This essay is a favorite. We hope you appreciate it as much as we do.  

There are various places within which a dog may be buried. We are thinking now of a setter, whose coat was flame in the sunshine, and who, so far as we are aware, never entertained a mean or an unworthy thought. This setter is buried beneath a cherry tree, under four feet of garden loam, and at its proper season the cherry strews petals on the green lawn of his grave. Beneath a cherry tree, or an apple, or any flowering shrub of the garden, is an excellent place to bury a good dog. Beneath such trees, such shrubs, he slept in the drowsy summer, or gnawed at a flavorous bone, or lifted head to challenge some strange intruder. These are good places, in life or in death. Yet it is a small matter, and it touches sentiment more than anything else.

For if the dog be well remembered, if sometimes he leaps through your dreams actual as in life, eyes kindling, questing, asking, laughing, begging, it matters not at all where that dog sleeps at long and at last. On a hill where the wind is unrebuked and the trees are roaring, or beside a stream he knew in puppyhood, or somewhere in the flatness of a pasture land, where most exhilarating cattle graze. It is all one to the dog, and all one to you, and nothing is gained, and nothing lost — if memory lives. But there is one best place to bury a dog. One place that is best of all.

If you bury him in this spot, the secret of which you must already have, he will come to you when you call — come to you over the grim, dim frontiers of death, and down the well-remembered path, and to your side again. And though you call a dozen living dogs to heel they should not growl at him, nor resent his coming, for he is yours and he belongs there.

People may scoff at you, who see no lightest blade of grass bent by his footfall, who hear no whimper pitched too fine for mere audition, people who may never really have had a dog. Smile at them then, for you shall know something that is hidden from them, and which is well worth the knowing.

The one best place to bury a good dog is in the heart of his master.

by Ben Hur Lampman

If you think your pet is amazing wait until you read some of the fun facts we have complied.

• According to a UK insurance company the most accident prone breed on the other side of the pond is the Labrador followed by Staffordshire Terriers, Rottweilers, Springer Spaniels and German Shepherds.  The least accident prone is the apparently very careful Shih Tzu.
• VPI Insurance listed one of their oddest claims as Harley the Pug who managed to eat 100 rocks.  Fortunately Harley was able to pass them all on his own.
• Baxter the cat, another VPI all star, fell 11 stories from the window of his home and still lived to meow another day.
• The longest jump ever recorded on land for a dog was in England where a greyhound jumped 30 feet and over a gate while chasing down a hare.  A Chesapeake Bay retriever made the longest Dock Dog Jump when he flew 28 feet in a California competition.
• Did you know that while dogs produce about 10 – 15 different vocal sounds cats can make over 100 distinct vocalizations.
• We all love dogs and cats but guess what the most common mammal is?  If you guessed rodents, you are correct. Mice and rats  out number us humans  and our pets.
• Are you afraid of spiders? You may want to try harder to like them.  In a single year, spiders consume more pounds of insects than the weight of the entire human population.
• Don’t like snakes?  You might want to move to Antarctica.  That is the only place where there are no reptiles.
• The flea that bites your pet can consume up to 15 times its weight in blood each day.  It can live on average, from 2 – 7 months and if it’s a she lay up to 400 eggs in her lifetime.
• The tallest living dog in the world is a Great Dane who stands at 43 inches or over 3 and ½ feet tall.
• The tiniest, according to Guinness is a 4 inch tall Chihuahua in Kentucky.
• The heaviest dog is an English Mastiff who weighs in at 282 pounds.
• You think you hate the flu?  Think about how frogs must feel.  When they need to vomit they have to expel their entire stomach, manually remove the contents and then swallow the stomach back down again.
• Finally, depending on the source, it’s claimed that the average cow can produce anywhere from 400 to 1000 liters of methane gas daily and you thought your husband was bad.

We tried to validate all of the information included in this blog.  If there was a Guinness World record we used that.

We try to keep our pets as safe as possible.  We keep them leashed  away from home. We feed them the best food we can provide. We keep their shots and worming current, we train them, and we love them.   When we’re home they play safely in our fenced backyards.

