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By Gina Spadafori
Pet Columnist
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Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. On PetConnection.com there's more information on pets and their care, reviews of products, books and "dog cars," and a weekly drawing for pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or visiting PetConnection.com.
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Sometimes I think having no pit bulls wouldn't be that bad a thing, but not for the reasons you might imagine. If pit bulls weren't around, they couldn't be beaten. Starved. Left chained outside with little protection from the elements. Subjected to ear croppings with scissors and no pain relief. Made to bear puppies with next to no food. And finally, if pit bulls weren't around, they couldn't be tossed dead (or nearly so) into a vacant lot when they come up on the losing side of a dogfight. |
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Every pet lover with a computer has seen the e-mails and Web sites: the dire warnings on common household products, the miracle cures and behavior-fix products, and the well-meaning but ultimately wrong health-care advice. The Internet can be the best or the worst place to do research on pet health issues. The trick is in figuring out how to evaluate the information you find, and how to locate the reliable information when you need it. |
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Why do so many people end up with such ill-behaved dogs? The mechanics of dog training aren't difficult, after all, and it's not as if there aren't a million books, videotapes, seminars and training classes available. And yet most people end up with a dog who's "sort of" trained -- in other words, not very trained at all. So what's the problem? I've always felt it was a matter of attitude. How you approach dog training has a great deal to do with how much you're going to accomplish. View it not as a horrid chore, but as an opportunity to strengthen the bond between you and your dog. You'll have a better chance at succeeding, and you'll both have a much better time. |
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If you're thinking "puppy" when it comes to adding a new member to your home, you may be missing a good bet. Adult dogs are a better choice for many of today's busy families. These dogs are past the trials of puppy-raising, and are a known commodity when it comes to size, health and temperament. Even better, they can be an amazing bargain: Nearly every purebred or trendy mix can be found in a shelter or from a rescue group. And if you're patient, you can even find a dog with basic training completed. |
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Where others see death, Richard Avanzino sees hope. Where others see an intractable problem, Nathan Winograd sees a solution. Together, the two men -- one carrot, the other stick; one preaching evolution, the other revolution -- are the visionaries of a grassroots movement to change the way the nation's animal shelters do business. |
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Do you have one of those seemingly crazy cats who loves your petting one minute and bites your hand the next? While you can't completely turn a "skitty kitty" into a purring slug cat, you can work to increase your pet's tolerance for petting. |
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While bathing dogs is no one's idea of fun, it doesn't have to be miserable for you both if you know what you're doing and keep your attitude positive. |
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If you are trying to make your house clean and still pet-friendly, here are some purr-fect housekeeping tips. |
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Cat lovers are notoriously resistant to putting collars on their cats. Some get tired of replacing the ones their cats keep slipping off; other people are convinced their roaming cats will hang themselves. Both groups are taking chances with their pets' lives. |
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When you tell someone that you, as a supposedly mature, sane adult, have two rats as pets, you'll generally get one of two responses: revulsion, followed by a questioning of said supposed sanity, or delight, from those who once had rats as pets (usually when they were young) and still remember how much fun they are. |
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Cats need our help to live a healthy, long life, although they wouldn't deign to admit it to us. |
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This Fourth of July, as always, Americans will be enjoying the sights and sounds of fireworks. While we love the pyrotechnics, we need to remember our midsummer spectacular is no holiday for many of our pets. While we humans are oohing and aahing, too often our pets are frightened out of their wits. They'll spend the holiday under the bed (or in the basement) cowering, shaking, drooling and seeking safety and comfort. And it's not just on the Fourth of July: Both cats and dogs can panic at loud noises such as thunder and gunfire as well. |
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The Fourth of July is the ultimate summer holiday, a celebration not only of America's history and traditions, but also of family, food and fireworks fun. But while we may love our pyrotechnics, pet lovers always need to remember our midsummer spectacular is no holiday for many of our animal companions. |
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As summer approaches, we get a lot of questions about puppies from people who realize that this season is a great time for adding to the family. Long days, no school, warm weather -- what could be better? A few words of warning, though, if you're one of those people with a new summer pup: Don't let the season pass you by without putting some serious effort into raising the great dog you want your puppy to become.
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Happy Birthday, Chase. Your first year was wonderful, but Lord, I'm glad it's over. |
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It's part of nature's plan: Puppies are adorable to keep us from wanting to kill them at 3 a.m. when they need to go outside, or anytime when they're climbing the draperies, attacking our bare toes with needle-sharp baby teeth, or chewing up our favorite pair of shoes. |
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What's the healthiest diet for parrots? Despite a gradually building knowledge of avian nutritional needs, too many bird lovers think the answer is "seeds" -- to the detriment of their bird's health. |
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Instead of cloning Andy, I'd rather honor his memory by following the example of those who give to help other animals. |
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When other allergy triggers kick in, living with sneeze-triggering pets becomes even more problematic. That's why treating all your allergies aggressively will help make living with pets far easier when pollen is released in the spring. |
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There's nothing new or trendy about acupuncture, but the practice of it in veterinary medicine is anything but mainstream. It's part of a collection of healing techniques lumped together as "alternative" or "holistic," and traditionally not looked on with much favor in the nation's veterinary schools. In veterinary medicine, acupuncture is most often used on chronic health problems, not only pain but also chronic gastrointestinal disease, respiratory problems such as feline asthma, chronic skin conditions and kidney disease. |
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Trimming nails on dogs is often a hard-fought war, with bloody casualties on both sides. Because of that, many people leave the task to their groomer or veterinarian. But unless you're seeing these professionals a lot more than most people do, your pet's nails aren't being trimmed often enough. |
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Introducing cats is a delicate operation, with lots of pitfalls along the way. Some cats hide under the bed. Some stop using the litter box. Efforts to soothe others may be greeted with a hiss or a growl, or even a swipe with claws bared. |
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It was difficult not to notice Americans and their dogs at the show, the first one held since the U.K.'s new no-quarantine import laws were expanded to include U.S. and Canadian dogs. |
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If it's not illness or stress, you need to look at your own behavior. Are you asking something of your cat that's not possible for him to give? Your cat may not want to use the litter box if it's rarely cleaned, or is in a place with no privacy. Likewise, asking a cat to leave the couch alone is not fair if he has nothing else in the house to scratch. |
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Many people don't realize that an adult cat may be a better choice than a kitten. You know pretty well what you're getting with a grown cat -- activity level, sociability and health. Given time in a loving environment, a grown cat forms just as tight a bond with his new people as any kitten can. |
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The problem with placing adult cats, says a friend of mine who has found homes for dozens of them, is that everyone who wants a cat usually has one already. And many of the people who are in the market for a cat would rather start with a kitten. |
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Many people don't realize that an adult cat may, in many cases, be a better choice than a kitten. Sure, kittens are cute, but they also can be a bit of a trial as they grow up. They need extra time, extra training and extra tolerance for all those crazy things that kittens do. |
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Most of us end up with at least one animal that we did not plan to obtain. Sometimes animals we come into are simply not meant to stay and we must look for a new home. An adult cat is at a disadvantage, no longer being cute, playful, and small but placing an adult cat should not be as daunting after reading these tips. |
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Adult dogs make great pets, and there's certainly no shortage of them. Purebreds or mixed, dogs beyond the puppy stages can fit more easily into your household with less time and training than a youngster, and bond just as tightly. |
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The Air Transport Association estimates that more than a half a million dogs and cats are transported on commercial airlines each year, and 99 percent reach their destinations without incident. That's nice, but it's small consolation if your pet is in that remaining 1 percent. |
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Every year at this time I offer a list of the most common holiday hazards for pets: feeding problems, foreign-body ingestion and accidental poisoning. The bad news is that many pets will end up at the veterinarian's office this holiday season. The good news is that yours won't be among them if you keep an eye out for these hazards. |
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As common as anesthesia is in veterinary medicine, many misconceptions exist about its use, especially where older animals are concerned. |
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As common as anesthesia is, there are many misconceptions about its use and risks, especially where older animals are concerned. And only those who understand the procedure and risks can make intelligent decisions about their pets' care. |
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If the immense scope of the recent tragedy from Hurricane Katrina hasn't convinced everyone of the importance of disaster planning, I can't imagine what will. As relief and recovery efforts continue for humans and animals alike, those of us who are fortunate to have been spared this time around must make it a priority to prepare our entire family -- including our pets -- for potential calamity. What basics do you need to know? |
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When it comes to buying a dog, let the buyer beware. It is largely up to you to research the breed and its potential for genetic defects. It is your choice whether you buy based on a cute puppy face or objective information. |
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Skunk vs. Dog. It's not pretty. If your dog has gotten the smelly end of a skunk, then you know that you ought to keep this recipe close by. There is even a story behind it, too. |
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Anyone who has ever lived in a big city has seen dog walkers -- people who take pets out for a midday potty break while owners are at work. But a dog runner? While many a runner has a dog as a training partner, ultra-marathoner Bob Halpenny of Sacramento, Calif., may be forging new trails as an entrepreneur in the booming pet-services industry.
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A choke chain is a useful training tool but not an everyday collar. Use the choke collar for training and use it correctly. If you have taken the choke collar for granted, it is time to learn some respect for this tool. |
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You've probably heard of corporate law, contract law, family law, even entertainment law. Have you heard of animal law? |
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When it comes to breeding cats, in Roger Tabor's opinion, they would be better off if we left them largely alone to run their own affairs. |
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Is there an aggressive dog in your neighborhood -- or in your own yard? Learn what to teach your child. |
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Behavior problems lead to more pet euthanasia than any medical condition and many owners just are not sure where to turn for help. If you have a four-legged problem child, do not lose heart. |
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Some of the saddest letters I get are from people who are punishing or even contemplating ending the lives of formerly well-mannered pets with new behavior problems. So many of these pet lovers chalk up the changes to "spite" or some other offbeat reason while missing the most obvious reason of all: The pet is sick. Sometimes what pet lovers assume is a behavioral problem really isn't -- it's a medical problem, one that will be resolved only with proper diagnosis and treatment. |
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The owners of problem barkers seem to develop an ability to ignore the noise that has their neighbors thinking of legal action -- or maybe murder. But a dog who's barking constantly isn't having any more fun than the neighbors are, and you owe it to both your pet and those who can hear him to fix this problem.
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The trick to having a nice yard while being fair to your dog is to do what you can to eliminate the triggers for digging, make sure your dog is getting the exercise and attention he needs, and take your pet's natural tendencies into account when planning your outside space. |
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If you're going to teach your parrot to talk, you might want to think about what you want the bird to say. In other words, don't teach your bird anything you wouldn't want a small child or minister to hear. Many parrots can live a long time, and what might be funny in some situations definitely will not be appreciated in others. |
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Hardly a day goes by when there isn't a news story about a dog attack somewhere. When school starts, children may become especially vulnerable, walking and biking through their neighborhoods to class. And although in most cases the dog involved in a serious attack is the family's own, it's also true that many neighborhoods are not safe for walking or biking because of a dog. These animals are accidents waiting to happen because their owners either don't know or don't care that their dogs are a public menace. |
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Every year at this time we offer a list of the most common holiday hazards for pets: feeding problems, foreign-body ingestion and accidental poisoning. The bad news is that many pets will end up at the veterinarian's office this holiday season. The good news is that yours won't be among them if you keep an eye out for these hazards. |
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Can indoor cats really be happy? Cat lovers can -- and do -- maintain vehemently opposed opinions on this issue. But you can't disagree with the fact that the free-roaming life can be dangerous for a cat. Indoor cats are statistically likely to outlive free-roaming cats by about a decade. Compared to an existence filled with cars, coyotes, traps, poisons and cat-hating neighbors, the life of an indoor cat is relatively risk-free. |
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Sometimes the easiest way to distinguish between a good breeder and a bad one is to listen to how often each makes use of a single word: "no." |
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If your cat is hit or miss where the litter box is concerned, chances are the choices you've made factor into the problem. |
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Those who think Americans spend too much on their pets aren't going to be happy with the news that soon we'll be spending even more. But for the hundreds of manufacturers and thousands of retail buyers who turned up in Orlando, Fla., recently for one of the pet industry's biggest trade shows, the news is nothing but good. "I don't want to use the term recession-proof," said Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association Inc., at the group's annual Global Pet Expo. "But I will say this industry is resilient." |
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Avian veterinarians say that an all-seed diet is dangerous or even deadly over the long run for pet birds. Instead, the prevailing wisdom from avian experts is to feed the popular pet parrots, from budgies to macaws, a base diet of top-quality commercial pellets supplemented by a wide variety of healthy "people food." |
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Every year in the fall, I devote space to one of my highest priorities as a pet-care columnist: preventing dog bites, especially attacks on children. Many people imagine that the biggest threat to their child's safety is an attack by some vicious neighborhood dog and that the risk increases when children start walking to school in the fall. And while it's true those random attacks do happen (and are all over the news when they do), the fact remains that in most cases, children are bitten by dogs they know, animals belonging to family or friends. |
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Every year about a thousand people a day turn up in emergency rooms with dog bites, from pets of all sizes, shapes, breeds and mixes. Many of these bites could have been prevented, with some parental guidance and care beforehand. How can parents help dogs and children to get along? |
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Dedicated volunteers do the same thing every yea and bottle-feed orphaned or abandoned kittens. The bottle-raisers range from young people who'll likely raise a couple kittens once at most to seasoned old hands who've each saved dozens if not hundreds of kittens over decades of volunteering. Many of the staff at veterinary clinics and hospitals also donate their time to bottle-raise orphans, and so do countless veterinary students.
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Every time I drive the 16 miles from our ranch to my hometown in northern Idaho, I pass dogs who are chained to a tree, a doghouse or just to a stake driven into the ground. Make no mistake: These aren't the pets of loving, responsible owners who want to make sure they're safe when unsupervised, so they secure them temporarily. These dogs are imprisoned within the chain's radius for their entire lives. |
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Never heard of breed rescue groups before? These groups represent volunteer rescuers committed to a specific breed that they are interested in. They assist with placement as well as with lost pets. |
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Looking for a purebred puppy? There are breeders who know what they are doing and there are breeders, well, let's just say there are other breeders. What makes the difference? |
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Why get a pet if you don't want a pet in your life? I have often wondered this as I walk my dogs down streets lined with fences behind which lonely outdoor dogs bark as we go by. The experts say many of these dogs will never really bond with owners who interact with them so little. When the puppy is no longer cute and the children grow tired of the care they promised to provide, when the destructiveness escalates or the neighbors complain about the noise, it's often just easier to dump the dog than solve the problem. |
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These days, many pet lovers respond to the idea of brushing their pets' teeth not with surprise, but with guilt. "I know I should brush my pet's teeth, but I don't because my cat won't put up with it," they say. Or they don't have time, or they forget. |
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Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes can make our pets itch and scratch. But did you know that each one of these pests can transmit serious diseases to your pets -- and to you as well? Once in full bloom, a flea infestation can be extremely difficult to eradicate. And what about mosquitoes? |
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Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes can make our pets itch and scratch. But did you know that each one of these pests can transmit serious diseases to your pets -- and to you as well?
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The incident got on my nerves because it exemplifies everything that's wrong about children's pets. In a word: parents. If parents aren't going to behave like grown-ups and make sensible, responsible decisions, the wonderful promise that is a children's pet too often ends miserably, both for the child and for the animal. With Easter just around the corner, it's time to remind people that although pets can be wonderful for children, it's up to adults to see that any animal is a proper fit for the family and is not neglected. |
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Given what bunnies need to stay active, these fluffy, nose-twitching animals are affectionate and engaging pets. Kept in a barren cage or hutch and deprived of exercise and mental stimulation, however, they're not just boring, they're bored -- not to mention unhappy and unhealthy.
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Cabin fever can be the bane of an indoor cat's existence, but it doesn't have to be that way. You don't have to open the door to the great outdoors to provide your cat with a more interesting life. In fact, by just looking at your home from a cat's point of view and adding a few environmental enrichments, your cat can be both safe and happy indoors. Here are five easy ways to get going. |
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For more than a quarter-century, pet owners have turned to the "Home Veterinary Handbook" series when faced with questions about pet illnesses and injuries. Fortunately, newly updated and revised editions of both of these classic reference books were released in the last few months, authored by a team of four veterinarians led by Dr. Debra Eldredge. |
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Emergencies always seem to happen on holiday weekends, don't they? You're having a great time and suddenly your pet seems ill. Is he sick enough for a trip to the emergency clinic? No one wants to see a pet in pain or in danger. But every day, people spend money they didn't need to for emergency clinic trips they didn't have to make. |
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Are pets on your list of New Year's resolutions? They should be, along with plans for making the world a little bit better not only for your own animals, but also for others in need. With this in mind, we're again sharing some of the best ideas of our readers. Although problems can seem overwhelming, especially when it comes to animal cruelty or homeless pets, the fact is that every little bit helps. After all, if every one of us animal lovers did one small thing a couple of times a year, the total effort would be grand indeed.
