HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: megm@sco.COM (Meg McRoberts)
Subject: Re: Rabbit worry
Organization: The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 08:04:40 GMT


In article <Bxz0HH.3DG@world.std.com> marty@world.std.com (Marty M HaleEvans) writes:
==> 
==> This may be what he's doing; I'm a little relieved that this may change as
==> he gets older -- there's fuzz everywhere!

yes, Rasta has different types of shedding.  sometimes i can
brush several brushfuls of hair out, and other times no amount
of brushing gets anything, but if i pet her there is a cloud
of hair everywhere.  i find i can help control this situation
a little bit by spraying some Avon skin-so-soft on my hands
and then petting her.  my dog is extremely allergic to the rabbit
(and they are friends) so i do all i can to minimize the hair
being spread around.

if the rabbit gets any bald spots or has flakes on its skin
(or the roots of the shed hair) it may have mites or fungus
on its skin.  that needs a vet's attention.  when this happened
to rasta, my vet treated it with shots of ivermeticin 10-14
days apart and it cleared right up, although i hear that some
vets don't like using ivermeticin this way.

an alternative to petromalt is Vetasyl, a feline laxative
that works more on the principle of Metamucil.  my vet says
Vetasyl has been lab-tested for rabbits and is safe and
effective, and it is her first choice because it doesn't
delete as much nutrition.  perhaps most important is to
realize that no matter what you do, your rabbit might get
a hairball sometime, so know the signs (small, erose pellets,
decline in appetite) and seek treatment fast.
==> 
==> I don't keep him in a cage; he has free run except for a few rooms. I do 
==> occasionally try to pick him up briefly, in hopes that he'll get more 
==> used to being handled.

Rasta was a fairly nice 1-1/2 year old rabbit when we got her,
then a month later the hormones clicked in and it was a month
before we realized what the problem was and got her roto-rootered.
by this point, we she had become pretty antisocial -- didn't even
want to be petted.  the approach we took was to never let her
have ANY treats unless she took them from our hands.  pellets
and hay were always available, but if she wanted anything else,
she had to get it out of our hands.  she was so bad that some
days she would go without any treats.  but eventually greed
won out.  she is now so socialized that she'll lie in my arms
and almost fall asleep.  she greets visitors at the door, begs
at the table when we have guests, and right now is asleep on
my feet under the desk.  so they can be brought around.

oh yes, when you're lying on the floor with your rabbit, if
he comes up by your face, rub noses -- that seems to be a
very rabbit-friendly gesture.

meg mcroberts
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: czichon@psyche.csc.ti.com (Cary Czichon)
Subject: Re: let's talk cows
Organization: Texas Instruments
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 19:20:32 GMT

In article <viking.721634014@vincent2.iastate.edu> viking@iastate.edu
(Dan Sorenson) writes:
>sbp2@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (SARA BETH PIWOWAR) writes:
>
>>COWS make great pets; everyone should check this out.
>
>	Speaking strictly as a former Iowa farm boy, this is a joke, right?
>If not, I've a calf I'll sell ya.  He's about a year old, weighs about
>1100 pounds, and only eats 30lbs of hay per day.  Price is $0.70 per pound,
>you pay shipping.  Deal?

Aren't they a little rough on the furniture?

Cary Czichon
czichon@csc.ti.com


Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: sharon@phoneme.shs.uiuc.edu (Sharon Morrison)
Subject: rabbit play? (was Re: Rabbit worry)
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 22:33:48 GMT

In article <22496@drutx.ATT.COM> njl@druhi.ATT.COM (Nancy J. LaRoche)  
writes:
> In article <BxvnDr.Ho4@world.std.com>, marty@world.std.com (Marty M  
HaleEvans) writes:

> > I still don't
> > really know how to play with him -- any ideas, or should I just leave  
him be?
> 
> No, don't leave him be.  Encourage him.  Let him teach you how he wants  
to
> play.
> You might try running in a wide circle around him--not so close as to  
annoy
> him, and see if there is any reaction.  You might give him a gentle push  
as
> though to roll him over and then run away a few feet.
> 
Is a rabbit always trying to play when he runs circles around someone?  My  
rabbit, Woody, does this a lot to our cat, Bil, who doesn't seem to like  
it.  (Note:  Bil is 15+ years old, we've had him 4 years; Woody is 8  
months, neutered at 6 months and we've had him 5 months).
 Bil will sit quitely on the rug and Woody will start hopping in circles  
around him.  After a while Bil gets annoyed and tries to swat Woody.  At  
this point the situation usually degrades and Woody will 'charge' (running  
forward, head lowered and sometimes growling) and Bil will run away (he is  
kind of a wuss). I was never able to determine if this was playing or  
fighting.  To be safe, I consider it aggression (because of the growling)  
and try to break up encounters by stomping my feet and giving a yell or  
two. 