How about that yard? Is it safe?  When was the last time you took a good look around your back yard with the safety of your pet in mind?  We recommend that you do it every spring and fall. What should you look for?  Listed below are some of the hazards that could harm your pet.

The Mulch Pile:       

The backyard mulch pile can be a very attractive and very dangerous place for your pet. Going green is great as long as you do it safely. We recommend that your mulch pile be securely fenced and pet proof.

1. Mycotoxins   which are found in moldy items like breads, cheese and dog food can make your dog seriously ill.  Signs can range from vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal tenderness to seizures and permanent liver damage.   
2. Hops used in home brewing can kill your pet if ingested in even small amounts.  The danger is present both before and after brewing.  Signs are panting, rapid heart rate and a rapid increase in body temperature to the point of death.
3. Macadamia nuts can cause ataxia (lack of coordination), anxiety, increased heart rate, tremors and temporary paralysis. 
4. Grapes, mushrooms, onions, garlic, tomato plants, black locust tree pods and seeds, any sugar free products containing Xylitol and coffee grounds are all dangerous for your pets as well.  If your pet ingests any of these items call poison control and your veterinarian.

The Backyard Pool:

We all know how attractive and dangerous a pool is to small children but it can be just as deadly to your pets.

1. Drowning is an obvious risk to both pets and children. Both may fall in and be unable to get out. 
2. Pool Chemicals can make your pet very sick. Animals are curious and will often taste whatever happens to be lying around.  Ingesting pool chemicals can cause vomiting, breathing difficulty, seizures and loss of consciousness.

Poisonous Plants

Be cognizant of what you plant.  ASPCA poison Control has a complete list of plants that are toxic to animals.  Please visit www.aspca.org/petcare/poisoncontrol/plants for the complete list.  Plants can cause everything from local irritation and drooling to seizures and death. 

Other Animals

Your first thought may be other aggressive animals.   However, skunks, raccoons and possums can carry infectious diseases that can make you and your pet sick. This is why we preach vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate!  It’s also a good idea not to feed your pets outdoors which is a sure way attract local wildlife.

1. Rabies is carried by skunks, raccoons and bats and they all frequent back yards. 
2. Leptospirosis is transmitted through the urine of infected animals and can be transmitted to people and pets.
3. Baylisascaris is a parasite that is harmless to Raccoons but deadly to humans due to its propensity to travel to our brains and wreak havoc.
4. Bites and wounds and infections can occur if your dog or cat tries to defend their home turf from raccoons and other wildlife.
5. Predation is an unpleasant prospect whether it involvesyour pet or wildlife. 

Fertilizers, Herbicides and Pesticides

1. Read your labels and use chemicals accordingly.  Wait until chemicals are dry or as long as the directions indicate before allowing your pet back in the yard.
2. Cover any food or water dishes before spraying.  Don’t forget the bird bath.
3. Store all chemicals safely and out of reach.  Keep the original containers just in case you have an accidental exposure.
4. Keep slug bait, rat poison and gopher bait well away from any place your pet can reach. Call your veterinarian and/or poison control if you even think your pet may ingested any of these products.
5. Try to find a natural, poison free alternative whenever possible.

Children

Dare we say it?  Children are immature, impulsive and often lacking in judgment. 

1. Kids may think teasing your pet through the fence is fun but the end result may be an over stimulated, aggressive dog and bitten children.  Nobody wants a barking, fence running dog for a neighbor no matter how the behavior was started.
2. Children may throw food or other objects over the fence that can harm your pet.  It’s a good idea to run a fence check frequently in warm months.
3. Jumping dogs can catch a collar on the fence top and choke to death.  Yes it happens.
4. Small pets can be injured and even killed by over enthusiastic and unsupervised children.  Again, yes it happens.
5. Finally, no matter how safe you keep your yard, it doesn’t matter if children forget to close and latch the gate.

This isn’t a complete list of the potential dangers in the backyard jungle but hopefully we’ve got you thinking about pet proofing your property.   Feel free to call us or contact through our web site or face book with any questions.

