natural pet

Big Love From Small Animals

The Joy of Furry Little Companions

by Julie Peterson

People think rabbits are quiet carrot-munchers, but they’re much more. Like many other small furry mammals, pet rabbits are expressive, intelligent and enjoy spending time with their humans.

Shana Cobin, a veterinary technician from Foster, Rhode Island, points out that just like dogs and cats, each rabbit is unique. Having had four house bunnies at different times, Cobin enjoyed getting to know each one. “They can be quite entertaining with their playful antics. My first rabbit, Koko, would come to me and lick my face,” says Cobin. “She also made a purring sound for me, which they actually make by grinding their teeth.”

Small and Sweet

For first-time pet owners, veterinarians often recommend pets smaller than dogs or cats. These can include a variety of rodents such as hamsters, gerbils, rats and mice, although guinea pigs usually top the list for their general durability, especially with children. Smaller pets can be the furry friend that a family may long for without posing the long-term commitment and higher care costs of a dog or cat.

For those that prefer a small furball that isn’t a rodent, a rabbit may be appropriate. “House bunnies are curious and very smart, which can be both terrific fun and problematic,” says Cobin, noting that “house-bun” curiosity, coupled with an intense need to chew, can wreak havoc on cords and other items within reach. “They always have to chew to keep their teeth filed down, but that’s why you give them appropriate things to chew.” Ferrets, members of the weasel family, are also intelligent, and like rabbits, can be trained to use a litter box.

Buyer Beware

Just because small animals seem simpler to care for, it should be noted that their health depends on specific diets, bedding, housing, exercise and grooming. Rabbits, for example, have delicate digestive systems. “Feeding the right diet is extremely important,” advises Cobin. “A bunny’s primary diet should be hay, which helps grind down their teeth and is good for their digestion. Dark, leafy greens are also good.” As for carrots, Cobin says half of one is the most one rabbit should have in a day.

There is more to consider. “People need to think beyond the cute fluff ball,” says Jennifer Miller, a former volunteer with the Animal Humane Society in Minnesota. “Small animal cages need regular cleaning, and ferrets have a natural musky odor to begin with. People start out wanting the cuteness, then they get tired of the work and get tired of the smell. Surrendered animals can be difficult to rehome.” Before adopting a small animal, it’s wise to research the species’ specific care requirements and other information at HumaneSociety.org.

Annual veterinary checkups are something else to plan for, because many animals hide illness symptoms as a survival instinct. Having a small-animal veterinarian in place is important in case emergency care is required. “Zoological companion patients are unique and delicate. Their anatomy, physiology and behavior is vastly different from dogs and cats, yet they require the same or more expertise and care,” says veterinarian Scharlet Kelly, medical director at the VCA Acacia Animal Hospital and Pet Resort, in Escondido, California.

Health Helpers

In 2019, the journal Aging & Mental Health published a survey that concluded pets benefit older adults by “providing companionship, giving a sense of purpose

and meaning, reducing loneliness and increasing socialisation.”

According to Jeremy Barron, M.D., medical director of the Beacham Center for Geriatric Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, in Baltimore, “Owning a pet provides an amazing array of health benefits.” Indeed, numerous studies have shown that petting an animal can lower blood pressure and heart rate, soothe PTSD, decrease stress hormones and boost serotonin. Simply put, petting animals is not only good for people, it feels good, too.

“Love can come in small packages,” says Liz Warner, a retired teacher in Richmond, Virginia, who adopted Laverne and Shirley, two Peruvian guinea pigs, to keep her company during the isolation of the pandemic. “I enjoy brushing their long coats and giving them their necessary haircuts. When I hold them, they kind of purr. It’s comforting.”

Cobin agrees that pets provide comfort and add joy to the home. “Bunnies do this thing called a binky. My most recent rabbit, Vivian Bucket, would just be hopping around and then she would dart, jump up and twist in the air. It’s what rabbits do when they are happy and playful, and it’s adorable.”

Julie Peterson writes about health and wellness from rural Wisconsin. Reach out at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

by Erin Holder

Hamsters on a wheel, chinchillas in a dust bath, rabbits munching hay, and little squealing guinea pigs make life delightful. These tiny exotic animals, dubbed “pocket pets”, have wiggled their way into the hearts of millions. Each of these precious animals requires specific diets, housing and veterinary care. Pocket pets are often an impulse purchase, so researching their needs before bringing them home is a must. Also finding a specially trained veterinarian and getting established with that veterinarian is a must. When pocket pets get sick, they quickly become an emergency. Having an established relationship with a doctor will make life easier.

An overwhelming cause of emergency illness is dental disease because these herbivorous creatures have continually growing teeth. Inappropriate diet, lack of chew toys, or malocclusion leads to disastrous dental disease and possible death. Sharp points can form on the teeth, and those points lacerate the tongue and cheeks. Soon, the pet stops eating and the gastrointestinal system slows to a halt. Bloat, pain and death can be a sequelae if intervention is not immediate.