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If you have ever, even for a moment, been afraid of your dog or what he might do, you need help, whether you realize it or not. Is your dog potentially dangerous? |
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The phrase "Beware of Dog" is so old that its Latin equivalent -- cave canem -- has been found on signs in Roman ruins. The word "watchdog" isn't quite so old; the first mention of it is by Shakespeare, in "The Tempest." Dogs have always gone to war, serving as everything from spike-collared attack forces to munitions haulers, from messengers to modern-day sentries and bomb- and drug-sniffers. The dogs really stepped up in World War I, when more than 15,000 of them served as guard dogs, messengers, sentries and rat-killers for Allied forces. |
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A friendly, well-mannered dog is a pleasure to keep and an asset to the community. To put it simply, Canine Good Citizens are good dogs. |
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The best way to get a puppy is to plan. Consider carefully where the puppy came from and how it was raised. A reputable breeder presents a method here for socialization and what you should look for when it is your turn to pick from the litter. |
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Is air travel safe for pets? While no one can guarantee a trouble-free trip, the good news is that the vast majority of pets get where they're going in fine shape. Even better news: Careful planning on your pet's behalf will help make things go even more smoothly. |
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Giving oral medication to a cat can be more frightening than the latest Wes Craven film. Success is all about knowing what you are doing. This article is a must for those who lack confidence in this seemingly treacherous task. |
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With car companies struggling for sales in a tough economy, it's no surprise that two of them are chasing buyers that have so far proven willing to keep spending when they can: pet lovers. |
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Cat collars and tags are inexpensive insurance against loss. And as for the danger of being collared, humane officials insist your cat is more at risk for being lost and never returned than being hanged by a collar.
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Ever feel like the doorman in your own home? A cat door will let your fussy feline get the door himself. You can screen in a porch or even area outside a window so your cat can go out without going into the wild world. Sometimes some training is needed to explain the concept to a cautious cat. |
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Sure, you love your cat, but how much do you know about our favorite pets? Test yourself with a short quiz to see if you're a true feline fancier. A cat who's getting agitated to the point of lashing out while being petted will often have a tail that does what? Which are not good places for petting? What is a cat's normal body temperature? |
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Adding another cat to your home? Introducing a second cat to the household is a time when patience is never more important. |
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Introducing cats is a delicate operation, with many pitfalls along the way. Some resident cats hide under the bed when a new cat or kitten is introduced. Some stop using the litter box. Efforts to soothe others may be greeted with a hiss or a growl, or even a swipe with claws bared. |
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A cat show is a rare opportunity to see dozens of beautifully groomed cats, not only of the more common breeds, but also some of the rarest in the world. If you love cats, you'll find spending a couple of hours at a cat show to be interesting, educational and just plain delightful. Bring your natural curiosity and your love of cats, and you can have a wonderful time. Here are a few tips to make the visit more comfortable and productive. |
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If you love cats, you'll find spending a couple of hours at a cat show to be interesting, educational and just plain delightful. But there are a few rules you should expect to follow! |
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Classically dogs chase cats and cats hate dogs. In reality, cats and dogs frequently share homes with little friction. If you are planning on mixing species and aren't sure how to go about it or if your mixed species pets are having roommate issues already, read this article. |
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Although the indoor life is far safer for cats and is gaining favor among cat lovers, household confinement does have some hazards, and plants are certainly among them. |
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Over the years, my friend has cared for plenty of houseplants and cats. Her secrets to success: Give the cats some plants of their own and make the other plants less attractive. And don't sweat the occasional chewed leaves or knocked-over pot. |
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Our lovingly spoiled and mostly domesticated former hunters get food served to them these days, often in fancy bowls. But that doesn't mean they've lost the senses their wild kin rely on to survive. |
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The very reason our ancestors first decided they wanted cats around is used today in arguing against allowing any cats to roam freely: They hunt, efficiently.
The predatory skill cats brought to eliminating rodents in grain storage is now argued to be a danger to endangered species and prized songbirds. That's another good reason for keeping pet cats inside, but what to do with the ferals -- pets gone wild and their unsocialized offspring? |
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Cat lovers are a special breed. For those of us who love the cat's fierce independence, tempered by the ability to adopt us as family -- and I am one of these, owned by five cats -- here are some behavior tips for cats. |
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It's easy to see why cats are such popular pets. Unlike dogs, they don't need to be walked, usually come litter-box trained by their mothers and rarely dig huge holes in the yard -- or bite the letter carrier. Unfortunately, in a lot of people's minds this translates into "Cats need absolutely no care and exist just to sit on my lap and purr while I watch TV." Instead of living the challenging life of a hunter, our cats have food delivered to them on a predictable schedule. We rarely do anything to make up for their lack of mental stimulation, and we consider their natural behaviors, such as scratching and nocturnal play, to be behavior problems.
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Hardly a day goes by when there isn't a news story about a dog attack somewhere. When school starts, children may become especially vulnerable, walking and biking through their neighborhoods to class. To be fair, dogs aren't the biggest risk that children face growing up. Organized sports, for example, are 10 times more likely to result in a child's trip to the emergency room than are dogs. Make sure your children know how to behave around dogs to protect themselves. |
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Fall is my favorite season, and I think it's my pets' favorite, too. They all seem to perk up as the evenings get cooler and the days seem to gently warn of the colder days to come. I love walking the dogs as the leaves are turning along the river parkway near our home, watching my little pack as they lift their noses to track the changes in the air. But even as I'm enjoying the crispness and beauty of fall, I'm aware that it means winter is around the corner, and with it, an awareness of seasonal challenges for our pets. |
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The list of ways dogs have helped humans throughout history is almost endless. They've guarded livestock, herded sheep, driven cattle and protected human dwellings from castles to condos. Dogs assist people with disabilities, sniff out illegal drugs and find food from birds to truffles. From detecting heart attacks and seizures before they happen to dragging drowning people to safety, it's hard to imagine any form of technology that could surpass the uncountable number of ways in which dogs lend us a helping paw. |
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Do you contribute to animal related charities? Before donating, find out where the money really goes! |
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I don't write about gifts for pets because, unlike children, pets won't be brokenhearted if they're not given a present over the holidays. And because the money and time people spend finding pointless gifts their pets don't care about could be used to help animals in need. It's easy to help: Give a holiday gift to your local shelter. |
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As I write this in Northern California, it's daylight, but the sun is obscured by the smoke from hundreds of wildfires. Countless families have evacuated their homes or stand ready to, along with their animals. As I write this, I wonder again: Am I ready for a levee break, living as I do near the confluence of two great rivers? Am I ready for an earthquake? |
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When your pet is lost, a tag is practically tantamount to bus fare home. The tag is so simple that it is taken for granted and can easily be lost. |
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Got kids? Got dogs? Can you tell a hazard when you see one? Do you know what hazards your children must walk past on their way to school? Do your children know what to do if attacked by a dog? |
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A reader asks "Why are so many "experts" trash-talking choke chains?" |
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No matter how much your children want one, the holidays are just about the worst time possible for most families to get a dog. |
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Pet hair isn't my only worry. In my house, I'm constantly fighting paw prints, chewed-up bits of this or that as well as things dragged in, thrown up, or otherwise deposited on previously clean surfaces. Heather the retriever has been digging her own swimming hole in the yard for a couple of years now, and thinks it's perfectly appropriate to come in covered with dirt and trot down the hall to take a nap on the bed ... my bed. |
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While the dogs are my biggest challenge when it comes to maintaining a clean house, the truth is that I'm not the neatest person in the world, either. I admit that over the years I've needed a housekeeper to help keep my home reasonably clean. I'm so awed by those people who manage to have pets and a clean home. Like reader Kaye Holden, who wrote in to share one of her cleaning tips. |
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Pets don't try to hold it, move to a more discrete area or blame it on their human family. It's usually no secret when a pet passes gas and commits a four-pawed faux pas. They don't giggle with embarrassment or blush. Intestinal gas is just a natural part of digestion, after all, however funny we humans may find it. |
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When Dr. Helen Hamilton of Fremont, Calif., noticed an upswing in very sick puppies coming into her veterinary practice, she started asking her clients where they got their pets. They were coming from the Internet. But when Hamilton and her staff went to the source of some Internet puppies, what she discovered horrified her. "There were dogs with no eyes, dogs missing ears, dogs with old, untended bite wounds and cage wire injuries," she said. "We saw, over two days, two different females in labor go on the auction block." |
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One of the most exciting developments in dog training in recent years has been the widespread use of a little piece of plastic and metal known as a clicker. The clicker first became used in training dolphins and whales at marine parks, and is now common in other kinds of animal training as well. |
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Like professional wedding photographers, photographers specializing in pets have experiences and skills that set them apart when capturing the essence of their subjects. As with selecting a wedding photographer, choosing someone to take an artistic portrait of your pet requires some research to achieve a lifetime of satisfaction. |
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When you're looking for an easy way to train your pet, it doesn't get much better than clicker training. The no-force technique works on animals of all sizes, ages and abilities. And that's true of the people who would administer clicker training, since it doesn't require strength or much coordination on the part of the trainer. Best of all: It's fun for trainer and pet alike. |
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The best thing you can do to keep your bird with you is to make sure that flight feathers are regularly trimmed. Trimmed wings also protect birds from potentially lethal indoor hazards, such as flying into ceiling fans or pots of boiling water. |
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Keeping a cat inside reduces the risk of an early death from accident or disease, and it's also more considerate of your neighbors. Indoor cats also can't prey on native birds and small animals. But when we keep cats from roaming, we take away a large part of what makes them happy, which means we need to put in "environmental enrichments" to make up for the loss. |
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We all know of the dogs who work actively to serve us -- those who help in law enforcement, those who find victims after a disaster, or those who assist people with disabilities. These animals perform an invaluable service, without a doubt. A less active and perhaps less lauded form of service is done by other dogs, often trained and handled by dedicated volunteers. These dogs do their duty by sitting quietly, by listening, by offering undivided attention and unconditional love to people who need it most -- those isolated by illness or struggling with tragedy. |
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We're not sure that cats miss the litter box more in the winter, but we do seem to hear about the problems more at this time of year. While diseases such as diabetes often factor into litter box problems, when the weather is cold, it's a cat's arthritis that may be worsened. Veterinarians know that arthritis is underdiagnosed in cats, largely because owners write off the symptoms as "just old age." And on the human side, we suspect that when the weather turns colder and houses close up for warmth, every little thing starts to annoy us -- like the smell of the litter box, or (worse) the smell of a cat who's not using the litter box at all.
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It doesn't take much to keep your pet out of trouble this holiday season, if you use just a little common sense. Instead of seeing your veterinarian in person with a sick pet in tow, send a card! |
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Most dog lovers know that having a dog park is a privilege, hard-won and still considered experimental by many public officials. |
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In January, the magic of Christmas wears off quickly. The bills come, the decorations must be hauled down and put away, and if you're among those who adopted a puppy, you're now wondering: How soon will this baby be house-trained? |
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The change in pet potential from the wild-caught birds of yesterday to the hand-raised birds of today is dramatic. Well-socialized birds from reputable breeders and bird shops can be delightful pets who truly do become members of the family. For many of these pets, cages are where they stay at night, nothing more. To achieve the full potential of a properly raised parrot, however, you need to set the right tone from the first. |
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What many people don't realize is that training is a way of communicating with your dog, of sharing a common language. The more you teach your dog, the more you both will get out of your relationship. Training will also make your dog a better companion, because he'll become more confident and secure, and more comfortable and trusting in your leadership. |
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She has her work cut out for her every time she picks up the phone. Some problems can be fixed, she knows, while others cannot. |
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In recent months the worsening economy has had us all tightening our budgets. Pet lovers are no exception, and although our animals provide us with comfort and companionship during difficult times, there's no doubt that many people are looking to make sure they're getting the most "bang for their buck" when it comes to caring for their pets. The most important advice we can offer you is to focus on prevention. |
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I am dead-set against declawing kittens -- in case they might one day scratch -- nor do I believe the procedure should ever be the first option when faced with a destructive cat. But I'm also realistic enough to know that in a battle of spouses over shredded furniture, declawing may be the only thing between a cat and a trip to a shelter. |
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When it comes to the raging controversy over declawing cats, it's important to remember that sometimes the choice comes down something this simple: What's better? |
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While you can't completely turn a "skitty kitty" into a lazy lap-cat, you can do a lot to tame a feisty feline -- if you're patient and educate yourself in the basics of cat body language before you start. |
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We still hear people say they don't think teeth cleaning is worth the risk or expensive of general anesthesia. We also find about one pet owner in a hundred is brushing their pet's teeth. It should seem pretty clear that a pet's teeth would require the same care as our own. What do you need to know? |
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The problem with the "animals vs. people" debate heard after any sort of disaster is that it misses the point. For all the many reasons why animals need to be taken care of as part of disaster planning and rescue operations, perhaps the most compelling is this one: If you don't plan for pets, people will die. |
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Disaster preparedness is so easy to let slide. We get all worked up after something like the 9/11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina or even a false alarm like the turn of the century's perceived threat to our computer systems. We read up, we stock up, we move on. And then, we forget. In a pinch, we take the can opener out of the emergency kit and don't replace it. We rotate the food and water into our kitchen cupboards, but we don't buy anything new to rotate into the supplies in the garage. It's human nature, of course, to react to immediate threats and to put off preparing for something that might never happen. |
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In recent years, cat lovers have been horrified by reports of deadly tumors caused by something that's supposed to save the lives of their pets -- routine vaccinations. Unfortunately the disease called vaccine-associated feline sarcoma, or feline vaccine-site sarcoma, is more than a rumor, and it has claimed the lives of many cats. |
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Can a pet lover really have fresh vegetables, bright flowers and lovely landscaping sharing the yard with dogs? Yes, you can. I turned to Cheryl S. Smith, a dog trainer and avid gardener, and author of the landmark landscaping guide "Dog Friendly Gardens, Garden Friendly Dogs."
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Do you pause when a black cat crosses your path? I sometimes do, and then I laugh at myself for being influenced by such a silly old myth, even for a second. But that's the funny thing about cats -- more than any other domestic animal, they are the subject of countless myths, legends and old wives' tales. While some stories about cats are harmless, others are too dangerous not to debunk. Here, from my archives, are some stubborn old myths about cats -- and the facts to counter them. |
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If you're buying a purebred puppy, you need to find a reputable breeder. I simply can't stress this enough. If you don't make that effort, you may end up dealing with expensive health problems caused by poor breeding and vexing behavior problems brought on by a lack of socialization and by unsanitary kennel conditions. |
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Summer is a wonderful time to be a dog or to have a dog. The long days offer lots of opportunity to get some exercise, shake up the routine and try something new that will strengthen the bond for both of you. If everything checks out after a veterinary visit, get moving! Here are some ideas. |
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The term "dog days" has more to do with astrology and the constellation Sirius than with our canine companions here on Earth. Still, we thought we'd celebrate the warm dog days of summer by offering up some cool facts. |
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Time magazine called The Bark "the New Yorker for dog lovers." Oprah calls it a "must read." Famous writers and illustrators are delighted to be asked for contributions. The Bark is an award-winning magazine that stands out in the pet category like a red-spotted Dalmatian at a dog show. |
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The mechanics of dog training aren't difficult, after all, and it's not as if there aren't a million books, videotapes, seminars and training classes available. And yet most people end up with a dog who's "sort of" trained -- not very trained at all, in other words. Why do so many of us end up with ill-behaved dogs? |
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Last week, I offered a short quiz for cat lovers. In the interest of fairness, I've pulled out a few questions for dog lovers. How well do you know our canine companions? How early can a puppy be spayed or neutered? What breed was the most popular before the Labrador Retriever? What do terriers get their name from? |
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Gardeners are already thinking of spring. And if you are a dog lover who also dreams of a beautiful yard, take heart: Dogs and lush gardens aren't mutually exclusive. But you can't just plant whatever you want where you want it and throw a bored, unsupervised dog into the mix. Instead, plan your yard to take your dog into account, and mind your dog's needs to get him to leave the plants alone. |
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Adopting an adult dog from a shelter is a wonderful thing to do. But sometimes people are hesitant to try it because they worry their new pet won't be reliable in the house and can't be made so because of the myth that "old dogs can't learn new tricks." If you're stalling on adoption or are already struggling with an adult dog who doesn't seem to "get it," take heart: You can teach an adult dog to do his business outside.
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As much as people love spending time with their dogs, it's should be no surprise that many will figure out any way possible to keep from leaving them home when it's time to go to work. While no one knows for sure how many businesses allow dogs, Pet Sitters International, which promotes the annual "Take Your Dog to Work Day," says the trend is small but growing. |
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As the days grow shorter and the nights grow colder, you may observe something that seems odd for a body preparing for winter: Your dog is shedding more than usual. But rest assured, it's perfectly normal. |
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The longer a behavior problem persists, the longer it will take to solve. Do not let your pet think doing the wrong thing is all right by doing nothing to change the behavior. Why wait to have a well-behaved pet? |
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Summer is the time when we enjoy our yards the most -- or would, if our dogs hadn't pulled up the shrubs, sat on the flowers, dug holes in the lawn and left yellow spots everywhere.
