pet health

Pets can fulfill so many different areas of your life. For example, they can be your best friend, motivated walking buddy and cuddle bug. However, just because a pet can make a wonderful addition to your … Read More

Since Tory’s surgery to correct his elongated soft palate, his breathing has improved by leaps and bounds. These days, I can hardly tell he was ever impaired at all! He snorks and wheezes like a normal … Read More

Nothing is more discouraging to a pet lover than a failed adoption. You fully intend to give a loving, permanent home to a pet in need, and instead you find yourself over your head with an … Read More

Even the most experienced pet owners sometimes dread giving pills to dogs and cats. Children are hard enough to medicate, let alone pets, who won’t understand, “This is for your own good!” However, with a little … Read More

Did you know that poor dental health may cause organ damage and hardening of the arteries in your dog or cat? Neglecting regular tooth cleanings can actually take years off of your pet’s life. The American … Read More

Did your pet experience any health problems this past year? If they did, they were probably not alone. Recently, the Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) analyzed dog and cat medical claims from 2008 to see if there … Read More

You’ve heard it, as all pet owners have: “Mutts are healthier than purebreds.” But is that true? As it turns out, things aren’t really that simple. While in some instances mixed-breed dogs may have a better … Read More

Tory visited the vet yesterday. The news is not good! As I suspected, Tory has an elongated soft palate. He also suffers from a number of other medical problems. Tory is scheduled for surgery tomorrow to … Read More

Last week, I introduced you to my foster dog, Tory. At the time, he had not yet arrived. Now he’s at home with me, and has proven to be a little more of a handful than … Read More

Animals have an incredible sense of smell, and they also have delicate lungs just like humans. So have you ever considered how your smoking affects your pets? Smoking outside of your home is one thing, but … Read More

We’ve already covered the most difficult part of fostering: Letting go of a foster pet. However, I’m currently dealing with the other end of the foster cycle: Waiting for that call saying, “We’ve got a dog that … Read More

Veterinarians often recommend yearly tooth cleanings for dogs and cats, which require general anesthesia and often cost $200.00 or more. If your veterinarian has recommended dental work, you may be able to get the procedure performed … Read More

In my first blog about flying with rats, we discussed choosing an airline and making a reservation. However, once your ticket is booked, there’s still much more to be done before embarking on your flight. Today, … Read More

You’ve probably heard time and time again that table scraps should not be fed to pets, but how true is that old adage? Like most absolute statements, it’s not that simple. Some scraps could be lethal; … Read More

There’s lots of instances when a dog owner may wonder, “Is my dog sick? Should I take him to the 24-hour emergency veterinary clinic?” Making the decision to take a pet to the emergency clinic can … Read More

Oh, yum, everyone’s favorite subject: Ear infections! Dogs and cats can easily get ear infections, and acute infections may become chronic if not treated correctly. Monitoring pets’ aural health is very important to overall wellness. Ear infections … Read More

Are you wondering “Is my dog sick?” If so, there’s a few things you’ll want to check on your dog – his temperature, his capillary refill time and his gum color. But do you know how … Read More

Most dogs need their nails trimmed regularly, but few of them enjoy it. Worse yet, a clumsy snip could cut into the quick, causing profuse bleeding. I quicked my own fingernail recently after I was startled … Read More

Christmas trees are a wonderful tradition, but they can also present a safety hazard to pets. Decorations like angel hair and tinsel could be fatal if ingested. Then there’s the tree itself– a cat could be … Read More

How often do you look at your pet’s teeth? If you’re like most pet owners, it’s been a while since you peeled back your pet’s lips and took the time to examine his or her molars … Read More

A report earlier this fall from a group of USA pediatricians cautioned parents against keeping exotic pets in a home with young children. The doctors involved cited Salmonella, as well as possible bites and scratches, as reasons … Read More

Obviously, there’s no one proven way to be sure your pet won’t ever get cancer. If there was, we’d all be doing it, and veterinary oncologists would all be out of business. However, it may be … Read More

When the weather outside is frightful, it’s important to follow some precautions to keep your pet safe. Although dogs and cats have fur, it’s a misconception to think that they cannot suffer from frostbite or hypothermia. … Read More

It might be tempting to just scoop some stuffing and a few bites of turkey into your pet’s bowl on Thanksgiving, but beware: Onions, raisins, garlic, and other ingredients in Thanksgiving staples can be harmful to … Read More

You know the stereotype: Cat owners can’t have nice furniture, because cats will always scratch the couch, unless they’re declawed. If you have one or more cats, you might already have furniture damaged by scratching. However, there’s … Read More

We’ve talked about keeping a pet’s coat healthy at home, but let’s face it: Some breeds’ grooming needs just can’t be realistically met by most owners. For example, Poodles of all sizes need regular grooming to … Read More

Every pet owner should know by now that dogs and cats can’t have chocolate and shouldn’t eat any sort of candy. However, that doesn’t mean they have to miss out entirely on Halloween! Some fall treats … Read More

This post was submitted to heighten awareness about animal shelter adoption. Adopt a pet today! Monster at 4 1/2 weeks, fitting into the palm of one of my hands. During my time as a foster home … Read More

Okay, I’ll admit that I’m a huge cat lover. I put up with a lot from these furry four-legged purr machines, but the one thing that drives me crazy is the frequent up-chucking. Yuck. I think … 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

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

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

German Shepherds can suffer from any number of common skin infections. The infection can be limited primarily to the outer skin layer, or may penetrate deeper into the subcutaneous levels. In extreme cases, the infection actually … Read More