Hay is the most important part of a rabbit’s diet. High quality hays like timothy should make up the majority of the daily diet followed by a small number of fresh vegetables and fruits and a limited number of pellets.

Ideally, barring any illness dogs and cats should be seen every 3 months by your veterinarian. Rabbits and other small exotics do well with 2 visits a year and with birds, once yearly visits are recommended.

It is recommended that you have one box per cat plus one extra. So, if you have two cats, you should have 3 litter boxes.

Puppies usually begin vaccinations at 6weeks of age and most breeds get 4 shots, 3 weeks apart. Dobermans, rottweilers and their mixes get one extra for a total of 5 vaccinations. All dogs should get a booster vaccine annually.

The answer is no. Your puppies are not considered protected until they get all their shots. You should wait at least 2 weeks after the last vaccine before taking them out and ideally, they should also be on a flea and tick prevention program.

By spaying and neutering your pets, you do your part in preventing unwanted litters, undesirable behavior and protect them from developing serious health issues.

You can have your pets spayed and neutered as early as 6 months. However, in some cases such as in shelters and with strays it can be done earlier. It is recommended that large and giant breed dogs have these procedures done a little older at 9 to 18 months, as they are prone to orthopedic disease.

Medications that are safe for humans are not necessarily safe for your pet. While we do prescribe human medication sometimes, it is important to note there are differences in dosages, the way the animals tolerate the drugs, side effects and applications. The effects of human medications in pets can range from GI issues such as diarrhea and/or vomiting to more serious problems like reduced liver and kidney function, seizures, comas and death. You should NEVER give your pets any medicines unless prescribed by a vet.

Puppies should eat a high-quality puppy food that is specially formulated for their growing needs. An adult food can actually stunt them as the nutrients are not enough for a pup’s development. After weaning off the mom, a pup should be eating 3-4 times a day and this can decrease as they get older. Routine is very important to form good eating habits.

Ideally, they should be given a bath every three to four weeks. A good quality shampoo made specifically for pets should be used. If your pet suffers from a skin condition, your vet may recommend a medicated shampoo for them to use. Should you need to clean them more often, there are wipes and waterless shampoos available that work in between baths without stripping their bodies of oils and drying out their skin.

Certainly, you can brush their teeth. It is best to start as puppies/kittens and it is important to form a routine and stick to it. The minimum recommendation is three times weekly to avoid plaque build-up. There are pet specific toothbrushes and finger brushes available and only pet toothpastes/gels should be used. Some patients tend to be resistant to cleaning their teeth especially when the habit wasn’t formed when they were young. In this case there are drops that can be added to the drinking water or gels to apply directly to the teeth to reduce plaque and tartar build up and freshen their breath.