Special Speech

There is no real cure for canine hip dysplasia (CHD) just yet,
but there are conservative or non-surgical ways to relieve its
symptoms. These include the use of drugs to relieve pain and
inflammation. Rimadyl, Ectogesic and Deramaxx are effective and
have given a lot of suffering dogs the relief needed to live a
normal life. Weight loss programs, controlled exercise and
physical therapy are also very effective in certain cases.

When conservative treatment is not enough, the only other option
is surgery. Surgery can be very effective as it corrects the
underlying cause of hip pain which is a malformed joint. Surgery
is approached in two different ways when dealing with hip
dysplasia. Prophylactic surgery is done to prevent the
progression af arthritis while therapeutic surgery aims to treat
already arthritic hips.

Triple pelvic osteotomy is the primary preventive procedure
available. It involves cutting the pelvis in three places and
rotating the hip sockets to provide better coverage. This
procedure is effective as long as it is done before arthritis
sets in or before the joint is damaged. Another kind of
preventive surgery, although still being studied if it is
effective or not, is pubic symphysiodesis. This involves
manipulating the way the pelvis grows to ensure a tighter hip.
This procedure is done on very young dogs.

Therapeutic procedures include total hip replacement and femoral
head ostectomy. Total hip replacement is performed mainly on
larger dogs. High density, medical plastic is used to replace
the socket and a high-quality, non-corrosive alloy is used for
the ball. This procedure has a high success rate, almost
completely eliminates pain and enables the dog to completely
resume activity.

Another therapeutic procedure for hip dysplasia is femoral head
ostectomy. It involves the removal of the top of the femur which
then eliminates the painful grinding at the hip joint. The femur
is then allowed to float freely causing the formation of scar
tisue which then serves as a false joint. This procedure is not
recommended for mild cases of arthritis and is generally
effective only on smaller, well-muscled dogs.

For more answers on questions about canine hip dysplasia, please
visit us at AllAboutPetArthritis.com and read our report, “Your Questions on Canine
Hip Dysplasia - Answered”.

I have two cats and I can’t imagine that either of them would
want to live without the other. They live like brother and
sister. And I can’t imagine me living with just one cat either.

For those that love cats, having just one is never enough.
Instead of having just one cat to call your own, you can have
several. Those who have more than one cat realize that this is a
good thing not only for the cat owner, but also for the cats as
well. Cats like other cat company.

Are you considering getting another cat? Many people wonder if
their cat would be okay with another being around. If your cat
is alone for a long period of time, then he may like having a
cat around. Older cats will often develop a new lease on life
when there is a new kitten introduced to the home. Some cats do
like their solitude though and territorial issues can cause a
problem.

New kittens mean having to go through all the frustrations with
training all over again. You’ll also need to consider the added
expense of all the vaccines as well. IF you add an older cat to
the home, this too can be a challenge because the cat will need
to adjust to the new home as well as to develop behavioral or
health related problems.

When choosing another cat to bring into your home, you do not
have to choose a cat that is the same breed at the one that you
have. You may want to take care to choose the right combination
though. For example a Rex with his silly behavior with a
standoffish Russian Blue may not be the right combination. Cats
will similar traits can work well together. The Himalayan
Persian and the Maine Coon breeds are so friendly that they are
likely to adapt to any even some of the most demanding breeds.

Set up an area for that cat before bringing him home. He may do
better if you allow him to stay in one area until he adjusts.
Allow him to settle in for the day before you introduce him to
the rest of your family.

You’ll want to allow the original cat some time to get used to
having the other cat in his home. This may take some time. For a
smooth transition, make sure he doesn’t have to share his own
litter box, his food or his toys with the new cat. There are
health reasons as well as feelings that should be thought of
here. Cats who are forced to share a littler box may actually
decide to create their own area for a private box.

There are many reasons to have more than one cat. For many of
those reasons, you’ll be able to have that much more
companionship with more cats.

The answer is “no” if you are the type who mostly leave your dog on a chain. Boxers require much of your love, attention and companionship although they are easy to take care of.
One Boxer-lover even said to never get one as pet if you work full time!

Another point to consider is that the costs for food, training, grooming, medical care, toys and other supplies do add up.
Still, for many years now, the Boxer has ranked in the top 10 of favorite purebreds by the American Kennel Club, numbering about 35,000 Boxers registered in 2003.

Boxers Crave Attention
Boxers need constant attention and love to be babied. Treat your Boxer as your best friend and play, play, play with him.
One three-month old Boxer loves her bath more when the owner sings to her. Be it playing, talking or singing to them or taking them for a walk, Boxers simply love the attention.
Shower them with love, affection and attention as well as some treats.

These keep Boxers happy. Left to their own devices, Boxers can become very destructive when lonely, bored and ignored. One is known to jump over 6-footer fences if the owner is gone for too long.
Give extra space when you have to leave Boxers alone over extended period. They don’t like to be locked in a room. One owner gives a 4-year old male Boxer the run of the hall stairs, landing and its own bedroom and the dog is much happier and not destructive at all.
When you have to leave Boxers alone, you better make sure they have a toy they really like or they’ll find something to do that you probably really won’t like.

Destructive Streak in Boxers
Boxers are too smart and strong for their own good, and if they’re bored and undisciplined they can be a disaster in the house.
That is why obedience training is important, in order to prevent the destruction of too many of your belongings. Training makes a happier dog.

The accepted temperament for Boxers rules out aggression, hyperactivity and extreme shyness in the breed. You want to have these under control in your pet.

Experts suggest that, when adopting a Boxer, you should at least check the parent dogs for these undesirable traits before even looking at the puppies.