•  Quicked nail (cut too short)         Are you afraid to cut your pet’s nails for fear of getting too close to the quick.  This is the sensitive part of the nail containing a nerve and blood vessel.  Cutting into the quick does cause bleeding and pain which no one wants to do.  However, if the worst happens, there are ways to deal with it at home.   Remember this is for close cuts only.  If your pet breaks or tears a nail, chances are that will need to addressed by your veterinarian
• No commercial “Quick Stop”?  No problem.  Just use flour & water paste. This is easy, readily available and will generally stop the bleeding. It helps to keep Rover quiet for a little while afterwards. As an added benefit, its completely nontoxic.
•  My pet has a tick attached!          With the warm spring, tick season is starting early this year.  Do you know how to safely remove an attached tick?
•  Tweezers work well for this job.  Hold the skin close to the tick’s body and gently pull back with a slight rotating motion.  If you worry about pinching your pet with tweezers, try a commercial tick remover. These are shaped like a spoon with a split in the middle for easy removal of the tick.  Another method involves squeezing the skin around the tick and gently running a credit card underneath the tick to dislodge it.  Check to see if tick’s head is attached to its body by looking at the tick, not the pet’s skin.
•  What’s the best way to handle ticks?  Don’t handle them at all. Instead use products such as Frontline or Tick collars to prevent them from attaching in the first place.  For added protection,  remember to vaccinate for tick borne Lyme disease, just in case
•  My pet won’t stop scratching!    What’s the most common cause of itching?  If you guessed fleas you’re correct.  Even pet’s who never venture outdoors can become infested with fleas.  Owners bring them in on pant legs; they get in through open windows or get on the porch or deck.  Remember, fleas have nothing to do with how clean your house is.
•  An inexpensive flea comb is a great tool.  Comb through your pets hair looking for fleas or the black specks that are flea dirt.  Flea dirt is actually feces which contains your pet’s digested blood. Just add water and if it turns red, its flea dirt. Of course, the best way to deal with fleas is through the use of Frontline, Trifexis or other flea preventatives.
•  Finally, everything that itches isn’t always fleas.  If there are no signs of fleas and the itching won’t stop, it’s time to see the vet.
•  I think my pet has a mass behind his/her ear What happens If you are giving your pet a good scratch and find a lump behind the ears?  Before you rush to call the vet, double check that it isn’t just a mat of hair. Longer coated pets with fine hair can quickly develop hard mats and the heat and humidity of summer months can make tangles even tighter. Another area where mats can be a problem is the around the anus.  Hair in this area combines with stool to form a mat that can prevent your pet from defecating.  This can cause serious problems if it isn’t addressed.
• Small mats can usually be gently teased out with your fingers.  For larger mats or anything around the anus, the safest method is electricclippers. Scissors can cut tender skin and combs can cause bruising and tears if hair is pulled too aggressively.
•  My pet keeps scooting on my carpet.  I think its worms.     More often than not, the cause of scooting is full anal glands.  Anal glands are located on either side of your pet’s rectum and can become impacted.   Feeding a higher fiber diet can help firm stools which may help the glands empty easier but some pets simply have trouble emptying their anal glands. Whatever the reason, anyone who has ever smelled expressed anal glands does not want it on their carpets.
•  Expressing anal glands requires gloves and a strong constitution.  We recommend you leave this up to your veterinarian or groomer.

The common rat or Rattus norvegicus is seriously under rated as a pet.  Although relatively short lived, from 2 – 3 ½ years, rats can be a perfect first pet. Let us give you 10 good reasons to take a second look at the humble rat.

