I received more than a few letters asking about a new vaccine
available for canine influenza. Some folks are understandably
concerned about this infectious disease. But at this point,
veterinarians see no reason for any panic. And it’s important to
remember that vaccines are only a small part of disease
prevention.
I received more than a few letters asking about a new vaccine available for canine influenza. Some folks are understandably concerned about this infectious disease. But at this point, veterinarians see no reason for any panic. And it’s important to remember that vaccines are only a small part of disease prevention. Common sense is also important. For example, if you go to public places (like the local dog park) with your pooch, be aware of any other animals that are there. If someone’s dog looks a little piqued, keep your dog away. Always avoid contact with any sick animals, even if it means going home without your usual romp.
Remember, this vaccine is new. And while it’s designed to protect against influenza, we really don’t know how effective it will actually be. For some dogs, it probably won’t even be necessary. So talk with your vet to see whether or not your dog will benefit from this vaccine.
A few weeks ago, I asked readers to tell me about special ways their kitty communicates with them. The response was good; I got some very interesting comments and stories. Several readers told me how their cat can change his or her voice and sound “forlorn” or neglected until someone responds and gives some attention. This is a common behavior in many kitties, especially around dinner time. One of our cats, Georgie, has “that” tone of voice as well. She can really turn up the volume when she wants something.
But some of you have kitties with intriguing habits. Betty wrote about her cat Wiggles, who acts like a watchdog. “If someone comes to the front of the house, Wiggles races to the door and begins to meow frantically. It’s almost as if she thinks she can scare them away.” Hmmmm. I think Betty might have the beginnings of a new business. Feline Home Security Service by Wiggles.
Marty wrote about her kitty named Watkins, who has a bad habit of pushing things off the shelf if he’s left alone for too long. He protests, Marty says, and he’s at his worst if he’s locked up in a room and wants out. “I went to bed the other night and Watkins was in the basement. He didn’t come out when I called him for dinner, so I left him in there and retired to my bedroom for the evening. He meowed a few times, but when I didn’t come open the door, he started knocking some canned food off the shelf onto the stairs.” Sounds like a pushy little pussycat to me.
Ben wanted to know why this story was limited to only cats. He has a Corgi dog, Denby, who quietly communicates with facial expressions. Like many dogs, Denby can smile. But he also has a frown that tells when he’s not happy. “And if I ignore him when he does this,” Ben writes, “he’ll make some weird nasal sounds and bite gently on my knee until I give him whatever he wants”. Evidently it gets worse, because if Ben ignores him, Denby raises one eyebrow showing his disgust. (He didn’t say what happens next).
I have to admit, I have never heard of a cat that nibbled on someone’s knee to get attention. But you know, Ben? I think you have a potential problem here. Is Denby a controlling Corgi?
And Trudi also wanted equal time for the canines of the world. She tells me that her Pomeranian, Susie, makes some of the cutest little groaning sounds when she curls up in someone’s lap for a nap. “It’s as if she’s telling me how happy she is to be there.” That’s pretty cute, Trudi. But until I hear about a dog that can purr, I maintain that cats are the best nap buddies.
And now to our question for this week…
Q:
How easy is it to determine the sex of baby bunnies? We bought a male baby from a well-known breeder a year ago and we think “he” is now pregnant.
A:
Sex determination can be very difficult when a baby kit is only a few days old. A baby bunny’s anatomy is not fully developed. So if the breeder tried to sex the bunny when it was very young, a mistake may have been made. And if your little bunny was caged with other males within the past month or so, you may, indeed, have a litter of new ones on the way. Be sure to separate this rabbit from any others until after the babies are born and weaned. And it might be a good idea to get a book on rabbit husbandry from the library. A pregnant doe will benefit from some extra nutritional supplementation, so do a little research and enjoy!