Aggression
One owner said: “I love my Boxer girl, but she can be a terror sometimes and could get really hyper to where she’d attack us. I’d hate to think what all she’d get into without any training at all!”
By the way, there are more accounts, from owners, of aggression among their female Boxers, especially towards other female.

Hyperactive
Boxers have high play drive and they need their exercise or they’d get excitable and destructive.

Play, play and play with them. Give them extra space especially when you have to leave them alone for long period. Tire them out with long walks and play sessions but within a fenced area or on a leash.
When going for their walks, opt for body harness if you have a Boxer that pulls or strays.

Harness is the answer to the Boxer slipping out of the collar. The chain-harness combo looks good as well as trains the Boxer to walk without pulling or straying.

Extreme shyness (not to be mistaken with independence)
It’s critical to socialize your Boxers. When they are still puppies, take them to public places like a pet store so they won’t be so shy.
Begin training in an area that is familiar to your Boxer, where there is minimum distraction. Once both of you are skilled at several obedience commands, take him to practice at different areas with increasing amount of distractions present.

This may seems like starting all over again, but it’s worth the effort. One family took theirs to the local mini-mart and practiced obedience training right outside, where there were distractions from people.

“Strangers came over and petted him and gave him treats. He met all kinds of people and learned to follow commands despite the distractions, and is a better dog today.”

About the Author

For more information about boxer dogs visit: http://www.dog-owner.net

Winter is now approaching and so the issue of cold weather is on
many peoples minds. Bunnies handle the severe cold much better
than they handle the severe heat. There are two basic issues you
must be concerned about during the winter months.

First, make sure your bunny has water available. During the
winter months we go with crocks instead of water bottles for all
of our outside rabbits. The tube of the water bottle freezes
much too quickly. We then check the water three times a day to
make sure the water is not frozen. If your bunny does not have
enough water, it will not eat enough food to keep it warm.

The second thing to consider is shelter from the wind, rain and
snow. A wet rabbit cannot maintain the correct body temperature,
and this is further compounded by the wind. Yes, wind chill
factors make the rabbit feel even colder than the actual
temperature. It is important not to completely block ventilation
in barns and sheds. Ventilation in your rabbitry is just as
important in the winter as it is in the summer. Insulating a
barn for the winter will help keep the barn a little warmer. A
balance between shelter and ventilation is important.

There are several other things you can do for your rabbits to
keep them safe during the winter. We always give extra straw or
timothy hay to our bunnies in the winter. This allows them to
snuggle into the hay should the temperatures get really cold.
Additionally, you can place nest boxes in all of your cages, as
an extra place for the rabbits to snuggle into. This would be
similar to a wild rabbit going into its den during extreme cold.

Breeding through the winter can present a problem. Baby bunnies
are born without fur. The mother compensates for this by pulling
her fur and covering the babies. There are a couple of options
available to winter breeders. Using a heat lamp, will give the
additional warmth a baby may need to survive. Also, the nestbox
could also be brought inside the house for the first two weeks.
Of course the nestbox would need to go out to the doe once or
twice a day so that she can feed her kits. After a couple of
weeks they have enough fur to survive the cold temperatures, and
will often huddle together or nestle up to the doe to stay warm.

Heaters can be used to keep buildings warm. Keep in mind the
extra cost of doing so. Often these are more for our comfort
than for the rabbits. The nice thing about a heater is that
water crocks won’t freeze as quickly, and the barn is a little
warmer when you go out to care for the rabbits.

Rabbits can survive the cold. Your diligence in making sure they
have fresh water and good shelter, greatly increases their
comfort level and chances of survival.

Many parents know that the best way for children to learn compassion and the importance of keeping commitments is by helping to care for a pet. Children learn from watching the adults in their lives. If a child can learn to treat an animal with respect they can take that lesson into later life. A cat can be a marvellous, loving companion for a child, but it is up to the adults in the family to ensure the cat and the kids live together happily ever after.

When you first bring a cat home, explain to your child that they will need to be patient, quiet and gentle to help the cat feel safe. Sit on the floor with your child and help him practice patience as the cat gets up the courage to come close. Let your child feed the cat a piece of food from his hand. If the cat is reluctant to come close, have your child gently toss a piece of food close to the cat. Once the cat realizes what your child is offering, the ice will melt.

Very young children can easily overwhelm a cat or kitten with their exuberance. Children under the age of five years should always be supervised when playing with or handling a cat. Children over 12 years can usually be trusted to be gentle, but be sure to occasionally check up on kids under 12 years when they spend concentrated time with the family cat.

You should remind children that they should not disturb a sleeping cat, or a cat that is using its litter tray.

Kittens appear to be amazingly flexible, and children often think nothing of draping a weeks-old cat over the crook of the arm and carrying it around like a toy, or picking up a kitten by the scruffof its neck. In this position, it is easy for the kitten to be dropped and seriously injured. Also, being carried like this leaves the cat feeling unsupported with it’s hind legs swinging in space.

The best way to carry a kitten or cat is to place one hand or arm under its front legs, and support its hind legs with the other hand or arm. This gives the cat a secure feeling. Teach your children not to carry the cat from one place to another. Explain that for the cat’s safety, they should always sit when they want to hold the cat, and should have their friends do the same.

Cats often have a mind of their own. Your child might feel like snuggling quietly at a time when your cat wants to play pounce. Impress on your children that if the cat ever struggles to get away, they should respect her wishes and let her go. A cornered cat will scratch and bite.

Encourage your children to exercise the cat by playing with appropriate toys. It is always tempting to play “catch my hand” with a kitten, because it is so amusing how fascinated they are with fingers. You should ensure that your children know the difference between playing and teasing your cat. If you teach a kitten that it is acceptable to swat and bite fingers, you’ll wind up with an adult cat that regularly attacks you. Not exactly the kind of cuddly cat parents want for their children.

About the Author

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