pet health

We learned in Part One that many dog owners have reported that their dogs experience symptoms similar to those seen in humans with mental illness. We also looked at depression and anxiety as specific conditions described … Read More

Dogs and humans suffer from many physical illnesses that can also be contracted by humans. Cancer, pneumonia and kidney failure are common causes of death in both dogs and humans. But can dogs and humans also … Read More

Pet owners expect dogs and puppies to chew, but it’s somehow much more surprising when a cat starts chewing. Cats that chew often target books, lampshades, curtains and other similar household items. This can be frustrating … Read More

Traveling by car with dogs can be fun, but it’s also exhausting. I find packing for trips with my dog more frustrating than any other part of traveling with him. I always seem to forget something … Read More

Have you ever struggled to get your rat to take his or her medicine? Pre-mixed medications for rats are often flavored to be appealing to cats or dogs or birds or hamsters, but leave rats wholly unimpressed. … Read More

Wet tail is one of the most common and most deadly hamster illnesses. It is caused by the bacterium Lawsonia intracellularis, and is more accurately described as regional enteritis or proliferative ileitis. Wet tail is common … Read More

If your pet has healthy paws, you probably don’t spend much time thinking about them. But if a problem is allowed to develop, you’ll be spending both time and money treating it. Preventive care for paws … Read More

Hiring a pet sitter isn’t easy. Choosing one person to be solely responsible for the health and happiness of your pets while you’re traveling is nerve-wracking at best. Making the wrong choice can be disastrous. Pet … Read More

As any rat owner knows, rats are prone to obesity, particularly older male rats. However, being omnivores and foragers, they seem most content with free access to as much food as they like. It’s hard to … Read More

Many people have only one cat and wonder why their cat attacks their feet, races around the house at night, yowls, or is overweight. Many of these problems are not present in cats that have been … Read More

Your dog was just neutered, and he’s now licking his incision. What do you do next? It’s not wise  to allow the licking to continue. Even if your dog only licks his incision occasionally, he’s likely … Read More

Giving pills to a dog can be easy, depending upon the dog, but it can also be nearly impossible, particularly if it’s a small dog that needs to take a large pill. I’ll use this post … Read More

Hairless rats are among the most unique pets a person can have. They look like little alien lifeforms, feel like warm raw chicken when held, and are certain to start a conversation with any houseguest brave … Read More

It’s among every pet owner’s worst fears: You die, acquire a severe disability, or are hospitalized in a coma, and your pets are bounced around between family members until someone gives up and drops them off at … Read More

Many dogs love water. It’s hard to resist letting a happy dog frolic in a creek or lake while out for a long walk, especially on a hot day. I’m sometimes tempted to jump in myself! … Read More

I’ve always avoided topical flea and tick medications whenever possible. I’m just a little uncomfortable with the idea of putting something on my pet’s body that is so poisonous to fleas and ticks that it will … Read More

It’s that dreaded day of the week when you sit down to balance your checkbook and you cross your fingers in hopes that there will be enough money to feed you and your pet. In these … Read More

Cryptorchidism in dogs is a condition that is congenital (present at birth) and results in one or both testicles failing to descend normally. This is a common condition that usually has no particular ill effects, provided … Read More

Have you ever seen a news story about hundreds of animals rescued from a single person? Frequently, these horrifying stories come with graphic details of pets that starved to death or attacked each other because of … Read More

As rats age, they may become either obese or thin. If your rat has a health problem, please consult your veterinarian about feeding and nutrition. However, if your rat is aging normally, you may be able … 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 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

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

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

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

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

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

Pugs, English Bulldogs, Shar Peis, and most of the Molusser (Mastiff) breeds have one big thing in common: Wrinkles! Many new owners of these dogs make the mistake of falling in love with the adorable wrinkly … Read More

Decision-making Time While you should never, ever allow your female cat to breed unless you intend to keep the kittens yourself, have people lined up who want the kittens or you are an authorized breeder, if … Read More

Is your pet sneezing? At this time of year, the problem could be spring allergies. Just like humans, many pets have allergies to pollen, dust, or mold, and those allergies often flare up during the spring. … Read More

Pet food, treats and toys add up fast every month, but at least you can develop an estimate of how much these items will cost you on a yearly basis. It’s those unexpected expenses that punch … Read More