1. Rats are small and easy to care for. They do well in a cage environment and in spite of their wild cousin’s bad reputation, are quite clean.
2. Rats rarely ever bite.  This makes them a good first pet for children unlike mice, gerbils and some breeds of hamsters.  Male rats are  more docile than the females and can be quite happy sitting in their owner’s laps or perched on their shoulder.
3. Rats are smart!  That’s why they are so popular for maze studies.  Rats can be trained to come to you, climb ladders, play on swings and many other tricks.  They are quick learners and love to perform for food treats.
4. Rats come in lots of different colors and hair coats.  There are many different varieties of fancy rats to choose from.  They even have hairless rats for those with allergies.
5. Rats have lots of personality.  Their intelligence also gives rats very distinctive personalities.  The more you interact with your rat, the more his/her individual personality will come out.  They can actually become great companions.
6. Rats are hardy.  A healthy rat properly cared for rat will give you little reason for worry.  The exception is, sadly, female rats which are highly susceptible to the development of mammary tumors.
7. If you want more than one rat, a pair from the same litter will usually get along great.  Just make sure you don’t mix sexes.  Rats, like mice, are prolific breeders and will quickly multiply if left to their own devices.
8. Rats do very well in a cage environment.  For most rats, an aquarium with a wire lid or a wire cage with a smooth bottom would be suitable.  Non aromatic shavings, shredded newspaper or other commercial rodent bedding together with a place to hide and sleep, feed bowls and ladders or other enrichment items will make cage life happy for your rat.  Remember to keep the cage or there will be a build-up of unhealthy ammonia fumes.
9. Most pet stores sell pet rats.  Unlike some of the more exotic pocket pets, rats are easy to obtain and reasonably priced. 

      10. Rats are easy to feed.  Again because we have been around rats for    so  long we, good commercial diets are available.  Lab blocks are available at most pet shops. Of course, rats like variety too.  They can be supplemented with commercially available treats such as yogurt drops, grains, seeds as well as fruits and veggies from the refrigerator. Rats can become obese if fed too many treats, so don’t over indulge them.

This is meant to be a quick over view into the wonderful world of rats.  If you think you might be interested be sure to do your research first.

            Spring is in the air and so is puppy love. This is the time of year when many of us yearn for a new puppy… what could be cuter?  Dogs make wonderful companions.  Just remember not to jump into pet ownership thoughtlessly. There are many factors that should be considered to ensure that your new puppy is the proper fit for your family.

•   The first thing you need to look at is YOU.  How active are you?  Do you have children?  How old are they?  How old are you?  Do you live in an apartment, single family home or in the country?  Is your yard fenced?  What is your personality like? Are you assertive, passive or somewhere in between?  Do you have any disabilities or health issues?  Do you mind spending time or money on grooming your pet? How picky are you about your house?  Do you think pets should even be in the house?  The list goes on but the point is the first thing you need to look at is your life and lifestyle.  

 Once you have an idea of your parameters, it’s time to start looking at the dog. 

•  What size of dog fits you?  Large dogs require more space. They can be more difficult for a petite or older person to handle. They are more expensive to feed, medicate, spay or neuter.  They can be a heck of a lot more work to exercise as well. As for small dogs: they require less of everything but activity.  Size does not relate to activity level.  There are some VERY busy small breeds. 
• How about activity levels.  You need to be very honest with yourself about what activity level you can tolerate in your pet. Age and general health may dictate a small, quiet, older animal.  Are you interested in taking your dog to the dog park or out for a walk or run every day?  Even with a large backyard, most active breeds will require additional exercise.  If you’re a couch potato, many of the hunting and herding breeds may be too high energy for you. Think about your children as well.   If they are too boisterous and rowdy, they may terrify some of the more timid breeds. 
•   Then there’s sociability.  Do you want a dog that loves everyone or a more reserved animal that may bond only to you or your immediate family?  If you love entertaining or traveling, be sure to get an animal that will enjoy it as well.  Clearly, a one person dog would not be a great idea if you usually have your children as well as all the neighbors’ kids running through the house.
•  Emotional stability is just as important.  Some breeds are very easy going and unflappable.  Others are less so.  That includes many of the smaller breeds but some of the big guys as well. Again, this is particularly important if you have small children or an active social life. Do your homework and make certain you find a breed that will tolerate busy little hands and bodies.
• Trainability.  Don’t confuse intelligence with trainability.  Many of the so-called smart breeds can actually be quite difficult to train.  Trainability should be thought of as the “will to please”.   So, if you insist on perfect behavior, do your homework and plan on spending some time in obedience classes as well.  But, if what you really want is a pet that will simply sit, lie down and not eat up the house there are plenty of contenders out there.  PLEASE just don’t buy a highly motivated Border collie or other overachiever if you don’t have the time to keep them busy. When not kept occupied these doggie geniuses may end up destroying your home out of boredom and frustration.   
•  Dominance.  Unfortunately many people confuse dominance and aggression.  Most of the biting dogs we see in veterinary practice are actually fearful in nature.  Dominant animals are generally confident if they have a calm, assertive owner. In the simplest terms dominance can be thought of as the how hard your dog will work to get his or her own way.  Dominance is variable.  Some dogs may just be dominant over other dogs but submissive to people.  Dominance is not related to size either.  There are a lot of pint sized Napoleons out there.  Be sure to match your will to rule to that of your future pet.
•   Hardiness.  Pay special attention to hardiness when selecting a breed.  Bulldogs and some of the short-faced (brachycephalic) breeds don’t do well in the heat.  Chihuahuas, Greyhounds and other short coated dogs are not suited to outdoor life in the colder climates.  Matted coats, burned skin, heat stroke or frost bite may all be the consequences of wrong choices made on your part.  Then again, some breeds have been so completed altered by human kind that they are born with an array of health problems just waiting to happen.  No matter what, it’s still best to know ahead of time.
•  Grooming.  Do you mind brushing your dog every day?  How about a grooming bill once a month?  How about a really big grooming bill once a month? Would you prefer a non-shedding coat? How about a dog with almost no coat at all?  Do you know how to care for eyes and ears or nails and matted hair?  What about anal glands?  Every breed has different grooming care needs.  Don’t overlook this when selecting your dog.