Yesterday something even odder happened.  Bil came into the living room  
and Woody 'charged'.  Bil plopped down and went into his submissive  
position (belly up and purring).  Woody charged over Bil and then  
proceeded to hop back and forth OVER the prostrate cat (never ON him).  I  
yelled and stomped once to break it up and Bil ran away.

Any more advice about this odd behavior?
Thanks,
Sharon Morrison

Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: cam@milton.u.washington.edu (Cameron Ritchie)
Subject: Re: How do rabbits play?
Organization: University of Washington
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 01:11:52 GMT

myhui@bnr.ca (Michael Hui) writes:

>A great disservice to any animal is for a human to blame the
>animal for dysfunctional behavior when in fact the behavior
>is entirely within the parameters but the human observer lacks
>the knowledge or experience to discern it as such.

>In other words, if you've never seen how real rabbits play, in
>the wild, then how would you know just what is their normal play pattern?

>Could someone who lives in the wilderness among many rabbit warrens
>please post their observations of happy rabbit families at play at sun-
>down right after they have had their first foray for the evening siflay?

>Rabbits have been with us for thousands of years. I'm sure _someone_ on
>the net have seen real wild ones at play with abandon, and secretly
>wonders why millions of dead ones are wrapped up and frozen for sale
>all over supermarkets in Europe and even now in the USA, why millions
>are immobilized and then their eyes sprayed with chemicals and the
>result of the test is based on how much of their eyeball remain after
>so many days or weeks (the Draize test), and why so many of them have
>their fur shaven off and their skin plastered with new variations of
>chemicals to check how much irritation it causes the skin. IMNSHO,
>society must find a better way as soon as possible, or strive to
>eliminate any need for such testing by eliminating any need for the
>products completely.

Michael - I don't quite understand how the last paragraph of your post
has *anything* to do with the first part.  In addition, I don't see
why you feel it is appropriate to post an animal-rights sermon to a group
on house pets.  So, in the future, try and be more discriminating when
deciding where to place your opinions....

Thanks

Cam
From: garvey@skybridge.SCL.CWRU.Edu (Heather Garvey)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Re: Ferrets
Date: 19 Nov 1992 06:16:38 GMT
Organization: Smith Undergraduate Lab, CWRU, Cleve. OH, 44106, USA
NNTP-Posting-Host: marina.scl.cwru.edu

lpman@gatecom.UUCP (Mike Flemming) writes:
>Hi I have been considering getting a ferret for a pet. I am relocating to
>Arizona in a few weeks as was wondering if they are legal there.

	No idea, though I think only CA has a problem with pet ferrets.

>whats the true story with ferrets I suspect what I see in the media is
>mostly hype, am I right??? 

	Do you mean the "Is it a snarling, rabid killer animal?" question
all people seem to ask? :) I have the little girl cradled in my arms, 
scritching her and yet they think she's going to leap out of my hands
and attack them. :) Maybe it's because they're kinda exotic that they
get the 'wild animal' label...I've changed a lot of people's minds in my
dorm about ferret, since she's more interested in getting onto the ground 
and exploring than anyone's petting hand. :)


>What kind of care level do they require??
>Is it similar to a cat in respect to its care or is it alot of work???

	Errr...I'm a new owner, and she seems to be as easy to care for
as a cat or dog. Feed it, play with it, they get along just fine. But
some people seem to have perpetually sick ferrets or have to proof their
entire house against 'damaging items' and such. It reminds me of people
who are always taking their dog to the vet, while mine manages quite
well on nothing more than a yearly trip for shots. I can't understand
why some people spend so much time and energy caring for their pets
when they can pretty well take care of themselves. (Not counting time
for love and affection. :)) 

>How about domestication, will it destroy my house???? Any help would
>be much apreciated.

