Have you ever wondered if cats and dogs can get diabetes. Unfortunately they can, and some breed of dogs are more prone to diabetes than others, for instance German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Miniature Schnauzers, Keeshondens, and Poodles. Cats become prone to diabetes when they become overweight. 1 in every 500 dogs will become diabetic.

There is no need to worry though, as the medicine to treat diabetes has been developing for humans, this research has also benefitted our furry friends. You just need to know what your looking for. There are symptoms to watch for if you suspect that your pet might have diabetes.

1) Polydipsia
Polydipsia is where your pet drinks more water than they regularly do. This is the earliest sign of diabetes in animals.

2) Polyuria
Polyuria is where your pet feels the need to urinate more frequently than normal. This may result in accidents around the house. This is the next warning sign, especially in animals who have never experienced urination accidents or problems in the house before.

3) Polyphagia
Polyphagia is an increase in appetite. If your pet acts hungrier than normal or as if it is starving, but instead of gaining weight your pet loses weight, this could be a warning sign of diabetes.

These three symptoms can be accompanied by, or commonly proceed a sudden weight loss which can be caused by diabetes increasing your pet’s metabolism. As mentioned above overweight cats and dogs have a higher susceptibility to diabetes, therefore if you have an overweight pet keep the top three symptoms in mind, if you notice any of these don’t hesitate to bring your pet into your vet for a physical.

Weakness and fatigue can be symptoms of diabetes as well. The disease can case a wasting away of the back muscles or weakness in the hind legs of cats. Dogs may become generally more lethargic, sleepy and inactive. The thinning, drying and dull appearance of your pet’s hair can be another symptom of diabetes, particularly along the back. If your pet is experiencing this symptom it is best to ask your vet to check your pet out as diabetes is not the only illness that causes hair loss.

Diabetes can also cause cataracts in your pet’s eyes. If these go untreated your animal may go blind. As odd as this next one may sound, but depression can be another symptom of diabetes. Due to the imbalance of proteins in your pet they may become depressed and lay around the house.

The last sign to look for is vomiting. More common in older pets than younger ones and in female pets than males, this symptom is the most severe and is usually the last stage of diabetes that is recognizable. Dachshunds and Miniature Poodles are more predisposed to this symptom of diabetes as well.

The good news is that with advice and help from your veterinary professional you will learn how to control your pet’s diet and give insulin shots to keep your pet healthy and active despite their diabetes. To learn more give us a call or bring your pet in if any of these symptoms describe your pet’s health condition.

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Rabbits make great pets, they are social, cute and active. Rabbits require as much care as a puppy or a cat, so make sure you’re ready for the commitment that a rabbit needs. For those who are interested in owning a rabbit here’s some information that will help your new rabbit transition into your house relatively stress free.

In order to get your rabbit familiar with his/her new environment the rabbit should be kept in a small cage so that it can get used to the rhythms of the house. From the cage the rabbit can still socialize and get used to you and your family. Once the rabbit is used to the new surroundings you should then transition the rabbit into a bigger cage, or preferably a pen.

A pen allows the rabbit to have some roaming room and exercise space that it needs to keep healthy. A puppy pen is a great option to building your own pen, just make sure that the height of the pen is high enough to stop the rabbit from jumping over it.

Some owners are nervous to let their rabbit roam freely because of a rabbit’s natural chewing habits that wear down their front teeth. A suitable option to a carpet floor is laying a piece of linoleum under the pen making sure the edges are not available to the rabbit. Another idea is to place plastic chair mats under the pen and wrap them in a bed sheet making sure the rabbit can’t chew on the edges.

Inside the pen ensure that the rabbit’s litter box of hay is always placed in the same area, and that there are a number of things for the rabbit to interact with. Some toys for chewing and pushing, and possible a cardboard structure that the rabbit can climb on and chew.

Should you choose to make a rabbit pen on your own be sure not to use chicken wire. Rabbits can easily chew through chicken wire and hurt themselves badly on the chewed pieces of wire. When making slats be sure there are no spaces for the rabbit to stick its head through, this could possibly result in strangulation if the rabbit can fit its head through the spaces.

