Queen of the Universe, Flickr
Posts tagged "rabbit"
Flickr/Muffet
According to the ASPCA, the avocado plant contains a substance called persin. "Different species of animals have different toxic reactions to avocados," said Dr. Tina Wismer, the senior director of veterinary outreach and education at the ASPCA. "Animals such as birds can develop respiratory distress, fluid build-up around the heart, and death. Horses, rabbits and goats can develop both mastitis [inflammation of the mammary glands] and cardiac problems. They also get a build-up of fluid under the skin in the face and chest."
"In dogs, cats and ferrets there are no reliable reports of poisoning," she added. "However, dogs commonly ingest the pit and it can get stuck in the digestive tract."
One other thing to keep in mind: different varieties of avocado contain different amounts of persin. So even if your pet rabbit or horse has eaten avocados without a problem in the past, the same might not be true in the future. The common Guatemalan variety seems to be the most worrisome, the ASPCA notes. And avocado leaves contain the most persin, Wismer told Paw Nation.
So what's the verdict? If you have a pet bird, horse, or rodent, absolutely keep it away from the guac. If your dog adores avocados, he can probably keep on enjoying them. Just make sure to keep those pesky pits far out of reach!
Sponsored Links
Bearded dragons can make ideal classroom pets. Flickr/andedam
Which animals make the best classroom pets? Here are some suggestions you may not have considered.
Bearded Dragon
A reptile may not be your first thought for a classroom pet, but perhaps it should be. PetSmart owner Chad Beverly recommends bearded dragons for the classroom because these lizards are docile and don't bite. As reptiles, they also lack the fur that aggravates allergies in some students. Additionally, Beverly says that since bearded dragons are desert reptiles, they require less care than tropical lizards. Fill an aquarium with sand, keep it warm, and your "beardie" will be happy. Plus, Beardies love attention, so a classroom bearded dragon can be an ideal pet choice.
Degu
The success of Disney's film "Ratatouille" has led to a growing interest in rodents. How about choosing a degu as a classroom pet? You'd be forgiven for never having heard of this little creature; he is less known than other rodents such as mice and rats. Degus are furry and relatively small (about six inches, plus another five inches of tail). They are highly social creatures, and children will enjoy watching a pair of them interact. (Indeed, if you do choose a degu, you should buy at least two, as they do better with companions.)
Flickr/wwarby
Rabbits are active, playful, gentle and social animals who live anywhere from five to 15 years, depending on the breed. Common small breeds include Dutch, Holland lop, mini lop, Netherlands dwarf, and Polish. They bond quickly to their owners, and can be wildly entertaining to watch. They like being near their people, but not all breeds enjoy being held.
Rabbit Grooming and Care
A rabbit is not the most low-maintenance small pet you can choose, as they require a good deal of room. A large cage is a start, but you might find it difficult for them to get proper exercise within the cage. Unlike many other small pets, rabbits do require veterinary care. At the very least, they should be spayed or neutered, and your area might require vaccinations. Short-haired rabbits should be brushed at least once a week, more when shedding. Longer-haired versions, like the Angora, require daily brushing. Spot cleaning is preferable to baths, which can be stressful for both the rabbit and owner. Rabbit's nails should be trimmed on occasion.
Did you know there are 30,000 members of the 100-year-old American Rabbit Breeders Association? If not, then you probably didn't know there's an entire show circuit that's a mix between a children's beauty pageant and the Westminster Dog Show.
Filmmaker Amy Do's documentary "Rabbit Fever" (which was previewed at the San Francisco Documentary Film Festival this past Sunday) follows some of the competitors at the National American Rabbit Convention. The event draws more than 20,000 rabbits -- the largest gathering of bunnies in the world. When we heard about the film, we were all ears. Do answered some questions for Paw Nation.
How did you learn about the National Rabbit Convention?
When I was a child, I developed a very close bond with my pet Dutch rabbit, Thumper. He would run to my feet when I got home from school and follow me around all day like a loyal puppy. It was very cute. Years later, after Thumper passed away, I moved to Los Angeles for film school (USC) and missed having a rabbit around. That's when I decided to adopt a Dwarf Hotot rabbit.
When I picked up my new Dwarf Hotot from a breeder at a local rabbit show in Southern California, I was amazed with the rich world that I discovered there! I saw competitors milling around with beautiful, exotic-looking rabbits clutched in their arms -- a lot of the breeds you normally don't see in pet shops, especially the long-haired Angora varieties. One of the breeders told me that if I was impressed with just a local show, then I should check out the annual National ARBA (American Rabbit Breeders Association) Convention, an event that draws more than 20,000 rabbits under one roof. It's equivalent to the grandeur of the Westminster Dog Show, but with a lot more fur.
Filmmaker Amy Do's documentary "Rabbit Fever" (which was previewed at the San Francisco Documentary Film Festival this past Sunday) follows some of the competitors at the National American Rabbit Convention. The event draws more than 20,000 rabbits -- the largest gathering of bunnies in the world. When we heard about the film, we were all ears. Do answered some questions for Paw Nation.
How did you learn about the National Rabbit Convention?
When I was a child, I developed a very close bond with my pet Dutch rabbit, Thumper. He would run to my feet when I got home from school and follow me around all day like a loyal puppy. It was very cute. Years later, after Thumper passed away, I moved to Los Angeles for film school (USC) and missed having a rabbit around. That's when I decided to adopt a Dwarf Hotot rabbit.
