The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Cute Bunny Love: Wild Rabbit Falls in Love with a Pet Rabbit


Bunny loves to spend her days in front the sliding door, especially when the sun is nice and hot. That day, the wild rabbits were running around outside, “chasing each other because it’s mating time,” When one particular wild rabbit saw Bunny, and decided that she was the love of his life. whenever Bunny leaves the room, he waits anxiously for her return.

It’s adorable to see these two make contact and give each other bunny kisses… but it’s probably best that they are separated by the screen door. It wouldn’t be a wise idea to let the rabbit in.”



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Researchers Recently Caught a Glimpse of a White Giraffe in the Tanzania's Tarangire National Park


Researchers recently caught a glimpse of a white giraffe named Omo in the Tanzania's Tarangire National Park.

Wild Nature Institute researchers first spotted the unusual giraffe when she was a calf during a population survey in 2015, according to a statement from the organization.

“A local lodge guide christened her Omo, after a popular brand of detergent here,” the organization, which conducts scientific research, said in a blog post.

While Omo may appear to be an albino, she is actually leucistic, according to the organization.

“One way to tell the difference between albino and leucistic animals is that albino individuals lack melanin everywhere, including in the eyes, so the resulting eye color is red from the underlying blood vessels,” the organization said.

While researchers were pleased to see that Omo survived her first year, she has a long road ahead, according to ecologist and Wild Nature Institute founder Derek Lee, the Telegraph reported.

“She survived her first year as a small calf, which is the most dangerous time for a young giraffe due to lion, leopard and hyena preying on them,” Lee told the Telegraph.

Lee said Omo's chances for reaching adulthood are good, but she may be at heightened risk of poaching because of her unique coloring, the Telegraph reported.



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Monday, January 25, 2016

Washington, DC - A Video Captured a Herd of Deer Frolicking in the Snow in Cleveland Park – January 23, 2016


The scene in Washington, D.C. on Saturday is a sea of white, thanks to a crippling storm that could dump up to 30 inches of snow in some areas.

While the potentially historic blizzard is extremely dangerous, the local wildlife in D.C. seem to be enjoying themselves. A video captured in Cleveland Park in the early morning hours on Saturday shows a herd of deer frolicking carelessly in the snowy conditions.








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Adorable Frightened Sloth Rescued by Transit Police in Ecuador


Transit police in Ecuador noticed this sloth struggling to cross Quevedo's recently opened highway. Officer Aguayo stopped his patrol car to go check on the 'oso perezoso,' as they're known in the area. That translates to 'lazy bear.'

The sloth was taken to a veterinarian who specializes these types of creatures. The little guy was determined to be OK and taken back to its habitat.

After the sloth was found, checked out and released, the executive director of the Ecuador Transit Commission gave order that all animals found on streets and highways have to be immediately attended to.





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Ludivine, Marathon, Pet, Pet Adoption, Pet Health, Puppy, Trackless Trek, Trackless Trek Half Marathon,


A dog that accidentally entered a half marathon after being let out to pee by its owner ended up finishing seventh in the race.

The impressive performance was by a two-year-old bloodhound called Ludivine from the town of Elkmount, Alabama.

Her owner April Hamlin, 43, let the dog out to take care of her private doggy business, only for her to wag her tail into the Trackless Trek half marathon in the town.

Instead of stopping, Ludivine kept ploughing her way around the course and ended up finishing in seventh place overall in an impressive time of just under 1 hr 33 minutes.

On their Facebook page, they wrote: “This is Ludivine – she ran the entire half marathon and finished 7th overall with a time of 1:32.56.”

Ms. Hamlin said she only became aware of Ludivine’s escapade when her friends started sending her photos of her dog at the finish line.

“My first reaction was that I was embarrassed and worried that she had possibly gotten in the way of the other runners,” she told Runner’s World.

“All I did was open the door, and she ran the race on her own accord.

“She’s laid back and friendly, so I can’t believe she ran the whole half marathon because she’s actually really lazy.”





Unfortunately, the race results omitted Ludivine, posting instead the time of her guider Jon Elmore, who completed the race at the exact same time.