Help your pocket pet stay healthy! Research what it takes and find a veterinarian that cares for them. Get dental and physical examinations minimally every six months, so you provide them with the best possible life and enjoy these comical creatures longer.

Dr. Erin Holder is owner of FloridaWild Veterinary Hospital, located at 115 E. Euclid Ave., in DeLand. She is a member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Florida Veterinary Medical Association and the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in the Zoo and Wildlife Department. FloridaWild offers an integrative approach to veterinary medicine, combining both Eastern and Western medicine. For more information, call 386-734-9899 or visit FloridaWild VetHospital.com. See ad, page 31.

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Covering New Ground with Native Plants

by Katie Tripp

Photo: Katie Tripp

Clockwise from top left: Frogfruit; Sunshine Mimosa;

Twinflower; Creeping Sage; Frogfruit and Mimosa

If every homeowner in the U.S. replaced one half of their lawn with native plants, we could create more habitat area for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife than exists in all the National Parks within the lower 48 states. This is the concept behind Homegrown National Park, an initiative launched by Dr. Doug Tallamy of the University of Delaware. We can and should restore biodiversity one yard at a time because we need highly productive ecosystems to survive. According to Tallamy, “Our National Parks, no matter how grand in scale are too small and separated from one another to preserve species to the levels needed.” He encourages us to extend national parks to our yards and communities by restoring habitat in the areas where we live, work, and play. Tallamy says, “In the past, we have asked one thing of our gardens: that they be pretty.” This way of thinking resulted in vast monocultures of grass accompanied by excessive use of herbicides, pesticides, fertilizer, and water. In reality, our landscapes need to “support life, sequester carbon, feed pollinators and manage water.” The program’s goal is the creation of 20 million acres of native plantings in the U.S., which is equivalent to removing 1/2 of the green lawns on private property in this country.

A simple way to begin transitioning a lawn space is to introduce native ground covers. There are several beautiful options that will work well in our area of Florida. First, stop treating the lawn with pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers and scale back irrigation. Next, identify an area of lawn and remove a few square feet of grass. In its place, plant one or more plugs or pots of native groundcover. When ready, repeat the process in another area of lawn. Each week, remove a larger ring of grass from around the newly planted areas. Move at a pace that fits your schedule and budget. Some native groundcovers can be mowed or trimmed, and others remain at a perfect height without requiring such maintenance. Over time, the yard will transition from an area demanding expensive and time-consuming management to a native habitat that attracts butterflies, native bees, and birds, while requiring little to no water use, no fertilization, no pesticide or herbicide application, and trimming only every few months, all while maintaining aesthetic similarity to a conventional lawn.

Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) is an evergreen ground cover appropriate for areas receiving full sun to part shade. It can be used beachside in areas that receive some salt wind, but not direct salt spray. Its small white and purple flowers provide many species of butterflies with nectar and the plant is the larval host for the common buckeye, phaon crescent, and white peacock butterflies. Twinflower (Dyschoriste humistrata) is another evergreen groundcover. It forms mats of bright green leaves with small purple flowers and is best in areas of the landscape that receive some shade for a few hours of the day. It too is a host for the common buckeye butterfly, and a nectar source for bees and butterflies. I like to mix twinflower with sunshine mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa), a groundcover with feathery green foliage and bright pink flowers that reach up from the ground like lollipops. Bees love the flowers of sunshine mimosa. I try to mix this particular groundcover with others because its foliage regresses during the colder months and it also forms thick runners that can be a tripping hazard if left exposed. For shady garden areas, try creeping sage (Salvia misella) with its fragrant foliage and delicate purple flowers that provide nectar for pollinators. It is also the larval host of the fulvous hairstreak butterfly. In colder parts of its range, creeping sage may defoliate in winter, remaining evergreen in warmer areas. Sea purslane (Sesuvium portulacastrum) is a good choice for estuarine or oceanfront locations because it is tolerant of salt wind and spray, and even regular tidal inundation. To increase diversity, color, and dimension, intersperse a few native perennials or reseeding annuals in the newly planted areas, such as rain lily, Carolina petunia, and spiderwort. These plants will also provide additional nectar sources for pollinators.

Once you’ve transformed half your lawn into a habitat for wildlife, simply by trading conventional grass for these native groundcovers, be sure to register your site on homegrownnationalpark.com to become part of the movement to transform 20 million acres of our yards into essential habitat to support biodiversity and ecological function. Planting native groundcovers is a simple, meaningful change that will have a significantly positive ecological benefit while also bringing us the joy of seeing colorful butterflies and bees in our home landscapes.

Katie Tripp, Ph.D., is the owner of Natural Beauty Native Florida Landscapes, LLC. She created her business to educate Floridians about the importance of utilizing native plants and to help residents create wildlife habitat. Tripp is an active member of the Pawpaw chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society and a member of the Florida Association of Native Nurseries. Connect with her at 727-504-4740 or NaturalBeautyFlorida@gmail. com. See ad, page 21.