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No more d-Con rat poison!   Good news or bad? By Zoe Forward, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (canine/feline) The pesticide manufacturer of d-Con has defied the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for 2 years over a 2011 reform that requires rodenticide manufacturers to stop using long-acting anticoagulants in products meant for residential use.   The manufacturer of d-Con is currently in a battle with the EPA over these regulations.   This all sounds very official and as if d-Con is evil, but is it? While the EPA states that the anticoagulant products “pose unreasonable risks to children, pets and wildlife,” toxicology expert and veterinarian Dr. Ahna Brutlag (assistant director for Pet Poison Helpline) says she’d rather contend with d-Con, all things considered.   These long-acting anticoagulants are products we as veterinarians are well familiar with. They have a defined diagnostic test to let us know if a pet has been poisoned, and there is an antidote.   Still, ...

WHAT DO I FEED MY RABBIT? By Zoe Forward, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (canine/feline) Rabbits are wonderful pets, but they have special diet requirements that you may not be able to find out at the pet store. In general a rabbit’s diet should consist of four things: 1)       HAY - Most of a rabbit’s diet (70-80%) should be a high quality GRASS hay such as Timothy, available for the rabbit to eat 24 hours a day.   The hay needs to smell fresh and have a green color.   Don't feed moldy or dusty hay.    Don't feed large quantities of alfalfa hay because it is too high in calcium for a rabbit. 2)       PELLETS –   A lower percentage (10-20%) of the diet should consist of rabbit pellets that contain a minimum of 18-20% fiber and a maximum of 14-16% protein.   Do not buy rabbit food that contains seeds, nuts or starch-rich cereal kibble mixed in (fiesta mixes). You want food that just has green pellets(e.g., Oxbo...

Got a GOLDEN RETRIEVER UNDER 2 YEARS OF AGE? Consider enrolling in the Lifetime Health Study! By Zoe Forward, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (canine/feline) Morris Animal Foundation is joining together with Colorado State University to conduct a lifetime health study on Golden Retrievers in an effort to learn how to prevent disease and cancer in this breed. If you have had a Golden Retriever in the past, then you know how susceptible this breed is to cancer as they age, particularly lymphosarcoma and splenic/heart hemangiosarcoma. If you elect to participate, we are a registered practice to help you with this study. What Is Expected of You? Agree to participate for the life of your dog Select a veterinarian who agrees to participate with you Complete online questionnaires regarding your dog's food type and feeding habits, environmental exposures, behavior/temperament, disease events, etc. Visit your dog's veterinarian for annual exams and sample collection (blood, urine, feces, hair, and toen...