Ludivine pads along beside participants at the first half marathon to be held in Elkmont, Alabama.PHOTOGRAPH BY WERUNHUNTSVILLE/GREGG GELMIS





Ludivine took off with runners from the start of the race downtown. PHOTOGRAPH BY WERUNHUNTSVILLE/GREGG GELMIS




Tim Horvath ran most of the race alongside Ludivine. PHOTOGRAPH BY WERUNHUNTSVILLE/GREGG GELMIS




Ludivine makes her final strides to the finish line; the pup poses with her finisher's medal.PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF JAKE ARMSTRONG/APRIL HAMLIN



Ludivine dog-tired the day following the Elkmont Half-Marathon. Photo: April Hamlin (owner).


Ludivine in her early days. Photo: April Hamlin (owner).


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Man Takes a Fish from a Freezer Drops it into a Metal Tank: It Comes Alive


It sounds like a straight-to-DVD horror film, but zombie fish are now a terrifying reality.

Footage has surfaced showing a group of men removing a fish from a freezer and dropping it into a small metal tank

The fish floats motionless for about a minute – before stirring its fins and emitting a few bubbles then gliding around the tank, appearing to have been brought back to life.

It’s unclear when or where the baffling video - which was uploaded this week to social media - was filmed.

This is not the first time frozen animals have been resurrected: in December a family brought a kitten back to life in Utah, America, after performing CPR on the animal in front of a fireplace.

In an even more far-fetched example, Japanese researchers have this month revived a water bear that have been frozen for 30 years and survived.

Not only did the microanimal survive three decades entombed in ice, but it laid 19 eggs – and 14 of them successfully hatched.





The baffling video shows a group of men remove the fish from a freezer and drop it into a metal tank




After lying motionless for about a minute the fish emits some bubbles and begins gliding around the tank




In December a family in Utah brought a frozen kitten back to life by performing CPR in front of a fireplace 


This month Japanese researchers revived a 'water bear' that had been frozen for 30 years - and the microanimal even laid 19 eggs – 14 of which hatched

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Helpful Tips to Keep Those Long-Haired Kitties Looking Marvelous


While long-haired cats may be beautiful, sometimes people are apprehensive to have one because of the extra work they might think will be involved. Long-haired cats have a certain appeal to them and if you look past the grooming, they can make a great choice for a companion.

1. The softer the coat, the more grooming required

This is a general rule of thumb that you can apply to long-haired cats. While some coats never seem to develop tangles, cats with softer and silkier coats seem to tangle easier and will require a bit more grooming. To properly upkeep and prevent against tangles that can become painful mats, daily brushing is recommended. And you will find that most cats enjoy being brushed or combed so don’t be surprised if you get a rise out of your cat each time you break out the grooming tool.



2. Older cats may need more assistance

Although cats are thought to be self-grooming, an older cat may have a trying time keeping their fur looking sharp. With age comes lack of energy and the task of grooming may prove too much of a chore for a tired, aging cat. Help them out with daily brushes so they can look and feel good all the time regardless of age.



3. Flat-faced cats may need help in hard to reach spots

 
Brachycephalic breeds, such as Persians and Himalayans, have distinct “pushed in” faces and will need assistance grooming the areas around their eyes to prevent from tear-staining and eye infections. If practiced routinely your cat should become accustomed and not seem to mind too much with repetition.



4. Overweight cats need a little extra

If your cat is significantly large, they may have difficulty contorting their bodies to get those hard to reach places around their tail and buttocks. By helping them out with brushing in this area this works to eliminate the possibility of excess clumping or tangles. For heavier cats bathing might be a necessity to keep them sanitary and avoid the risk of infection.



5. Bathing for your cat

Yes, it’s true that cats bathe themselves routinely, but giving your cat a bath about once per month may be needed to help with keeping kitty fresh. The more hair a cat has means more grooming, and for older or overweight cats they may need some extra help keeping themselves tidy. If you would like your cat smelling fresh all of the time, start from a young age implementing a bath into their routine so that they can get used to taking regular baths.



6. No need to hire a professional

Contrary to what some might believe, grooming for long-haired cats can be done at home and doesn’t require professional grooming unless absolutely necessary. With regular grooming this will keep your cat looking great and not have to worry about being transported to the groomer–which if it’s anything like the vet, your cat will not be particularly fond of.



