the digestive tract of the rabbit. Food in an immobile gut may also ferment, causing significant gas buildup and resultant gas pain for the rabbit. Continue reading →

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What Should You Feed Your Pet Rabbit

Posted on February 3, 2011 by admin



One of the most important aspects of properly caring for a pet rabbit is providing him with a healthy, satisfying, and well-balanced diet.

Fortunately, doing so is relatively easy, since there is general consensus about what is good for rabbits and a wide range of great food pellet options. Rabbits can also eat many of the fruits and veggies that you probably have on your dinner table every night (see below for recommendations and portions).

Pellets

Rabbit pellets, available at your local pet store, on the internet, or through mail-order, can be a backbone of your pet’s diet. They provide many nutrients in a dense fashion, and they make your job as a feeder so easy. However, you don’t need pellets to keep your rabbit healthy. Hay, veggies and the occasional treat of fruits can be an equally or even more effective diet. After all, rabbits in the wild subsist on hay, grass, and veggies … why should domestic rabbits be any different? On the other hand, Continue reading →

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Choosing a Pet Rabbit Thats Right For You

Posted on February 3, 2011 by admin



Having a pet rabbit can be such a rewarding experience. But with all the breeds, sizes and colors, how do you select the rabbit that is just right for you? This article will help you select that perfect rabbit.

Choosing the right rabbit for you and your family can be a very exciting process. There are currently over 40 recognized breeds of rabbits. Many of the breeds have multiple varieties and colors. Rabbits range in size from 2 pounds to over 10 pounds. So the choices are very abundant.

Many breeders give different answers regarding the preferred gender for a pet rabbit. This is compounded by the individual temperament of the rabbit. Often a doe (girl rabbit) that is not spayed, can become territorial was she reaches maturity. She may nip at you when reaching for her or even her food or water dishes. Some does will eliminate that aggression when a familiar face does the feeding on a daily basis. Some does we’ve found to be non-aggressive, and yet others can become territorial towards everybody, but that is very rare. If you do not plan to breed your rabbit, and you want a doe, it is best to have her spayed to help reduce the chances that she may protect her den. Continue reading →

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Caring For Your First Rabbit

Posted on February 3, 2011 by admin



Rabbits make wonderful indoor pets for first time pet owners. In fact, many domestic rabbits are meant to be kept indoors.
Domestic rabbits are not like their wild cousins; they do not fair well in extreme temperatures. They also do not react well to predators. Domestic rabbits are very attentive and affectionate. They care about their owners and are very social. Domestic rabbits are meant to be played with and loved by the entire family.

The choice of whether you keep your rabbit in a cage or allow him to roam freely is up to you. If you do opt to keep your rabbit in a cage, you should make sure that he is allowed to get out of his cage every day so he can exercise. When purchasing a cage for your rabbit, you should take into account how big he will be when he is mature and purchase a cage that is five times that size. Your rabbit’s cage should be big enough for him to sit up on his hind legs. You should also put cardboard or a Continue reading →

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Find the Best Pet Rabbit Breed

Posted on February 2, 2011 by admin



Rabbits make such popular pets. Children especially find them adorable. Of course, our culture sees rabbits as both pets and as food. Rabbits are raised for their meat and wild rabbits are hunted for sport. But despite the pet or prey paradox rabbits are always a popular pet choices. They are naturally seen as cute, and are aloof, almost cat-like in their character. Pet rabbits are normally kept in a tabbit hutch outside but some owners do allow them to go free in their homes.

There are many different breeds of rabbit ranging from large breeds, medium and small rabbit breeds. The more popular for the western and European nations are the Angora and the Rex rabbit breed. Continue reading →

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Before Acquiring a Pet Rabbit

Posted on February 2, 2011 by admin



Acquiring a RabbitRabbits have been kept as pets in the Western nations since the 1800s. Once aclimatised, Rabbits can adjust well to indoor life, and can even be trained to use a litter box or tray. As is tthe case with all pets, pet rabbits need a considerable amount of care and attention.

Because of suspicions that some pet stores sell cross bred rabbits, often people purchase rabbits from a specialised breeder. Such a breeder who has a litter of young rabbits available for sale can be found in the newspaper classified ads listed under “Pets” or “Livestock.” Some can be found through rabbit breeders’ club publications or through rabbit-related magazines, which will often include a breeder listing. Many breeders advertise their stock online. Continue reading →

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