But it doesn't have to be that way. While it takes planning, work and dog-savvy, you can have a dog and a nice yard. |
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I am a chronic law breaker when it comes to exercising my dogs, and oh, do I wish I didn't have to be. In this, I'm not alone: A massive underground of determined dog lovers trades information on places to run our dogs off-leash with the least chance of being ticketed. Believe me, we'd rather be legit -- so give us legal opportunities for off-leash recreation. |
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Giving to charity is a beautiful act but often we have only limited resources available for others. We get pleas for help in the mail from a myriad of good causes but remember, if you love animals, there are plenty of areas where you can help and groups you can contribute to. |
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If birds love seeds -- and most crave them -- doesn't it follow that they should be eating what they want? Avian veterinarians are pretty consistent in arguing against seeds these days. An all-seed diet will make most birds sick over time, the experts say. |
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Many of these dogs are loving pets ... "except." Except around children. Except around men. Except around their food dish or toys. Except when accidentally cornered. Those who love and share their lives with these dogs often try to avoid situations that seem to trigger aggressive behavior, but they worry that trying to manage an aggressive dog may not be enough. With good reason: It often isn't. |
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No purchase is more important when you get a parrot than the cage. The cage is where your parrot will spend time when you're not home, when the family is sleeping, or when you can't pay attention to your pet.
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If you have a dog who urinates when you scold him or greet him, chances are you are not dealing with a house-training problem. Rather, your dog is exhibiting a behavior the experts call "submissive urination" -- and you'll need a positive, no-punishment approach to get your pup to dry up. |
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Big sports-utility vehicles have been the dog-haulers of choice for years, along with minivans. But with gas prices so high, SUV sales are stalled as people look for smaller vehicles. If you can't fit your St. Bernard comfortably into a Smart Car, are there still choices for you? You bet.
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Many dogs enjoy swimming as much as people do, and cool times in the local swimming spot or backyard pool are one of the best parts of summer. But you have to look out for your pet around water, since even the strongest, most enthusiastic swimmers can get into trouble. The keys to water safety for dogs: prevention, preparedness and awareness. |
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Our bodies are built to heal, and given the right opportunities, they usually do. We are constantly confronting a dizzying array of pathogens. If we are healthy, we have a good chance of fending off these disease-causing agents. Our normal defense mechanisms keep our body's systems humming happily. This is as true in pets as it is in people. |
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The trend toward keeping cats indoors is generally a good one, but many cat lovers resist because they know instinctively that an indoor life probably wouldn't be what a cat would choose for himself. After all, who would want to be kept cooped up when the wide world offers so much in the way of sights, smells and sounds? |
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Every year huge numbers of adorable baby rabbits go to new homes for Easter, along with chicks and ducklings by the thousands. And that's bad news for the vast majority of these babies. |
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One of my favorite sayings comes to mind every year when I think of those who are considering buying their children pets for Easter: Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as important to the child as it is to the caterpillar. |
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People flip over puppies, but to us, a well-loved older dog is one of the most beautiful creatures on earth. An older dog has a nobleness, a look in the eyes that speaks of years of the special love that only a pet can give -- trusting, nonjudgmental and unwaveringly true. |
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The number of people who travel with their dogs is growing, and so too are the options for pets on the road. From "ruffing it" at campgrounds to enjoying fabulous four-star hotels, the time has never been better to pack your pet and go. Still, traveling with a dog is no picnic sometimes. The travel industry wants to help, that's for sure. |
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Traveling with a dog is no picnic sometimes. Finding lodgings can be difficult, luxurious inside dining is largely sacrificed in favor of eating takeout in the car or a park, and spending hours tripping through quaint shops becomes a thing of the past when a dog is waiting. Traveling with dogs offers some challenges, but nearly all are surmountable with common sense and creativity. |
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Anyone who has ever pulled out a credit card at the emergency clinic for something that wasn't as dire as it seemed comes away wishing for a better knowledge of what constitutes an urgent situation -- and what doesn't. But as big an "ouch" as a non-emergency can be to the budget, it's a lot better than the opposite situation: an emergency that goes untreated until it's too late for your pet.
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To keep your cat healthy, you must be able to recognize what is normal for your pet so you can tell when something isn't right. Changes in appetite, drinking habits, litter-box routines, grooming, and even a change in the sound of your cat's voice can all mean trouble -- and should mean a trip to the veterinarian. |
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Moving is tough on families, pets included. The key to moving pets is to keep them secure before and during the move, and settle them safely and quickly into a routine after. |
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Puppies need to relieve themselves after they wake up, eat or drink, or after a period of play, and most prefer to do it away from their eating and sleeping areas. Use this knowledge to set up a schedule for molding proper behavior, with a pet carrier (also known as a crate) for your training tool. |
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What would happen to your pets if something happened to you? For your pet's sake, it's a question you ought to be asking now. |
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In 40-plus years of sharing my life with pets, I've been bitten twice, both times by my own dogs. In each case the perpetrator was attempting to settle a dispute with another canine family member when a sharp tooth nicked my flesh as I tried to end the argument. |
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With school having started, I like to remind parents that they need to teach their children how to handle dogs. Never approach a loose dog; "be a tree;" "feed" the dog a jacket or bookpack; be a "log" if knocked down. |
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How fortunate for my furry housemates that I learned long ago that mental exercise can be satisfying to bored, bounce-off-the-wall pups on days when an outing isn't possible. Most breeds were developed to work, and few dogs today are asked to. Giving them a job to do is good for them, and they like it. |
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Your dog barks non-stop. Your dog digs, ruining your yard. Your dog chews anything he can get his teeth on. What's missing from this picture? Chances are, it's exercise. |
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After talking with a friend, I pointed out that her concept of how much time it takes to raise a puppy was not based in reality. With work, school and all the sports and other activities in which the children were involved, the family was never home, and I warned her that if she went forward, her puppy plan would likely not turn out well. |
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The first thing you need to know about this problem: Feather-picking is a symptom of something else that's wrong with your bird. The only hope you have of "curing" feather-picking is finding out and treating what's behind the behavior. |
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It takes a lot for a new pet product to reduce me to staring in amazement, but the new CatGenie managed to do exactly that. The automatic cat box does it all -- removes the waste, disposes of it through the sewer system, rinses the non-absorbent filler clean, and then dries itself before resetting. At last month's Global Pet Expo in San Diego, I stood and gawked at the thing as it went through its cycle. And again. And again. |
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We now know more than ever before about our cats. But a surprising amount of information that's just plain wrong still hangs about in our culture and, worse, keeps popping up as true, and so passes on anew. Anyone who has ever said goodbye to a cherished companion knows cats don't have nine lives, but some of the other things we think we know about cats sure seem to have at least that many lives. |
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What do you know about cats? A little mystery can be a wonderful thing, but sometimes misinformation can be deadly. Here are a few enduring myths and the facts to counter them - and no, cats are not dangerous around babies. |
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The cat has been worshipped as a god, vilified as a demon and is treasured as a companion today. Despite all that change, the cat is not much altered in form or temperament. Cats are pretty much the same as when they first chose to associate with our kind. Even though cats have shared our lives for countless generations, there's still a lot we don't know about them, and a lot we think we know about them that's wrong. Here are a few enduring myths and the facts to counter them. |
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Keeping cats inside offers so many advantages. Protected from the hazards of cars, predators and infectious disease, a cat is likely to live longer when not allowed to roam. It's more neighborly, too, since a free-roaming cat isn't going to be using the flower bed next door as a litter box. But an indoor life is not without challenges, and one of the main ones is obesity-related health problems. Fat cats are more likely to become diabetic, more likely to have problems keeping themselves clean and more likely to have difficulty moving comfortably. |
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At the first touch of cat massage, a transformation begins. Pushing against the caressing bristles, Bo starts to purr, almost reluctantly. The tenseness in his face slowly disappears as he melts into a puddle of pure feline bliss. |
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Cats like places more than they like people, right?
Wrong. Your cat would rather be with you, no matter where you move to. But if you handle the days before and after moving day improperly, you're at a real risk of losing your cat. That's why it's important to take some time to do it right.
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Do you pause when a black cat crosses your path? Even pet experts sometimes do, and then laugh for being influenced by such a silly old myth, even for a second. But that's the funny thing about cats -- more than any other domestic animal, they are the subject of countless myths, legends and old wives' tales. While some stories about cats are harmless, others are too dangerous not to debunk. Here, from our archives, are some stubborn old myths about cats -- and the facts to counter them.
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It's not a mystery that caressing a purring cat is a pleasurable experience -- it'll even lower your blood pressure. But what is a mystery, strangely enough, is the mechanics of purring itself. In short: -- or even all the reasons why. The most common explanation of the source is that a purr originates in the voice box, with what are called the "vestibular folds," or false vocal cords. |
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The Cats' House, as it's known, has been 15 years in the development, outliving several of the cats who inspired the renovations. It's a work in progress still, but no matter what else, the home is a true feline paradise. Catwalks hang from most of the ceilings, cutting through walls so the feline residents can continue their room-to-room travels without descending. Floor-to-ceiling climbing posts and clever cat-sized staircases provide access to the overheads. For the shy cat, nooks and crannies abound. |
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When the weather warms up, so does feline romance. That soon means kittens who need new homes are suddenly everywhere. But with so many to choose from, how can you decide which one fits with your personality and lifestyle?
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When is an outdoor cat not an outdoor cat? When he is confined to an outdoor cat area similar to the flight cages some zoos use to house flying birds. Ths could be the addition to your home that your cat has been looking forward to. |
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The prisons are full of violent criminals who became hardened to cruelty by seeing it perpetrated on animals, and then by practicing on animals themselves before moving on to people. Further, some of history's most infamous mass murderers -- Ted Bundy, Albert DeSalvo and Jeffrey Dahmer among them -- honed their "skills" on animals first.
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Cancer is the most common natural cause of death in dogs in the United States and Canada. And while the diagnosis is one that every pet lover dreads, the fact is that canine cancer is more treatable than ever before. Even better: Veterinarians now know more about what steps can be taken to help prevent the dreaded disease. |
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The problem with placing adult cats, says a friend of mine who has found homes for dozens of them, is that everyone who wants a cat usually has one already. And many of the people would rather start with a kitten. That's a shame on both counts. Most cats enjoy the company of others of their own kind, especially if left alone inside all day while the family is at work or school. An adult cat can often ease into a household more quickly, and without the sometimes over-the-top behavior of an energetic youngster.
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A reader asks "What would be the best place to meet veterinarians? I'm not kidding: I want to marry a vet." |
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This week, the cats have their turn, with tips from "The Ultimate Cat Lover." Each "must know" piece in the book has been developed with the help of one of the top experts in each area of expertise, and these experts are noted at the end of each tip. |
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If there's one parrot problem that has both bird owners and veterinarians pulling out their own hair in frustration, it would have to be feather-picking, a bird's willful destruction of his own plumage. The first thing you need to know about this problem: Feather-picking is a symptom of something else that's wrong with your bird. The only hope you have of "curing" feather-picking is finding out and treating what's behind the behavior. |
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Like many a human in mid- to late-middle age, my retriever Heather finds it easy to put on weight. Despite an active lifestyle -- at age 9, she's still good for two hours of nonstop hiking and swimming -- she tends to put on a pound or two during the winter, when her activity levels drop along with my own. Heather is not alone. Even as physicians report with alarm that our weight averages are increasing, veterinarians are noticing the same with our pets. Dogs and cats are getting larger for the same reason people are: too much food and not enough exercise. |
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When it comes to parrots, too many people get in over their heads, choosing a pet who's too large, too loud, too expensive and, ultimately, too much to handle. Parrots are wonderful pets, although they are much more work than many realize. Before you fall in love with a parrot who's not a good fit for you, consider a few species who may fit the bill better. |
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The house cat is required to be a perfect citizen despite his natural tendencies to scratch, mark territory, hunt, and engage in other feline frolicking. It's all about communicating in a language that cats can understand. |
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Here's a rule to remember with feline aggression: Never, ever hit your cat. Fear and pain can cause a cat to lash out. The best way to deal with a scared cat is to let him be, while a sick cat needs a veterinarian. But most times what we see as "meanness" in a cat is just part of being a cat. You can change this behavior, but only if you understand what's behind it and react properly. |
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Every year at this time we seem to get a little extra bounce in our step, and our pets do, too. But even as we're enjoying the brisk beauty of fall, we need to remember it means winter is around the corner, and with it, an awareness of seasonal challenges for our pets.
That's why we're focusing here on how to enjoy the season, but also how to prepare pets for what's to come next -- winter.
