A Pet’s Ten Commandments
A Pet’s Ten Commandments 1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful. 2. Give me time to understand what you want of me. 3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being. 4. Don’t be angry with me for long and...
Agility: a Popular and Enjoyable Dog Sport
Agility: a Popular and Enjoyable Dog Sport One of the fastest-growing sports today is Agility for Dogs. It is both an exciting spectator sport, attracting a lot of nationwide attention, as well as a challenging and very enjoyable activity for dogs and their humans. It is an excellent activity for...
Allergies – They’re Not Just for Humans Anymore
Introduction To Dog Allergies Whether in human or companion animals, recent research (Rastall, 2004) has shown that allergies are the result of both genetics and environment. Genetics (DeBoer, 2004) predisposes a human or pet to suffer from allergies, but the deal is clinched if they are raised in a modern...
Why Dogs Bark ?
Why Dogs Bark Dog Barking at Night The simple answer is to ignore the dog. By barking, it is training you to respond. You might have a few noisy nights but you will be showing it that barking is not productive. Certainly do not respond by shouting or scolding.  If you...
Before You Buy That Puppy
Before You Buy That Puppy “How much is that doggy in the window, the one with the waggly tail…?” Familiar words to an old tune suggests that many people at one time or another consider having a dog as a pet. They might have fond memories of the old Boxer...
Buying the Presumably More Expensive Dog or Cat Food
Buying the Presumably More Expensive Dog or Cat Food It’s almost overwhelming when you visit a pet store and wander down the mile long aisles of pet food. Thousands of pet food brands all seem to say the very same thing — 100% Complete Nutrition and ‘Premium’ and ‘Choice’. The...
Can Your Pet Make You Sick?
Can Your Pet Make You Sick? 5 Tips to Prevent Your Family & Pets From Diseases Zoonotic diseases are those that people can get from animals. Some examples of zoonoses are: rabies, ringworm, cat-scratch, and salmonellosis. Salmonellosis is a disease caused by the bacterium salmonella. While Salmonella is present in cats...
Caring For Your Pets After You Die
Caring For Your Pets After You Die While you may be planning to outlive your pets, what if something were to happen to you? Would Fido and Fluffy be provided for in the event of your untimely death or if you became incapacitated? Here’s how you can insure that your...
Cat Anxiety and Cat Litter Box Problems
Cat Anxiety and Cat Litter Box Problems Frazzled felines will sometimes relieve their anxiety by urinating, or marking (spraying) outside the cat litter box. Here are a few of the causes and the solutions to calm your kitty down. Like humans, cats like their routines and daily habits. When something changes...
Cat Barriers
Cat Barriers Like dogs, letting your kitties roam in the neighborhood unattended could cause some disturbances, damages and troubles. To avoid these problems, a cat barrier is the best solution to let your kitty enjoy the great outdoors safely. Depending on what type of cat barrier you choose, you and your...
Cat Owner’s Responsibility
Cat Owner’s Responsibility When considering whether to add a cat as a new family member, you may want to first consider a cat owner’s responsibility. A cat is not just a living ornament for your house-although it may complement it beautifully-there are many things to consider when buying a cat....
Chemicals in the Home
Chemicals in the Home Do you want your precious pet to stay healthy and live as long as possible? Many factors affect your pet’s health and life span, and one of these is exposure to toxic airborne chemicals in their environment. Get rid of harmful chemicals in your home, and...
Chronic Diarrhea in Pets
Chronic Diarrhea in Pets The premier topic for this blog is also the one most frequently asked about – chronic diarrhea. Whether the pet is a cat or a dog, at least 80% of the requests for help revolve around this issue. Chronic diarrhea is usually diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome...
Coping with Bereavement
Coping With Bereavement When our dog dies we feel we have lost a relationship based on mutual trust, unconditional love and understanding. Our dogs understand us better than our closest human companions, they read our body language and their sense of smell lets them know whether we are ill or indeed...
CPR For Pets
CPR For Pets If you’ve ever been to a CPR class, you’re undoubtedly familiar with the basics of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. First, check to make sure the patient has a clear airway, then check to see if the patient is breathing, check whether the patient has a heartbeat and, if the patient awakens...
Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture
Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture Cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCL) is the tearing of an important ligament in the stifle joint (knee), resulting in partial or complete joint instability, pain, and lameness. Torn ligaments retract, do not heal, and cannot be repaired completely. If the injury is not treated, damage to...