Here is a website that specializes in rabbit pen designs:

http://animals.pawnation.com/make-rabbit-pen-5858.html

Here are some links to pet product manufacturers and pet stores:

http://www.petco.com/N_87_122/Rabbit-Cages-and-Hutches.aspx

http://www.petco.com/Rabbits-Home.aspx

http://www.petsmart.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2769317

http://www.wayfair.com/Rabbit-Hutches-C530205.html

http://www.rabbitcagesource.com/on-sale/127455+11.cfm

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/small-pet/rabbit-products/rabbit-hutches-cages-runs/

Lizards make great pets because they don’t cause allergic reactions in people who are generally allergic to dogs and cats. For first time lizard owners knowing what type of lizard to choose and how to choose the lizard makes all the difference.

Captive bred lizards make the best pets because they are generally healthy, less skittish and easier to handle than wild lizards. Wild lizards tend to carry parasites and be less healthy because of the stress associated with capture, transport and captive conditions. These components make wild lizards more susceptible to illnesses.

Buying captive bred lizards helps to maintain the wild populations. Before buying a lizard research the type of lizard you are going to buy. You’ll want to know how big the lizard will grow, how long it will live and if the lizard carries salmonella. Some lizards can grow to be 5-6 feet long and live a very long time. If the lizard does carry salmonella you’ll want to know what the risks are associated with salmonella and how to reduce the harm it can cause you.

While the initial purchase of the lizard can be relatively inexpensive, the equipment can cost many times more than the actual lizard. Once you have decided on the breed of lizard you want make sure you buy the right equipment and have it all set up and ready for the lizard to come home. This can reduce the stress on the lizard.

The best breed of lizard for a first time owner are: Leopard Geckos, Crested Geckos, Fat Tailed Geckos, Bearded Dragons, Blue Tongued Skins, and Green Anoles. The last thing you’ll want to know before buying the lizard is the health and conditions it has been living in. Overcrowding can cause illness and weakness in smaller lizard breeds.

Here are a list of pointers to help you find a healthy lizard:

1) Look all over the body to make sure the lizard isn’t emaciated or too skinny. Their hips and tails will tell you if they’re too skinny. Lizards should be well fleshed. Snakes should have round bodies, their backbone shouldn’t be visible. Turtles should have ample flesh between their neck and front legs.

2) Look at the skin for wrinkles or dullness, these can indicate dehydration. Skin should be supple and wrinkle free and not be bitten or scratched. Their bellies should be smooth and not burnt. Turtles should have hard shells with no defects. Turtles with soft shells or defected shells may be seriously ill.

3) Check for cleanliness, there should be no fecal matter on its belly or back.

4) Check vent for dried feces or urates. If these are caked on the vent could be a sign of illness or parasites.

5) Check eyes, they should be clean and free of discharge or mucous. Swollen eyes indicate serious illness, especially in turtles.

6) Watch for runny noses or mucous around nostrils. In some species a salty discharge is normal.

7) Check mouth for pale pink or grayish color and possible yellow, white or green patches. These al indicate signs of illness or mouth rot. Also be wary of stringy or ropy looking saliva. Mouths should be a healthy pink and smooth.

8) Check head for swelling and symmetry. The presence of the asymmetry or swelling can indicate illness or infection.

9) Check for mites, pay close attention to the head, belly and neck for tiny moving specks that can be black, dark brown, reddish brown, or orange in color.

10) Ask to handle the lizard. Check for strength. Docile and limp means animal is probably ill. Handle a variety to get used to the muscle tone. Weakness or shakiness are signs of illness as are twitches or tremors.

11) Assess reptiles behavior for alertness, brightness and responsiveness. Healthy reptiles resist capture and initially fight being held. Tame reptiles are easier to hold, but should still be responsive and bright.

12) Look for signs of respiratory disease which includes discharge from the eyes and nose or open mouth breathing. Listen for clicking or wheezing.

Allergy Friendly Cats

While there is no such thing as an allergy free pet there are animals that are considered to be hypoallergenic or allergy friendly. These animals usually shed less or produce less dander because of the nature of their fur, or the fact that they don’t have any.

One way to reduce allergies to pets with hair is to remove all carpet and replace it with tile or hard wood floors. Carpets cling to pet hair and trap dander which cause allergic reactions because larger pets usually have access to all rooms in the house.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America allergies are cause by super sensitive immune systems that are more averse to harmless proteins in pet hair, urine and saliva. These proteins are what we know as allergens.