7. More grooming by you, less hairballs for them

Every cat is prone to the occasional hairball, but with all that hair long-haired cats are more susceptible to these unpleasantries. Regular grooming will help reduce the number of hairballs a long-haired cat produces as their digestive systems can only break down so much hair at a time. Which will also be nice as cats love leaving these unsightly cat byproducts in the least desirable of places… directly under your feet where you walk.
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Meet Piglet, The Adorable Cleft-Lip Kitty


The first thing you notice about Piglet is her nose. This dinky white kitty with black-and-gray accents suffers from a cleft lip, which gives her a certain resemblance to the A. A. Milne character of the same name.

She’s also experienced a turbulent start to life, but now this kitty is blooming into a champion for special needs cats.

Also, Snoop Dogg has Piglet’s back.
I’ll explain more on that one later, but for now let’s get to Piglet’s tale.

Piglet was originally part of a litter that was orphaned at just a few days old. Thankfully, two veterinary technicians stepped in and bottle-raised Piglet and her pals.

“She was a lot of work as a baby,” says a friend of the vet technicians, who’d shortly become become Piglet’s mom after becoming smitten with a picture of her. “Although she didn’t have many complications from her cleft, her litter was not very healthy.”

Recounting her first meeting with Piglet, her mom says, “She was mostly nose! Her eyes were closed, and her ears hadn’t stood up yet. The first time I met her in person was when she was about 1 and a half weeks old, and I immediately fell in love with her. She loved being held, and I thought her nose was extremely cute!”

While Piglet’s personality shone through from the start — and her mom describes her as “very social and loving” but also “adventurous and brave” — her cleft lip situation was cause to be cautious.

“So far there have not been any complications due to her cleft lip,” explains her mom. “We are lucky that her palate is 100 percent intact, and, despite having a unique nose, her breathing is completely normal.”

She adds that Piglet’s lower jaw is technically shorter than her top jaw, and that the disparity might cause some future dental issues, but for now it’s a case of “waiting to see how things develop as she grows.”

Helping Piglet’s cause is the fact that her mom is also a vet tech at a speciality and emergency hospital — so this little darling is going to be constantly surrounded by veterinary experts all keeping a close eye on her development.

Along with the interest of the local veterinary community, Piglet is also growing up in the public eye thanks to her burgeoning Instagram account.  With her social media profile blooming, she’s all about showing the world that “a physical difference is not a disability — cats with physical differences are unique and beautiful in their own way,” her mom says. “Just look at Piglet’s account and see how many people have embraced her unique look and love her little lip and nose!”

Along with her online following, Piglet has also picked up a fan by the name of Snoop Dogg — although in this case it’s not the rapper (who, incidentally, owns cats), but another feline living in her forever home.

“The majority of their interactions include Piglet play-attacking Snoop Dogg and stalking his tail,” says her mom. “Luckily, Snoop is very tolerant and just stands there and allows her to do it. Their relationship is like that of an older brother taking care of his little sister.”

Head over to Piglet’s Instagram account to follow her story.










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Sunday, January 24, 2016

Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS): “Overcoming Obstacles: Starting An Exotic Bird Shelter Program” Webinar on 1/26/16


Starting an exotic bird program in a shelter environment is challenging, but “winging it” is not a solution when birds arrive. Bring your FAQ to our ‪#‎GFAS ‪#‎AvianRoundtable webinar on 1/26/16. Register: http://bit.ly/AvianRT

“Overcoming Obstacles: Starting An Exotic Bird Shelter Program”

Tuesday, January 26, 2016 1:30 p.m. EST
Presenter: Anthony Pilny, DVM, ABVP (Avian)

Caring for exotic birds in a shelter environment is challenging. In fact, many shelters feel they cannot accommodate birds at all.  But “winging it” is not a solution when birds arrive at your shelter.

Join us for a frank discussion that examines what factors are standing in the way of your shelter’s ability to take in, to expand, or to improve capacity for exotic birds.

Bring us your questions and let our experts offer practical solutions to help you overcome the common obstacles to make your facility a safe haven for birds in need!

Whether your shelter takes in hundreds of birds, less than 10 a year, or doesn’t take in birds at all – this forum is for you!

Register for this Webinar HERE.
  