 Great dogs can be found in a lot of places.  That includes shelters and rescue groups.  We wish you good luck in your search and hope that you have figured out that picking the right puppy involves a lot more than who’s got the cutest brown eyes.  Hopefully, you now know that it takes a well thought out plan that combines your needs with those of your future pet.  So be sure to use all of the resources available to you.  Read books, attend dog shows, ask your veterinarian, talk to your friends, talk to breed associations, do whatever it takes to make yourself aware and educated.  Then go ahead and take the big leap into puppy love.

Who hates fleas?  Everybody hates fleas!  Ctenocephalides canis or felis better known as the common flea is not a visitor anyone ever welcomes to their home.  For those of us who have had to deal with a flea infestation- once is definitely enough!  There are a lot of good reasons to avoid this hopping, biting scourge of the insect world aside from the obvious “yuck” factor surrounding them.

1. Fleas make their living by biting other animals and feeding on their blood.  When fleas bite they inject saliva into the skin of their host which can cause inflammation, itching, allergic dermatitis and hair loss.  Even worse, if the host is small enough or the number of fleas’ large enough, anemia can result from blood loss.
2. Fleas don’t just bite your pet.  They bite you.  They bite your children.  Everybody gets itchy.
3. A single female flea can lay up to 50 eggs each day and up to 2000 eggs in her short life time!!!  Of course by the time you discover that your pet has fleas, there are most likely eggs and larva throughout your home.
4. Fleas act as a transport vehicle for the aptly named “Flea” tapeworm.  Pets ingest fleas as they groom.  Once the flea is in the digestive system, the larva breaks free and finds a home in your pet’s intestines. An adult tapeworm can grow up to 75 cm (29.5 inches).  According to CPAC (Companion Animal Parasite Council), “Infections of children with D. caninum following ingestion of an infected flea are occasionally reported. The disease induced in the child is generally mild, confined to the intestinal tract, and readily treated, but can still be distressing to the family.”
5. Fleas carry the Plague – the Bubonic Plague.  This is particularly important in the Rocky Mountain States.
6. Fleas carry Typhus and yes it can be transmitted to humans.  According to Pubmed Health, “Typhus is caused by one of two types of bacteria: Rickettsia typhi or Rickettsia prowazekii.” The form of typhus depends on which type of bacteria causes the infection. Murine typhus occurs in the southeastern and southern United States, often during the summer and fall. It is rarely deadly. Risk factors for murine typhus include:
   1. Exposure to rat fleas or feces
   2. Exposure to other animals such as cats, opossums, raccoons, skunks and rats
7. Fleas can help to transmit “Cat Scratch” disease from one cat to another.  We humans get Cat Scratch Fever when we are scratched by an infected feline.

