Why do bunnies love to chew on everything, even things that aren't food? How do I keep my bunny safe from chewing things that may harm it? Will my belongings ever be safe from my bunny’s never-ending hunger for phone cords, baseboards, and furniture? Bunny-hop your way to success and find out below.  Why Do Bunnies Chew? If you are familiar with pet rabbits, you know that they will chew anything in sight, including furniture, clothes, rugs, and even electronics (especially cords). But why do they do it? For bunnies, chewing is a normal and natural instinct. They chew because it makes them happy and helps them explore their environment. Also, bunnies have hypsodont teeth, which are open-rooted teeth that never stop growing. Animals with this type of dental profile need to chew on things to keep their teeth trimmed down. On top of that, bunnies have a strong instinct to nest, so they tend to get into things while they explore their environment. I'm sure you're wondering: What is a pet parent to do? Lettuce hop into some solutions! Safety First One thing you really don’t want is for your pet to accidentally injure themselves by chewing on an errant electrical cord while exploring its environment. The best way to keep your bunny safe and sound is to buy a sturdy nylon cable management system to guide cords out of the way and out of chewing range. If you can't guide cords out of the way, go for a chew-safe cord cover for pets. Safety is top priority; don't let your pet get into harm's way. Contain the Situation Bunnies need room to roam, but they probably don’t need to have free range of your entire home unless you’re directly supervising them. Controlling their living space makes it easier to prevent your belongings from becoming the target of a cute but destructive chewing frenzy! In terms of living space, your bunny needs a large pen so that it can happily move around and explore while still having room for toys, food, and a litter box. The best solution for this is to use a pet fence to section off a corner of your home for your bunny to live in. Look for an adjustable metal playpen where you can change the shape and size to fit your needs. Safe Chewing Options Since bunnies are instinctual chewers, they need safe chewing options built into their habitat and daily life. Did you know that fresh hay makes an excellent chew toy for your bunny? Not only is it fun for them to chew, it also helps with digestive health and maintains their dental health too. Looking for a fun way to feed hay to your bunny while appealing to its natural instinct to nest and hide? Try a Moss Hollow Hideout with Hay Feeder. With large walls which can be easily filled with their favourite hays. A combination of shelter and feeding station makes it great for outdoor enclosures as well as inside. Bunnies also love apple sticks and the like. Special treats like these go a long way in supporting natural behaviours such as exploring, playing, hiding, and chewing. Make sure you are not giving your bunny any sticks you find outside, as you can't be sure that they haven't been treated with something that could harm them.  Rascally Rabbits If your furry friend is particularly stubborn and will not stop chewing despite your best efforts, you need an anti-chew spray. These products are typically bitter-tasting sprays that you can spritz on furniture or clothing to deter chewing without harming your pet. Make sure your spray is bunny-safe with simple ingredients. And of course, don’t forget to spay or neuter your bunny as hormones can increase destructive behavior such as unwanted chewing.  Have any questions for us? We’re happy to help! Hop over to a Petland near you!  

What Is Gastrointestinal Stasis in rabbits and how do we prevent It? Gastrointestinal Stasis (aka GI Stasis) happens when food slows down or stops moving through an animals gastrointestinal tract. Pets that can be affected by GI stasis include (but are not limited to) rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and degus. Herbivores have a digestive tract that moves like a motor. It is constantly going and needs fuel (i.e. hay) to run. This is why herbivores need access to hay all the time (think of a cow grazing!). GI Stasis is a dangerous and potentially fatal situation for your pet. If caught in time, GI Stasis can be prevented and treated. However, it’s important to understand the signs and act fast. If you suspect that your pet has GI stasis, don’t wait! Call your vet as soon as possible. What Are the Causes and Signs of GI Stasis? Your herbivore needs a high fibre diet as well as plenty of water. Without those elements, impacted material will sit in the gut, becoming unmovable and creating bacteria. This can lead to constipation and painful gas in your pet. Common causes of GI Stasis include: a low-fibre diet, dehydration, a secondary infection (such as an Upper Respiratory Infection), a blockage, stress (stress hormones may influence gut function), a lack of gut mobility due to inactivity. Understanding the cause and symptoms of the condition is your best defence. Common symptoms to watch out for include:  Decreased or no appetite, Decreased or no droppings, Smaller, dry droppings or dry droppings that are not uniform in shape, Diarrhea, Mucus in the droppings, Bloating, Abdominal pain when the abdomen is touched, Teeth grinding and other stress responses, Squinted eyes even when relaxed, Weakness or lethargy, Hunched posture, Lower body temperature or cold extremities, Watery eyes. How Do I Prevent GI Stasis? Hay, Hay, And More Hay! The most important thing that