Part II of the Holiday Pet Guide answers reader questions and examines our animal attraction to all kinds of species with the help of animal experts at The University of Texas School of Public Health and School of Nursing at Houston.

Does Anyone Have My Iguana?

For pet's sake, perhaps Christmas Day is not the best time to unwrap Spot or Puff.

Whether you desire a pet from a shelter, a breeder or a pet store, remember that any new pet requires and deserves lavish attention when you first bring them into your home. If the new X-Box is going to get the lion's share of hand's-on loving, wait until after the holidays to welcome the newest family member.

"Pets, particularly puppies and kittens, need to be brought into the family at a time when there are not multiple other distractions, so that you can focus on the pet's adjustment," says Dr. Mara Baun, professor at the UT School of Nursing and current member of the Animal Welfare Committee at the university. 

Baun suggests that the gift of a picture of the pet would be better, "and then arrange with the breeder to actually get the pet at a calmer time when the family can focus on it." Baun says that "responsible breeders will not place pets under any other circumstances."

Darling or Dangerous?

Pets such as boa constrictors and pit bulls carry hefty reputations, but not for the same reasons, experts say.

Well-fed snakes that are lovingly handled do not seek out the hand that feeds them as food. Snakes and other reptiles can carry salmonella, however, which can be especially dangerous for young children. "It doesn't preclude them as pets, as long as they are in the right environment," says veterinarian Stephen Waring, assistant professor of epidemiology at the UT School of Public Health.

And though certain breeds like pit bulls are perceived as the equivalent of bringing home a loaded gun, Dr. James Steele, professor emeritus at the School of Public Health says that the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) does not deem any breed more dangerous than another. Friendly or dangerous behavior seems to depend more on us-the owners.

Birds

Large birds are serious commitments. If kept healthy, they can live longer than humans–up to 80 years. If trained since infancy, large birds will become quite attached to their masters and will require much attention.

Find out the history of your bird, if possible, from your bird seller. If they are unusually frightened by you, they may have had a traumatic capture from the wild. Training may be difficult.

Birds, whether they are small parakeets, cockatiels or giant exotic birds shed, molt (lose their feathers annually) and have dander. They, too, carry and can contract diseases.

If their wings and nails are clipped for indoor roosting, it is best not to have other animals around that view these birds as a meal.

Ferrets

Endorsing ferrets as pets was another tough issue for the AVMA.

"They wrestled with that for a long time. If a ferret attacks a small child, it can cause some serious damage to the eyes and face," Waring says.

Ferrets, we must remember, are not domestic animals, though they now can be vaccinated for rabies, like any other mammalian house pet.

"They are very cute, and lots of fun, and how they turn out is very much what you put into them. But people need to be educated about ferrets from the outset," Waring says.

For starters, they are Mustelidae, the same family as skunks, so they can have an odor problem. You can have the smelly glands surgically removed, but surgery doesn't always completely eliminate it, and surgery can create other problems. Their scent-producing glands are a defense mechanism in the wild. And if things don't work out in your home, "people want to turn them out in the wild to fend for themselves," and they can't anymore.

"When you take in this cute, furry thing, where do you think you'll be three years down the road?" You may conclude that they are not that much cuter than a puppy or a kitten, suggests Waring.

Rabbits, Guinea Pigs and Hamsters

"Rabbits are cuddly, but they are short-lived," says Steele, "because people don't take care of them. If the dogs don't get them, the cats will."

You have to pick up rabbit droppings constantly, unless you keep them in a cage. Guinea pigs are the same way.

Rabbits are susceptible to some diseases, mainly the same salmonella that infects humans. Guinea pigs carry more diseases into the home. Leptospirosis is one found in them too frequently, Steele says. Leptospirosis is a disease that is picked up from the excrement of rats and mice. It exists in nature, in still or standing water, or wherever you find rodents. "It's dangerous to children and adults," Steele warns. Hamsters are very popular, but also short-lived and susceptible to disease.

Pets from Shelters

Giving an animal a second chance at a happy life is a fine idea, but take steps to be sure the animal is disease-free. Steele suggests you ask for a certificate of health from the shelter's veterinarian. "If shelters are run in a very hygienic way and have veterinary supervision, you should get certification that the animals are free of parasites."

That means the puppy you pick out might have worms, for instance, which can infect children. As adults, we have built up resistance to worms. Worm eggs migrate through the body. They cause coughing and can set up housekeeping in the body. "One of the most scary — and common — is the small heartworm, carried in dogs and sometimes in cats. It causes a lesion in the lung. You take an x-ray of it, and you'd swear it was lung cancer, until proven otherwise," Steele explains.

Too-Blue Blood Lines

Both Steele and Waring mention that some of the more popular breeds of dogs may have been overbred, bringing about the possibility of physical and behavioral problems. When breeds become "hot" the demand goes up. Finding the right breeder can help offset many of these health problems. This is particularly true of certain breeds such as Irish Setters, Retrievers, and German Shepherds. Spending the time to train your pet and getting help when needed can overcome most behavioral problems.

Last Updated: 12-13-2004

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