Author Archives: Jelena Woehr

There was a Tornado Watch in effect for my county for most of the afternoon today. While most people know what to do to protect themselves if a tornado occurs, what about pets? While many disaster … Read More

Cats love countertops. They provide a high vantage point from which a cat can observe goings-on in the kitchen, they often have tasty crumbs or good smells on  them, and it drives their owners nuts when … Read More

In many areas, pet parents struggle to find a rental home that will accomodate their entire family, both humans and pets. The current rental market has forced more apartment complexes and private property owners to open … Read More

I’d generally rather see people get their pet information from a book than a television show. I recommend Don’t Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor, The Dog Who Would Be King by John C. Wright and Judi … Read More

Many people who wish to keep small pets narrow things down to mice and rats for their intelligence, friendly personalities, and general appearance, but then have trouble deciding between the two. If you’re currently wondering if … Read More

Animal shelters are bursting at the seams with pets who have lost their homes due to the current recession. Whether it was an unexpected vet bill, routine expenses, or a non pet-related expense that was the … Read More

I’ve been finding tufts of dog hair around the house all week. For a couple of days I was puzzled– I’m brushing my dogs as often as I always do! Then I realized it’s June, and … Read More

There’s nothing like the bright red dot of a laser pointer racing across the floor or wall to get a cat’s attention. Many dogs also are fascinated  with and will chase laser pointer toys. Even fish often … Read More

I live in Colorado, where we have, from time to time, experienced snow in July and 90-degree days in November. But if you can rely on one thing in Colorado, it’s that we’ll have a fairly hot summer. … Read More

Most rat owners will, at some point, own a pet rat with chronic respiratory disease. Rats are prone to infections caused by Mycoplasma pulmonis, a naturally occurring bacterium found in the lungs of nearly all rats. The only … Read More

It’s the rainy season in many parts of the world, and walks, dog park visits, outdoor training classes, and playtime in the backyard aren’t happening with their usual frequency. A dog kept indoors because of rain … Read More

Do cats need baths? In most cases, the answer is no, unless the cat is a show cat– in which case, you should either already know all about grooming for shows or have a mentor helping … Read More

In Part One, we talked about how to plan a move and  prepare for a move without stressing your dog and causing undesirable behaviors. Now, let’s look at the move itself and the settling-in period immediately after … Read More

So, you’re getting ready to move, and you’re a dog owner. Since dogs are relatively adaptable creatures in general, it’d be easy not to think about the effect of your move on your dog until you’ve … Read More

We recently covered the possible dangers of dog collars, but what about the cats in the family? Cats, too, can be injured or killed if they wear a collar; on the other hand, just like dogs, … Read More

Hedgehogs are charming pets that appeal to many people, particularly those who prefer a pet that is somewhat exotic yet still handleable. I’ve never been without hedgehogs since 2001, and I very much enjoy their company. However, one … Read More

Among the most common goals of active, involved dog owners is to certify their dog as a therapy dog and do therapy work with elderly people, children, veterans, or people with disabilities. Therapy dogs can help people … Read More

Dear Petlvr, I hope you can help: We just brought home a 7 week old puppy – malti-poo/pom mix. Tiny, less than one pound. We have a mini-doxie age 12 who is fine with her. However, … Read More

Putting a collar on your dog seems like a fairly standard safety measure. Most pet parents don’t give it a second thought. But is it really that simple? As with most subjects related to pet care, … Read More

If you are housebreaking a puppy or dog, you’ve heard the age-old advice: “When he has an accident, just rub his nose in it!” Somehow that old chestnut has survived several revolutions in dog training, even … Read More

As the weather gets warmer, you may find that your dog can’t exercise enough during the day to keep him or her calm without becoming overheated. The cooler nights and evenings are a better time for … Read More

I know I’m not the only person who jokes,  “My dog would fetch until his legs fell off, if I kept throwing that ball!” It’s usually  worth a chuckle, especially if Augustin and a tennis ball are … Read More

This afternoon I witnessed a confrontation between a concerned passer-by and a driver who left her small dog in her Toyota Prius as she entered a fast casual restaurant and placed a to-go order. The other patron … Read More

Convincing an outdoor cat to remain happily indoors is a task most cat parents will face at some point. While some outdoor cats settle into indoor life with no fuss at all, others may pace, yowl, … Read More

Dear Petlvr, I just received a hedgehog. It was found by a friend’s dog. I learned on the internet that hedgehogs can have babies as early as May. I would like to keep this hedgehog, it … Read More

Do you have extra love to give to a pet who is truly in need? If you’re an experienced pet parent looking for a new family member and want to know you’ve made a big difference to … Read More

More and more colleges are beginning to allow pets in select dormitories. Stressed-out students may benefit from the blood pressure reducing benefits of stroking a pet or watching fish in a tank. In addition, some students … Read More

What’s the best gift for your intact female dog or cat this Mother’s Day? How about an appointment to be spayed? We’ve discussed spaying and neutering here before, but it’s an important subject that deserves to … Read More

Train dogs and interact with the people who love them long enough, and you’ll find that certain truths about dog training are almost always accurate. Professional trainers and serious hobbyists are fond of standing around swapping … Read More

When I recommend premium food to dog owners, they often ask, “Is it really worth the price?” Or, “How could it possibly be that much better than the grocery store brands?” The answer is: Yes, absolutely. … Read More

One of the most saddening and frustrating issues for any dog owner to deal with is that of incontinence in an aging dog.  After years of successful housetrained behavior, older dogs often seem to regress to … Read More

Have coyotes moved into your neighborhood recently? Many urban and suburban residents are seeing coyotes enter their neighborhoods due to habitat destruction, habituation to human contact, and the easy availability of prey. Now, it might be … Read More

With the current recession showing no signs of letting up, shelters are stuffed to the gills with pets whose owners simply could no longer afford to care for them. The Chicago Tribune reported this week that, “When … Read More