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With all the pets I've had in my life, you'd think I'd have seen just about everything. And for the most part, that's true. But there's one thing I haven't dealt with because I've been both careful and lucky. I've never had a pet go missing for good. I've come close a couple of times. |
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This week and next, we're pulling out some of the best "must know" information from our just-released books, "The Ultimate Dog Lover" and "The Ultimate Cat Lover." Each "must know" piece in the book has been developed with the help of one of the top experts in each area of expertise, and these experts are noted at the end of each tip. This week we look at dogs. |
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The quality of pet health books just took a grand leap upward with the publication of two pairs of references that coincidentally manage to complement each other beautifully. |
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Grass awns may be a regional problem but there are still people in the South West who do not know what foxtails are and what they do. Anyone who owns a dog in the South West U.S. should become familiar with foxtails and know what to look for. |
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Are your pets on your list of New Year's resolutions? They should be, along with plans for making the world a little bit better not only for your animals, but also for others in need. Although problems can seem overwhelming, especially when it comes to animal cruelty or homeless pets, the fact is that every little bit helps. After all, if every one of us animal lovers did one small thing a couple of times a year, the total effort would be grand indeed. |
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It may seem odd, but there's a parallel between abductions and dog attacks. Most children who are victimized aren't randomly selected; they're attacked by a person or dog known to them. Just as an abductor is more likely to be someone known to the child -- an estranged parent, say -- a dog involved in a serious attack is more likely to be an animal the child knows, kept by the family, a friend or a relative. |
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A few years ago a friend gave me a T-shirt that had on it an expression in French: "J'embrasse mon chien sur la bouche." Translated, it means, "I kiss my dog on the lips," but the design didn't help anyone guess that. Total strangers would ask me to explain. And over the handful of years before I wore out the garment, I noticed a big difference in the reactions to the translation. |
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Holidays are anything but fun for many pets. While we humans love the change in routine, the parties, the guests and the decorations, our furred and feathered family members too often find the disruptions disturbing -- and sometimes dangerous. Like all holidays, Halloween is not without its hazards. The two biggest problems are injuries and poisoning -- and animal emergency clinics traditionally see plenty of both. |
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Fun feline facts from "MeowWow: Curiously Compelling Facts, True Tales & Trivia Even Your Own Cat Won't Know". |
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Law of the Well-Placed Pet Mess: No matter how large the floor, pet-related organic matter will always be placed where a human being is most likely to plant a bare foot. |
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They don't purr like a cat or fetch like a dog. They have neither soft fur nor pleading eyes. But for a lot of people, reptiles and amphibians are perfect pets. But which of these pets is best for a beginner? Iguanas are popular but are not suitable for any but the most dedicated of pet lovers. |
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For us, pet-related trivia seems to hold endless fascination. We collect it, we share it from our homes a thousand miles apart, and we file it. Because, well, you never know when pulling out that file will remind you of something you're been meaning to write about. Cat got your tongue? |
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There's no doubt vacation travel has gone to the dogs ... and the cats as well. The recent request for travel stories brought them in by the scores. What a change! When I was growing up as a typical baby boomer, with family vacations spent in our hot station wagon, our dog was never allowed in hotels -- he slept in the car on the road. Nowadays, not only are pets welcome, but some places also provide room service. |
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Parrots have become increasingly popular as pets in recent years, and too many of the people who are drawn to their beauty are unaware of the challenges of keeping an animal only a generation or two removed from the wild. |
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Your dog barks nonstop. Your dog digs, ruining your yard. Your dog chews anything he can get his teeth on. What's missing from this picture? Chances are, it's exercise. It's not news that we humans don't get enough exercise, so it's no surprise that our dogs aren't moving much either. While most pet lovers recognize that exercise is good for their dogs, few seem to make the connection between a lack of exercise and behavioral problems that have excess energy and boredom as components. |
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Cats like places more than they like people, right? Wrong. Your cat would rather be with you, no matter where you move to. But if you handle the days before and after moving day improperly, you're at a real risk of losing your cat. That's why it's important to take some time to do it right. |
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If you're an overweight, unhealthy couch potato, chances are your dog is, too. And that's a situation Dr. Marty Becker is trying to change. The increase of obese pets mirrors the increase of obesity in people, says Becker, and the reasons for fat in both people and pets are much the same: too much food and not enough exercise. "Fitness Unleashed" is a plan to deal with both. |
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The first time I wrote about disaster preparation for pets, some 20 years ago, there wasn't much to write about. I called a disaster-response official and he seemed rather puzzled at the questions I wasn't asking. Pets? Who cares? I'll guarantee you no disaster-response expert would dare voice such an opinion today. What has become apparent over the years is that if no plans are made for pets, people won't leave their homes. And when people won't leave, that puts everyone in greater peril. |
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Puppies grow up too soon, as anyone who has ever loved one can tell you. When your pup has grown, you've lost not only some of the cuteness, but also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get him off to a good start in life. It's always easier to prevent problems than to try to fix them later, and one of the most important ways to do this is by socializing your puppy. |
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After many years of caring for and writing about pets, two things constantly surprise us: How little it takes for some people to break the human-animal bond and dump a pet, and how much it takes for some people to even admit there's a problem with a pet. |
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My dogs love spring and summer -- longer days, less inclement weather -- but they always seem a little disappointed when they realize they're not going to be getting as many rides in the car. That's because in the winter there's little risk to letting a well-mannered dog wait in the car during a quick pop inside the bank, drugstore or any number of local businesses that make up a morning's errand run. But when the days get warmer, it's no longer acceptable to leave a dog in the car, even for a few minutes. That's because the heat can build up quickly, even on a day that's just pleasantly warm, putting any pet in the car at grave risk for heatstroke. |
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Some common pet practices are really life-threatening temptations of fate. Something you might not think twice about doing and have seen plenty of other dog owner's do could end up being the one thing you'll regret as long as you live. |
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Digital photography has changed my life. Instead of wasting roll after roll of film -- or not bothering to take pictures at all because of the trouble and expense -- I now take hundreds of pictures, happy in the knowledge that if I get just one or two good ones out of every few dozen taken, I haven't wasted anything except my time. |
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The Northridge earthquake that shook Southern California a few years back proved to be the catalyst for at least one positive event: It got Blake Donovan to thinking. "Pets are helpless to prepare for disasters or emergencies," she said. "That's the job of each responsible pet owner." |
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Here's a rule to remember when it comes to dealing with feline aggression: Never, ever hit your cat. While it may make you feel better -- at least in the short run -- a smack won't help you change a cat who appears to delight in sinking teeth and claws into you at seemingly unpredictable moments. |
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Anyone who has yet to be convinced that Americans are crazy about their pets would see things differently after a couple of hours at Global Pet Expo. The convention center floor was packed with more than 2,000 booths and marked the launch of some 600 new pet products. |
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The approach for converting a bird to a healthier diet needs to be gradual, encouraging, and sometimes a little bit sneaky. You can usually convert even the most extreme seed junkie to a better diet if you're patient and persistent. |
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No purchase is more important when you get a parrot than the cage. The first rule of caging: Buy the biggest cage you can afford. Forget the generic categorizations you'll find in pet stores. Those descriptions represent the minimum size to consider -- a better bet is at least one size bigger. For a cockatiel, get a cage for a small parrot. The bigger, the better, always, as long as the bar spacing isn't so big that your pet could escape. |
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Keeping your pet well-groomed not only gives you a clean-smelling companion, it also helps keep your dog more comfortable and allows you to spot health problems before they become serious, even life-threatening. |
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Grooming your cat on a regular basis will reduce the amount of hair that ends up on your clothes and throughout the house, both as shed hair and hair balls. It'll also help allergy sufferers to better tolerate sharing their lives with cats, especially if you add a weekly bath to your cat's regular routine. |
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Emergency veterinary clinic are often pretty exciting places, even over the holidays. While staying busy makes the time go by more quickly, I'd bet that the staff of most emergency clinics would rather not spend their time trying to save the lives of pets who may not have been there if their families had been a little more cautious. As any veterinarian will tell you, prevention is always better than a cure. |
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While Halloween can be fun for both people and pets, there are some commonsense precautions you should take to ensure a safe celebration. |
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Seems we're experiencing some big changes in the way many people care for their cats. Of the e-mails and letters I got after writing on how to keep indoor cats happy, very few argued that it was impossible. I still heard from people who hate free-roaming pet cats enough to kill them, but mostly I heard from cat lovers who were committed to keeping cats in and had ideas for making the arrangement better for all. |
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Can cats and dogs get along? While cats and dogs scheming against each other is a comedic staple, millions of real-life cats and dogs live in harmony, and millions of people feel no family would be complete without at least one of each pet. Getting a dog and cat to accept one another can be difficult, though, as anyone who's tried to introduce them knows. There are some basic steps to getting both pets to at least call an interspecies truce. |
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Can cats and dogs get along? While cats and dogs scheming against each other is a comedic staple, millions of real-life cats and dogs live in harmony, and millions of people feel no family would be complete without at least one of each pet. Getting a dog and cat to accept one another can be difficult, though, as anyone who's tried to introduce them knows. There are some basic steps to getting both pets to at least call an interspecies truce. |
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Solid, tabby or tuxedo, longhaired or short, a cat's coat is one of the most beautiful things about this special pet. It's also one of the most annoying, if you're fussy about fur. How much do you know about cat fur? Enough to make a decision about what kind of coat type you could live with? |
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Why is dental health important? Beyond the bad breath caused by rotting teeth and gums - "dog breath" is a symptom of disease, not a normal part of owning a dog - the infections caused by dental problems can shorten your pet's life by damaging internal organs. Bad teeth can also leave your pet in constant pain. |
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The long days of summer are a great time to have -- or be -- a pet. But this glorious season for outdoor activities is not without its hazards. Knowing what to look out for is half the battle. Cats have enough sense to nap on warm afternoons, but dogs do not. Protect your pets from poisonous plants, troublesome garden materials or yard chemicals. Use any pesticides or fertilizers according to label directions. |
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When the days get warmer, it's no longer acceptable to leave a dog in the car, even for a few minutes, even with the windows down. That's because the heat can build up quickly, even on a day that's just pleasantly warm, putting any pet in the car at grave risk for heatstroke. Car rides and errands aren't the only risks to pets in warmer weather. |
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Here's a riddle for you: How is it that cats are the most popular pets and yet more households have dogs? The answer: Many households with dogs have only one, while cat lovers prefer their pets in multiples. Problem is, while dogs truly do love the company of their own species as well as ours, many cats would prefer to be "only children." That means adding a second cat can be a difficult operation, with many pitfalls along the way. But most cats will eventually adapt to the change, and for some, the addition of a companion is a wonderful idea. |
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These days, my allergies and asthma are under good control, thanks to the advice of understanding doctors and to some new medications. I also have to give credit to my own dedication in following a few rules to reduce the impact of my pets on my allergies. |
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We get e-mails every day asking about "the farm." What farm, you ask? The one where many imagine their unmanageable dog will be welcomed. A farm where dogs run leash-free, with no children to bite, no cats to kill, no home or yard to destroy, and no nearby neighbors to hear the barking, barking, barking. Of course, no such farms exist. |
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The owners of problem barkers seem to develop an ability to ignore the noise that has their neighbors thinking of legal action -- or maybe murder. |
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Many animal lovers have allergies to pets. For them, my advice starts with finding an allergist who doesn't greet you with, "First, find new homes for your pets." In some cases, that will unfortunately be the ultimate resolution of the problem. But it needn't be the starting point for attacking animal allergies. It's your life, after all. |
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When one of her cats steps into a litter box, Dusty Rainbolt picks up her notebook and goes to watch the show. "My poor cats have no privacy," she laughs. Rainbolt, you see, makes her living testing cat products. |
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Call them the Finger Crossers, if you will -- those folks who know if their dogs get loose they'll get them back only when conditions are absolutely right (if there isn't another dog to play with, a squirrel to chase or a scent to follow). Or if they're fast or lucky enough to corner their dogs. If you're one of these folks, you may well be in the majority. While "Come" or "Here" is one of the most basic of dog commands, it's probably the one most dogs know and respond to the least. Some dogs are naturally more inclined to come when called than others. But a reliable recall is possible for any dog -- even yours. |
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Ever curious and quick to pounce, cats are the perfect small predator. They're even equipped with the amazing ability to right themselves in midair if they fall while hunting, rotating their bodies from the head back like a coil to align themselves for a perfect four-paw landing. But what works for a supple small animal falling from a tree branch doesn't cut it in the modern world, where a cat's more likely to fall from a window than a tree. |
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This year, for our "Best in Show" dog car, we went traditional and chose the quintessential minivan, the redesigned Dodge Grand Caravan. Chrysler may be struggling for survival, but its minivans still offer plenty to the dog lover looking for a comfortable ride for a canine companion. |
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Pet odors aren't irresolvable. Eliminating them can be challenging, but following a few simple tips from the experts can leave your house smelling fresh and clean this holiday season.
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Thanksgiving is at hand, and the rest of the holiday season looms ahead. It's a busy time, but you need to make sure in the whirl of activities that you aren't ignoring any danger to your pets. |
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Dogs aren't really designed to stay by themselves, and many times they get themselves into trouble. One helpful tool for avoiding problems is to leave your dog with a treat-dispensing toy to keep your pet busy when you go. |
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During the holiday season, people travel to be with family and friends. Despite all the best and warmest of intentions, the potential for friction is always there, and one area of possible conflict comes with a collar: the visiting dog. While it's natural for a dog lover to want to bring a pet to a family gathering, it's not always a good idea. Before you consider bringing your dog home for the holidays, be realistic about how others might view your furry family member. |
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The signs of illness in cats can be particularly subtle, so much so that owners often don't realize their cats are sick until they're really sick -- and sometimes that's too late. A monthly hands-on examination will help you become aware of changes that could signify something serious. |
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Nothing is more important to your bird than the cage you buy and where you put it. You want your bird to be safe and feel secure in his cage. He should also feel included as part of the family, even when he's confined. A proper cage -- well-designed, large, and made of safe and sturdy materials -- and proper placement can achieve all these goals.
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Housed in a former medical office building in Richmond, Calif., the House Rabbit Society runs the world's only shelter dedicated solely to finding homes for unwanted rabbits while educating people about proper pet rabbit care. |
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The first step in turning an adult dog into a reliable house pet is to embrace a key concept: There's no such thing as a "partially" house-trained dog. He either is or he isn't.
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The first step in turning an adult dog into a reliable house pet is to embrace a key concept: There's no such thing as a "partially" house-trained dog. He either is or he isn't. Why is realizing this important? Because if you have a dog who is "sometimes" reliable, you have a dog who doesn't understand what's required of him, probably because no one taught him properly in the first place. Punishing your pet isn't fair, and it isn't the answer: You have to go back to square one and teach him properly. No shortcuts here. |
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Toy dogs have more than a few special things about them, most good, some not so good. The upside: They're adorable. They're portable. They're usually long-lived. On the downside, they seem to be exceptionally hard to house-train. The problem, says small-dog expert Darlene Arden, is mostly human.
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The recent school shootings have us all wondering, asking questions for which we may never know the answers. Guns, video games, parents, the Internet all get their share of blame from the experts, but when it comes to predicting violence, one crucial sign is too often missed or misunderstood. That sign: cruelty to animals.
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I'd come wondering if it was possible to have too many pets, and if there was an absolute number that defined too many. I hoped to find part of the answer here. |
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What got into that cat? While it might seem wonderful to have an oldster with the energy of a kitten, that zooming cat is likely sick, with a disease that will kill it before its time if left unchecked: hyperthyroidism.
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Study after study shows that people are not only crazy about pets, but they also love to spend money on them. We're certainly not arguing against buying that perfect dog collar or cat toy, but we do want you to know that you don't have to buy a lot of things for your pets to care for them well. In fact, some of the best gifts you can give your pet don't cost any money at all -- your attention. In the Valentine's Day spirit of giving the best to those we love, we offer a few suggestions that will make you and your pet happier and healthier -- and may even save you money in the long run. |
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Punishing a dog for running from you is one surefire way to make sure he's even harder to catch the next time. The No. 1 rule of catching a loose dog: Never punish a dog for running away, and never, ever punish a dog for coming to you. |
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Are Halloween costumes for dogs silly or harmless? If putting a costume on your dog means you'll fuss over him and maybe take him somewhere interesting, like the costume contests that are everywhere these days, then sure, it's a no-lose proposition. But while buying the costume, don't forget to send a little of that discretionary income to your local shelter, just because. |
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If there's one parrot problem that has both bird owners and veterinarians pulling out their own hair in frustration, it would have to be feather-picking, a bird's willful destruction of his own plumage. Feather-picking is a symptom of something else that's wrong with your bird. The only hope you have of "curing" feather-picking is finding out and treating what's behind the behavior. |
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"How about a poodle?" I say. If the person who's asking is a man, chances are he'll make a disapproving face and tell me he was thinking of something more along the lines of a Labrador. If the person's a woman, I can put money on the prospect that she'll tell me her husband will never, ever go for a poodle. I shrug, and think for the millionth time that what poodles need is a public-relations campaign. An image makeover, at the very least. |
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In the last two decades, the number of organized competitions for dogs and their owners has seen incredible growth in terms of the number of events, participants and the number of sports. Dog sports are good both for dogs and their people, providing better communication between species, an outlet for canine energy and plenty of fresh-air exercise for all. Most dog sports are family-friendly, encouraging youngsters to compete as well. There's a dog sport these days for everyone and for every dog. |
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If you're looking for a way to lower your stress, improve your health and get your children off the couch, part of the answer may be fish -- not eating them, but keeping them. |
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These days, it seems as if many of us have a roll of duct tape floating around as part of some vague disaster plan. If that's true of you, here's something specific to do with it: Include it in a preparedness kit for your pets. |
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If you keep your cats inside, they'll definitely be safe. But will they be happy? On this point, cat lovers disagree. I'm reminded of the controversy every time one of my friends loses a cat, which seems to happen on an annual basis. She has had them hit by cars, pulled apart by dogs, and poisoned, but mostly they just disappear. |
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More cats are being kept indoors for safety these days. And while that's generally good news, it does mean that plants need to follow them in, to keep those indoor cats happy. Plants are an important part of an ideal environment for indoor cats that should also include a variety of toys, cat trees and scratching posts, and screened porches or window perches. |
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If you want to buy a purebred puppy, there's nothing more important than finding a reputable breeder. Purebred puppies who are not from good breeders are more likely to have behavior problems from being raised improperly, in addition to genetic health problems. These pups can cost you a fortune and break your heart. |
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How much do dogs hate baths? Enough so that the dog who doesn't hear you when you yell, "Get off the couch!" is perfectly able to pick out the magic word when you whisper, "I think the dog needs a bath" and go looking for a hiding place. |
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I love retrievers, and in this I'm not alone. All told, the five retriever breeds make up more than one-fifth of all AKC registrations. They're great family dogs, even-tempered, friendly and tolerant. They're generally easy to train and eager to please. But anyone associated with a shelter or rescue group can tell you that despite their popularity, retrievers are not for everyone.
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For years those who care about iguanas have been struggling against ignorance and the toll it takes on these reptilian pets. Iguanas are relatively inexpensive pets to acquire. But caring for them properly is neither cheap nor easy -- a point too often not realized at the time of purchase -- and there the problems start. The cost of a proper setup can set a new iguana owner back a lot more than the price of the pet itself, but incorrect housing can kill an iguana. So too can an incorrect diet. |
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I have never understood why anyone would want to keep a dog entirely outside. What's the point? You don't get the benefits of companionship from a dog you see once or twice a day, just to throw down some food for or maybe play a quick game of fetch with. How can you know an animal you don't really live with? How can he know you?
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Many new dog owners are familiar with the situation comedy version of giving the dog a bath. (It usually culminates in the dog running through the mud having drenched the human participants.) Fortunately, life does not have to immitate art in this regard. |
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More households have dogs than cats, but cats far outnumber dogs as pets. How is this possible? Because many cat lovers believe that when it comes to feline friends, one is simply not enough. Single-dog households are routine, but with cats, the more the merrier! If you've ever thought about getting a companion for your cat, there's no time like early summer. Kittens are everywhere, and healthy, well-mannered adults are also in good supply. You're sure to find the perfect pal for your cat with a trip or two to the shelter. |
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Let's get one thing straight up front: Almost all cats shed. The "almost" is there to apply to those very few cats who haven't any fur -- such as those of the Sphynx breed, who still manage to carry a little down that can rub off on your clothes. Once you accept the shedding, though, you'll find there's a lot of variety when it comes to cat fur. |
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I'm often asked how I've come to know so much about pets. After all, I'm not a veterinarian, nor do I have a degree in biology or animal behavior. I have a degree that has taught me how to ask the right questions and to explain the answers. Sometimes, what I think has helped me most is to recognize that sometimes the knowledge comes from places I never would have imagined. |
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An iguana makes an interesting addition to any family but you need to know what you are doing. This isn't just a funny looking dog or cat; iguanas have some very unique needs. If you -- or your child -- have an iguana on your wish list, make sure you know what to do to keep your new pet healthy. |
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Having pets unfortunately means having to occasionally deal with messes. Keeping things clean involves preparation (and some basic knowledge of odor and stain removers). |
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Not reading directions may be a point of pride for many people, but when it comes to flea products, it's an attitude that can kill a cat.
