Blog Posts by vetstreet.com

By Michelle Leifer | vetstreet.com

ThinkstockWith Easter less than a week away, it can be tempting to buy a furry bunny to round out your child's holiday basket.

But, as adorable as they are, rabbits are more than just a seasonal decoration or a toy. When uninformed owners are faced with the reality of caring for their new pet, that cute bunny all too often ends up in a shelter.

Related: Biggest Misconceptions About Rabbits

To get a better sense of what to expect, Vetstreet asked Mary E. Cotter, Ed.D., who runs the New York City-area chapter of the House Rabbit Society (HRS) and serves as the vice president for the international HRS organization, to give us the lowdown on bunny ownership. Here are things to consider:

Bunnies can live seven to 10 years - and some even hit their teens. "This is not a quick fix for a lonely child," Cotter says. "You need to think long term and realize that a full-grown pet requires devotion and care."

And

By Laura Cross

The "gray ghost" is back in the limelight.

The latest campaign for Stockholm, Sweden-based fashion and design brand Acne Studios features a pair of fashionable Weimaraners shot by one of the most famous Weimaraner photographers of all - William Wegman.

Wegman made the breed's signature gray face famous back in the 1970s, when he started photographing his Weimaraner, Man Ray. Chances are, you or someone you know, owns, (or used to own), a William Wegman Weimaraner calendar.

So tell us, which gray ghosts are your favorites? The ones wearing dollar-print suits? How about the adorable duo in oversized floppy hats?

More on Vetstreet.com:
* Want a Large Dog That Is Gentle? Then This Breed Is For You
* The Toughest Decision a Pet Owner Has to Make
* Top 5 Pet Trends for 2013

By Dr. Donna Spector | vetstreet.com

ThinkstockDo you ever wonder how much your pet sees, or if they see the same things with the same detail that you do? Although it seems like a relatively simple question, the answer is quite complex. When compared to human vision, dogs and cats see both better and worse… just a little differently than we do.

In general, dogs and cats are much more sensitive to light and motion than people are, but they cannot see as accurately or in the same immense color spectrum that we can.

See Also: 9 Cat Breeds That Crave Affection

If you have ever wondered how your dog is able to go outside in the pitch black and make his way safely around, or how your cat can move so stealthily through a dark house at 1 a.m., it is because their eyes have amazing adaptations for nighttime - or nocturnal - vision.

Pets owe these abilities to their amazing light sensitivity. Both dogs and cats can detect very low levels of light and are far

By Amy Shojai

Barbara O'Brien, Animal PhotographyCats are living longer than ever before - it's not unusual for felines to reach their mid-to-late teens or even early twenties. A longer lifespan, however, can leave felines frazzled if their once-spry brains aren't properly stimulated. In fact, cats over the age of 15 can develop feline cognitive dysfunction (FCD), a cat version of Alzheimer's disease in which a starchlike, waxy protein (beta amyloid) collects in the brain.

The symptoms of FCD can frustrate owners because they often mimic other behavior problems. In addition to acting disoriented, cats with the condition may cry and pace, get lost in the house or even stuck in corners. They can also act scared and have trouble sleeping. Most felines with FCD develop hit-or-miss litter box tendencies - yuck! - and even when they do find the box, they may not know what to do with it. Perhaps most heartbreaking: Some senile kitties tend to shun petting, ignore people and other companion

By Arden Moore | vetstreet.com

ThinkstockThe sight of a puppy trotting off with a sock in her mouth might seem adorable, but if your dog is a chronic object stealer, it's not all that cute. Having Fido make off with the roast you cooked for Sunday dinner or your toddler's favorite toy can be stressful for you - and dangerous for your dog.

Certain breeds - including Golden Retrievers, Yorkshire Terriers and Papillons - are more likely than their canine peers to steal your things. But no matter what breed your pooch is, it is important that you put a stop to her thefts before she winds up at the vet's office with a tummy ache - or worse.

See Also: Why Does My Dog... Bark at Nothing?

When your dog steals something, she wants to take possession of the object for any number of reasons. She may want to play with it, because she views the object as a toy. Clothing, shoes and children's toys are favorite items for canine kleptomaniacs. These dogs may enjoy chewing

By Vetstreet Staff | March 20, 2013

March Madness is upon us, and it's time to stand up for our favorite teams. How do we decide who to cheer for? By who has the best mascot, of course!

From beloved Bulldogs to horses and tigers who might be too big for the basketball court, we've rounded up our eight favorites who made it to the Big Dance - many of them from revered lineages and steeped in decades of rich university tradition. We're betting these cuties will go all the way!

Liz Lynch, HuggyDuggy.com1. Jack and Jack Jr., Georgetown University

Georgetown University's mascot, Jack the Bulldog, was joined last spring by a new mascot trainee, Bulldog puppy Jack Jr. The university has a long tradition of Bulldog mascots; the first Jack, an English Bulldog, was purchased by students in 1964. He was meant to be called Hoya (after the school's rallying cry of "Hoya Saxa!"), but refused to respond to any name but Jack.

The elder Jack's favorite pastimes include tearing up cardboard boxes (usually

By Dr. Carrie La Jeunesse | vetstreet.com

ThinkstockOccasionally, the decision making that surrounds euthanizing a pet is pretty straightforward. In cases of massive trauma, severe illness or unrelenting pain that cannot be managed, the path seems clear. In other cases, however, it can be hard to know what to do.

The feeling that "it's time" can be more obvious in some situations than in others. But no matter how clear-cut the case may seem, a decision to euthanize a beloved pet often still involves a slew of conflicting thoughts and emotions. Making reasoned choices for our pets in such situations is often agonizing - and maybe that is as it should be. It is no small thing to end a life, and each instance must be approached with care and deep respect.

See Also: When Is the Right Time to Say Goodbye to Your Cat or Dog?

Clients often talk about their struggle to find the "right" time. (Veterinarians face this same issue themselves with regard to their own

By Samantha Thornton | vetstreet.com

Thousands of animal species are listed in the Endangered Species Act, but we found a few that you wouldn't expect to find on the brink of extinction. From household pets to garden pests, here are animals currently listed as endangered or threatened in the United States and around the world.

More on Vetstreet.com:

-- 10 Irish Animals to Love

-- Toys That Are Safe & Dangerous for Kittens

-- 5 Best Dogs for Your Golden Years