“Less-Adoptable” Pets Have Just as Much Love
Pets come in all shapes and sizes with their own unique quirks. While many furry friends are adopted as happy additions to loving families, there… Read More »“Less-Adoptable” Pets Have Just as Much Love
Pet Health
Bloat: All Dog Owners Should Be Able to Spot this Deadly Problem
Bloat is a life-threatening emergency that affects dogs in the prime of life. The mortality rate for gastric volvulus approaches 50 percent. Early recognition and treatment are the… Read More »Bloat: All Dog Owners Should Be Able to Spot this Deadly Problem
Senior Dog Behavior: What to Expect
Senior Dogs: Common Behavior Changes Puppies have their behavior problems and older dogs have theirs. For older dogs, in many cases it is not that… Read More »Senior Dog Behavior: What to Expect
Know Your Dangers: Common Household Plants are Poisonous for Cats
Cats will chew on plants. And, because they love to climb and explore, it is difficult to keep plants out of their reach. Therefore, if… Read More »Know Your Dangers: Common Household Plants are Poisonous for Cats
Lamb Treats Sold in Washington Recalled
LA-based company Pet Center, Inc. is voluntarily recalling their Lamb Crunchy’s dog treats due to Salmonella contamination. The treats were sold in California, Colorado, Washington,… Read More »Lamb Treats Sold in Washington Recalled
What Not to Feed Your Cat
Although it can be irksome for owners, being branded finicky could ultimately be a boon for cats — especially when it comes to ingesting potentially dangerous foods. “The… Read More »What Not to Feed Your Cat
Your Pet’s Diet and Health
Most of us overindulge a little over the festive period and start January with a diet and detox – but what about our pets? A… Read More »Your Pet’s Diet and Health
Is Your Pet Sick? What Should You Do?
When a beloved pet seems a bit “off,” it might be more than just a bad day; it could be a sign of mild sickness… Read More »Is Your Pet Sick? What Should You Do?
The Fourth of July can be a bummer for your pets . . .
. . . But just follow these safety tips from the ASPCA to make it less stressful!
For many people, nothing beats lounging in the backyard on the Fourth of July with good friends and family—including the four-legged members of the household. While it may seem like a great idea to reward Rover with scraps from the grill and bring him along to watch fireworks, in reality some festive foods and products can be potentially hazardous to your pets. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center offers the following tips:
Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended where pets can reach them. Alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison pets. If ingested, the animal could become very intoxicated and weak, severely depressed or could go into a coma. Death from respiratory failure is also a possibility in severe cases.
Read More »The Fourth of July can be a bummer for your pets . . .
As the weather heats up, know how to protect your pet!
We all love spending the long, sunny days of summer outdoors with our furry companions, but being overeager in hot weather can spell danger, ASPCA experts warn.
“Most people love to spend the warmer days enjoying the outdoors with friends and family, but it is important to remember that some activities can be dangerous for our pets,” said Dr. Camille DeClementi, Senior Toxicologist at the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center. “By following a few simple rules, it is easy to keep your pet safe while still having fun in the sun.”
Take these simple precautions, provided by ASPCA experts, to help prevent your pet from overheating. And if you suspect your pet is suffering from heat stroke, get help from your vet immediately.Read More »As the weather heats up, know how to protect your pet!
It’s Puppy Mill Action Week — say NO to puppy mills!
This article reprinted courtesy of http://www.petplay.com/blog
“Life is as dear to a mute creature as it is to man. Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not die, so do other creatures” – The Dalai Lama
For dog lovers around the world, one of the most frustrating and devastating realities we have to face is that of the continued existence of puppy mills: large-scale breeding operations where the number one consideration is profit, instead of the well-being of dogs. Puppy mill owners resort to practices such as over-breeding and inbreeding, and their dogs are often subject to unsanitary conditions, hunger, sickness and a lack of socialization. It is hard to believe that many dogs in these mills spend almost the entirety of their lives in cramped cages, often with not enough food to get by, forced to churn out puppies shortly after every heat.
Read More »It’s Puppy Mill Action Week — say NO to puppy mills!
Thinking of declawing? Know the facts!
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, or fleas carried by their cats.
Thinking of bringing a new kitten into your home?
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 and she hears the ruckus, she will often give a warning “that’s enough of that” to the kittens and they settle down.
In order to become well-socialized cats, kittens need to learn appropriate behavior from one another. A human is not a substitute for a feline companion. You can provide attention and love but there is simply no way you can replicate the play behavior of the species. If they don’t learn limits in their play as youngsters, they often develop inappropriate playful aggression. In other words, it may be cute when a kitten attacks your ankles when you walk by or playfully nips at your fingers while you’re playing. It will be much less cute, not to mention annoying and painful, when your cat is full grown.
Read More »Thinking of bringing a new kitten into your home?
A moisture-rich diet: your cat’s health depends on it!
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 the wild, your cat would be eating a high protein, high-moisture, meat/organ-based diet, with a moderate level of fat and with only 1-2 percent of her diet consisting of carbohydrates. The average dry food contains 35-50 percent carbohydrate calories. Some of the cheaper dry foods contain even higher levels. This is NOT the diet that Mother Nature intended for your cat to eat.
Read More »A moisture-rich diet: your cat’s health depends on it!
10 tips for proper pet dental care
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 pet’s teeth as often as possible and use an oral rinse to rub on gums. Additionally, get your pet’s teeth examined professionally every six to 12 months. – Robert Rizzitano, DVMRead More »10 tips for proper pet dental care
- « Previous
- 1
- 2