PetLvr.com - [The Blog]

This post was submitted as part of the Pet ‘Net Adoption Event 2008 to heighten awareness about animal shelter adoption.Please visit your local shelter, or Human Society location and ADOPT A PET if you can. Your continued support is essential to enhancing the quality of life for all animals and there are several ways you can help, besides adoption, which includes donations, fostering, volunteering, etc. Here’s HOW YOU CAN HELP support my local Winnipeg Humane Society. Thank-You. // HART

* Reprinted from The WHS Newsletter – Spring 2008

More →

Let me begin by saying that, as a pet rat owner and fancier, I detest the mill-style breeding that Rainbow Exotics practices. As a result of these conditions, as well as the treatment of animals seen in stores, I avoid shopping at Petco or Petsmart whenever possible. In general, I prefer Petsmart if I must choose to shop at a chain pet store that sells live animals, because they keep only one gender of mammals at a time and do not sell live feeders. However, I was forced to enter Petco today due to a crisis– no cat litter left, and Petsmart was out of our brand– and was pleased to see some changes occurring.

Changes at Local Petco Stores

More →

Many people seeking a new pet bypass the adoption option for one reason or another. While there are certainly some situations in which purchasing from a reputable, responsible breeder is ideal, consider this list of five myths about pet adoption before bypassing rescue to look for a breeder.

1. Shelter dogs are all mutts.

More →

This is a guest post from my friend Brigid from Blog Catalog who is the author and artist of Mary Quite Contrary (MQC) and just happens to be quite the “BunnyLvr”

Meet Giol Everybody!

More →

RHD or Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease is a condition that may occur in domestic rabbits. Some signs are easy to detect, such as a foamy, bloody nasal discharge or flipping excitedly inside their cage. Symptoms do vary and include lethargy, rapid and substantial weight loss, and others. Regrettably, it’s often the case that by the time the symptoms become evident there is little a pet owner can do.

The disease is caused by a virus that has been identified, called a calicivirus. Though formerly limited to China, Europe and a few other areas, it has been known in the U.S. since 2000. Since then, cases have been diagnosed in several states such as Iowa, Indiana, New York and Utah. With a distribution that wide, it could potentially occur anywhere.

More →

Marking occurs when rabbits urinate (or, sometimes, defecate) in order to secure territory, to encourage others to stay away. It’s a natural behavior, just as it is with dogs, cats and other species. But, since domestic rabbits tend to spend so much more time indoors than these other animals, it can be a bigger problem. Also, dogs don’t tend to mark territory by urinating indoors. Rabbits are less particular.

Sometimes marking behavior is brought on by stress. Keeping the environment free of startling noises, falling objects and other dangers will help reduce the odds. Rabbits evolved in circumstances where they were prey for many other species. That tended to produce a species that is somewhat timid and easily unnerved. Like deer, they’ll run at the first sign of trouble. Removing stimulants from their environment can help reduce the odds of that reaction.

More →

Many people get a rabbit for a pet, thinking they can just put it in a cage. They take it out on the rare occasions they feel like it. But that isn’t very beneficial for the rabbit and provides the pet owner with more problems in the long run. Rabbits are not mechanical toys. They require care.

One area where owners will often short that care is in seeking the services of an experienced veterinarian, one with a knowledge of rabbits. Many vets are excellent with dogs and cats but have few opportunities to treat rabbits, so their skills are limited. Many owners will throw up their hands and simply let the rabbit die when it’s ill then get another. A regrettable situation.

More →

What is ‘proper’ in a rabbit’s diet depends on what kind of creature it is. And since rabbits are herbivores, they need to be fed exclusively plant material - grains, vegetables and the occasional fruit.

Rabbits need substantial grassy fiber and a good deal of vegetable protein. They have fairly delicate digestive systems and they can’t vomit anything which disagrees with them. So, it’s necessary to be careful to ensure they get the right foods in the right proportion.

More →

Rabbits are cute as heck, everyone agrees. And it’s true. But rabbit owners know that their little friends have natural behaviors, some would say instincts, that can make them destructive.

Rabbits are no respecters of property, so you have to be vigilant. Letting them out of the cage to enjoy running around is important for their health and amusing for their owner. But left unsupervised, they’ll usually get into what the owner would call trouble pretty quickly. The rabbit would call it having fun.

More →

Many people treat their dog as a tool. They put it outside to watch the property, or generally ignore it until they want it for something. That’s tragic. But luckily that sort of thing happens rarely with owners of rabbits. Rabbit owners will often pay much more attention to keeping their rabbit safe from harm and ensuring its well being.

Not always easy to do.

More →