30
Apr 2013
Why people declaw cats People often mistakenly believe that declawing their cats is a harmless “quick fix” for unwanted scratching. They don’t realize that declawing can make a cat less likely to use the litter box or more likely to bite. People who are worried about being scratched, especially those with immunodeficiencies or bleeding disorders, may be told incorrectly that their health will be protected by declawing their cats. However, declawing is not recommended by infectious disease specialists. The risk from scratches for these people is less than those from bites, cat litter,......
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14
Apr 2013
Sarah’s Pet Care does not discriminate based on breed. Pitbulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, German Shepherds — we love and welcome them all, provided their temperaments and behavior are appropriate for our services. Read on for a fascinating and myth-busting article about the much maligned pitbull terrier … Pitbulls Used to Be Considered the Perfect “Nanny Dogs” for Children — Until the Media Turned Them Into Monsters Despite their reputation, the United Kennel Club doesn’t recommended using pitbulls as guard dogs because they’re too friendly with strangers. For most of the 114 years since......
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06
Apr 2013
Traveling can be highly stressful, both for you and the four-legged members of your family. But with thoughtful preparation, you can ensure a safe and comfortable trip for everyone. The ASPCA urges pet owners to think twice about flying their pets on commercial airlines, especially if they plan on checking them in as cargo. Unless your animal is small enough to fit under your seat and you can bring him or her in the cabin, the ASPCA recommends pet owners to not fly their animal....
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29
Mar 2013
Consider two and avoid Single Kitten Syndrome. MEOW Cat Rescue of Kirkland, WA explains why (www.meowcatrescue.org): If you’ve ever raised a litter of kittens or adopted a pair of them, you know how much they play together. Some of this play is painful, as confirmed by the yowling and complaining that occurs. The kittens bite and scratch each other, sometimes quite hard. All the while they are learning from one another that this behavior is not the best way to make friends. If they’re lucky enough to have a mom cat around......
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20
Mar 2013
Here are some common misconceptions about dogs and cats, courtesy of onlynaturalpet.com . . . 1. A warm or dry nose means a sick dog Regular fluctuations in the temperature and moisture of a dog’s nose are normal. Canine distemper used to be a prevalent virus which caused a thickening of the nose and foot pads. A cold, wet nose indicated the dog didn’t have distemper. Today distemper is uncommon due to vaccinations. 2. All cats are loners Many cats love company and spending time with their humans. It’s not unusual for a......
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09
Mar 2013
See catinfo.org for the full version of this great article by Lisa Pierson, DVM. Why are we feeding our cats a carbohydrate-laden diet? In their natural setting, cats—whose unique biology makes them true carnivores–would not consume the high level of carbohydrates (grains, potatoes, peas, etc.) that are in the dry foods (and some canned foods) that we routinely feed them. You would never see a wild cat chasing down a herd of biscuits running across the plains of Africa or dehydrating her mouse and topping it off with corn meal soufflé. In......
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02
Mar 2013
Here are Seattle Parks’ rules for off leash areas, courtesy of the Citizens for Off-Leash Areas web site (http://www.cola.org) Dog Owners You are liable for damage or injury inflicted by your dog(s) (SMC 18.12.080). You must be in control of your dog(s) at all times (SMC 18.12.080). You must muzzle dogs that exhibit dangerous or aggressive behavior; biting, fighting, and excessive barking are not allowed (SMC 9.25.024). You must leash your dog when it is outside the off-leash area; you must carry a leash for each dog while you are inside the......
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21
Feb 2013
There are a multitude of kitty litters to choose from, but many contain toxic chemicals and respiratory irritants, as well as cause harm to the environment. Fortunately, there are some great, natural, healthy options, listed here courtesy of www.onlynaturalpet.com: CORN-BASED LITTERS (such as World’s Best): Safe, Flushable and All-Natural • Made of whole-kernel corn, a renewable, biodegradable and all natural material. • Corn is edible so it will not cause harm if ingested by your pet. • It is safe for kittens, infection-prone cats, and cats recovering from surgery. • The flushable......
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10
Feb 2013
LOS ANGELES – February is National Pet Dental Month, and the veterinarians of VCA West Los Angeles share their tips, facts, and advice for caring for your pet’s dental health. Oral care is critical for your pet’s overall health and happiness, so here are 10 tips to maintain proper care: Pets have a remarkable ability to hide dental pain; their desire to eat far outweighs pain they may have in their mouths and thus, we can’t easily tell if they have a toothache or pain from an abscess. – J.J. Rawlison, DVM Brush your......
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