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The common wisdom used to be that we didn't "own" cats. While we wouldn't suggest telling your cat that he's "owned" -- because he still doesn't think so -- we can do a lot better by our cats than we ever have before. And that's really true for older cats. |
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The first step in turning an adult dog into a reliable house pet is to embrace a key concept: There's no such thing as a "partially" house-trained dog. He either is house-trained or he isn't. |
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The first week in May is "Be Kind to Animals Week." The "have-nots" of the pet world are still many, and there is still much to be done. Here are a few suggestions, not only for "being kind to animals" this week, but all year around. |
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The last few weeks in my home have been magical, in a way only other cat lovers can understand. I've watched a tiny kitten come into a home already filled -- to the brim, some might say -- with four boisterous dogs, a raucous prankster of a parrot and an extremely bossy rabbit. Within days, she went from overwhelmed to relaxed to ruling, and now the entire family is under her spell. |
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Every year as spring approaches, shelters and rescue groups face a daunting challenge: Find homes for the cats before the kittens arrive. That's because once kitten season starts, even the sweetest, handsomest and most well-mannered cats may run out of time before anyone recognizes them for the wonderful companions they are and adopt them. |
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If your cat's stressed out, there's a pretty good likelihood that you soon will be, too. That's because stress is a key factor in the development of health problems that lead to litter-box misses. While that's not the only thing feline stress can cause or make worse, one can argue that what veterinarians call "inappropriate elimination" can be deadly. That's because many a frustrated cat-owner will give up on a cat who cannot be relied upon to hit the box. These cats often end up at the shelter, where their past puts a pall on their future.
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The scene was the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship dog show, and professional handler Ken Griffith had just positioned Sherwood's bloodhound Knotty for the judge's consideration during best in show competition. At that moment, the microphone that judge Michele Billings was wearing for the live telecast slipped deep into her evening gown. She stepped away from Griffith and the dog to get the situation fixed. "Three minutes and 42 seconds," said Sherwood. "Knotty was just standing there, with the spotlights so strong." |
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When it comes to food, household cleaners and plants, veterinary experts say that pet lovers spend too much time worrying about products that aren't much of a problem and generally don't know about the things that truly are. Check out the biggest concerns -- and most overblown worries -- based on the 150,000 calls a year into the Animal Poison Control Center. |
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We know what dogs like; we know what pups want. No, this isn't a song from the '80s by The Waitresses; this is the ultimate dog toy. Never heard of Kong? Read on. |
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Dogs are content to live in dog-smell heaven, a place where water is only for drinking or swimming and never has soap added. Sadly, from a canine point of view, we make the rules that dictate how often dogs must be bathed. But how often is that? |
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The best way to deal with a scared cat is to let him be, while a sick cat surely needs a veterinarian. Most times what we see as "meanness" in a cat is just part of being a cat. You can change this behavior, but only if you understand what's behind it and react properly. Here's what makes cats go crazy and how to correct the problem. |
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The observable delight cats get from a good scratch is reason enough to provide them with non-destructive opportunities to indulge in this satisfying behavior. But too many people seem far too willing to deny their pets this normal behavior by declawing them without even trying to train them. |
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No parrot can ever be happy without toys. Playthings are essential to maintaining the physical and mental well-being of parrots large and small. They help keep pet birds fit while fighting the boredom that can contribute to behavioral and health problems such as feather-picking. |
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It's the question every pet lover dreads, the one for which there's often no easy answer: "When is the right time to say goodbye?" Choosing to end a pet's life is the hardest decision we make when it comes to our pets, and I can tell you from three decades of personal experience that it's a decision that never gets any easier. |
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Box turtles require around 50 percent animal protein in their diets. In the wild, that comes from worms, grubs, snails, different kinds of insects and even the carcasses of dead animals. Your turtle should eat cooked meat (avoid fat), live earthworms and slugs (make sure they're pesticide-free; you should be able to buy these at pet-supply stores that specialize in reptiles), and feeder fish (available at aquarium stores).
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Bonney Brown seems oddly upbeat for woman who has seen some pretty awful things since Hurricane Katrina slammed into the states along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Working in the devastated New Orleans area, the spokeswoman for the Bethesda, Md.-based Alley Cat Allies is one of countless people -- many of them volunteers -- who have struggled to save stranded animals and to get them reunited with their owners, if at all possible. |
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The No. 1 behavior problem reported to veterinarians when it comes to cats? Missing the litter box, by far. But don't blame the cat. If your cat is hit or miss where the litter box is concerned, chances are the choices you've made factor into the problem. |
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Filling cat boxes is an industry worth more than $600 million today, with more variety than the inventor of cat litter could have ever imagined when he hand-labeled that first 5-pound bag. But what about something to put the litter in? In recent years some of the most interesting innovations have come in the cat-box area. |
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We spend millions of dollars every year to fill feline litter boxes. But what about the object you put the litter in? Before you pick up the one of those common plastic trays you need to remember that when it comes to potty choices, your cat's opinion is the only one that really matters.
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The Honda Fit is about as perfect a little car as can be imagined, especially for dog owners. The space inside is so large compared to the tiny size of the vehicle that you start to wonder if the Fit is really a circus car. You wouldn't want to cram that many dogs inside, but you could manage a couple of big ones with comfort and ease, especially since the Fit's seats fold flat and low to the floorboards.
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Given a choice, your dog would probably prefer to go everywhere with you. But for most dogs, the reality is that they live with a family who goes to work and school, leaving them with lots of alone time. While few dogs really like being alone, for some, the behavior problems that result -- called separation anxiety -- can put their very lives at risk.
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One of the biggest mistakes people make when pets go missing is underestimating the seriousness of the situation. When a pet gets out, the response should never be wait and see. "Your pet is about as capable of surviving on his own as a toddler is," says Liz Blackman, founder of 1-800-HELP-4-PETS (www.help4pets.com), a company that helps reunite lost pets with their owners. "The first thing people need to know when they lose a pet is that they need to act quickly and aggressively." |
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How we love our fresh starts and New Year's resolutions! Have you thought about spending some time in 2005 making a difference for animals? Every animal lover should. Although the need can seem overwhelming, especially when it comes to animal cruelty or homeless pets, the fact is that every little bit helps. After all, if every one of us animal lovers did one small thing a couple of times a year, the total effort would be grand indeed. |
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Toys are essential to maintaining the physical and mental well-being of parrots large and small. Playthings help keep pet birds fit while fighting the boredom that can contribute to behavioral problems such as feather-picking. |
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We all live in a new society after September 11, 2001, our pets included. The tragedy affected everyone and raised the "what if I'd been there" question as everyone imagined what the ordeal had been like for the victims. How can you protect your pets in case of disaster? |
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Head halters such as the Gentle Leader are touted by many as the humane alternative to pinch or choke collars, and rightfully so. They work on the principle of "where the head goes, the body follows," and may make handling a large dog possible for small adults or even children. |
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If you've ever struggled with getting a pill down the throat of a dog or cat, the good news is that you can't give a pill to your pet bird, so you'll never be asked to. The bad news is that there isn't really any easier way to get medication into a bird. |
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Late last year I sold my home and bought another. I fell in love with the new place for its large yard and the creek-side acreage that ran behind the property -- perfect for exercising my dogs. But the first time I looked at the house, I saw something more: a perfect spot for a bird cage. |
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Animal shelters have long been recommending high-tech microchips as a complement to the low-tech collar and tag. The recent introduction into the United States of a microchip that operates on a different frequency from the ones already in use has put a glitch into the nation's microchip system, with the potential for placing thousands of pets at risk if not resolved. |
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Everyone wants a cat who'll spend these cold evenings serving as a purring lap warmer. But some cats need help to learn how to be that contented companion. Feline aggression is often misunderstood and even more often mishandled. With time and patience, you can turn most quick-to-hiss cats into a pet who loves attention. |
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Old books can be eye-opening for today's dog lover, with their advice on harsh, even brutal dog-training methods, warnings on deadly diseases we rarely consider, and time-consuming recipes for preparing canine rations. Flipping through the pages got me thinking about not only how relatively easy we have it today, but also which of modern life's advances have had the most impact on how we care for our dogs. |
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The advances in veterinary medicine in just the last couple of decades have been dramatic, and these days many of the same lifesaving options in human medicine are also available to pets, often through skilled veterinary specialists. Still, the idea that advanced treatments for cancer and other diseases or injuries are too much "to put a pet through" remains a common one. |
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The July 2003 issue of Consumer Reports attempts to help pet lovers save money on their veterinary bills. Treat your pet like your car, and treat your veterinarian like a mechanic. It's bad advice for the health and well-being of your pet. |
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To keep your cat healthy, you must be able to recognize what is normal for your pet so you can tell when something isn't right. Changes in appetite, drinking habits, litter-box routines, grooming, and even a change in the sound of your cat's voice can all mean trouble -- and should mean a trip to the veterinarian. |
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The travel industry used to grudgingly accept the fact that many people traveled with pets. Now, many hotels, motels and resorts actively court pet lovers, and a few are marketed almost exclusively to this once-neglected group of vacationers. |
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Although not as many specialists exist in veterinary medicine as in human medicine, the kinds and the number of certified veterinary experts grow every year. And that's good news for our pets. |
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The key to moving pets is to secure them before and during the move, and then settle them safely and quickly into a routine after the move is completed. Cats are a particular worry at moving time because they form a bond not only with the people in a home but also with the home itself. |
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Mud is the constant nemesis of all dog lovers, and it's never so bad as in the spring. The best way to keep floors clean is to never let them get dirty. And that means catching those muddy paws before they come inside. Here are some tips: |
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Take one fish in a plastic bag, one fishbowl and one child, and what do you have? Chances are you'll soon have a dead fish and a very unhappy child. But it doesn't have to be that way. The secret of making your child's first fish tank a success is choosing the right equipment and the right fish, along with equal parts planning and patience. |
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In a dog lover's perfect world, everyone would have dogs, love dogs, work with dogs or be a dog. Luckily, you can visit that perfect world anytime you want, just by peeking between the covers of one of the many mysteries produced by some of the dog world's best authors. The godmother of the dog mystery, Susan Conant, unabashedly writes about the dog world from an insider's perspective. "I was reading lots of mysteries," Conant said, "and I knew there was no series about dogs. What I wanted to do was hold a mirror up to all of us, and I thought that all of us would be amused by our reflection." |
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Forget the better mousetrap: Build a better nail-trimmer, and grateful pet lovers will beat a path to your door. Or at least that's the idea behind a trio of new nail-trimmers that takes the age-old designs and improves on them, a little or a lot. |
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It's a New Year's tradition around my home, one that has outlived two generations of pets but still works to help ensure the safety of the animals I live with now. The neck check is easy, taking a few minutes to check for wear and fit on the collars, and legibility on the tags. |
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What do an ironing board, clingy plastic food wrap and a condom have in common? In an emergency medical situation, all can be pressed into service to help save the life of your pet. |
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Urban living for dog lovers can be a challenge when it comes to finding housing. "No dogs" is the rule at many otherwise promising properties. But there's a new trend in high-rise living: projects that not only allow dogs but also welcome them with animal-friendly features. |
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A fresh breeze is blowing in the world of dog sports, attracting an ever larger pool of dogs and owners drawn by new sports that have little in common with the tradition-bound and often cliquish competitions of old. Easy to understand and open to any kind of dog regardless of size or breeding, flyball and agility are the hottest dog sports around. |
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The person who found Chase couldn't have been more clear about what got her attention -- it was the promise of a reward on the tag that made her call. Would she have kept the dog otherwise? We'll never know. |
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Many of us resolve to turn over a new leaf at the beginning of the year. We'll lose weight, exercise more, save more money -- you name it, the list is as long as that of the bad habits so many of us have in common. But while you're vowing to shape up, why not add a resolution or two that will help animals? After all, you'll never have any regrets when you vow to help pets. |
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Modern veterinary care is not inexpensive. Every day I get complaints from readers who remember when "Good Ol' Doc Jones" patched up their cats for next to nothing. These days, readers complain, many veterinarians want use to available diagnostics to see what's really going on (and reduce risk during anesthesia), suggest newer procedures to fix things that were fatal not that long ago, and pretty much try to do the best job they can with all the advances of the last couple of decades. Go figure. |
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The easiest way to stop a dog from begging is never to let the habit start. But we all know how difficult those mournful eyes can be to turn down. The problem starts when a new dog or puppy first comes home. Dogs learn early on that we two-leggers are the main source of food, and they're not above testing the waters to see what works when it comes to getting us to give up the goodies. |
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When it comes to attitude, there's nothing like a terrier. Dog-show judges love terriers for their showy in-your-face demeanor, but many pet lovers would find them difficult to live with, were it not for the fact that most of the dogs are small and endlessly entertaining. |
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Dressing up? Tricks and treats? Halloween sounds like the perfect holiday when it comes to including your pet in the fun. And it can be, with a few basic precautions. While we humans love the change in routine that holidays often bring -- the parties, the guests and the decorations -- our furred and feathered family members too often find the disruptions disturbing and sometimes dangerous. |
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We're on the verge of kitten season now, which means we'll soon be getting questions about feline pregnancy from people who often had no idea they'd be midwife to pets who are often not much more than kittens themselves. Typical questions include: How long does a cat's pregnancy last? Do I need to help my pregnant cat with delivery? How do I know if she's close to delivering? How soon after my cat gives birth can she be spayed? |
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Old ideas can be hard to eradicate. That's true when it comes to house-training, with many people still following horrid old methods such as shoving a puppy's nose in the mess and swatting him with a rolled-up newspaper. If you have a new puppy, learn about crate-training. Every year more people turn to this method, with good reason: It's easier on pup and people alike.
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If you have a dog who is "sometimes" reliable, you have a dog who doesn't understand what's required of him, probably because no one taught him properly in the first place. Punishing your pet isn't fair, and it isn't the answer: You have to go back to square one and teach him properly. No shortcuts here. |
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As anyone who has ever tried to sleep in the same room with an itchy dog can tell you, canine allergies can be miserable for both pets and people. For dogs, the problems are mostly skin-related: They scratch, chew their skin, rub against stationary objects or shake their heads in frustration from itchy ears. |
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Does the smell of your dog's ears arrive in the room before he does? Does he keep you up at night shaking his head and digging at his ears? He likely has an ear infection. Understanding canine ear infections won't just make your dog more comfortable or even help you sleep. Their early diagnosis and treatment can prevent a lifetime of ear problems and even save your dog's hearing. |
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Did you get a rabbit for Easter? Then you'll need to know how to best care for your new pet. Rabbit rescue groups have long warned that the gift of an adorable baby bunny to a child at Easter ends up as abandonment or neglect when the pet's novelty wears off. But while we recognize the problem -- and encourage the adoption of shelter and rescue-group rabbits who need homes -- we like to think parents will do the right thing and teach their children to respect and care for pets. |
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Obesity in pets causes a lot of the same problems it does in people. An overweight pet is prone to a host of related problems, including diabetes, joint, ligament and tendon difficulties, breathing and heart challenges. |
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The choice of whether or not a pet is obese isn't made by the animal, but by the person taking care of that animal. Pets aren't in control of what they eat. We are. And too many of us are doing a horrible job when it comes to feeding our pets. |
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Puppies constantly try new behaviors to see what pays off for them. In the wild, this early trial-and-error form of learning would be critical for survival. In our homes, constantly trying new things is how a puppy learns to fit in with his new family. |
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It's easy to understand why a training class isn't much fun when you're going with the intention of correcting your dog's behavior problems. Maybe you've been too busy to do much with a fast-growing pup, and now he's 80 pounds of well-muscled young dog, dragging you everywhere, jumping on everyone and just generally being a good-natured, out-of-control nuisance. Stick with the class, and your attitude will likely turn around. |
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as cute as kittens are, an adult cat can often ease into a household more quickly, and without the sometimes over-the-top behavior of an energetic youngster. If you're trying to find a home for an adult cat -- perhaps because a relative or neighbor has passed on, or a cat has just "showed up" and you already have a houseful -- it's never an easy task. But if you're determined to do your best for the cat -- and be patient while you try -- you probably will succeed. |
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Puppies are overrated. After piddle puddles, chewed shoes and all the normal silliness and mess that goes along with raising a puppy, I'm reminded why most of the dogs who've ended up as part of my family have come into my home as adults. And I'm reminded why, when people with a lot on their plates ask me about getting a puppy, I encourage them to consider a grown dog instead. Chosen carefully, an adult dog will be well past puppy foolishness and may have had some basic obedience training. Unlike puppies, who need constant monitoring, an adult dog should be able to be left alone while a family is at work or school. |
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Puppies are overrated. I say that after spending the last six months working on raising one, a darling, bright retriever who is as good a puppy as anyone could ever hope for. But after piddle puddles, chewed shoes and all the normal silliness and mess that goes along with raising a puppy, I'm reminded why most of the dogs who've ended up as part of my family have come into my home as adults. |
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Trick-training isn't like regular obedience training -- it's strictly optional and is just plain fun. Maybe you can't teach your dog to bark on command, but maybe he'll become the world's best at shaking hands, or at some trick that you and he make up together. The point is to have fun and spend time together. |
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People flip over puppies but, to me, a well-loved older dog is one of the most beautiful creatures on earth. An older dog has a nobleness about him, a look in the eyes that speaks of years of the special love that only a pet can give -- trusting, nonjudgmental and unwaveringly true. |
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Every year brings more opportunities for traveling with pets. Guidebooks, Web sites, hotel chains (both modest and high-end), dog camps and special dog-friendly tours -- businesses geared to helping people take a vacation with their pets have never been more numerous. The best way to plan your vacation? Check out Web sites dedicated to traveling with pets, and look for ads in pet-related magazines and newsletters. |
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I have to be honest: I don't like declawing. I understand why people do it, and I understand how in some cases it's a cat's last chance to stay in a good home rather than face uncertain prospects at a shelter. But I also know scratching is a natural and satisfying behavior for cats. It provides a good stretch, marks territory and keeps the claws in good shape. If at all possible, I'd rather a cat be allowed to be a cat, and that includes the pleasures of scratching.