you can do for your herbivore pets is to make sure that they are eating a proper diet. While this may look slightly different depending on the pet, the most common theme is that herbivores need a constant supply of fresh hay. Did you know that these small herbivores ideally should be eating their body size in hay every DAY? As we previously mentioned, their digestive tracts operate like motors, and what does a motor need to run? Fuel! In the case of your pet, hay is their fuel! Timothy hay is the tried-and-true staple in most small herbivore homes. This hay is the standard and can be fed as part of their staple diets. When in doubt, always choose timothy hay. You can find a link to our selection of hay here. We have a blog post entirely dedicated to the different types of hay and what they are used for, so click here for more information! Small herbivores have slightly different diets depending on which pet you have. Rabbits and guinea pigs require daily salads, while chinchillas have a very specific diet that can’t include vegetables. Did you know that degus are prone to diabetes? This means that they can't have anything with sugar in it. For more information on your pets specific diet, check out our rabbit tip sheet, our guinea pig tip sheet, our chinchilla tip sheet, and our degu tip sheet. Proper Hydration: Herbivores need adequate hydration to digest their food properly. Provide your pet with an easily accessible water bottle in its cage, and then monitor it to make sure that it drinks. It’s also important to remember that some pets will prefer to drink from a dish rather than a bottle (especially rabbits). Offering your pet both options is a good way to ensure that they are drinking enough water (because of the nature of Chinchilla fur density, it is not recommended to offer your Chinchilla a water dish as getting their fur wet can make them sick too!). It is important to offer a water dish that is heavy enough that your pet will not tip it over (rabbits seem to really love to throw those dishes around!). Two products we really like would be the M-Pets glass drinking bottle and the ceramic two tone pet bowl. Illnesses:  One of the most common illnesses in small pets is Upper Respiratory Infections (URI). URI’s come in all shapes and sizes, so it is important to know what to look out for. The most common symptoms include (but are not limited to) eye discharge, nasal discharge, sneezing, wheezing, and low appetite. A URI does not necessarily mean GI Stasis, however, if a URI is left untreated, it can often trigger GI stasis. Rabbits are especially prone to URI’s (often times chronic rabbit URI’s are called “snuffles”) which can be incredibly dangerous if passed on to other small herbivore species. It is always best to keep your pets separate, but take special caution when it comes to any contact between rabbits and other small pets. It’s good practice to wash your hands before and after interacting with any of your pets. Blockages: Herbivores will chew on EVERYTHING. It is very important that you pet proof any area of your home that they may be exploring. It’s also important that you are taking everything you keep in your pets habitat into careful consideration. Plastic is a major offender when it comes to internal blockages in small herbivores (particularly in Chinchillas and Degus). It is recommneded to opt for wooden or metal cage accessories for these critters instead of plastic. Always make sure your pet is being supervised when outside of their habitat. Check out our safety tips and household hazards tip sheet here. Minimize Stress: It is also critical to provide your pet with options for stress management. It’s important to remember that a lot of small herbivores are naturally prey animals, so it is important that they feel comfortable in their home. It may be a good idea to keep them separated from your larger pets (such as cats and dogs) to help them feel more comfortable (even if you're sure that your cat or dog will not harm them). It's crucial that they have multiple safe hiding spots to make them feel secure as well. One of our favourite hide-outs for the smaller herbivores would be the moss hollow tree twigs lounging logs. This house is not only sturdy, it is also safe for your pets to chew on (believe us, they will chew it). Rabbits tend to get a little too big for most small animal homes, so sometimes you will have to improvise. Something that a lot of bunny owners do is use cat hides instead as some rabbits are more similar in size to cats instead of guinea pigs. We really like using the pawise pop up play cube, as it is very easy to wash! Exercise: It is very important that your pet has out of cage time. If your pet spends too much time just laying around, whether it is because of laziness or lack of space, this can cause their GI tract to not move as quickly, thus increasing their risk of GI stasis. It's important that they get out of cage time every day, not only because they want to spend time with you, but because they need to be able to run around and move! As always with these types of pets, the bigger the cage, the better. If you are unable to let your pet out in a pet proofed room, consider purchasing an exercise pen to keep them contained. A large pen like that is actually an ideal home for your rabbit, as they get a lot more space to move around in than a cage (they're easier to clean, too!). If you are unsure of your pets symptoms, or suspect that your pet may be feeling unwell, call your vet.  GI stasis is serious and can be fatal, so it is important to be smart, and act fast.