	Well, Chelsea loves to get onto my desk and nudge things off.
As soon as I figure how on Earth she gets up there, my possessions
should be safe. (Although I'd like to know where all my pens and pencils
have gotten to...She can open the zipper on my bookbag and she loves
to cart off any writing implements she can find...:P But she does look
cute hauling off something at least as long as she is. ;))
	But I can leave her out in my room all day without her destroying 
anything. I just keep things off the bottom shelves. :)
--
						| Heather "Moose" Garvey
	"CHAD BLUNT, the BALL carrier!"		| Biochemistry - CWRU '93
		-- The entire band after 	| <hlg@po.cwru.edu>
		   any given running play	| "Wooooooah, PIZZA!"
Organization: University of Central Florida--Computer Services
Date: Thursday, 19 Nov 1992 13:42:35 EST
From: <COP80208@UCF1VM.BITNET>
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Re: Help! I am desperite
 <1992Nov16.002459.5251@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>

Regarding Shell No Pest Strips, BEWARE!!!
Although this is the reccommended method for removing ticks and mites
from reptiles, it can be a tricky business.  If the piece is too small,
it will not do any good. If it is too big, your pet could die. This is
what happened to my baby burmese python. I would imagine that the same
applies to rats and other small rodents.
My advice (for what it's worth) is go back to the vet or find another
vet if you are not satisfied with your present one. After all, you are
talking about your pet's health and happiness.
Mike Moss cop80208@ucf1vm.cc.ucf.edu
and Spot  water_monitor@mikes.apt
From: leslianne@seahcx.UUCP (Leslianne Heimbeck)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Re: Help! I am desperite
Date: 18 Nov 92 16:46:52 GMT
Reply-To: leslianne@seahcx.UUCP (Leslianne Heimbeck)
Organization: Harris Computer Systems, Bellevue, WA

In article <089SB8S4@cc.swarthmore.edu> sstockw1@cc.swarthmore.edu (Sarah Stockwell) writes:
>
>I got rid of them with a special insecticide
>shampoo that I bought at my vet's.  It involved bathing the rat (fill a tub
>
>I forget what
>the shampoo is called, sorry.  Your vet might know.  It was blue, in a
>green-and-blue-and-white bottle, if that helps any.  It's not sold in pet
>stores, so far as I know.  Good luck!  Let me know how it turns out.
>
>--Sarah

Sarah is right, the shampoo works great!  It's called Mycodex (sp), with
Pyritherins and Carbaryl as the insecticides.  It's sold for cats and dogs,
but as Sarah knows, it works very well on rodents too.  One word of caution
though - don't let it get into the eyes, it's very irritating! 

I suggest that when you are letting it "soak in", wrap your li'l one in a
washcloth to insulate him/her a little, then cuddle her. Make sure the
shampoo stays on for the full five minutes for maximum effectiveness.

Regards,
LH
From: njl@druhi.ATT.COM (Nancy J. LaRoche)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Miracle hair remover (clothes, furniture, etc.) REALLY WORKS!!
Date: 20 Nov 92 19:58:31 GMT
Distribution: rec

At last, I have found a truly excellent tool to remove hair from clothing,
furniture, etc.  I feel that I am in a good position to examine and report
on such tools since I have two dogs with fairly long hair (a cocker and a
collie/shepherd/husky/blue heeler mix), two cats (Himalayan and Manx-mix),
and, at the moment 34 bunnies of many varieties.  This product is so good,
in fact, that I plan to obtain it to sell via my little business "Bunny
Love" re-packaged with a band around the original package (so the original
name isn't concealed) labeled "Miracle Hair Remover--Remove hair in seconds
from clothing, furniture, etc."

However, since I feel so close to the bunny-folk on the net, I've decided
to share this product with all of you, and I'm sure that, if you search
diligently enough, you'll be able to locate it in your own area.  So...

(Drum roll...)

Rubber gloves.   :-)   :-)   :-)

Just wipe across the surface, and the hair rolls up.  Marvelous...

Nancy LaRoche (HRS)
att!druhi!njl
From: arussell@OAVAX.CSUCHICO.EDU (ANNE RUSSELL)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: heats
Date: 17 Nov 1992 20:48:49 GMT
Organization: California State University, Chico
Reply-To: arussell@OAVAX.CSUCHICO.EDU
NNTP-Posting-Host: oavax.csuchico.edu

quiz of the day: what is the interval between heat periods for hamsters, 
guinea pigs, mice, and rats?