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Saturday, January 23, 2016

Washington, DC - Smithsonian National Zoo: Tian Tian, the Giant Panda Frolicking in the Snow


The Smithsonian National Zoo shared a video of its giant panda Tian Tian frolicking in the snow.

While most D.C. residents hunkered down to ride out the storm, at least one was having the time of his life.

The Smithsonian National Zoo shared a video of its giant panda Tian Tian frolicking in the snow Saturday morning. In the video, Tian Tian rolled down a snowy hill, covering himself in the white stuff.

Unfortunately, you won't get to see Tian Tian's snow dance in person. The National Zoo is closed through Sunday because of the severe weather. But hopefully, the adorable video above will hold you over.
Snow will continue to fall across the D.C. metro area Saturday, creating near whiteout conditions when combined with wind gusts of up to 30 mph. A blizzard warning is in effect for the D.C. area until Sunday at 6 a.m.












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Friday, January 22, 2016

Warnings - The Dangers of Shoveling Snow: Why Some People Drop Dead While Shoveling Snow


Each approaching blizzard brings warnings about the dangers of shoveling snow, an activity that sends thousands of Americans to emergency rooms each winter. Don't tackle the walkway if you aren't in good enough shape, say the experts. You can get hurt or, even worse, trigger a heart attack or stroke.

Medically speaking, a person is indeed more likely to keel over while heaving snow than, say, jogging on a treadmill. But why?

"Physically, what happens when you get really cold is you have constriction of the blood vessels," says Lawrence Phillips, a cardiologist at NYU Langone Medical Center. "It decreases the blood supply you're getting to your vital organs."

That's bad news for people with heart problems, diabetes or high blood pressure. But just as big a problem is that many people dig in despite not having exercised in weeks or months or years. "If you haven't been exercising and you haven't been exerting yourself, this is not the time to start," Phillips said. "The amount of work that goes into shoveling snow is tremendous. ... People will underestimate the amount of work they are doing."

At the gym, he noted, it's easy to hop off a treadmill when you start feeling winded or to slip out of that spin class early. But shoveling snow tends to be a "goal-oriented" activity. Call it pride, stubbornness or maybe naivete, but men especially tend to keep at it until the job is finished -- or, too often, until disaster strikes.

"They are pushing to clear a driveway or a sidewalk," Phillips said, "and they aren't thinking about how their bodies are responding to that."

William Suddath, an interventional cardiologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, likens it to "beginning a weightlifting program in freezing temperatures without any preparation."

Suddath has witnessed the consequences firsthand. During the epic "Snowmaggedon" that hit the Washington region in 2010, his hospital saw a wave of emergencies involving people who'd suffered heart attacks while shoveling the mountains of snow.

"Heart attack rates go up, sudden deaths go up," he said, with the weather often preventing paramedics from reaching people as quickly as they otherwise might. "Some heart attacks likely will not be reversed as they could have been in another situation. It's a major problem during a snowstorm when you just can't get to patients."





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Thursday, January 21, 2016

What You Should Dog If You See a Dog Shivering in the Cold


Do you know what to do if you see a dog shivering in the cold? Even with their thick coats they are extremely vulnerable. If you see a dog outside without shelter you should contact your local police department. Just like humans, dogs are at risk for hypothermia, frost bite and even death when left in extreme conditions.

Dogs should never be left outside when temperatures drop below zero degrees Fahrenheit (-17.7 degrees C). Breeds with shorter hair like Labradors, Beagles, and greyhounds as well as puppies and older dogs are the most vulnerable.

Warning signs include shivering, lethargy and clumsiness, leading to coma and even death. Experts say it’s always best to keep you dog indoors and not to leave them unattended for extended periods of time. Walking your dog in the cold can also be painful for your dog’s paws. Keep them moist and apply petroleum jelly to their paws before walks in the winter.


Please share and help keep every dog warm and safe this winter.


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Tuesday, January 19, 2016

URGENT! Dog Food Recall: Vital Essentials Frozen Chicken Patties Entrée for Dogs


We’re only a few weeks into 2016 and we’ve already had a few recalls concerning dog food. Sadly, another one has been announced this week.

Carnivore Meat Company, which also recalled dog food last year, is recalling some of its Vital Essentials Frozen Chicken Patties Entrée for Dogs. The company is voluntarily recalling these products due to potential salmonella poisoning.

