General Care

Do you think of bunnies as just quiet, docile companions that are good Easter basket ornaments? Maybe you should reconsider that image. Rabbits actually have active and lively personalities. More active at dawn and dusk (at which time bunnies may become quite rambunctious!) they love running, jumping, digging, and climbing.

Remember those not so distant days spent studying American history? It was always tough to keep all of the early explorers straight. It seems like they were always on the hunt for gold, with a few notable exceptions: Ponce de Leon trampled all over the state of Florida looking for what the Indians told him was the “Fountain of Youth.” Obviously that wasn’t the case, but today we may have the first nutritional supplements that just might help us keep a youthful appearance and vigor in the form of antioxidants.

The Labrador retriever is again the top breed in the United States, having maintained that coveted spot for most of the last two decades. The German shepherd has, however, replaced the Yorkshire terrier for the number two spot, moving the Yorkie to number three.

Rounding out the top ten are golden retrievers in the number 4 spot, followed by beagles, boxers, bulldogs, dachshunds, poodles, and the Shih Tzu.

When is the best age to have your pet spayed or neutered?  Should you even get your dog spayed or neutered?  Does having your dog or cat spayed or neutered enhance their life and prevent the onset of disease?   The answer may be more complicated than you think.  Do you think there are only advantages to having your pet altered?  Guess again.  There may be a larger downside than you expected. 

Resembling a cross between the American Longhorn and a Yak, the Scottish Highland breed is ancient and is one of the purest and rarest breeds of cattle known today. It is estimated that their numbers are fewer than 10,000 worldwide, with most of the population surviving in the United States and Canada.

Scottish Highland cattle date back to the sixth century. They are believed to be the product of blending two ancient Asiatic breeds: the Bos primigenius and the Bos longifrons.

Want an unusual herp that is easy to keep? Try the axolotl. A native of Mexico, the axolotl is also known as the aquatic salamander, or the mole salamander. The axolotl is a neotenic amphibian whose scientific name is Ambystoma mexicanum. Neotinic amphibians are amphibians that do not undergo metamorphosis, under normal circumstances, from the larval to adult stages. The axolotl remains aquatic throughout its lifetime. This salamander never leaves the confines of water.

Has your dog suddenly developed a soft swelling to the side of the rectum? Has your dog been straining to defecate? Is your dog a male that hasn’t been neutered? Then that swelling may not be your dog’s anal glands, but rather a perineal hernia.

The Chesapeake Bay retriever is a native of Maryland in the United States. This water dog evolved with the breeding of Newfoundlands and English Otter Hounds with local retrievers, including curly-coated and flat-coated retrievers, back in the early 1800’s.

The breed was developed for its keen intelligence and a willingness to retrieve no matter how harsh the weather or how icy the water. This breed is considered to be the toughest of the water retrievers. They are named for the Chesapeake Bay area from which they hail.

Do you own a collie or an Australian shepherd?  Have you been cautioned that they may be particularly sensitive to certain drugs, or have you heard not to give them certain medications?

Tall, lean, and built for speed, the greyhound is the fastest breed of dog.  With a sharp eye it is classified as a sight hound.  Originally bred as a racing dog they are now accepted as sweet and personable companions.  As part of the hound family they can have some stubborn personality traits.  They are not hyper and will spend much of their day resting in preparation, conserving their energy, until required to utilize their great bursts of speed.