Anne Russell
From: gklein@acsu.buffalo.edu (Ginamaria Klein)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Re: Darwin was neutered!
Date: 23 Nov 92 16:42:50 GMT
Distribution: rec
Organization: UB

njl@druhi.ATT.COM (Nancy J. LaRoche) writes:

>All of my rabbits come home the same day as the surgery.  The males never
>seem to know that anything was done.  

>Nancy LaRoche (HRS)
>att!druhi!njl

i dont know about anyone else, but bob's (our male) first move when he got home was to go over to the mirror and check himself out...
he spent ages looking at his reflection in the mirror, and then gave himself a bath.
he stayed there most of the first day.
he also was really tired, and didnt start moving around for about 36 hours
and didnt stretch fully for about 4 days.
hes fine and dandy now, though!

gina 
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: myhui@bnr.ca (Michael Hui)
Subject: Re: runny-eyed bun
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd., Ottawa, Canada
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 92 04:26:06 GMT

In article <1erqt9INN3i2@overload.lbl.gov> horsman@geo.lbl.gov (Jennifer Horsman) writes:
>Hamlet is a one year old male lop. He seems to have this
>problem with drainage in his eyes. It is clear, but clumps
>up the hair around his eyes so that it irritates him. The
>vet told me that lops tend to have allergies that can
>affect them in this way - that don't need to be treated.
>He seems to be fine otherwise, except that his nose makes
>a small whistling noise when he breathes that augments to
>a snore when he is asleep. Is this normal?

My Big Wig used to have this, and a real bad case too, except he didn't
have the breathing problem. The doctor said that the eye infection
usually does occur along with the respiratory problem, and both are
curable, and serious, ailments. Eye drops may be prescribed, but they
tend to sting big time, so the Bun may hit the ceiling after each
drop.   :-(

Carefully have the doctor look for some foreign object lodged in the
rabbit's eyes. The foreign object can stay there for a long time, thus
causing lots of irritation.

For what it's worth, Big Wig's infection has _completely_ healed, with
no help from any medicine: I feed him lots of carrots WITH green tops,
and as per the old saying, carrots are good for the eyes.
-- 
Michael MY Hui  ~{~}  myhui@bnr.ca  Ottawa Canada
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: mike@crg4.uwaterloo.ca (Mike Aksmanovic)
Subject: Re: Birdie Beaks and Jewelry
Keywords: never the twain shall meet....
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 13:40:26 GMT

In article <1992Nov23.111745.7402@cbnewsh.cb.att.com> bgt@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (barbara.tongue) writes:
>folks,
>
>i have a very simple question.  for all of y'all out there who
>wear rings or earrings, how do you keep inquisitive beaks from
>performing open-heart surgery on them?

You don't. In fact, for some strange reason my amazon prefers to sit
on my left shoulder over my right shoulder. Could it be my earring?
Nah...

"Hey, hey, hey! letgoletgoletgoletgo! Don't do that. Yes I know
you're cute. Ok, you can stay on my shoulder..."

Cheers,
	Mike Aksmanovic - mike@crg4.waterloo.edu | mike@crg4.uwaterloo.ca

/ There is one last reason for caring ... the reason why so many people have  \
| devoted their lives to protecting the likes of rhinos, parakeets, kakapos   |
| and dolphins. And it is simply this: the world would be a poorer, darker,   |
\ lonelier place without them. - M. Carwardine (Last Chance to See)           /
From: lecampbell@OCTAVO
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: Talking Birds
Date: 23 Nov 92 00:55:11 GMT
Reply-To: lecampbell@OCTAVO
Distribution: usa

If you don't have to have a parrot, you might consider a cockatiel.  All my breeding males talk some.  One bird knows about 10 phrases, including "What
are you doing?" "You're so pretty."  All very clearly spoken.  One of the
birds I raised and now in a different home knows around 25 phrases and will
speak a different phrase in response to you (in other words, he answers,
doesn't just repeat).

RowdyBush was developed just for cockatiels, though the product indicates
it can be used for other birds.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: susan@solace.me.uiuc.edu (Susan Wrightson)
Subject: Re: Birdie Beak Bonking
Organization: U of I Dept. of Mech. and Ind. Engr., Urbana, Ill.
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 17:05:13 GMT

Yup... there's some beak bonking going on in this household, too.  Marley
(my sun conure) likes to pound his beak on the bars of his cage to get
attention.  Sometimes he does this when I sleep in a little (8am!) on
the weekends -- I don't mind this at all, because he never, ever gets
vocal in the mornings.