1. Fleas can transmit hemoplasmas, a blood borne parasite that can cause damage to the red calls which results in anemia in your pet.

1. Even if your pet never goes outdoors, you can carry fleas into the house on your pants legs. Fleas can survive the winter just fine as long as you continue to heat your home. 

10. Once there is an established flea infestation, it can be time consuming and expensive to resolve.  Like so many other problems fleas are much easier to prevent than alleviate.

I don’t know about you but I’m going to go make sure my dog is up to date on his flea prevention.

We have a variety of educational pets at Animal Family Veterinary Care Center.  Miracle, our turtle was hatched in 1999.  That makes her young by Box Turtle standards.  They can live up to 75 years or more.  It may surprise you to learn that turtles have very distinct personalities.   Miracle is very social and loves interacting with people.  Even though Miracle is quite social, many box turtles are not.  Fortunately, Box turtles rarely bite and then it’s only when they mistake a finger for food.

Box turtles get their name from the hinged portion of their shell.  It allows them to pull their legs and head into their shell and close the doors.   This is how they try to protect themselves from predators. Unfortunately, it’s not fool proof.  Crafty birds have learned to drop the turtles from on high to break shells and dogs and raccoons can chew through them.

Box turtles are terrestrial or land based.  That means they spend the bulk of their time on dry land but are usually never too far from a pond.  Pet turtles like a swimming area too.   Unfortunately they aren’t very good at keeping their water clean so it will require daily changing.

Box turtles enjoy a variety of food.  To stay healthy they need a mix of meat, fruits and veggies.  Our Miracle is quite fond of earthworms.  She also likes dog food and meal worms.  We mix in a large variety of greens and fruits as well.  You can buy a commercial turtle food but it should never be the sole source of any turtle’s diet.

Miracle’s home is a glass terrarium that is appointed with rocks, water and cob bedding. Bark or alfalfa pellets may also be used.  Never use sand or cat litter. A minimum size of 36” X 12” is recommended.  

 Heating is a very important part of maintaining a pet turtle’s health.  The ideal is around 85 to 88 degrees F.  Place a heat lamp in one area of the enclosure so your turtle is able to get away from the heat source when they want. Too much heat can be just as deadly as not enough.  Floor heaters and heat rocks are also available but make certain to use them properly. 

Turtles can develop a variety of health problems   Beaks and nails can become overgrown due to lack of foraging and other activities which would wear them down naturally in the wild. Metabolic bone disease and soft shells can develop from either under feeding or a lack of variety in diet.  Remember, a turtle that is fed properly will never develop this problem. Shell rot is another health issue with turtles.  It is caused when bacteria gets between the shell layers either because of damage to the shell or wet, unsanitary conditions.  Turtles can also have internal parasites just like other pets so be sure to have a stool check.  Upper respiratory infections are also common.  They may present with nasal discharge, puffy eyes or both. With severe respiratory distress a turtle may extend its neck and gape.  Obviously any respiratory problems require a visit to the vet as well as a close look at your husbandry. Finally, wounds can occur on the face and legs of your turtle.  If these become infected they will require a trip to the Vet. 

Do turtles carry salmonella?  Yes, some do but not all. Either way, you can greatly minimize your risk by following CDC guidelines.

• The kitchen sink is for people.  Don’t wash turtle dishes or turtles in it.
• Clean and disinfect your turtles enclosure regularly
• Wash your hands after handling your pet
• No kissing turtles or touching them to your face.
• Quarantine any new turtles for 6 weeks
• and, yes, you can have your vet test to see if your turtle is carrying salmonella.

Please visit the CDC site for more complete guidelines.

Hopefully this has wetted your appetite to learn more about turtles.  Remember if you have any more questions, call us or check out our website.