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Moving is tough on families, pets included. Animals always know when something's amiss, even if they can't understand exactly what's changing, or why.
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Just as vacations with children are different from adults-only trips, vacationing with your pet works out better if you plan the journey with an eye to finding places where your animal companions are truly welcome. The travel industry used to grudgingly accept the fact that many people traveled with pets. Now, many hotels, motels and resorts actively court pet lovers, and a few are marketed almost exclusively to this once-neglected group of vacationers. |
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When Elaine Richards first saw something move across the lanes of traffic on one of the busiest stretches of highway in the country, she thought it was a discarded magazine, pushed along by the brisk winds off the San Francisco Bay. What had flittered across the lanes was a kitten, stranded on the roadway approaching San Francisco's Bay Bridge. She also knew she was his only hope. |
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My Plymouth Voyager, loyal and trusty companion during travels to countless dog events, on dog-accompanied vacations and even two cross-country moves with dogs, was never designed to traverse a rutted cow pasture where retrievers were being trained for hunting competitions. By the end of the day, ol' Forrest Green was dripping something that meant a trip to the mechanic. After nearly a decade, I'm in the market for a new "dogmobile." And I'd like to share the story of my hunt.
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A large container of dried minced onions was on a kitchen counter. It never occurred to Gina that her dog Benjamin would find dried onions worth the effort to pull off the counter, much less eat. But she was wrong. In a few days, the dog was near death with a case of what's called Heinz-body anemia. |
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With veterinary medicine growing more complicated by the day, it's nearly impossible for one person to know it all. That, along with the demand for human-quality medicine for animals considered to be family, is good news for the growing number of veterinary specialists. The expertise they bring, in turn, is good news for our animals. |
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Most shelters have come a long way in housing cats, and the trend these days is toward so-called "colony" housing, keeping small groups of cats in large, feline-friendly enclosures. Popular with human visitors and less stressful for resident felines, colony housing has caught on in both small community-based rescue groups and large urban shelter organizations. |
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The first step in turning an adult dog into a reliable house pet is to embrace a key concept: There's no such thing as a "partially" house-trained dog. He either is or he isn't. Why is realizing this important? Because if you have a dog who is "sometimes" reliable, you have a dog who doesn't understand what's required of him, probably because no one taught him properly in the first place. |
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The good news is that it's not that difficult to trim down pets. After all, they can't open the refrigerator on their own, grab the car keys for a fast-food run, or phone out for pizza. And although we might shudder at the idea of exercise, our pets are always up for a brisk walk, a game of fetch, or some play with a toy on a string.
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Parrots are incredibly intelligent and yet we too often see these brilliant beings kept as little more than decorative objects, prized for their plumage and locked for nearly all their lives in cages that are too small no matter how large. Is it any wonder so many pet birds die young, or rip out their own feathers in frustration?
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Gina shares cleanup suggestions for getting pets themselves to help prevent mess. The top reader suggestion in that category is training dogs to stop just inside the door and wait until all paws have been toweled off. |
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There has never been a better time to have a parrot as a pet. The hand-raised and well-socialized baby birds available from reputable breeders and bird shops today are a far cry from the days when most pet birds were wild creatures torn from their homes overseas. To make the relationship work, you need to set the right tone from the first. |
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If there's one parrot problem that has both bird owners and veterinarians pulling out their own hair in frustration, it would have to be feather-picking, a bird's willful destruction of his own plumage. Feather-picking is a symptom of something else that's wrong. The only hope you have of "curing" feather-picking is finding out and treating what's behind the behavior. |
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Every now and then we hear from someone who wants us to write about how awful it is to have dogs or cats on the bed. If you're thinking we're going to suggest that all pets be forbidden a spot on the bed, you're barking up the wrong tree. That said, there are good reasons to keep your pets off the bed and maybe even out of the bedroom. |
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While some behavior problems aren't fixable, most can be. To accomplish such change, you have to put some time into changing the situation. Quick-fix, halfhearted efforts are doomed from the start. Consulting a behaviorist can save you time, money, and aggravation. |
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America has gone crazy for pets. There's just no other message to take away from the Global Pet Expo, the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association's massive trade show, which just wrapped up a three-day run in San Diego. "You have two-thirds of the households in this country having pets vs. one-third of households with children," says Bob Vetere, director of the APPMA. "Pets are where the money is." |
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I always suggest that in this season of giving, animal lovers remember to include those groups that care for pets who are not as lucky as our own. That's especially true this year, when so many of these nonprofits are struggling. |
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For the first full-out dog-mobile I'd ever owned, I decided to get license plates to show my allegiance to the family of folks who make all their major purchasing decisions with their pets in mind. I brought up the Web site of my state's Department of Motor Vehicles and typed in my choice for a vanity plate. They were all taken. |
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Is it possible for pet lovers to be friends with those who don't care about animals? Probably not, I've always figured, considering the fact that no one in my own personal inner circle is without furred or feathered family members. And they're not casual animal lovers either. Their pets go on vacations, have greeting cards sent in their names, and are not to be forgotten on birthdays and holidays.
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Never before have we had so many choices in shopping for our pets. Everyone wants a piece of the pet-supplies pie these days, and with good reason: It's a multibillion-dollar industry that thrives in both good times and bad. |
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Making a child happy is a wonderful thing. But if you're considering getting a pet for your child, or if you've already done so, you have think beyond the joy that comes on the day the pet comes home. You must also consider the long-term lessons a pet can teach, and your role in helping bring those lessons home. |
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Hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, wildfires and even man-made disasters have brought home to us all in recent years that a crisis can happen at any time, in any community. Just as you can't leave preparing for your human family members to chance, you need a plan to ensure the safety of your pets. |
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For the indoor-only cat, plants are an important part of an ideal environment that should also include a variety of toys, cat trees and scratching posts, and screened porches or window perches that allow the intriguing scents of the hazardous world outside safely into a cat's life. |
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With the summer vacation season approaching quickly, people are starting to worry about what to do with their pets while they're gone. Pet-sitting is a tried-and-true solution that may work for many. |
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The very fact that some newspapers have a pets section really irritates some people. Believe me, I know. I hear from them constantly -- nasty e-mails and letters from people who refer to dogs as "filthy parasitic scavengers" and cats as "vermin that should be poisoned like rats." They chide me for suggesting that our pets "love" us and bemoan any money spent on animals. They are angry, and I am the focus of their rage. I can only imagine how difficult life has been for these people in recent years, as interest in and spending on pets has increased dramatically. It must be hard for them to maintain that level of rage. |
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With seven permanent pets and an ever-changing number of guests and fosters, I'm constantly looking for easier ways to keep my house looking and smelling clean. Products come and go, but the struggle continues. Over the years, I've learned the hard way how to keep pet mess and smell to a minimum. |
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Today there's a wide range of options for pets with cancer, everything from hospice care aimed at pain-management to the most aggressive surgical, chemo and radiation therapies. The outcome? Cures for some pets, long-term remissions for others and, for the rest, a good quality of life for a little extra time. |
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When it comes to pets in matters of divorce, the fact that we care so much about our animal companions is good news, because it means the courts are starting to look at animals as more than mere property. Unfortunately, the fact that we care so much about our animal companions is also bad news, making pets a high-value item in the nastiest of marriage dissolutions.
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Gina says, "For the life of me I cannot understand why men who know that I write columns and books about pets would be surprised to find out that I have them, and are even more taken aback by the fact that they're a non-negotiable part of my life." |
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We're delighted to see retailers and pet owners again trying to reduce the "carbon pawprint" of pets. It's possible to do a lot with what you have by making a few good decisions. |
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This is the summer when people are discovering the wonders close by, skipping that exotic jet-away for a vacation that's shorter, cheaper and accessible by car. And that means a lot of pets are going, too.
The trend toward taking dogs along has been building for a long time, with both low-end and luxury hotels increasingly not only accepting dogs, but also actively welcoming them with such previously unheard-of lures as room service and dog walkers.
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I like having pets on the bed. In the wintertime, they're like heating pads. I've always kept things clean by putting a washable cover on top of the bedding. Still, there are good reasons to keep your pets off the bed and maybe even out of the bedroom, among them behavioral problems and allergies. |
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Your puppy or kitten is grown before you know it and every week brings a new stage of growth. A pet's whole life is full of moments to cherish. It sounds simple but do not forget to take pictures. |
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Beauty is more than skin-deep when it comes to your dog. Keeping your pet well-groomed not only gives you a clean-smelling companion, it also helps to keep your dog more comfortable and allows you to spot health problems before they become serious, even life-threatening. |
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Keeping your pet well-groomed not only gives you a clean-smelling companion, it also helps keep your dog more comfortable and allows you to spot health problems before they become serious, even life-threatening. How important is grooming to your pet's comfort? Consider a simple mat, so easy to overlook. Have you ever had your hair in a ponytail that was just a little too tight? A mat can feel the same way to your dog, a constant pull on the skin. |
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Digital photography has changed my life. Instead of wasting roll after roll of film -- or not bothering to take pictures at all because of the trouble and expense -- I now take hundreds of pictures, happy in the knowledge that if I get just one or two good ones out of every few dozen taken, I haven't wasted anything except my time. |
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This is the time of year when many people get new cameras, new pets or both. With the holidays being one of the prime times for getting family pictures, you'll want to include your pets in the images you'll treasure for years. Digital photography has changed everything for the casual photographer. Instead of wasting roll after roll of film -- or not bothering to take pictures at all because of the trouble and expense -- it's now possible to take hundreds of pictures, happy in the knowledge that if there are just one or two good ones out of every few dozen taken, nothing has been wasted except possibly time. |
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A joke we call "Give your cat this medicine at home" starts out with a cat lover putting off the trip to the veterinarian with a sick cat to avoid the following chain of events: cat hides under the couch, human attempts to extricate the cat and stuff it into a carrier, cat claws shred human flesh like a feline Freddy Krueger, cat finally womanhandled (man of the house nowhere to be found, so manhandled not a possibility) into the carrier, and a quick drive to the veterinary hospital, often while being serenaded with the unhappy sounds of a cat plotting revenge. |
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Your veterinarian makes it look so easy: Pill. Pet. And like a magic trick, suddenly the pill is inside the pet, the pet seemingly none the wiser.
If only it were that easy for you. |
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We don't like to plan for our own deaths, but it's something that needs to be done. How can you ensure that your pets will be well cared for if something happens to you? |
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This year, I'm taking back a huge swath of lawn, fencing it off and having a contractor really go to town, doubling the size of my garden and putting in drip irrigation and mulched paths to save on weeding and water. My yard will be beautiful and productive -- and I'm doing this while continuing to share my life with my dogs. And you can, too. Dogs and lush gardens aren't mutually exclusive. |
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Why does the Federal Emergency Management Agency care about what happens to pets during disasters? It's simple: Because they've learned that if no one plans for animals, people will also suffer. "Pets are more and more treated like members of the family," said Cindy Taylor, a spokesperson for FEMA's Project Impact, which works to get the word out about disaster preparedness, including offering tips for pet lovers. "The consequences of not planning for pets have consequences for humans." |
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Hurricanes in the South, Wildfires in the West: Some disasters have seasons, but others don't. Which is why no matter where you live, you need to be ready -- and include your pets in your plans. Disaster preparedness is so easy to let slide. We get all worked up after a major disaster is in the news, and certainly after we're lucky enough to be reminded of the potential. We read up, we stock up, we move on. And then, we forget. |
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Sometimes the news about dangers to humans from animal-carried diseases reads like an installment from the Threat-of-the-Month Club. And you have to wonder: Are the pets who live in our homes and sleep on our sofas a health risk? In a word, "yes." In a few more words, "not really." The risk of your well-cared-for pet making you sick are low and can be made even lower by taking a few commonsense precautions. As I often say, "Get rid of the risk and keep the pet." |
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When I see a news story about a dog attacking a child, I look for the reason. What I'm looking for -- and usually find -- are the indicators that the situation was already well on the way to being dangerous when the attack happened. The dog, typically, was young, male and unneutered. He was also unsocialized, usually a backyard dog with little to no interaction with the family. Even more likely, the dog was in effect trained to defend his turf by being kept full-time on a chain or in a small kennel run. |
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The best way to save your pet from an accidental poisoning is to know what items are poisonous and to keep them from your pet's reach. Some poisonings are a result of something an animal gets into, like a household product. But a surprising number of cases come from something intentionally given to an animal by the owner who's trying to help. |
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Long maligned as an effeminate dandy, the poodle has been the butt of jokes for generations, probably ever since the first person put a fancy haircut on what had been a hardworking hunting dog. But the soul of the poodle is still there, under everything that's ever been done to that hair. |
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An ounce of neutering is worth a pound of kittens. It sounds obvious but apparently it isn't obvious enough. If you have an unneutered cat or dog at home, don't take any chances when it comes tot he pet overpopulation problem. Be part of the solution. |
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Just as an abductor is more likely to be someone known to the child -- an estranged parent, say -- a dog involved in a serious attack is more likely to be an animal the child knows, kept by the family, a friend or a relative. |
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For those who work to educate people on the cruelty and danger of keeping dogs on chains, the tragic news in April of two children killed by chained dogs within days of each other came as a sad shock but no real surprise. After all, incidents of this kind are anything but rare. More than 30 times in the last 18 months, a child has been killed by a dog kept on a chain, according to the group Dogs Deserve Better. |
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Prevention is always a better option, no matter what the problem. It's usually easier, less expensive and certainly less painful. That's never been more true than when it comes to cancer. While cancer is more treatable than ever before, veterinarians also now know more about what steps can be taken to help prevent the dreaded disease. |
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Five tips for nine lives, all of them guaranteed to save you money and spare your cat. You can't beat that! |
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If you want to save money on pet care, you need to work on preventing illness instead having it treated after health problems have advanced. By practicing preventive care, you will save money, and you'll also spare your pets a lot of suffering. |
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Dr. Kate Hurley is an upbeat woman, especially for someone in her line of work. Walking down a line of cats up for adoption at the Sacramento, Calif., SPCA, the veterinarian stops to make eye contact with each one and coo baby talk at the friendlier felines.
She loves them all, even if she can't save them all. But she's working on the latter cause, to be sure. |
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Cleaning isn't just about neatness -- it's also about health. Clean, fresh food and water are essential to pet birds, and so, too, is keeping their environment as free as possible of bacteria, fungus and molds, all of which can lead to disease. |
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The surge in popularity and the resulting drop in the prices of pet iguanas is, in the opinion of veterinary specialist Dr. Linda Randall, "a tragic situation. These are very poor animals for novice reptile owners, and very poor animals for children." |
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While any dog can become lost at any time, a dog who has just been adopted or moved is at a higher risk of going missing. The best time to protect your dog -- old or new, young or not so -- is before he gets out. |
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A Texas family is now suing a retail pet chain, saying a disease carried home with a cockatiel the company sold them killed a family member in 2006. While the courts will have to settle the matter, the news likely has many bird lovers looking over at the cage and saying: "What? My cockatiel can kill me?" Technically, yes. Realistically, not very likely. |
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Why get a pet if you don't want a pet in your life? I have often wondered this as I walk my dogs down streets lined with fences behind which lonely outdoor dogs bark as we go by. |
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Puppies are not toys. They are living, breathing (not to mention eating and urinating) beings who need a lot of attention. Who has time for a pup during the holidays? With a houseful of guests, who will make sure the puppy isn't being mauled by overly enthusiastic children and guests? Who has time to get his house-training started right? |
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As adorable as puppies can be, anyone who's raising one will also tell you that they can drive you crazy. To get through those trying months and come out with the dog you want, always remember two things in dealing with puppies: Be patient and be positive. |
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Puppies need structure, consistency and lots of positive reinforcement. But more than anything, they need your time. Every minute with a puppy spent training, socializing and preventing problems will save you time and aggravation down the road. Teach your puppy to get things right from the start. |
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For me, the holiday season starts with the first letter from a parent asking for advice on a Christmas puppy. This year, a new record: late September, about the same time as I spotted the first Christmas decorations being unpacked in a shop. I have to give those early parents points for thinking ahead, because a pet should never be an impulse purchase. But year after year, I still have to advise that a Christmas puppy is rarely the best of ideas.