Introducing Blue Mountain Hay for small animals, exclusively at Petland! Blue Mountain Hay products are grown at high altitudes in the Pacific Northwest. Growing at high altitudes promotes slow growth which enhances nutrients, digestibility, and flavour. As a family-owned farming company, they believe in nourishing people and pets and have been cultivating high-altitude hay for generations. Petland has partnered with Blue Mountain Hay to bring this superior hay to our Canadian clients. If you’re reading this, it probably means that you have a beloved rabbit, guinea pig, chinchilla, or degu in your life that is constantly eating hay, and that’s fantastic! The fibre in hay promotes constant digestive movement in these herbivores as their digestive systems operate like motors and function around the clock. Eating hay daily is also important for your herbivore’s teeth, as it helps keep their back molars trimmed by grazing and grinding on the hay all day. Small herbivores should be eating their body size in hay every DAY! It’s important to keep fresh hay in their habitat and replace it as needed. There are many different varieties of hay out there and it’s tough to know which one to choose as they all have different uses and qualities. Read on as we explore the differences in the types of hay that you see in our stores, as well as who should be eating them, and why each hay is important to your pets’ health! Timothy Hay Ah, timothy hay. The tried-and-true hay that is a staple in all small herbivore diets. Timothy hay is a sweeter hay that is the perfect balance between soft and crunchy, which makes it quite palatable for most small animals. Timothy hay should be given to your pet daily. The best practice is to give the hay in small handfuls frequently as your pet will not want to eat any wet or soiled hay, which means you will waste a lot of hay (and money) if you just give it to them in one big clump every day. It is said that timothy hay tends to be a little on the dusty side, so if you’re worried about your pets or your own allergies, it may be worthwhile to swap your herbivore onto orchard grass hay instead. If you are unsure what kind of hay to get for your pet, you can never go wrong with choosing timothy hay. It’s great for all ages and small herbivorous species! Alfalfa Hay Alfalfa hay is a sweet and soft legume hay that is nearly irresistible to small herbivores. While it may be irresistible, healthy adult animals should only be given alfalfa hay as an occasional treat. It can, however, be regularly mixed with timothy hay and given to animals who are very young (1-7 months old), pregnant, nursing, underweight, or sick as alfalfa contains more protein and calcium than other grass hays. As your pet matures, consider adding other types of hay, such as Blue Mountain timothy, orchard grass hay, or organic oat hay, for a well-rounded diet. Feeding Alfalfa to animals who do not have these needs can actually be harmful long term as the extra calcium may become too concentrated in their system, which can give them painful and possibly fatal kidney and/or bladder stones. With such high levels of protein and calcium, this dense hay promotes healthy growth and development. Blue Mountain also makes a special hay blend meant specifically for young herbivores that is a nice mix of timothy hay and alfalfa.  Orchard Grass Hay Orchard grass hay is a wonderful option for picky pets who need a little more flavour in their lives. It is also great for underweight pets because of how tasty it is. It is sweet and quite soft. Orchard grass hay can be given long-term in place of timothy hay, making it a great timothy hay alternative. It is also less dusty than timothy hay, so if you or your pet gets the sniffles every time fresh hay is offered, maybe consider switching to orchard grass! Another great way to feed orchard grass to your pet is to mix it with timothy hay as it helps create variety in your pet’s meals and prevent boredom. Organic Meadow Hay Something that is great about organic meadow hay is that it is just the right combination of soft and crunchy, but it’s also sweeter than timothy hay, meaning that it is more palatable (good for picky pets!). Meadow hay is made with a blend of soft-stemmed pasture grasses and natural herbs. This hay promotes healthy foraging behaviours and offers a softer texture for maximum comfort. Blue Mountain Hay’s meadow hay is 100% organically grown without the use of any chemicals. A great way to provide variety to your pet’s diet is to mix meadow hay with your pet’s timothy hay or orchard grass. Organic Oat Hay Oat hay is incredibly hardy and the highest in fibre on this list. It is much crunchier than the other hays we’ve talked about, and it is also higher in fat and carbohydrates, so you must keep an eye on pets who eat this frequently as it can lead to slow weight gain or gastrointestinal issues due to the extra amount of simple carbohydrates (feeding a variety of hay can prevent this). This hay makes a great treat or daily mix in with your pet’s regular hay blend as it is so high in fibre, just make sure to not give too much! Teff Grass Hay Teff hay is a newer hay to the small pet market. It was previously only popular with larger herbivores and livestock. Teff hay holds one large benefit over timothy in that it is very soft but still very hardy and high in fibre. Teff is an ancient grass hay originating in Africa. Teff can be fed the same as timothy and is a great option for overweight or diabetic full-grown small animals. It is low in sugar, and it is a great source of protein, fibre, vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, iron, copper, and other minerals. The only downside is that some pickier herbivores may not like it as much as the sweeter varieties. I’ve Picked a New Hay… Now What? Small herbivores can be finicky eaters, which means that even if you keep with the same kind of hay but switch brands, they may be hesitant to eat the new hay right away. Different fields offer different cuts and qualities of hay. It’s important that when transitioning your pets onto any kind of food (whether it be pellets or hay), you gradually mix the new food with the old food and wean them onto what you will be feeding them going forward.

