SEPT. 2006

Ask the Lazi Birds!

Steve and Diane Lazicki have been rescuing and working with birds for over 8 years, as well as raising them as pets since childhood. They live with over 150 birds in their "bird house," so they have a wealth of bird expertise.

Q: Dear LaziBirds,
Is there a big difference in personalities between Congo greys and Timneh greys?
Interested bird lover

A: Dear bird lover,
For the most part, they are quite different.
1. The Congo's are larger birds with lighter gray coloring and brighter red tail feathers.
2. The smaller Timneh's are darker gray and their tail feathers are more of a burgundy coloring.
3. The Congo's are known for being more affectionate as well as better talkers.
There are exceptions to every rule. Our Timneh, Timmy, was a wild caught 16 years ago. A sad day for him. Even more sad is the fact that he sat in a small cage without anyone even looking at him or talking to him for over THIRTEEN YEARS!! Too many birds end up being ornaments! Anyway, Timmy came to live at our nest, which was the best thing that could have happened to him and us. He really loved music and would dance when we sang to him. Eventually, he would step into our hand and dance and whistle. What a happy day!!! Today, he actually converses and loves to be held and loved.. The only bad thing is that he rules the roost, by ordering everybody around. So I guess a good rule of thumb is "Never judge a nest by it's feather count"
LaziBirds

Ask The Cat Lady!

Sally Bahner has spent the last 10 years specializing in writing on cat-related issues, specifically nutrition, holistic care and multiple cat behavior. She was editor-in-chief of "The Whole Cat Journal" and has contributed to "Catnip", "Catwatch" and the new "Whole Cat Journal".

Q: Dear Sally,
I just adopted a kitten, Chloe, from a local shelter. She is about 4-months-old and checked out healthy. She is my only cat. I work all day so she is alone in my apartment. She has access to tall scratching posts and windows to look out of. The problem is that when I come home at night she insists on attacking my ankles and jumping out in front of me. I'm afraid I will trip and fall or step on her and hurt her. What can I do to spare my ankles and keep Chloe from harm?
Diane

A: Dear Diane,
For kittens, the world is one big place to explore and you are the center of her universe. Since you are away all day, Chloe is eager for your company. Pouncing and chasing are skills kittens learn in the wild from their mothers, and you and your ankles are a perfect way for her to hone her newly developing skills. You need to find ways to channel her energies. For people who are away all day, I often recommend adopting kittens in pairs - they're more likely to wrestle with each other than your anatomy. If that is not possible, set aside some dedicated playtime in the morning and evening. Fishing pole toys such as Da'Bird, the Galkie Kitty Tease, or a feather on a stick allow her to run around and burn off energy. You can also toss sparkle balls or furry mice and she might even learn to play fetch. Keep plenty of cardboard scratchers around (they are inexpensive and cats love them) in addition to a couple of good sturdy scratching posts. The play sessions will improve the bond between you and channel Chloe's energy constructively.
Most of all enjoy your kitten - they grow up very quickly!
Sally

The Guinea Pig Expert!

Whitney Potsus has owned guinea pigs for nearly a decade. She is Vice President of The Critter Connection, Inc., a Durham-based non-profit dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of abandoned and neglected guinea pigs. You can find the rescue on the Web at www.ctguineapigrescue.org. Please direct all your Guinea Pig questions to Whitney.

Q: Dear Whitney,
The guinea pigs I recently bought from a neighborhood store have lice...I think. How can I be sure it's lice, and then how do I get rid of it?
Thanks, Pam

A: Dear Pam,
While lice will be all through your pigs' fur, they and their eggs consistently set up a densely populated camp between and around the ears. On first look, you'll think it's dandruff. When you look closer, you'll see milky-white eggs attached to individual hairs; the adults are tiny, flat, round, translucent milky white, and moving. Finding eggs is enough to know you have a problem.

Visit your vet, so she/he can rule out additional health issues as a result of the lice. For the lice itself, there are several treatments:
• Ivermectin shots
• Topical selamectin
• Carbaryl powder (found in Zodiac Flea & Tick Powder for cats and dogs ages 12 weeks and older)

Owners and vets attest that carbaryl powder kills lice quicker than anything else, though some vets will use ivermectin and carbaryl powder in combination.