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As adorable as puppies can be, anyone who's raising one will tell you they can drive you crazy. To get through those sometimes trying months and come out with the dog you want, always remember two things in dealing with puppies: Be patient and be positive. Every puppy needs to be guided on the road to good behavior, and along the way many a puppy strays off the path into trouble. The best way to avoid problems is to set up your home and your handling of the puppy so his only choice is to do what's right and get praised for it. |
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Are we being unreasonable when we expect perfection -- or should that be "purr-fection"? -- from our cats? We ask our cats to relieve themselves where we want them to instead of anywhere in their territory, as they would prefer. We ask them to scratch in one place instead of marking every surface, as would be natural for them. We ask them to ignore their ability to jump gracefully onto tables and countertops and to adjust their naturally nocturnal schedule to our daytime ones.
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The hottest topic at last month's Western Veterinary Conference was improving the quality of life for aging, sick and injured pets. More than 6,000 veterinarians picked up the latest information at some 700 hours of scientific presentations. But the biggest audiences were at the dozens of presentations educating veterinarians on new pain-management techniques, with more than 100 veterinarians turned away from one such symposium. |
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In recent years the popularity of "house rabbits" -- litter-box trained bunnies with as many house privileges as some cats -- has made these quiet, surprisingly playful pets more popular among adults. And now's a great time to adopt one, since it's not long after Easter that the thrill wears off for many children given a baby rabbit -- and for the parents who realize that they'll be caring for a pet that their child will no longer care much about.
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Looking for a small pet with lots of personality, energy, and easy maintenance? Soft, affectionate, clever, and small enough to ride on your shoulder? The rat is one of the best kept secrets in the pet care world. If you have never thought of rats in a positive way, it is time to free yourself from cultural indoctrination and reconsider. |
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Look, we get the shelter volunteer thing: The work can be depressing, and it's truly not for everyone. But just because you aren't cut out for shelter volunteering doesn't mean you can't help animals in your community. And in these current economic situations, your help has never been more needed. |
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We recently published an article on how to select a new puppy and many of your thought we had forgotten that a family feline represents a lifetime commitment as well. We certainly did not mean to ignore the feline faction so here are some guidelines when seeking out a new kitten companion. |
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After my recent column on rescue, in which a reader criticized what she felt were overly intrusive and demanding adoption policies, I asked if these groups are too picky when it comes to placing pets. I heard plenty from pet lovers on both sides of the debate. Clearly, there's a lot of mistrust and misunderstanding. |
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The men up here in Northern Idaho like to project a Rambo-like image to the outside world, but inside there's sometimes a secret love that they won't freely admit, even to their own wives and especially to their veterinarians. You see, real men don't own cats. That's their story, and they're sticking to it.
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Before Christmas, old dogs get dumped by people who don't want to pay holiday boarding for a pet they figure will die soon anyway, or who are planning to replace the oldster with a new puppy. And afterward, and for months to come, the Christmas puppy -- the gift that seemed like such a good idea, the one that cannot be returned, exchanged or put on a shelf -- gets sold, is given away or simply gets dumped.
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The gift of flight doesn't come without a price, and for birds that means a large part of their time is spent keeping feathers in fine shape. Help your bird with his grooming by getting him wet on a regular basis.
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There are so many other great pets like Drew out there, just waiting for someone to give them a second chance. Sometimes finding such a pet is as easy as going to the shelter. Other times, as with Drew, you have to snoop around a little to find a rescue group specializing in the kind of pet you're seeking. |
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The day Ellen DeGeneres was weeping on her talk show over pet-rescue volunteers who took back a dog she'd given away, I was in the midst of adopting a dog from a different rescue group. And I was reminded, again, of two things: All rescue groups are different, in terms of philosophies and policies, and good contracts make good adoptions, but good people make better ones. |
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Can you donate a bed for a shelter pet? Let's help shelter pets rise up, lie down and move out. |
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Over the years I've heard from readers whose dogs have choked to death when their collar rings became caught on the tooth of another dog in play, on a piece of fencing in the yard or even a heater grate in the house. In other cases, dogs were injured and traumatized, and the owners who saved their lives by getting them free of the collar's deadly grip were often bitten by their terrified dogs. |
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In a convincing show of dominance that would make even the Republican Party drool with envy, the Labrador retriever is America's top dog for the 15th consecutive year. Is the Labrador really that perfect a dog, so good a fit in so many kinds of families? While the Lab's probably not all that much better a family dog than some of the lesser-known but equally family-friendly breeds around, it's certainly true Labradors have a lot to offer. |
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Most dog lovers -- including those who wouldn't think of leaving home without first securing themselves and their children with a seat belt -- don't provide the same protection for their dogs. The results can be tragic. |
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Cleaning up after birds is a constant battle, but getting yourself into a routine makes it easier to cope. The good news is that a few minutes a day is all it takes. |
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Looking for a friendly, funny, quiet, clean, inexpensive and even eco-friendly pet? What you're looking for ... is a rabbit. |
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Dog runs or parks -- public, fenced areas set aside for off-leash play -- offer dogs the chance to meet others and burn off some energy. But not all dogs are well-suited to the often rough play of a dog park. Get some tips from a veterinary behaviorist. |
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One of the best things to happen to dogs and those who love them is the growth in popularity of off-leash recreation areas nationwide. But the free-wheeling atmosphere of a dog park is not a good fit with every canine, and it's important to know before you click off the leash if your dog belongs inside an off-leash recreation area. And you need to know a few things about your behavior, too, to make your pet's dog-park experience better and safer for all. |
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This year, the Fourth falls on a Tuesday, which means many people will be making a four-day celebration of it. The fireworks will be popping from Friday through Tuesday, and that means the folks in the emergency veterinary clinics will be hopping. It doesn't take much to help ensure that your pet won't be one of those in need of medical assistance. A few commonsense precautions will go a long way toward making the holiday safer for your pet. |
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The swimming motion comes naturally to most dogs, but all dogs aren’t designed to be Michael Phelps. For example, bulldogs generally can’t swim without sinking because of their shape. Even those who love to swim and are good at it can get themselves into problems. That’s where you come in, to keep the experience safe for all. |
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The number of people who travel with their dogs is growing, and so too are the options for pets on the road. From "ruffing it" at campgrounds to enjoying fabulous four-star hotels, the time has never been better to pack up your pet and go. Still, traveling with a dog is no picnic sometimes.
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Many people insist on declawing their cats before even finding out if they have a problem. Others declaw at the first sign of a trouble. Those who try to let their cats keep their claws often insist on yelling at them or hitting them when the animals claw furniture. Cats needs to scratch, for physical and emotional reasons, and we need to provide our cats with places to dig in their claws joyfully. |
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Let's not kid ourselves: Things are tight, and people are learning to make do with less. That's the bad news. The good news: You don't have to shortchange your pets to save money. By focusing on prevention, smart buys and sharing, you can slash what you spend on your pets. Read some tips. |
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It's the question every pet lover dreads, the one for which there's often no easy answer: "When is the right time to say goodbye?" |
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We don't like declawing, and we don't recommend it as a first reaction to any behavior problems in cats. That said, we understand how in some cases it's a cat's last chance to stay in a good home rather than face uncertain prospects at a shelter. And we know that a well-done veterinary declawing with full pain control is no worse in the short-term than many other surgeries. But we still don't recommend it as anything except a last-chance alternative to losing a good home. In other words: It shouldn't be a preventive or immediately reactive approach to a behavior problem that can be dealt with in other ways.
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Does your cat decorate your furniture by lavishly scratching the fabric? Inappropriate furniture scratching is one of the most common problem behaviors of felines. It would be wonderful if we could just explain the situation to the cat: "It's OK to scratch your post but not OK to scratch the sofa." |
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Every year at this time, I like to remind pet lovers that as fun as it is to wrap gifts for our pets, it doesn't hurt to expand the idea of giving. This year, I'm suggesting that people donate money to shelters in the disaster area, or to the national groups that saved so many abandoned animals. A good place to start is with a donation to the Louisiana SPCA. (Donations of goods are not recommended for organizations in the disaster region.) |
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Some people seem to have bad luck over the holidays, and I have traditionally been one of them. I've filled the house with smoke from a poorly laid fire in the fireplace just before guests arrived for dinner, and I've tripped over a sleeping dog on Christmas morning and ended up in the emergency room (the dog was fine; I went home with a cast). But that's nothing compared to the disasters that seem to dog the pets in our family over the years. I've spent good parts of many holidays in after-hours veterinary clinics, and a few times those trips were for problems that could have been prevented. |
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Some people seem to have bad luck over the holidays, and I have traditionally been one of them. I've filled the house with smoke from a poorly laid fire in the fireplace just before guests arrived for dinner, and I've tripped over a sleeping dog on Christmas morning and ended up in the emergency room (the dog was fine; I went home with a cast). But that's nothing compared to the disasters that seem to dog the pets in our family over the years. I've spent good parts of many holidays in after-hours veterinary clinics, and a few times those trips were for problems that could have been prevented.
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We're in full stride on kitten season now, which means I'm getting questions about feline pregnancy from people who often had no idea they'd be midwife to pets who are often not much more than kittens themselves. The question I'm asked least often is the most important of all: How soon after my cat gives birth can she be spayed? |
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As the days grow shorter and the nights grow colder, you may be observing what seems rather odd for a body preparing for winter: Your dog is shedding more than usual. Be reassured: It's perfectly normal.
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Dogs panting. Spectators sweating. Handlers stressing. I've been there, several times, and I can assure you: It's miserable. But it's Westminster, the one and only. Which means if you have a top show dog, you're going to move heaven and earth to be there -- and most of them will be on Feb. 14 and 15. |
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Doing something right in the first place is always preferable to trying to undo and then redo, and that's as true in raising a puppy as with any other endeavor. If you remember never to let a puppy get away behavior you wouldn't tolerate in an adult dog, you're well on your way to raising a well-mannered canine companion. |
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A dog show has to be one of few competitive endeavors in which the majority of spectators don't know who the players are and don't really care who wins. Most people come to a show to see beautiful dogs, buy a new leash or toy, or even try to figure out the answer that old question: Do people look like their dogs? |
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A sick bird too often means a dead bird. Not because birds are fragile -- on the contrary, most bird species are quite hardy -- but because by the time their illness is noticed, birds are usually very ill indeed and sometimes too far gone to be helped. |
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When a bird is sick, you often won't know it. When you do notice a problem, you have a very sick bird on your hands -- and maybe, soon, a dead one. Not because birds are fragile but because by the time their illness is noticed, birds are usually very ill indeed and sometimes too far gone to be helped. |
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Anyone who has ever pulled out a credit card at the emergency clinic for something that wasn't an emergency comes away wishing for a better knowledge of what constitutes an urgent situation -- and what doesn't. Worse is the opposite situation: an emergency that goes untreated until it's too late for your pet. But how can you tell?
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I didn't know so many clever gizmos had been invented to keep children from opening cupboards, putting their fingers in power outlets or bumping their heads on coffee tables. You just can't be too careful. The same is true for cats. Over the years I've been saddened by letters and e-mails from readers whose cats have died in household accidents that were largely preventable, if only the people had known of the risks beforehand. |
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The truth about cats and dogs is that while a few of them will fight like ... well, you know, most of them can learn to live together peacefully, even happily, in the same household. The key to such blissful cohabitation is getting the relationship off to a good start -- by introducing the animals slowly and carefully. |
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Introducing cats is a delicate operation, with lots of pitfalls alone the way. Introducing a second cat to the household is a time when patience is never more important. |
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While not all small dogs are so ill-mannered, one does tend to meet more small canine miscreants than large ones. It's not that small dogs are prone to bad behavior, mind you, but rather that the owners of small dogs tend to overlook behavior problems that would be absolutely intolerable in a 50-, 80- or 100-pound dog. |
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If you can get a good night's sleep, you'll be better able to cope with almost anything, even allergies. That's why one of the best pieces of advice to those who are allergic to their pets is this: Declare your bedroom a "no-pets zone," at least during the height of spring allergy season. |
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It used to be that carrying a tiny dog in an expensive handbag was the nearly exclusive behavior of aging society matrons. In recent years, the age of high society has drifted downward at least half a century, as women like Paris Hilton have set off a fashion fury with their constant carrying of diminutive canines. Toy dogs have never been more popular or more fashionable. Cast as furry accessories in the pages of fashion magazines, the smallest dogs are suddenly the biggest trend in pets. But there are problems with being a must-have accessory for the fashion-forward. |
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Iguanas are relatively inexpensive pets to acquire, which makes them popular for children. But caring for them properly is neither cheap nor easy, and there the problems start. |
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After I wrote about pet-rescue groups, I got quite a few e-mails of support, most from people who are themselves rescue volunteers and were happy to see their efforts acknowledged and publicized. But one e-mail that wasn't so supportive really caught my attention. |
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For most cats, one of the most stressful events of their lives is a distracting time for their owners as well: changing addresses. Combine traveling with suddenly being in unfamiliar surroundings, and you can easily understand why cats end up freaked out after a move. |
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These days I'm hearing from a lot of people wanting to know about feline pregnancy. What strikes me about these letters is that too many cats are having babies. The cats these people are writing about are having kittens who are in many cases destined to never see their first birthday.
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Take that basic concept - "I bet my dog can jump farther off the dock than yours can" - add a network with air time to fill and a sanctioning body or two to run things and keep the records straight, and suddenly, you've got a sport. The sport is easy to understand -- jumps off an elevated dock into a portable pool are measured for distance -- and fun. Although the top teams are now getting sponsorships and are training for even longer jumps, in dock-diving even new competitors can do well. |
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Many dogs enjoy swimming as much as people do, and cool times in the local swimming spot or backyard pool are one of the best parts of summer. But you have to look out for your pet around water, since even the strongest, most enthusiastic swimmers can get into trouble. |
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Poop happens. So do urine and vomit. While most pet messes come from young pets or old ones, even pets in the prime of their lives can get sick sometimes, leaving you looking at -- or worse, stepping in -- something you need to clean up. If you want to make that mess a memory instead of a smelly stain, don't delay your cleanup.
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Dried to a tawny gold by hot days, foxtails are now popping up. When a foxtail lands on an animal, all too often that burrowing trick is through flesh, and that can cause some severe problems. Foxtails dig deeply into every possible opening. Once in, they keep moving, sometimes causing significant damage. |
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Are you a bird newbie? Surprised at how messy they can be? Here is a list of supplies that can make life with your bird a lot sweeter. |
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Like many behaviors people find troubling, digging is natural for dogs. I've known many punishment-based "cures" for digging, and I don't recommend any of them. As with any behavior, you have to understand what's at the root of the problem before you can come up with a fair approach to minimizing the damage. |
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People often become frustrated or even frightened by a sudden change in their pets' behavior. Then they'll look for one simple training tip. But sometimes what pet lovers assume is a behavioral problem really isn't -- it's a medical problem, one that will be resolved only with proper diagnosis and treatment. |
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Summer is a great time to be a pet. The days are long and most kids are out of school. But summer can also be dangerous. Playing or exercising a dog in the heat can bring on a lethal case of heat stroke. Burrs, foxtails and awns from parched grasses can cause painful infections, and the chemicals we use to keep our beautiful summer yards green and control pests can poison our pets. |
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Pick a puppy with your head, not your heart. Before you step into a shelter, be clear in your mind the kind of dog you want: small, medium or large, long-haired or short. Once you've narrowed the field, puppy-testing can help you home in on the one who'll be right for you.
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If told to imagine a "typical" cat, you're doing well if you think "tiger-striped." That's because the tabby pattern, with its familiar stripes, is the most common in all of catdom. It's so dominant that even some apparently solid-colored cats can be discovered, on close inspection, to have faint stripes, especially on their heads, legs and tails.
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If you could do one thing that would improve not only your dog's health but also your own, you'd do it, wouldn't you? If your answer is "yes," then it's time to start walking your dog. Recent studies have shown that our pets are having as much trouble with obesity as we are, and the reasons are the same: too much food and not enough exercise. |
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The two biggest problems with this ghoulish holiday are frightened pets and poisoned pets -- and animal emergency clinics traditionally see plenty of both. With the increase in activity, cats and dogs get nervous and some will take off if they can. That means an increase in animals hit by cars. Other animals may be a cause of injury: All those costumed young visitors can trigger territorial instincts or fear-responses in some dogs, who may then become a bite risk.