With the holidays fast approaching, decorations are going up and they can make for some fun toys for pets to play with. There are a lot of risks with decorations. It is better to be safe and skip putting something up than a vet visit. To ensure their safety, read all about how to keep them safe! Holiday Plants Plants can be very intriguing to pets. There is a wide variety of holiday plants that are especially toxic to pets. Here is a list of toxic plants to keep away from your pet this holiday season. Lilies: They are a very popular holiday flower but they are highly toxic to cats. They can cause life-threatening kidney damage. If you are gifted lilies or have lilies around, it is best to either get rid of them or make sure they are away where a cat cannot get them. Amaryllis: This is a common winter bulb. If a dog eats the bulb, it can cause intestinal obstruction. Yew: A common green used in wreaths and decor. This can be very toxic to both dogs and cats. Holly and Mistletoe: These are both common Christmas plants. Make sure plants are up and away from pets. Christmas Tree Water: This contains pesticides, bacteria and mold. Needles from the tree can be irritating if the dog or cat eats it. Poinsettias: Despite being a beautiful holiday flower, this plant can cause some stomach irritation to both cats and dogs as well as oral and skin irritation. Tinsel Tinsel is a very popular Christmas tree decoration. In fact, it has been around since 1610! Tinsel can be very appealing to cats and dogs, they are attracted to the shiny material. Most pets start out by playing with the tinsel, which eventually leads to the pet eating it. Tinsel does not break down in the gastrointestinal tract. This can become lodged within the stomach or the intestines, which turns into a vet visit and possibly emergency surgery. Keeping tinsel out of the house with pets will prevent any kind of possible ingestion. The Christmas Tree Cats and dogs are naturally curious, so when a Christmas tree comes in the house, they are going to want to explore it, whether that is sniffing it, trying to eat it or climbing it. Ensuring that there are no important family heirloom bulbs on the tree will prevent them from possibly getting broken. Keeping pets away from the Christmas tree will reduce any risk of the pet possibly knocking it over and falling on them, or any risk to the humans around the tree. Christmas tree water is also very toxic to animals. Most tree farms use chemicals that help make it last longer. Keep the tree water reservoir covered so your pet does not try to drink the water. Candles Candles are very popular around the holidays, making your house smell nice, but candles can be very dangerous around animals. No matter how high up you put it, a curious cat will still try to check it out, risking burning a paw or tail. Some essential oil scents are also toxic to both cats and dogs. Should you use candles for the holiday season, ensure it is soy wax, but do not leave it unattended. Did you know that candles are also toxic to birds? If you have a pet bird, candles are best kept out of the house. A great replacement for candles is an LED version. It won’t make the house smell nice, but it will still give the nice effect of a lit candle! Christmas Day Christmas day can be very exciting and overwhelming for pets. With all of the overstimulation, each pet may react differently to everything going on. Keeping the pet busy will be the easiest strategy. But how do you keep a pet busy on Christmas morning?! Simple enough, give them their gifts first. By giving them their gifts first, they will have something new to focus on and enjoy while the rest of the family can open gifts hassle-free. Giving a dog a chew or a toy will keep them busy and for a cat, you could do a food puzzle or a catnip toy. Ensuring that you are cleaning up during the gift opening time will reduce the risk of pets eating the wrapping paper, ribbon or bows. Have a designated recycling bag for the wrapping paper, and a garbage bag for the bows and ribbon. We do not want our pets to ingest the ribbons. Having everything organized will reduce any stress levels! But most importantly, it is a day to cherish and have fun and make memories with your pets and loved ones! Kitchen Hazards The kitchen poses a risk to many hazards to our household pets during the holidays. It can be a chaotic area during the holidays as there is a few people trying to cook, others wanting snacks and pets can be notorious for wanting to sit by your feet while you are trying to get everything prepared. Keeping them out of the kitchen, as hard as it may be, is for their safety. The hot food and oven is the first hazard. Cats and dogs are naturally very curious and want to see what everything is. They may also be hoping for something to fall for them to snatch up. The food and table scraps is your second kitchen hazard. Between foods that are considered toxic for your pet and possible allergies, it’s important to keep your food to yourself. Avoid giving any kind of turkey, chicken, or ham bones to your pet. This can be a choking hazard. Decorations/Ornaments Tree ornaments can be so fun to bat around and play with by animals. Ensure that any breakable decorations or fragile bulbs are up high. Any broken decor or bulbs should be cleaned up immediately to reduce the risk of a cat or dog of stepping on it and ending up at the vet with injured paws. AND have you seen our collection of dog and cat safe Christmas toys? Check them out before they are gone. From all of us at Petland, have a wonderful, and pet safe, holiday!