The most allergy friendly pets are ones that are in cages or aquariums because their access to the house is limited and the animals tend to be hairless. Goldfish make the best allergy friendly pets because their environment is aquatic and isn’t in constant contact with the allergy sufferer. Lizards are another pet that are allergy friendly because they don’t have hair and tend to be low maintenance.

If you insist on a pet with hair there are hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, mice, chinchillas, and rats which are contained in their own cage and produce next to no allergic reactions. Out of these animals the hamster is the most common house pet. However, should you insist on a larger pet with hair here are a few suggestions.

Dogs

Standard Poodles and Bischon Frise are considered hypoallergenic because their small curly hair makes it harder for dander to escape. ALso their frequent grooming means they shed less dander in the home.

Portugese Water Dogs are robust and require regular maintenance which again results in less hair and dander in the house.

Kerry Blue Terriors and American Labradoodle shed less than other breeds of dog. The American Labradoodle is different from the Australian Labradoodle because in Australia they breed the dog in order to reduce the quarrantine period of imported dogs.

In order to decrease dander in your home make sure that you keep your dog’s skin hydrated, much like you would with your own scalp to decrease the chances of producing dandruff.

Cats

Sphynx Cats are hairless cats that don’t shed which means no dander in carpets or hair on your furniture or clothes.

Devon Rex Cats have a rippling brown skin covered in down fur which is shed less frequently than other breeds and makes it less irritating and more allergy friendly.

However, with cats you have to remember that they are in close contact with their owners and that means you will still be exposed to the proteins that produce allergic reactions because cats groom themselves often by nature. It is the cats’ saliva that is most irritating because of the proteins it contains.

If you have a loved one in the house who suffers from allergies it can be hard to choose a pet, but always talk with your doctor and veterinarian before choosing a pet. Being well informed goes a long way for you and your family.

Hamsters are great pets because they are small, cute and easily cared for. But how much do we know about keeping hamsters healthy? Like rabbits and other small creatures that are low on the food chain their illness can go unnoticed to keep them safe from their predators. Meaning your little pet may be sick for a while and you not notice until it is quite serious and most likely too late to do anything about it.

To keep you hamster healthy you need to provide it with a clean cage and a variety of food that boosts their health. In the wild hamsters eat seeds, roots, fruits and bugs. Each of these foods have the required nutrition in them that ensures good health for your fury friend.

Your hamster needs proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and water. There are a variety of commercial brands of hamster food, but many of them contain sugars which are not good for your pet. Experts suggest that you feed your hamster a mixture of canary seeds with their commercial food and give them hard boiled eggs as a treat, dog biscuit or cat treat, monkey chow and yeast. Each of these foods have the required nutrients that make hamsters healthy. The hard boiled egg should be removed from the cage within 24 hours to stop your friend from eating a rotten egg.

Some of the foods listed above help hamsters to grind down their teeth, which they would do naturally in the wild by eating certain roots and vegetables. Fruit and vegetables are great treats but make sure that you don’t feed to much lettuce to your hamster or that will give him diarrhea. Did you know you can even feed hamsters meat? Little bits of beef or mutton is okay, but never pork because it is too fatty for the little guys.

Never worry that you are over feeding your hamster. They instinctually know what their bodies need and how much to eat. Being a natural food hoarder means that if you keep their bowl full they won’t feel the need to eat more than they should. With these tips you should have a healthy happy hamster.

When you prepare to travel to distant countries you make sure that your vaccinations are in order before you board the plane. Pets are no different, your fury friend needs different types of vaccinations that fit their lifestyle. Pets as young as six weeks old can receive many of the vaccinations.

You need to examine the lifestyle your pet has, whether your friend is at home with you more, or spends time at the kennel more. With these criteria you can decide on a vaccination schedule that fits your pets needs. Talk to your vet about what schedule best suits your pet.

Vaccinations are broken into two categories, core vaccinations and non-core vaccinations. Core vaccinations for dogs include: Rabies 1-3 year, Distemper, Parvovirus and Adenovirus. These are considered core because these diseases damage the dog’s internal systems and are spread through contact with infected animals.

Non-core vaccinations for dogs include: Parainfluenza, Bordetella Bronchiseptica, Lyme Disease, Leptospirosis and Canine Influenza. These are not considered important because these are spread by close contact with an infected dog, but do not have the system damaging effects of the previous diseases.

Core vaccinations for cats include: Rabies, Feline Distemper, Feline Herpesvirus and Calicivirus. These diseases are spread by close contact with an infected cat and cause internal damage.