As a pet, Hedgehogs are a small, reasonably clean, relatively odor free and non-aggressive. They will vocalize through quiet snorting, whistling or huffing sounds.     If handled on a routine basis from a young age most will become quite friendly.  It is easy to see why we are seeing more of them in practice

The average pet hedgehog can be expected to live from 3-8 years. In captivity Hedgehogs are nocturnal but will emerge during the day. They hibernate in the wild but this is not necessary in captivity and will not occur as long as temperatures are maintained at 75 to 80 F.

Hedgehogs have some unique qualities. They have a unique protein which inhibits the activity of snake venom.  This allows them to attack and eat snakes in the wild. Another unusual hedgehog trait is “anointing”.  If a hedgehog is exposed to a strong smelling substance, they will produce large amounts of saliva which they use to coat their spines.  Nobody knows why they do this but if you find your hedgehog covered in the cat’s fishy food, don’t become alarmed.

Hedgehogs require smooth walled, enclosure with a minimum floor space of 2’ X2’.  They can climb so make any enclosure tall enough so that the animal can’t reach the top with its front feet.  Do not put your Hedgehog in a wire enclosure. Regular cleaning is important if you wish to keep your pet healthy.  Newspaper, about 3” in depth, either shredded or pelleted makes good bedding. Corn cob or alfalfa pellets can also be used.   Do not use any bedding that clumps or any aromatic wood product such as cedar or pine.  Give your hedgehog has a place to hide that is not much larger than he is and easy to disinfect. Plants or rocks can be added as well but should be non toxic and easy to clean.  Provide a shallow pan of water for bathing as well as a sipper bottle. Make sure your hedgehog understands how to drink from his bottle.

Hedgehogs require regular exercise. Either a commercial exercise ball that is suitable for Guinea Pigs or an exercise wheel will work.  If you choose to let your Hedgehog run loose, be careful of carpets and other cloth material which can get caught up in feet as well as anal/genital areas causing injury.

Your hedgehog can be maintained on either low calorie dog or cat food or commercial hedgehog diet (2 -3 Tsp /day).  Make sure to add in small amounts of fruits, veggies (1 tsp) and insects (1 tsp).  Do not feed nuts and grains or milk. Like so many of our exotic pets, low calcium is always a concern as is obesity.  Clean and refill food and water on a daily basis. To prevent your Hedgehog from becoming overweight make sure to check its weight frequently.

Like all exotics, Hedgehogs will mask illness.  Therefore it is important for you to remain vigilant. In general, Hedgehogs are prone to dental disease including oral cancers, Ringworm, obesity and overgrown nails. They can also acquire Leptospirosis, Rabies and Distemper like virus although there are no vaccines available at this time. Mites are the most common external parasite we see in Hedgehogs.  A regular health check with a fecal examination is important to maintaining your hedgehog’s health. 

This is not meant to be an all inclusive guide to Hedgehogs.  We do hope it has answered some questions for you.  Feel free to ask us questions and to come in and meet Mr. Gnomeo.

We really do understand that sometimes you wonder what motivates the people who care for your pets.  Is it just a business?  Do they really care as much as they appear to?  What really goes on behind the scenes?

The truth is that although we wish we could help every animal regardless of the circumstances.  Sometimes we can’t.  It is frustrating for us too.  So, instead, we try to work with rescue organizations, shelters and others. Of course, we do try to do our best by all our clients and to us…they often, really do become family.

But…sometimes, a case comes along where we can do something really  special.  That is what makes the story of the “Faceless Kitten” aka Jax, important to Animal Family. 

Jax came in terribly injured but we didn’t have to put him to sleep.   Doctor Rob donated his time and medical skills, the clinic donated the supplies, the technicians and assistants fostered and provided care while he recovered and Lacey welcomed him into her family.

Faris, one of our technicians, made the video that comprises our blog this week. It can be a little graphic because Jax had a severe injury but he healed perfectly so the ending is wonderful.

Are we blowing our own horn?  Yeah…a little but mostly, we just wanted to share one of our happier stories with some of our favorite people.

Just click on the link below to see the story of the Faceless Kitten.

The Incredible Story Of The Faceless Kitten At Animal Family Veterinary Care Center

The Faceless Kitten