Separation anxiety is a distressing condition observed in pets when they experience fear or stress upon being separated from their owners or even other pets. This challenge can manifest differently in various animals - often leading to disruptive behaviors as they struggle with being alone. Animals are social creatures and being alone can be stressful. Some of the behaviors of separation anxiety by pets can include excessive barking when left alone (which can also cause problems with your neighbors), persistent meowing, and destructive behavior such as chewing furniture, scratching at doors and digging into the carpet. In birds it can manifest as excessive feather plucking. Pacing and restlessness can also demonstrate agitation. Other signs can also be inappropriate elimination of waste despite being house-trained, and even drooling and trembling. Causes for the separation anxiety  can include past trauma (some rescue pets can certainly have experienced neglect or abandonment in their past), abrupt changes in routine and/or environment, and pets being overly attached to their owners. When we were all in COVID shutdown, many pet owners spent a lot more time working out of their homes, and as we have been going back into the workplace more regularly, we heard a lot of that occurring with many of our guests. To help prevent and manage separation anxiety there are some things you can do. You can initiate a gradual desensitization by leaving your pet alone for short periods, gradually increasing the duration. Rewarding calm behavior to reinforce positive associations with alone time using their favorite treats makes this process easier. You can provide engaging toys, comfortable bedding and background noise like soothing music or TV to help alleviate boredom and anxiety. Establishing a routine early, like consistent feeding times, walks, work schedules, and play sessions, can create a sense of predictability and security for your pet. A safe and quiet place to call their own goes a long way to helping pets being alone. In dogs this is a kennel or covered pen. The cover helps reduce background noise and light that may upset the dog in your absence. For example, when Petland staff member Ken brought his new Quaker parrot (Mulligan) home for the first time he deliberately did so on a Tuesday night (read more about Mulligan here). He wanted to establish with Mulligan what his work schedule was going to be like, so that right from day one, Mulligan knew what to expect. Taking a week or two off to spend time with your new pet - while this seems like a fun prospect for excited new pet owners - can be upsetting to your new pet when you go back to your regular routine. For dogs and cats, the brands Adaptil (dogs) and Feliway (cats) make a few products that can aid in your pet's anxiety. Adaptil comes in a collar style that your dog can wear (they have puppy and adult dog varieties!) and in a plug-in diffuser. Adaptil works in the way that it releases a calming pheromone (you can’t smell it, only your dog can) that helps ease anxiety. Similarly, Feliway makes a diffuser that acts the same, but they also have one that is designed for households with multiple cats that aids in introductions and tension between multiple cats. These products are good tools to have on hand in case other efforts are not getting the desired outcome. Understanding and addressing separation anxiety in pets is crucial for their overall well-being. By recognizing the signs, identifying triggers, and implementing preventive measures, pet owners can create a supportive environment that fosters a sense of security and comfort for their pets.

You might not think that an animal with spikes that curls into a ball would make a great pet, but hedgehogs are tiny and adorable bundles of love! They are easy to care for and love being cuddled. These little critters are very quiet, generally odorless and are independent and able to entertain themselves. This means that they can be adapted in your household with relative ease, and as long as they have an exercise saucer, you don’t need to worry about taking them outside for walks! Hedgehogs are delightful little pets that are great for low maintenance pet owners! For more information go to https://petland.today/hedgehog

These little furballs are very soft and smell very fresh, as they clean themselves quite frequently. Their cages do not have much of a smell, and they are easy to clean up after.