"Dogs are descended from wolves and are not designed to eat grains or corn." This is incorrect, and here’s why. For domestic dogs, grains and vegetables are perfectly fine and are desirable in a healthy diet as they provide important sources of energy and essential vitamins and minerals. Dogs are omnivores, separated from wolves and … Continue reading Wolves Living Among Us: Should Dogs Eat Corn and Grains?
Cat Relationships 101: Cats are often portrayed as "solitary" creatures. However, cats in the wild will quite readily and frequently choose to live in colonies, usually consisting of one intact dominant male and/or several subservient intact or neutered males, and a harem of females (both intact and spayed). When it comes to feline behavior and … Continue reading Introducing New Cats: The 4 Steps to Success
Huge news for owners/breeders of Ragdolls, Maine Coons, and Sphynxes! Opal, my beloved Sphynx girl. In case you missed it last year, NC State came out with a genetic test for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. HCM is a deadly form of heart disease that certain breeds are genetically prone to. NC State now offers genetic tests for … Continue reading Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Genetic Test for HCM!
MYTH: Touching baby birds will result in rejection by the parents. FACT: This old wives’ tale is unequivocally false, and wildlife rehabilitation experts have been trying to show this to the public for years. The majority of common non-predatory birds have little to no ability to smell, as they are seed/insect eaters and it plays … Continue reading MYTH: Touching Baby Birds Will Cause Them To Be Rejected?
Meet Sunny: Sunny is a 13-year-old cream point Balinese male. A Balinese is essentially a long-haired Siamese, and is considered a distinct breed among most cat registries. CFA specifically classifies red/cream pointed Balinese (along with lynx points and tortie points) as a sub-breed called "Javanese", but the color is the only difference. TICA recognizes red, … Continue reading Judge, Jury, and Social Executioner: Mob Mentality in the Digital Age
When beginning the search for a purebred dog, one can get overwhelmed by the sheer number of people out there who breed and sell everything ranging from Chihuahuas to Great Danes to the more rare Dogue de Bordeaux and Tosa. Yet there is a MAJOR difference between a "breeder" who just pairs two dogs and … Continue reading Responsible, Ethical Breeders: Why They Matter and What You Should Look For
This will be long, so please bear with me. The topic of veterinary bills and what goes into pricing is one that really needs to be discussed with every pet owner, but veterinary professionals rarely get the opportunity as it's a sensitive subject on both sides...and can be complicated. *cue foreboding music* Before I get … Continue reading Dachshunds, Doctors, and Dollars: The Rundown on Veterinary Costs
The topic of TNR and managed feral cat colonies is highly controversial. While many in rescue tout it as the self-sustaining solution to overpopulation, those on the opposing side are in constant defense of the devastating impact these cats have on native ecosystems, song birds, wildlife, etc. A recent ecological study in 2010 by the … Continue reading The Downside of TNR: The Ecological Devastation of Feral Cats
The actual pointed coat coloring that Siamese and other breeds are known for (as well as rats, mice, and rabbits) is simply a recessive form of partial albinism called "Himalayan".
The Himalayan mutation alters the enzyme responsible for melanin production, which is called Tyrosinase. The mutation restricts the ability of tyrosinase to oxidize tyrosine only at cooler temperatures; warmer temperatures deactivate the enzyme.
One of the most frequent topics to arise on reptile forums and Facebook groups is the subject of respiratory infections (RI). Not a single day goes by without at least one post in a group, or at least one PM or e-mail to me, seeking advice regarding a snake that is ill with an RI … Continue reading Respiratory Infections in Reptiles: The Importance of Identifying the Pathogen
Vibes from a Veterinary Nurse 