Non-core vaccinations for cats include: Feline Leukemia Virus and Bordetella. Cats should be tested for Feline Leukemia Virus before given the vaccination. Again, these illnesses are caused by continual close contact with an infected cat.

Some of these vaccinations have to be given twice a year. Nothing is sadder than a sick pet, make sure you track your pets vaccinations year to year so that you don’t miss any.

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Halloween is just around the corner and that means one thing…candy. People love candy, especially kids. However, your furry little kid can not have candy. It is simply not good for them and can be quite toxic, especially chocolate. Pets are curious and will often times eat whatever is within immediate reach for them. Since most people will either be giving out candy or receiving it, it is important to think about your pets when it comes to where you have your candy stash hidden. Be sure to store candy in sealed containers, inside of closed pantries or cupboards, or somewhere up high that is out of Fido’s reach.

It’s always safest to leave your pets at home. However, if you plan to take your pet trick-or-treating with the rest of the family, remember to keep him safe, as well. Bring along water and a bowl to keep your pet hydrated. Walking makes you thirsty, and the same is true for your pet.

Pet costumes are adorable and quite fun. However, costumes should not be too tight around your pet’s head, neck, chest, or legs. Also, your pet’s costume should not block or inhibit their vision or hamper their ability to breathe. Remember that costumes can be quite warm, so if you see your pet excessively panting, it’s a good idea to remove the costume, make sure your pet gets rehydrated, and can take a break before continuing on.

Another good idea is to have your pet on a leash to protect him from cars and other hazards. You never know when the excitement of the night may cause him to want to run. Seeing lots of people and hearing all of the noises of the night just may be sensory overload for even the best behaved animals.

Lastly, on a night that is filled with tricks as well as treats, it’s best to bring your pet inside to keep him safe from devilish pranksters who may not have the best of intentions toward animals.

From all of us at Celebration Veterinary Hospital, we wish you, your family, and your pets a safe and Happy Halloween!

Animals are great companions. They come in all shapes, sizes and varieties. For an owner, the care for an exotic pet is the most difficult because you must know how to properly care for the animal.

Not every vet is capable of treating an exotic species. What many people may not know is that even domestic animals such as rabbits are be considered exotic.

These animals’ needs can be pretty intense, whether they are dietary or just functional. Before you buy an exotic animal you should do some research on the type of pet that you are interested in purchasing.

This research will allow you to understand what owning the pet will mean for you. Some great places to find advice on exotic and wild animals is from the Florida Animal Control, http://floridaanimalcontrol.org/home-exotics

Some pets even require a state licence. To check if the animal you are interested in purchasing requires a licence click here, http://www.bornfreeusa.org/b4a2_exotic_animals_summary.php.

Remember that the pet you choose for a companion can be a great purchase, but if you aren’t prepared to care for the animal, neither of you will enjoy the experience.

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We have been getting so much rain in Central Florida this year. I don’t know about you, but my dog always has to go to the bathroom when it is pouring down rain! Dogs are great pets, but no one enjoys the smell of a wet dog. I wish I had a cure all solution, but at least I have a few tips.

The easiest solution is to get out your umbrella to cover you and your dog from the incoming rain. You can also use bushes or buildings to try and block as much rain as possible. You could purchase a doggie raincoat or if you have a larger dog, a baby horse blanket would probably fit better. But, your dog will still get wet from the rain that has already fallen. You can purchase doggie rain boots, but they can be very difficult to get your pet adjusted to them. The easier answer is to dry off your dog and then spray some odor eliminating coat mist on his coat. It will keep your pet smelling much better in between baths! As always, we would love to give you professional advice specific to your pet. Just bring your pet in to Celebration Veterinary Hospital.

Too many dogs are overweight and are much more prone to suffer from several health problems, like arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular health issues and early death. Dieting and exercise individually are often not enough and a healthy combination of both are more effective. Over time, it is important to make sure that your dog is living at a healthy weight.

To start an exercise routine, start your dog exercising for 15 minutes a day. Then, build up to at least 30 to 60 minutes a day. For their diet, make sure you are feeding them lean proteins. Chicken breast, minced beef and white fish are excellent sources of lean protein.

Bring your dog into Celebration Veterinary Hospital to discuss your dog’s individual exercise and dietary needs. Every breed and dog are unique, so individual analysis is vital to make sure that your dog’s health is top notch.