.: Pet Food

The holiday season is near, and many people will likely bring pets into their home. But it’s very important for owners to understand the commitment involved in selecting and raising a pet: adopting a puppy over … Read More

I recently had the opportunity to post some news last Valentine’s Day (PURINA® CHEF MICHAEL’S® DECLARES DOGS THE NEW VALENTINES IN 2010) and in conjunction with some other news, and interview opportunities .. Purina sent me … Read More

Jeff Probst, host of the television show Survivor and an animal enthusiast, stars in the videos along with two furry friends, Cooper, a yellow lab, and Zoey, an American Shorthair cat. Although he is a paid … Read More

As dogs age, their nutritional needs change. Conventional wisdom about feeding senior dogs calls for lower levels of protein and fat, with additional fiber and ingredients to support the joints. However, pet owners and veterinary nutritionists … 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

I worked for a large retail chain dealing in live animals and pet supplies as my first job out of high school. At the time, I thought it would be the perfect job for a young … 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

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

What’s the most difficult part of feeding raw? Ask 100 raw feeders and you’ll likely get 100 different answers, but for me the answer is, “Fitting that much meat in my freezer and still being able … 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

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

Cat owners often ask me about unusual vocalizations from their pets. One of the most common and alarming experiences for the concerned cat parent is unexplained yowling. Cats yowl for a variety of reasons, ranging from … Read More

As the New Year dawns, I encourage pet owners to resolve to improve their pets’ lives in 2009. A happier, healthier pet will make you happy, too. My resolutions include taking a Flyball class with my … Read More

In 2007, a close friend lost her dog as a result of a pet food recall. So as a pet writer, I’ve been closely monitoring the pet food recall situation ever since. It’s a topic I’ve … 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

There’s few things more frightening than a pet food recall and unfortunately, it’s happened again – yet another pet food recall has been issued, placing thousands of pets at risk of illness or worse. Mars Petcare … Read More

If you clicked this, you probably already know that pets shouldn’t be fed from the table. However, there might be a significant other, a child, or even a parent in your life who insists upon tossing … 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

Welcome to PetLvr Reviews, a new series here at PetLvr – The Blog, where we take a time-out to look at some interesting and (not-so-interesting) pet related products. If you would like your product reviewed by … Read More

Raw feeding is healthful, frugal when done right, and fun– but it’s also time-consuming and difficult at times. Most raw feeders know the frustration of being ten minutes late in the morning, reaching into the meat … 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

Yes, the title of this post probably has you calling, “BS!” if you’re a kibble feeder and have shopped for meat for your human family recently. However, it’s true: If you’re feeding a premium kibble, a … Read More

As worldwide financial panic continues, so does our series on pet ownership in a down economy. Last time, we talked about making pet toys at home. That’s a great way to save some money, but you … Read More

As you may know, I feed my dog a raw diet, and advocate whole prey model raw feeding for anyone who’s willing and able to make the switch to this more complex and natural method of feeding pets. … Read More

Sometimes dogs refuse food. Failing to eat can be indicative of as little as a mild upset tummy, or of conditions as serious as bloat or organ failure. So, how do you tell the difference? When … 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

Dear Petlvr Mailbag … I’ve got two questions… Why does my cat insist on tearing up every piece of paper lying around on the floor? He’s 3, far from being a kitty. Also he is chunky. … Read More

I have a raw-fed dog. We’ll talk more seriously about the choice to go raw and how to do so without sacrificing optimum nutrition later, as well as about the home-cooked alternative, but for now I’d … Read More

Every pet looks its best with a healthy, shiny coat. Whether it’s the family cat or a show-ring star, pets deserve proper skin and coat care. Healthy skin and coat can also indicate overall health and … 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

Dear PetLvr Mailbag, My 4 month old kitten totally dominates my 8 year old Australian Shepherd. The kitten, Freckles, is 4 months old. She’ll walk up to the dog, Luke, and he’ll freeze in panic. She’ll … 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