What he likes even better is when _I_ bang his beak into things -- sometimes
when I'm petting him through the bars, he will hook his beak over my fingertip,
and I will bang his beak into the bars, and he "helps" me by varying the
tension he has on my fingertip.  If I stop, sometimes he will grab my finger
in his mouth and start it again himself!  This is usually followed by
goofy head gestures (by him, not me!).

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Susan Wrightson                         "And there you are, Fast  |
| Academic Advisor                         Eddie, with lust in your |
| Mech. and Ind. Engineering               soul when I want you     |
| susan@solace.me.uiuc.edu                 thinking pool!"          |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
From: julie@horizon.com (Julie DiVona)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Seriously considering purchase of B&G Macaw
Keywords: purchase, macaw
Date: 18 Nov 92 16:43:20 GMT
Organization: Science Horizons, Inc.

I currently have a lesser sulfur crested cockatoo and
a cockateil, both of which were wild-caught birds. I fell in
love and purchased the lesser without thinking about the
problems of wild-caught birds and of this bird in general,
thinking that, contrary to what every bird book was telling
me, I could overcome his problems and make him into a gentle
bird.  Wrongo!!

Well, the place where I purchased the lesser is willing to
trade at full purchase price of the lesser (no flames please,
this is going to be hard enough as it is).  They have two
baby (3 months old) Blue and Gold Macaws and I am considering
purchasing one (will have to throw in some more money,but to get
a bird which is pet quality is very important to me).  

Now for the questions:

1.  They tell me at the store that the birds have not been
    weaned yet and that it will be another three to four weeks
    before they are.  Should I let the bird stay at the store
    until it is fully weaned or should I go ahead and take him
    and wean him myself?  I get conflicting reports from Bird
    Talk regarding which is best.  I have not hand fed birds before
    but understand the process and know that these birds are only
    being handfed two to three times a day.

2.  I need positive and negative reactions to owning one of these
    beautiful birds.

Any suggestions or comments will be greatly appreciated. 


Julie DiVona
julie@sring.horizon.com
   
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: wiegand@rtsg.mot.com (Robert Wiegand)
Subject: Re: Talking Birds
Reply-To: motcid!wiegand@uunet.uu.net
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 15:59:28 GMT

warriors@eb5ts4.EBay.Sun.COM (Dave Maycon) writes:

>Can somebody recommend good talking bird, without spending the big bucks.
>And possibly what size cage should I get for this bird.  And is always good
>to get two birds so that they would get lonely.

>Thanks
>Dave

A few comments.

A bird doesn't have to talk alot to be fun. I have two birds, one talks and
one doesn't, but they are both fun.

With any type of bird you have a better chance of having a talker
if you get a hand raised baby. They also make better pets, so its
a good idea to het a hand raised bird anyway.

Your best bet is to find a local breeder or a quality pet shop who
will help you and explain the differences between the different types
pf birds available. Be very carefull about where you get the bird. Most
pet shops just want to make a quick buck and will sell you anything
just to make a sale. And most of the sales people in the pet shops
haven't been properly trained to understand the birds they are selling.
A private breeder will usually be more knowledgable.

You don't need two birds if you are able to spend a reasonable amount
of time with the bird. Make sure the bird has stuff to play with when
you aren't there. And replace the toys from time to time, the bird
will get tired of playing with the same toys forever.

Getting two birds can sometimes actually make the birds less friendly
tword you because they bond to each other. However, this will depend
on the individual birds.

And most important - if you buy a parrot - feed it good food.
Parrots should not live on only seeds. A parrot feed only seeds will
not be healthy. This would be like a person living on only hamburgers
and nothing else. Feeding seeds in small quantities as a treet is OK,
but it shouldn't be the main diet. There are a number of pellets available
which are good. They should also get fresh food as well. Fruits, 
vegitables, bread, whatever they will eat. But no junk food, no chocolate,
and go easy on the dairy products.


-- 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert Wiegand - Motorola Inc.
motcid!wiegand@uunet.uu.net            uunet!motcid!wiegand
Disclamer: I didn't do it - I was somewhere else at the time.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds