Spring weather is finally here. And with it come foxtails in
your yard. Have you cleared them out? Better get to it first thing
so you don’t end up with a sick pet at the vet.
Spring weather is finally here. And with it come foxtails in your yard. Have you cleared them out? Better get to it first thing so you don’t end up with a sick pet at the vet.
Before we get to this week’s questions, here’s an update on two stories everyone should be following. First, let’s talk about recent events with the pet food recall.
Last Wednesday, we heard that melamine, the toxic material found in wheat gluten imported from China, was detected in rice protein concentrate coming from the same country. Now there’s concern that corn gluten may also be contaminated with the same toxic chemical. As a result, Royal Canin has recalled some of its dry (kibble) food.
Besides this, FDA mentioned that its investigation into this problem was focusing on whether or not the addition of melamine was deliberate or accidental. That’s right. This debacle may have resulted from a misguided plan by manufacturers who were aware that melamine can actually enhance the protein content of food. If this is the case, they certainly weren’t fully aware of the dangers of this substance.
Meanwhile a pork producer has pulled some of its product in our markets because traces of melamine have been found in the meat. Turns out these pigs were given feed contaminated with the chemical and now it’s been detected in their carcasses. It remains clear that we haven’t heard the last of the news about pet food contamination as yet.
Our other story, like foxtails, relates to spring’s warm weather. It’s time, again, to be prepared and protect against West Nile Virus. This disease is transmitted by the bite of mosquitoes and this year at least six birds have died in Santa Clara County from its infection. West Nile is here to stay and proper precautions are necessary. If you have horses, be sure they are vaccinated against this disease. Dogs and cats seem to be immune to it without vaccine protection.
More important, be sure to remove any standing water in your yard. Old tires, bird baths … they’re all a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes. It may sound trivial, but just eliminating standing water can make the difference between good health for your family and a possibly serious (even fatal) disease. For further information, look up the government’s Web page for West Nile Virus at www.westnile.ca.gov. And now to this week’s questions.
Q:Â Recently, we have had robins flying into our closed windows in our residential Gilroy home. What causes this and what can we do?
A:Â Thanks for a neat question. Briefly stated, the cause of this wild behavior is probably due to two things, both related to spring breeding activity for these birds.
This is the time of year that birds are very visible. Warm weather brings out all their nesting activity and mating rituals. As a result, birds are a lot more aggressive. And sometimes a window reflection fools one of these guys into thinking there is another bird in his presence. Seeing this “other bird” will often cause a robin to aggressively attack.
Besides this, many of these birds develop a huge appetite as they become more active and sometimes they engorge on whatever they can find to eat.
For years, many people thought that pyracantha berries were intoxicating because birds would fly recklessly into windows after eating them. But truth is that birds are very light creatures. And it’s easy for them to consume too much food. It they eat too much, they increase their body weight to where they can no longer maneuver in flight. Sharp turns they usually make are almost impossible after a huge meal. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s berries or earthworms. Too much weight makes for a clumsy flight and collisions (with windows or otherwise).
Q:Â We are planning a trip to Tahoe this summer and want to bring our pet rabbit with us. Do rabbits ever experience problems with high altitude, for example, ear complications? I would hate to be driving over that pass and have him be in pain.
A: Traveling to the mountains shouldn’t be a problem for your bunny as long as he doesn’t have any underlying health issues. Rabbits as a rule do well at high altitudes.
I know several people who fly with their rabbits when they travel in a small plane and they never experience any problems. So if your bunny is otherwise healthy, there shouldn’t be any problem. If you have seen signs of respiratory illness or ear sensitivity, you should have him checked out before traveling.
And remember this for all pets, including rabbits, cats and dogs. The best way to prepare a pet for travel in a car is to take small trips (around the block) at first. Always make the trip fun and rewarding. Have a cookie or other treat ready when you finish the trip. Most pets can learn to enjoy traveling with their owner.
