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 you...

Dogs can exist on a diet of meat, fruit, and vegetables. The benefits of supplements are overwhelming and can add several healthy years to your dog?s life. Lifestyle and the foods and nutrients our pets receive make up 70 percent of their longevity, and 80-90 percent of the diseases in dogs are due to the degenerative processes that come with aging. Major health changes occur in a short amount of time in dogs, as they age seven times faster than people (on the average). Ag...

Your dog is fat. OK, possibly not. But there's a very good chance he or she is, and you don't even know it. Statistics vary, but veterinarians report that as many as 25 - 44% of all dogs are overweight, and that obesity is the number-one canine health disorder. Obesity is defined as weighing over 15% more than the standard accepted weight for the dog's height. With nearly half of our dogs weighing in on the heavy side, it's no surprise, then, that obesity-related con...

Barking is the dog?s instinctive means of giving a warning and it would be against your interest to discourage it. However, once you have been alerted, your dog should realize that his job is done. So select a word of praise, such as ?Good Dog? or ?Okay?, or command such as ?quiet?, and give your dog a pat to indicate that he must now be still. Hysterical barking such as during a thunderstorm, can be treated by reassurance, companionship, distraction, or if all else fails ...

The most common oral condition suffered by dogs is periodontal disease. This disease affects the tissues that surround and support the teeth. Plaque is the usual cause of periodontal disease. It gradually covers the teeth, quickly hardening into tartar. The bacteria in plaque irritate the gums, causing them to swell. This swelling is called gingivitis. Each day the gums grow more inflamed, producing other damaging bacteria, causing the gums to recede. Over time the tooth b...

Canine cough or Kennel Cough is actually bronchitis, characterized by a harsh, hacking cough. The disease is highly contagious, transmitted by air and wind currents contaminated by cough and sneeze droplets from infected canines. Kennel cough is actually a complex of infections, chief of which is Bordetella Bronchiseptice. Bordetella is able to render the normal respiratory tracts safeguards against infections inoperable. It disables the immune cells that normally destroy ...

Parvovirus was first identified in 1977 and can infect dogs of all ages, but usually strikes young unvaccinated puppies under the age of 6 weeks. Most puppies acquire temporary parvo-destroying antibodies by ingesting them through their mother?s first milk, (colostrums). Puppies should be vaccinated starting at 6 to 9 weeks of age, and then every three weeks until they reach 16 weeks. Afterwards, yearly boosters are recommended. Veterinarians can now test for the presence ...

Ask anyone who owns a dog, and they?ll tell you that dog lover gifts rank high on their ?must have? list for holidays and birthdays. It?s not at all uncommon to see dog owners sporting all types of paraphernalia celebrating their pooches and their respective breeds. What gives? Why do dog owners love to proclaim their canine love so loudly? Perhaps the answer lies in the role that dogs play in society?and in American families. Today, over 65 million dogs live their lives i...

Dog Agility competitions are seen frequently on television. The eyes of most pet owners have seen this amazing sport and would some how like their dog to be introduced to the equipment for fun and for exercise. The competition size equipment may be larger than the pet owner needs or wants to invest in so, many are introducing their dog to ?mini? equipment. Mini-agility equipment still provides lots of mental and physical stimulation to your dog, but without bulk of competi...

Is your dog home alone? Does your pup get excited as soon as you open the door? She probably does because she misses you; she?s lonely and wants companionship as well as physical and mental stimulation. Doggy day care may be your answer. Doggie day cares work the same as human day cares, with a drop off and pickup time, with a safe and healthy interaction with other dogs and people in between. You should tour the facility checking for health conditions and how their staff ...