Crisis Checklist: Saving Your Pet’s Life When Disaster Strikes
Help could not come soon enough for the residents of New Orleans and the surrounding Gulf areas. But for devoted animal owners rescue came at a price.leave your pet behind. Having a plan in place before disaster strikes can save both you and your pet’s lives. Here’s what to...
Cruciate Ligament Rupture in Cats
The knee joint of the cat is one of the weakest in the body. Just as football players frequently suffer knee injuries, the cat also has knee injuries. The knee joint is relatively unstable because there is no interlocking of bones in the joint. Instead, the two main bones,...
Does Your Dog Suffer From Heartworms?
Dog heartworm is a common disease among canines in the United States. Discovered in 1856, the worms mainly live in your dog’s heart and major blood vessels. The worms, especially on worst cases, seriously impair the heart’s operations. Worse, they could also clog your dog’s blood vessels. These infections result...
Dog Health Emergencies
Dog Health Emergencies Sure, you may be a master of human First Aid. But do you know what to do in dog health emergencies? Approaching Dog Health Emergencies: Two Steps 1. In any dog health emergency, stay calm and think. 2. Approach the dog cautiously. The dog may become aggressive because of fear...
Dog Rescue: Is it Right For You?
Dog Rescue: Is it Right For You? Ever had a hankering for a certain breed of dog? Not an obsession, mind you – not the sort of longing that would send you rushing to a breeder, thousand-dollar-bill in your sweaty palm – but just a gentle appreciation for the virtues...
Doggoned Separation Anxiety
Doggoned Separation Anxiety Dr. Jo Ann Eurell knows what it’s like to have a dog with separation anxiety. “My son’s Lab, Mandy, had serious separation anxiety which escalated whenever we took her to strange surroundings. Mandy would work herself up salivating and drooling when we tried to leave. And she was...
Dogs & Pets Provide Health Benefits
Do dogs provide health benefits? Believe it or not they do! Did you know that owning a dog and pet ownership in general, can help a person in many ways? Owning a pet can improve your mental wellness, reduce your visits to the doctor, improve your cardiovascular health and allow for...
Ears Stand Corrected: Cosmetic Surgery For Pets
Cosmetic Surgery For Pets Are you irked by your Schnauzer’s drooping ears or by your Siamese’s tail that can clear off a coffee table in the disastrous blink of an eye? Is your Doberman barking too loudly and your American Bobtail scratching too deeply? In today’s society, there are myriad...
Einstein or Stooge: Measuring Canine Intelligence
Measuring Canine Intelligence It’s only natural for us to look for signs of intelligence in our dogs. Heck, even doggies that aren’t that bright occasionally display shards of brilliance in their everyday behavior, whether it’s darting out of the path of a falling pot or smiling at the faraway music...
Essential Fatty Acids and Pets
Essential Fatty Acids and Pets Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are fundamentally important for all animals. EFAs play a major role in the maintenance of healthy coat and skin for cats, dogs, and horses. Cell membranes in the animals’ skin, fur, nails and hair are made from essential fatty acids. Like...
Flowers & Plants that can be Harmful to Cats
Cats love plants the way dogs love chocolate, which is strange because cats are mainly carnivores. However, though most animal species learn to stay away from things that make them sick, cats will eat plants over and over with the same results. Does this sound familiar, you lactose-intolerant people...
Foxtail Grass Dangerous to Dogs
If you have dogs, keep the foxtails out of your lawn! Foxtail grass is a common annual grass usually considered a weed. It grows one to three feet tall, with branching and some spreading at ground level. Leaf blades are 4 to 15 inches long.  Flower heads are dense...
Fur Not Good Sunscreen
Fur Not Good Sunscreen You might think the most important bit of dog health advice would be to let your furry loved one spend all day enjoying the outdoors. But you’d only be half-right. You know we must protect our children and ourselves from the sun. But do you know that...
Genetically Modified Corn in Pet Food
Genetically Modified Corn in Pet Food Rats Fed Genetically Modified Corn – GMO Corn According to the Huffington Post, 88% of corn now grown in the U.S. is genetically modified  (GM). Why should pet owners be concerned about this? Well, scientists performed studies on rats, and after feeding genetically modified corn...