Only one product lot is affected:

Vital Essentials Frozen Chicken Patties Entrée for Dogs
Net weight 6 pounds
UPC 33211 00807
Lot # 11475
Best by date 20161108
While Vital Essentials’ products are sold nationwide, this particular recall only affects California, Florida, Georgia, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington.

For more information, visit Vital Essentials’ website. 


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About 50 Veterinarian Practices Across the Country Have Gone Fear-Free to Reduce Stress for Pets


Trips to the veterinarian leave Joy so scared, she gets sick.

The black Lab-mix dog shakes and shivers, her heart rate jumps, her blood pressure spikes, her temperature rises, her eyes dilate and she cowers under anything she can get beneath.

After trying vet after vet for 14 years, the dog's owner Debby Trinen of Sandpoint, Idaho, has finally found relief for Joy's stress from a new approach to veterinary care called "fear-free."

The fear-free movement aims to eliminate things in the vet's office that bother dogs and cats — like white lab coats, harsh lights and slippery, cold exam tables — while adding things they like.

For example, a fear-free clinic "will have a big treat budget," said Dr. Marty Becker, the initiative's main cheerleader and the vet chosen to introduce it to the country. All the dogs and cats at his North Idaho Animal Hospital, where Joy now gets care, have space on their files to note favorite treats, from Easy Cheese to hot dogs.

About 50 practices across the country have gone fear-free, Becker said. Later this year, the initiative will start certifying veterinary professionals. The certification takes about 12 hours of online instruction. The movement hopes to register as many as 5,000 people this year.

Hospital certification could start in 2018, followed by animal shelters and homes, Becker said.

Heather Lewis of Animal Arts in Boulder, Colorado, which has been designing animal hospitals since 1979, says there are many ways to make veterinary offices more pleasant for pets. Among them:

  • Paint walls in pastels and have staff wear pastel scrubs and lab coats. To an animal's eyes, a white lab coat is like a bright glowing beacon and can be scary.
  • Remove old fluorescent lights. Dogs and cats have better hearing than humans, and the buzz from those old fixtures can bother them.
  • Consider alternatives to lifting animals up on to high exam tables with cold, slippery metal surfaces. Some clinics, like Becker's, use yoga mats for animal exams.
  •  For background music, choose classical. Becker and Lewis like collections called "Through a Dog's Ear" and "Through a Cat's Ear."

A fear-free vet might also use sedatives or pheromones — chemicals secreted by animals that serve as stimulants for many things, including mating — rather than muzzles or restraints to keep animals calm during treatment, Becker said.

"Twenty-five to 30 percent of pets need sedation," Becker said.

Becker introduced veterinarians to the fear-free initiative at the North American Veterinary Community convention last year. He's presenting version 2.0 at the 2016 conference beginning Saturday in Florida.

Becker, chief veterinary correspondent for the American Humane Association, has written 22 books and is doing the 23rd on the fear-free initiative.

One fear-free center is the Bigger Road Veterinary Center in Springboro, Ohio.

"We designed this clinic to look like you were going for walks in the park," said Dr. John Talmadge. "Support beams look like maple trees. I don't know if we're fooling any pets but the exam rooms look like cottages and it looks like blue sky on the ceiling. It has a very inviting feel."

He also expanded from 2,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet so he'd have room for better senior care and pain management. And for owners making end-of-life decisions for their pets, the clinic offers a private area.

"There is nothing more important than making that last treatment dignified and calming," Talmadge said.

Becker says the fear-free initiative is important because stress and anxiety cause so many problems for pets, both physical and mental.

"Once pets know fear and anxiety and stress, you can't undo it," he said, adding, "You can see it. You can smell it because dogs are stained with their own saliva from licking themselves. You can hear it and feel it."

Stress and fear can lead animals to hide the symptoms that prompted the vet visit, and may even alter their test results, said Richard A. LeCouteur, a veterinarian with a specialty in neurology and a professor emeritus at the University of California at Davis' School of Veterinary Medicine.

Talmadge says the fear-free approach is proving popular. "We have more than doubled our business through that clinic since opening (in April) and are well ahead of where we thought we would be," Talmadge said.


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