.: Pet Health Care

My Teary Eyed Jelly Belly One bright sunny Spring day, I was outside watering my garden when my cat, Jelly Belly, came over to me and brushed against my leg. I gave him a little scratch … Read More

No matter how much you love your pet, chances are, you hate shedding. Unless you own a non-shedding breed like a Standard Poodle, there’s also a good chance shedding is a fact of life. However, sometimes … Read More

Every pet owner should maintain a good working relationship with a veterinarian. Owners of multiple types of pets, particularly exotic or unusual pets, may need several veterinarians. However, sometimes the decision to take a pet, particularly … Read More

Because my other job is with a social networking site, the term “Power User” has crept into my vocabulary. A Power User is an individual who doesn’t just use a particular website or application, but uses … Read More

  Rats are naturally very tidy animals, generally needing baths only once or twice a year unless a medical condition or an owner’s allergies necessitate more frequent bathing. Some male rats require more frequent baths due to … Read More

Dear PetLvr Mailbag … Okay, a 1-2 year old male feral/stray/whatever cat moved into my back yard. Got attacked by, I think, a raccoon, as the possums left and I have a few kits, one mom, … Read More

Dear PetLvr Mailbag .. My dog lifts his leg to pee, then poops instead. This may seem like a silly question, but it causes poop to stick to the hair on his hind legs. Yuck! –Grossed … Read More

Last spring, my Off-Track Thoroughbred (OTTB) gelding, Ember, began colicking repeatedly. He would begin lying down and nipping at his sides just before feeding time, as often as two or three times per week. The episodes … Read More

Spinal degeneration, disc disease and herniated discs are no longer preventing pets from having the ability to walk thanks to Eddie’s Wheels for Pets in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. When pets become disabled, they lose a quality … Read More

Enjoying the Outdoors I currently have three cats. Two of them, Jelly Belly and Skylar, like to occasionally go outside and lie around in the sun. They’re both altered males and both are getting on in … Read More

This post was written by guest author Kristen Martin. Please visit Kristen over on her blog at Who’s Your Audience – Stream of Consciousness. Wellington – the Black Lab / Chow Mix Wellington is an eight-year-old … Read More

Nobody wants to think about dying, especially when they’re young and in good health; but, as a responsible pet owner, it’s your duty to ensure that if you were to pass away, your pets would be … Read More

The Problem with Tartar Just recently I’ve been undergoing periodontal treatment at the dentist. You know, the ever-fun root planing and scraping to get rid of built up tartar and bacteria below the gum line. Not … Read More

The Chat A few months ago, my co-worker and I were talking about our cats. Like me, she’s a cat lover and we often exchange stories about our babies. So when she told me that one … Read More

For dogs with allergies, exposure to even a small amount of a food or environmental allergen can mean days of itching miserably, sneezing, and even outbreaks of hives or skin sores. Some dogs who have allergies … Read More

Not using the litterbox is among the most common reasons cats are abandoned, rehomed, euthanized, or placed in shelters and rescue. It’s understandable that nobody wants cat urine and feces all over their home, but what … Read More

It’s not always easy to find time for your dog, especially if you have work, a family, school, and other committments weighing heavily on your time. However, it doesn’t always take hours of hard work to prevent problem … Read More

The Story Not so long ago, one of my cats, Skylar, a nine year old altered smoke tabby, got into a fight with another cat. I don’t usually let Skylar or my other cats outside, but … Read More

By OTTB, I mean, of course, an Off the Track Thoroughbred. In other words, a retired racehorse, like my Ember, aka Embrace Reality, pictured below. OTTBs can excel in most disciplines, are generally inexpensive compared to … Read More

If you’ve decided to add a small mammal like a rabbit, rat, or hamster to your family, the next step is to choose between adopting a rescued or rehomed pet, or purchasing from a reputable, responsible … Read More

Hello! I’m Gemma Argent As an introduction, I’d like to say that I have been around animals my entire life. Animals, simply put, are a part of my life. I went to college initially as a … Read More

Many people seeking a new pet bypass the adoption option for one reason or another. While there are certainly some situations in which purchasing from a reputable, responsible breeder is ideal, consider this list of five … Read More

Every morning, our two Papillon dogs .. Maxxie (on the right) and Sophie (on the left) wait patiently for their “morning ritual” treats…. <img src="http://petlvr.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/p40800011.jpg" alt="Maxxie and Sophie waiting for their morning treat" title="Maxxie and Sophie" … Read More

Ferrets are typically vaccinated against rabies and canine distemper The first is rare, even rarer in ferrets. But the fear of catching rabies from a bite is so intense that many will choose to get the … Read More

Vaccinating Dogs And Cats If you choose to vaccinate your own dog or cat, there are a few things you should consider first. Remember…any animal could have an adverse reaction to any vaccine. The probability is … Read More

Babies and pets can be a delightful combination. But sometimes they only mix well if a few precautions are observed. Tragically, in other cases, they don’t go well together at all. A few simple guidelines can … Read More

Because the group of terrier breeds is so diverse it’s difficult to find a single set of diseases common to all. Even calling a condition common is a little misleading, since it means only that it … Read More

By Gary Speer Unusual or exotic pets carry responsibilities for care and keeping than your run-of-the-mill family cat or dog. But don’t worry, if you’d prefer a snake or turtle, tiger or crocodile, or simply a … Read More

Ferrets, like many of the cousins in the weasel family, have a natural musky scent. Over time that can build up to an unpleasant level. That happens too often in pet stores and the homes of … Read More

By Donna Newnham Getting your cat neutered is a serious decision to make for both you, and your pet. The term neutering applies to both sexes of cat – castration in males, spaying in females. It … Read More

The decision to spay your female dog is a very serious one, just like the decision to neuter your male dog. There are benefits and risks whichever option you pick. Spaying is essentially performing a hysterectomy … Read More

RHD or Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease is a condition that may occur in domestic rabbits. Some signs are easy to detect, such as a foamy, bloody nasal discharge or flipping excitedly inside their cage. Symptoms do vary … Read More

Neutering a male puppy may be common practice, but it is still serious surgery and carries risks and benefits. Weighing them carefully will result in the best decision for you and your pet. Neutering (spaying is … Read More