When I picked up my new Dwarf Hotot from a breeder at a local rabbit show in Southern California, I was amazed with the rich world that I discovered there! I saw competitors milling around with beautiful, exotic-looking rabbits clutched in their arms -- a lot of the breeds you normally don't see in pet shops, especially the long-haired Angora varieties. One of the breeders told me that if I was impressed with just a local show, then I should check out the annual National ARBA (American Rabbit Breeders Association) Convention, an event that draws more than 20,000 rabbits under one roof. It's equivalent to the grandeur of the Westminster Dog Show, but with a lot more fur.
There are some really obscure sports out there -- Curling, Bocce Ball, Jai Alai, Ice Hockey -- but today, Paw Nation has a sport so obscure that you'd think it was just made up by some bored Europeans in the eighties. Oh wait, it was!
Small animal agility competitions (for rats, gerbils, hamsters, rabbits, etc.) are growing in popularity every day. In fact, by the end of this decade, there may be as many as 20 people in the world who participate in them.
Small animal agility expert Marna Kazmaier, host of several animal websites, such as The Agilerat and Gerbil Agility, and owner of a kennel/ranch where she and her husband, Deron, train all sorts of animals including Siberian Huskies, spoke with Paw Nation about small animal agility.
Devoured "District 9"? Wolfed down "Wolverine"? Ingested "Inglourious Basterds"? Still hungry for more? Just because it's September doesn't mean the summer blockbusters are done!
We at Paw Nation are aware of your need for some more, so we have compiled a few "dramatic" animal videos for your viewing pleasure. From predatory pelicans to brainy beagles, you won't be hungry after you pig out on today's video roundup.
Rabbit for dinner? Don't worry, at the Usagi-to-Cafe in Nagoya, Japan, the bunnies aren't the main course -- they're dining companions, New Tang Dynasty Television reports.
Pet-friendly apartments are hard to find in Japan's crowded cities, so cafes have begun to fill the pet void by letting customers play with furry critters while they sip and snack. Cat cafes were the first to spring up, but now enterprising cafe owners have moved on to fuzzy bunnies. Usagi-to-Cafe ("The Rabbit and Cafe") keeps 18 bunnies that visitors can cuddle after they've finished noshing on bagels, curries, and chocolate bunnies.
And for those who own lonely rabbits in need of a playmate? The cafe has a BYOB policy as well -- Bring Your Own Bunny, obviously.
Pet-friendly apartments are hard to find in Japan's crowded cities, so cafes have begun to fill the pet void by letting customers play with furry critters while they sip and snack. Cat cafes were the first to spring up, but now enterprising cafe owners have moved on to fuzzy bunnies. Usagi-to-Cafe ("The Rabbit and Cafe") keeps 18 bunnies that visitors can cuddle after they've finished noshing on bagels, curries, and chocolate bunnies.
And for those who own lonely rabbits in need of a playmate? The cafe has a BYOB policy as well -- Bring Your Own Bunny, obviously.
It can take anywhere from five minutes to five years to teach your critter to roll over, but once they make the connection between trick and treat, the results can be adorable.
We've rounded up videos of some brainy non-canines who have mastered the art of rolling and aren't afraid to showcase their skills, whether it be for some chow or just a moment in the spotlight.
Photo: Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Get this: Pop singer Leona Lewis was walking down Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles last week shopping for some fancy duds, when she spotted a homeless man sitting tight with a leashed white bunny. When she asked the man what he was planning on doing with the animal, he replied, "Don't know -- probably eat it."
On the spot, the vegetarian X Factor winner asked how much she could pay him to rescue the bunny, the Sun reports, and after he asked for $20, she generously dropped a Benjamin (that's, er, a $100 dollar bill) into the man's hands before scurrying home with her new friend (whom she's since named Melrose). Leona's new pet will roam her Hollywood Hills garden, likely alongside her Rottweiler, Rome.
This isn't Leona's first animal rights act. Last year she turned down a $1.6 million offer from UK department store Harrods to open their summer sale, because the shop sells furs.
Call us crazy, but considering her gracious act, we're going to take the vegetarian, animal rights activist's smash hit, "Bleeding Love," a tad more literally from now on.
Ever since the first magician pulled a rabbit out of his hat, bunnies have held a magical appeal. When they walk around like humans though, you wonder who's actually pulling off the magic trick. Looks like Faith has some competition.
There is a long-held superstition that if you wake up on the first day of the new month and say "Rabbit, rabbit," you'll have good luck for the remainder of the month.
If you're not so quick with a calendar, it's probably best to get into a daily habit of celebrating the rabbit. Fortunately for you, there are multiple Daily Bunny websites out there to help you get your luck on (and coo over cottontails).
Daily Bunny is a round-up of all things bunny, from photos and videos to art and live cams, complemented with lite commentary ("What's this? Noms? No... must be toy... maybe... Yeah is toy.")
If you prefer your rabbits with a little less cheek (figuratively, not furrily), opt for the more straightforward Tumblr-powered Daily Bunny: Every day, a new large, vibrant photograph of an adorable bunny; no narration, no distraction.
Whichever daily dose of rabbit you prefer, your good mood (and good fortune) is bound to jump.
Advertisement
Can't Miss Galleries
Today's Popular Articles
"Hachi: A Dog's Tale" DVD Giveaway- Golden Retriever Eats Three-Carat Diamond Worth $20,000
- I Work With Animals: Tracker Who Finds Lost Pets
