pet food, pet meds, pet accessories, pet STUFF!!

<h5>Food ~ What should my rabbit be eating?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_pet_photo_69.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>This is almost certainly going to surprise you.</p> <p>Did you know that rabbits are strict herbivores and need (and enjoy!) a diet of 80%-90% grass or hay? Yep! It's true! It's not all about fresh fruit and veg ~ in fact, it's absolutely <em>not </em>all about that. Gooooood ol' hay, and you're sorted.</p> <p>But what about that last 10%-20%? Well, bring on the fresh green veggies (e.g. cauliflower or kale, etc.) and a small amount of healthy treats (such as fruit and other colourful veggies) and good quality pellets (say 5%).</p> <p>It probably goes without saying that diet is very important, so don't make too many assumptions ~ give your rabbit what he <em>really</em> needs!</p> <p> </p></div>

<h5>Teeth Brushing ~ Should I or Shouldn't I?</h5> <p>Teeth brushing!!? For pets!!?? Oh my goodness!! What is the world coming to?!</p> <p>Well, that's probably too philosophical a question for us humble pet owners, so just know this: the less effort and time you put into your dog's or cat's teeth at home, the more likely you will face serious dental issues (and costs) in the future. Yep, it's a sad truth.</p> <p>Dental plaque and tartar build up on your dog's teeth just like it does with us humanoids, so brushing your pet's teeth once daily is best.</p> <p>Once daily!? Can you even <i>imagine</i> doing it this often?</p> <p>It <i>is</i> a lot of work, that's true. Furthermore, some dogs and cats <i>really</i> don't like having their teeth brushed (especially those chompers at the back), which of course will make the job all that more difficult and tiresome, for both of you. But if you get the right tools of the trade (at pretty much any pet shop) and keep at it, the difference will amaze you. Truly. And in fact, if you can't manage it every day, or even every week, then just do what you can whenever you can, because within reason, in this case, <i>something</i> is always better than <i>nothing</i>.</p> <p>This said, there are alternatives to brushing (yay!)... but they're not quite as good (boo!). Dental gels can be rubbed on the gums, and there are products which you can put in their drinking water to help reduce the bacterial load in the mouth. And dental chews of various shapes and sizes do exist, which may or may not be beneficial ~ you'll need to try them and see!</p> <p>Ultimately, if you notice bad breath on your pet or are in any way worried about their teeth, a quick veterinary check will let you know if you need to have your pet's teeth scaled and polished (just like you do when you go to the dental hygienist yourself) ~ most pets will need this done as they get older ~ usually yearly.</p> <p>So what's the point of home dental care if you gotta visit the vet anyway? Well, seriously, frequency of need and cost ~ and the comfort of your pet, of course. You'd be very surprised how many dogs and cats are not feeling as well as you might think, until you see the difference after they've been to the vet for a cleaning and, sometimes, extraction of rotting teeth and sore gums.</p> <p>Sorry folks, but that's the tooth.</p>

<h5>Chewing, chewing, chewing... EVERYTHING! I love my dog BUT...</h5> <p>It's times like these when you just KNOW you LOVE your dog!</p> <p>Good dogs destroy things, bad dogs destroy things (is there such a thing as a bad dog? NO WAY!). And the reasons for it are plentiful (though you can be excused for thinking that the reason it happens only when you're not at home is some deep-rooted evil).</p> <p>If your dog is young, chewing things is usually normal and necessary behaviour, and is often out of boredom. Young dogs really do need lots of stimulation and to be given toys that will stimulate them (whether you're away from home or not) round-the-clock.</p> <p>But there are other causes of DEEEEEESTRUCTION(!) which are more fear/phobia-related than boredom or youth. Your dog may chew on stuff in order to calm herself down, for example, or she might chew on whatever perceived obstacle stands in her way and where she wants to get to for a greater feeling a safety.</p> <p>And then there's <i>separation anxiety</i>, which can be a serious behavioural condition with one possible result being severe destruction of the area your dog is in, possibly so severe that your dog might even cause harm to herself in her attempt to escape or from sheer manic fear and anxiety, with no particular goal in mind.</p> <p>If she's young, get toys ~ lots of them, and hardy ones. If you think the problem is something more than youthfulness, get advice. Yes, your vet is a good place to start but there are also very knowledgeable people in good kennels and dog behaviourists. Whatever the course you take, take <em>some</em> course, because no one wants to stop loving their dog due to really destructive, unhappy behaviour.</p>

<h5>Human medication ~ Can I give it to my pet?</h5> <p>Good question! And the good answer? Well... <strong>Yes</strong> and <strong>No</strong>, of course!</p> <p>Some medications used for pets are the very same as those used for humans and can definitely be given safely. It is <strong><em>strongly</em></strong> advised, however, even though you might be able to get the medication on your own at a pharmacy or elsewhere, that you <span>always</span> do this only under the guidance of your vet. Makes sense, right? Just because the medication is easily available, does no harm to you or your pet, and may indeed help with whatever ails, it's only a trained vet who will really know the precisely correct form of that medication, the strength of the drug to use, the correct dosage to administer, and the correct period of time during which to administer it. So, yes, but be thoughtful about this and don't make assumptions. Truth is that some medications are toxic to pets (e.g. Advil) even in small amounts and can cause serious illness, from stomach ulcers to kidney failure.</p>