EMERGENCY PLANNING TIPS FOR PETS.

No matter where we live, disasters strike with shocking suddenness. When preparing for eventualities such as quakes, floods, blizzards, or fires, remember to locate a place where your pets can be cared for during the emergency. Shelters for people generally won't allow evacuees to bring their dogs, cats, or other animals with them. Though many residents of northern Alberta lived in fear of grass fires eleven years ago, I had additional worries on my mind. I mentioned them in my When a Man Loves a Rabbit: Learning and Living With Bunnies memoir. Here's an excerpt from that paperback which shows the additional difficulties I faced from a prairie fire raging out of control some miles away. ----------------------------------------------------------------- The spring of 2001 was extremely dry. There were numerous forest fires around the Redwater area. Some people lost their houses to the fire and one church member's farm was partially destroyed. Given that I had a great deal of trouble getting Gideon to the vet, I worried about how I'd evacuate with two rabbits. Emergency shelters don't allow pets of any kind. That meant I would have to either leave the bunnies behind or find a friend to keep them for a while. I prayed hard in those days that the fire wouldn't come near my home. After weeks of fretting about the possibility of my house burning, the firefighters got the blaze under control. ----------------------------------------------------------------- When a Man Loves a Rabbit is filled with many more fascinating stories of life with house bunnies. These vignettes range from the tragic to the hilarious. Please click on the link to my books for details about both of my paperbacks. You're also welcome to contact me directly for more information.

GASTRO-INTESTINAL STASIS: a valid reason to panic.

Have you ever had a rabbit who refused to eat? Chances are that he or she suffered from gastro-intestinal stasis. Since bunnies die in a few days from this digestive malfunction, they need immediate veterinary attention. In When a Man Loves a Rabbit: Learning and Living With Bunnies, here's what I wrote about the time when my beloved bunny, Gideon, seemed to have gastro-intestinal stasis. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Gideon gave me quite a fright in May. He hadn't eaten much and his droppings were only about two millimetres in diameter. I called the Redwater Vet Clinic in the morning and asked if I could bring my fur-clad bunny lad in. Then I began the frustrating process of trying to get a lift into town. Most of my church friends had day jobs, so they couldn't drive me. I asked Pastor Wayne if he knew someone who could help and he had a hard time thinking of anybody who would be available. I finally found a ride into Redwater. Gideon was highly unimpressed at being stuffed into Harry's carrier. I had to use that one because the door on the purple carrier was broken and I didn't get it fixed in time. And off we went to the vet. I was in a bit of a panic because the doctor had to go to an emergency call and he wasn't sure when he'd be back. Luckily, the vet was there when we arrived. I left Gideon in their care and went shopping to make use of my trip. When I returned to the clinic, my bunny wasn't quite ready yet. I waited for the vet to finish checking his mouth and the doctor discovered that Gideon had something, he didn't say what, stuck between his incisors. No wonder the poor dude hadn't eaten his pellets or hay for the past three days. The vet had to anaesthetize Gideon in order to examine his teeth. When we arrived back home, Gideon was very pleased when I let him out of the carrier. As soon as the anesthetic wore off completely, he went to his bowl and ate some pellets. Then he hopped into his litter box and munched on some hay. After a few minutes, he drank some water. I was relieved that he was eating again. Though the visit cost me about sixty-four dollars, it was well worth it to have my little prince eating normally. ---------------------------------------------------------------- - When a Man Loves a Rabbit is filled with many more fascinating stories of life with house bunnies. These vignettes range from the tragic to the hilarious. Please click on the link to my books for details about both of my paperbacks. You're also welcome to contact me directly for more information.