What you can do:
1. Trim the guinea pigs' hair, or ask your vet office to do it with their clippers. Clip short-haired guinea pigs around their ears, and long-haired guinea pigs all over. This is a major first strike against lice, and you'll see a change in your pigs once so many "itchies" are gone.
2. Bathe the pigs with baby shampoo or a shampoo for rabbits and guinea pigs (like Bunny Magic). Get one pig bathed and then dried before starting the second. (Provide extra protection against drafts and cold, especially for the first 24 hours.)
3. Protecting their eyes, nose, mouth, and ear canals, gently spread the carbaryl powder through their fur. Use your fingertip to get the powder between and around their ears. Don't apply it around their eyes or along their noses; there's too much chance it will get in their eyes or nasal passages.
4. Change the bedding, and wash the cage and hidey-house (if plastic). Lice, theoretically, can't live without a host, so you don't have to sterilize the cage. But it's good to do a routine cage cleaning when you give the pigs a bath or another dusting of carbaryl powder.
5. Between baths, as your pigs' fur starts to grow in, run a metal flea comb through their hair (wiping with a wet cloth after each stroke) to catch any lice that haven't been killed yet and to remove dead lice eggs.
6. Wash the toys, tunnels, and blankets/towels/snuggle sacks in your pigs' play area.

It takes up to a month (3 to 4 treatments about 7 to 10 days apart) to kill a lice infestation. Lice are species-specific, so the lice on your pigs won't spread to humans or other animals. You must ensure that the lice on both pigs are gone - or you'll have to repeat the whole cycle.
Good luck,Whitney

The Bunny Expert!

Susan adopted her first house rabbit 5 years ago and soon after got highly involved in rabbit rescue. She has volunteered at a local rabbit rescue group and a local animal shelter working with rabbits. She has since co-founded 3 Bunnies Rabbit Rescue Inc. Susan can surely answer all of your rabbit questions!

Q: Dear Susan,
I've heard of people letting their rabbits have the run of the house, sort of like a cat. Is this recommended?
Thank you, Dan

A: Dan,
Yes, rabbits can have the run of the house with proper bunny proofing and caution. It depends on the household, family members and other pets as to how a bunny should have his free run time. For an example, I have a child and other pets, so for everyone's safety, we had to bunny proof the area that the buns can run around in, which for us is kitchen, hall and living room. Other pets and children need to be supervised as well as the rabbits for out time. Rabbits will chew things, run around and jump on furniture, etc. They can move fast so everyone has to be careful not to step on them as they have brittle bones. In our home, we let the rabbits have free run around time only when I am home and supervise everyone.

Some people have the room in their house to devote a bunnyproofed room just for the bunnies so they don't even have to live in a cage. Some people don't have other pets or children and actually bunny proof their whole house so the rabbit can have full run of the house all the time. Most rabbits can be litter boxed trained.

It is essential that house bunnies do get their free roam time everyday, out of the cage or pen, but it is crucial to bunny proof so rabbits don't get hurt. Most are very inquisitive and will get into things that could cause harm. It is always wise to supervise and bunnyproof for out time. Rabbits are a lot of fun playing around the house and can interact with some other pets. They are also great beggars just like dogs. Some like to play with bunny safe toys. Some will enjoy in activities, such as watching tv with you. The most fun is lying on the floor with them and waiting for them to come to you. Some of mine like to jump on my back for fun and play King of the Hill.
Susan

Ask Dr. Post!

Veterinary Oncology & Hematology Center is a cancer care treatment center for canines and felines in Norwalk. Dr. Gerald Post DVM, ACVIM has been specializing in cancer and cancer treatments for six years and has been practicing as a veterinarian since 1988. Write to Dr. Post with all your cancer related questions.

Q: Dear Dr. Post,
My dog has mass cell tumors. The tumors were removed, but what are the chances they will return without radiation or chemotherapy? What is the timeframe for how long dogs can live with this type of cancer?
Thank you, Lynn

A: Hi Lynn,
Mast cell tumors are very common tumors of the skin. They typically look like raised red areas of the skin, but they can look like anything, even fatty tumors. There are three grades of this tumor, grade 1,2 and 3; with grade 3 tumors being the most aggressive. Grading is preformed on a biopsy sample of the tumor. Surgical removal is the treatment of choice for grade I tumors and many grade 2 tumors. Some grade 2 tumors and all grade 3 tumors should be treated with surgery and either chemotherapy or radiation therapy. This combination of therapy has shown to be very effective for the majority of these tumors. Dogs with these tumors can live for years, if they are caught early and treated appropriately.
Dr. Post