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The Jekyll-Hyde turn some cats make when being petted has their owners convinced they're crazy. But that's not the case: Some cats need to be taught to accept the loving attention of their owners. The conversion takes time and patience, but it's worth it for all.
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While no one can guarantee a trouble-free trip, the good news is that the vast majority of pets traveling by air get where they're going in fine shape. Even better news: Careful planning on your pet's behalf will help make things go even more smoothly. Animals move through the airline system as unaccompanied cargo or as travelers' baggage. Unaccompanied pets and most animals traveling as baggage travel in pressurized cargo holds, while some small pets are allowed into the cabin as a carry-on. |
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Too often, pet owners leave veterinary hospitals with prescriptions they don't fully understand for pets who don't want to take their medicine. Pets need to get their medicine exactly as prescribed for the best possible outcome. But a recent study confirms what veterinarians suspected: Only 10 percent of cat owners and 30 percent of dog owners succeed in medicating their pets correctly. That's why it's important to ask some basic questions and make sure you understand all the answers before leaving your veterinarian's office with medication in hand. |
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If you believe your pet has a problem that could use the expertise of a specialist, talk to your veterinarian about a referral. If you have a cooperative relationship with a good veterinarian, calling in a specialist is never a problem. |
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Choose a young, well-socialized bird and love him for his many fine qualities, whether or not talking is among them. If you're absolutely set on owning a talking bird, buy one that talks already -- and make sure you hear the conversation before you plunk down payment.
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Some cats need to be taught how to enjoy being petted. Both genetics and social factors contribute to how likely a cat is to bite or claw while being petted. Some cats are born with short fuses; others are made that way (or made worse) through a lack of early socialization or proper training in their kittenhoods. |
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Children and cats are natural together, but you need to lay some ground rules for the safety of both from the moment your new pet comes home. The key to keeping children and cats together safely is to make sure that their interactions are supervised and to teach children how to handle and respect cats. |
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Both genetics and social factors contribute to how likely a cat is to bite or claw while being petted. |
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If you can't stand the thought of going outside in the snow, rain, fog or just plain bitter cold, you can keep your dog from driving you crazy by exercising his mind. Any kind of training will do, but trick-training is especially appropriate. Better still: Get your kids to train your dog, and you'll get them out of your hair, too. |
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For most authors the joy of getting that first book published is short-lived, soon replaced by the pressure of coming up with a second book. But not for Kate Eldredge.
"I've talked it over with my parents," she says. "And I'm going to concentrate on high school now." A smart move, considering that Eldredge, author of "Head of the Class: A Teen Dog Expert Teaches You to Raise and Train the Perfect Pal" is just 14 years old. |
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I like leash laws for dogs. I prefer to see animals trained cooperatively, instead of through force and fear. And I appreciated having a dog who recently lived to be almost 16, and for that I thank our veterinarians and all the improvements in care that have become common in the last couple of decades. |
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Some pet-lovers consider anesthesia so high-risk that they hesitate to OK or even refuse entirely elective procedures that have long-term benefits to an animal's health and comfort. Other pet-lovers think anesthesia is too expensive, blaming changes in protocols for increased cost. The good news about veterinary anesthesia is that although it can never be risk-free, it's safer and more comfortable than ever. The bad news is that those things that improve safety for pets do indeed increase the cost. |
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Week in and week out, the No. 1 question I get from cat lovers is this one: "Why has my cat stopped using the litter box?" Start solving this behavior mystery by making sure there's no health issue involved -- and that means a trip to the veterinarian (see sidebar). Once you have a clean bill of health on your cat, you can start going through the list of common reasons why pets start choosing other places to go. |
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Dr. Marty Becker is now part of the Pet Connection Team! His philosophy of practice has always been to "match the science with the soul." This means he strives for a state-of-the-art veterinary practice with competent veterinarians and staff who are lifelong learners (the science) balanced with a veterinary team who is caring and compassionate (the soul). "I'm a veteran veterinarian, and I love practicing and communicating with people who love pets as much as I do. I've pulled a puppy wiggling from its mother and watched the animal take a first breath. I've been there when a cat, cradled in her family's arms, drew her last breath. My hands have healed some pets and comforted others, made dogs' tails wag and cats purr, hugged an anxious pet owner, and poured the last few handfuls of dirt on my pets' graves at our Almost Heaven Ranch."
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Reptilian pets are intriguing and mysterious to some, intimidating and frightening to others. If there's one reptile perfect for changing the minds of those in the latter group, it's the bearded dragon. Affectionately called "beardeds" by their fans, these lizards are not only tame around humans, but many also seem to enjoy the contact. Even better, they're relatively easy keepers, suitable for almost any pet lover or family situation. |
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Each of my pets has his or her own "theme song," silly ditties that I would be reluctant to sing in any kind of public forum. But I love to sing them in private, and each of my pets recognizes a song as his or her own, enjoying the special attention even as I'm surely torturing their well-developed sense of hearing with my dreadful voice. |
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The menu at our Cafe McMutts then, as now, featured dead mice, dead birds, assorted dung and the skeletal remains of various forest animals. These dietary indiscretions might freak out some people, but I've lived on a ranch my whole life, as has Teresa, and we think of them as kind of cute. Or we did, until the day Sirloin went too far in his journey to smell hell.
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Is there anything a dog can't use his nose to figure out? Dogs have long been used to sniff out escaped cons and missing children (think bloodhounds), dinner (think spaniels, retrievers and hounds), and even truffles (think poodles). But in recent years, trainers have come up with all kinds of new ways to use a dog's extraordinary sense of smell. |
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Gravity being what it is, even a creature made for flying spends a lot of time on his feet. It's a shame too many bird lovers give perches too little thought. Also, the Top 10 Reasons why cats like to be indoor cats, sent in by a cat named Gretchen. |
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What is more adorable than a tiny kitten pedaling soft paws on your chest and purring up a storm? Enjoy your kitten, but never forget to make the most of this special time to ensure you'll end up with a wonderful cat. Kittens begin to learn life's lessons at an early age -- 3 weeks is the start of a critical period in their lives as companion animals. From the time their eyes open until the fluffy babies are about 10 weeks old, kittens are developing impressions of the world that will stay with them for life. |
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The patterns of one's life often are captured and defined by the all-too-short life of a very special animal. I know this all too well now, after losing my 10-year-old dog Lance last week, a victim of the cancer that had finally come roaring back after more than 18 months of dormancy. |
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Once you take an animal into your home as a pet, I believe you must be prepared to provide decent care. That includes shelter and sustenance, as well as the basics of preventive care, such as vaccines and heartworm medication. The responsibility of caring for a pet must also include working with a veterinarian when the animal is sick. |
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There's skill, intrigue, politics and even cheating at dog shows, to be sure, but there are also wonderful people united by love and respect for dogs and a sincere desire to preserve and improve the dozens of dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club or other show-governing body. |
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My initial reluctance to keep a chatty pet is why I was surprised at my delight when my parrot Eddie spoke his first words not long ago. He repeated my request to "step up" onto my finger before lifting his foot to comply. There's just something about a pet who speaks the same language as we do that's undeniably appealing. |
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At some point in the fight to get people to spay and neuter their pets -- a worthy cause for which I've fought all of my adult life -- it became highly suspect to admit that one finds pleasure in the company of puppies. |
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When choosing a cat litter, keep in mind who the real customer is here: your cat. It doesn't matter how much you like a filler. If your cat doesn't like it, you'll be finding waste in places you neither anticipated nor wanted. Find the brand your cat likes, and then keep the box scrupulously clean. It's the only way to go.
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If you're considering giving a child a pet for Easter, please think and think again. |
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Your cat really isn't asking for anything more than you would when it comes to a bathroom. All that's required for most cats is that the bathroom be clean, quiet and offer no surprises. That sounds simple, but the failure to use a litter box is the top behavior complaint of cat lovers, sending countless cats to shelters every year. |
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There's something about those nasty eight-legged pests that evokes a visceral reaction and does more than trigger a desire for parasite control: The sight of a tick, says internationally known flea and tick expert Dr. Michael Dryden of Kansas State University, makes pet owners dream of a nuclear option able to annihilate the blood-sucking pests in as complete and painful a way as possible.
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I hate ticks. The morning after a recent walk, I felt something move along my neck, just above the hairline. Ugh! A tick! After I disposed of the tick on me, I checked the dogs for ticks again, threw my clothes and bed linens in the washer and myself in the shower. It felt good, even though I know ticks can survive a cycle in the washing machine. After a thorough check, we were still tick-free ... but only until our next walk. |
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It's time for the annual New Year's neck check. I started pushing for this tradition years ago, and I still believe it's as important as ever. Checking your pet's collar and tags annually will ensure that an important safety measure is in place should you and your pet ever need it. |
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October is Adopt-a-Dog month, and that also reminds me why, when people with a lot on their plates ask me about getting a puppy, I encourage them to consider a grown dog instead. Chosen carefully, an adult dog will be well past puppy foolishness and may have had some basic obedience training. Unlike puppies, who need constant monitoring, an adult dog should be able to be left alone while a family is at work or school after a much shorter period of training and re-adjustment. |
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Three-day holiday weekends are busy times at veterinary emergency clinics. While most of the animals who'll end up in emergency care over the Fourth of July weekend will be there because they should be, others have problems that could probably wait. It's sometimes hard to tell a mild health problem from an emergency. But every day, people spend money they didn't need to for emergency clinic trips they didn't have to make. |
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Minimizing visiting pet conflicts isn't hard, as long as everyone follows basic "petiquette" in planning and managing visits. |
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Retrievers are popular for good reason. But anyone associated with a shelter or rescue group can tell you that despite their popularity, retrievers are not for everyone. They get dumped by the hundreds, often by people who didn't research the downside to owning one of these dogs or who proved unwilling to put in the effort it takes to keep one. |
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Call them the Finger Crossers, if you will -- those folks who know if their dogs get loose they'll get them back only when conditions are absolutely right: if there isn't another dog to play with, a squirrel to chase or a scent to follow. Or if they're fast or lucky enough to corner them. If you're one of these dog owners, you may well be in the majority. While "come" is one of the most basic of dog commands, it's probably the one dogs obey the least. |
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The first rule is to make sure your dog understands what you mean when you say "come." And that involves training. And punishing a dog for running from you is one surefire way to make sure he's even harder to catch the next time. |
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The key to moving pets is to keep them secure before and during the move, and settle them safely and quickly into a routine after. Start by ordering ID tags with the new address and phone number, so you'll have the tags securely attached to your pets' collars when moving day arrives. If you don't have a phone at your new residence yet, use a cell phone number, but don't let your pets go without ID, even for a minute. |
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The number of people who travel with their dogs is growing, and so too are the options for pets on the road -- from "ruffing it" at campgrounds to enjoying fabulous four-star hotels. There's never been a better time to pack your pet and go. |
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I am constantly trying out gear designed to make getting out with dogs easier and more fun. As a result, I've run across a couple of companies that make dog-friendly products of such high quality that I look for their brands when I'm shopping for something new. |
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My column from a few weeks back on the link between animal cruelty and crimes against people drew thousands of responses, flooding my e-mail for days with letters from everyday animal lovers as well as from social workers, therapists, teachers, law enforcement officers, academics, prosecutors, humane investigators, etc. |
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"General obedience has a tendency to be too serious," says trainer Liz Palika. "Even when you're trying to be positive with your dog, there's a tendency to be too serious." In the minds of many dog lovers still, you take your dog to class to "break" him of annoying behaviors, to bark commands at him, to correct him for being "bad." Palika likes trick-training. "When you get people to laugh, you have it made," she says. "It's so much fun for the dog, too. They're getting your attention, and you're laughing. Dogs know what laughter is, and they pick up your attitude."
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Looking for a way to keep your dog busy on those days when the cold limits outside activity? It's easy: Exercise his mind. Veterinarians have long been sounding the alarm on what the lack of exercise is doing to the health of our pets, triggering an obesity crisis that's echoing our own. But many of our dogs are also getting the short end of the stick when it comes to exercising their minds. |
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What "big-boned" is to big people, "fluffy" is to big pets. In surveys about pet body types (ideal, overweight, obese), about half of pet lovers with obese pets said their pets were at an ideal body weight. Because we equate food with love, we're killing our pets with kindness.
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Here's a riddle for you: How is it that more families have dogs than have cats, but cats outnumber dogs as pets?
The answer: Many families have more than one cat. |
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In a lot of multi-feline families, relations between cats are a bit strained. And when cats aren't happy, nobody's happy. The noise of cats grumbling threats at each other or engaging in frequent rumbles can get on one's nerves and even mean trips to the veterinarian. And the litter-box problems that can be a part of such turf wars can turn an entire house into a toilet. Living with more than one cat doesn't have to be so contentious. The trick to domestic harmony for cohabiting felines is to introduce -- or reintroduce -- them slowly and carefully. |
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The Kitty Tease (a well-made cat toy) and a parrot play gym catch Gina's attention. The Kitty-Tease is an award-winning "cat fishing pole" toy that has been going strong for 20 years. Gina's parrot Eddie lights up whenever Gina puts him in his new play gym. |
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In a lot of multi-feline families, relations between cats are a bit strained. And when cats aren't happy, nobody's happy. The noise of cats grumbling threats at each other or engaging in frequent rumbles can get on one's nerves and even mean trips to the veterinarian. And the litter-box problems that can be a part of such turf wars can turn an entire house into a toilet. |
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In recent years I've been delighted to see the development of alternatives to the choke chain. These products are easier to master and easier on the dog, and they make possible one of the greatest pleasures in keeping a dog: taking a nice long walk with your friend. |
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One of the best things to happen to dogs is the growth in popularity of off-leash recreation areas. Dog parks have emerged as a way to provide what most dogs desperately need: more exercise. Sedentary dogs develop health issues, such as obesity, and behavior problems that are worsened by excess energy and boredom, such as digging, barking, destructive chewing and that catch-all complaint of dog lovers everywhere: "He's too hyper!" |
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Every time I've put a pet in the air, I've chewed my nails down with worry until they reached their destination. And every time, there hasn't been a hitch or anything worse than a delayed flight. While no one can guarantee a trouble-free trip, the vast majority of pets get where they're going in fine shape. But to make the odds of that happening even better, you need to be an advocate for your pets when they fly. |
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There's no such thing as a dog who's "partially house-trained." Your dog either gets the concept of not using the house for a bathroom, or he doesn't. Admitting you've got a dog who doesn't get it is the first step to setting up a training program that will finally deal with the problem. |
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Dogs who drip or leave puddles behind need to be checked out by a veterinarian to determine if the problem is just a weak sphincter (the muscle that controls the flow of urine), or if other health problems that produce an abnormal amount of urine are involved. |
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Looking for solid proof that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? Spend the Fourth of July at an emergency veterinary clinic. I did exactly that a few years back, and it was an eye-opener. The sad stream of animals hit by cars, cut by jumping through windows and knocked down by heat made an impression that I've never forgotten. |
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My tears were wholly related to five words I'd heard at the veterinary hospital not half an hour earlier, as my beloved old Sheltie yawned with boredom on the cool steel table, our veterinarian's face a study in concentration above the dog. "I hear a heart murmur," the man had said.
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With kitten season in full swing and competition for good homes never keener, summer is the worst time to be a homeless adult cat. But no matter the challenges, it seems we animal lovers always have or know of a cat who needs a new home. While adult cats can be very hard to place, it's not impossible to find a good home. |
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One thing I love about the return of nice weather -- dog washing moves outside for my two retrievers. No more soggy bathroom, no more drippy paw prints in the house. Clean dogs, without having to clean up the house afterward. |
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More products pulled, more questions and more worries: The pet-food problem, which started on March 16 and has continued with additional recalls for more than a month, has left pet owners wondering how to feed their animals safely. |
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The first thing that people need to know when they lose a pet is that they need to act quickly -- and broadly. So says Liz Blackman, owner of 1-800-HELP4PETS, a company that helps reunite lost pets with their owners. |
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Spend any time at a veterinary emergency hospital and you'll see that some people who bring their pets in didn't need to -- the condition was minor and could have waited until morning. But then you worry about the people you don't see: those who don't recognize a truly life-threatening illness in their pets. Will those pets make it until morning? And how much suffering will they endure until then? |
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The years have brought me enough sad experience that I have my own set of guidelines to help my decisions. I try to remain clear in my understanding of who will benefit from the decisions I make, and I try hard to make sure it's always my pet. In other words: everything to maintain or improve quality of life, and nothing to simply prolong it. |
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How do you know when a situation is critical enough to find a veterinarian immediately? Anything is worth at least a call if you're not sure what's wrong, but some things require urgent attention. |
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When it comes to pets in matters of divorce, the fact that we care so much about our animal companions is good news, because it means the courts are starting to look at animals as more than mere property. Unfortunately, the fact that we care so much about our animal companions is also bad news, making pets a high-value item in the nastiest of marriage dissolutions. |
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Just as with human medicine, advancements in the way we think of and treat pain for animals is improving the quality of life for pets, with veterinarians now being able to choose from a wide array of products and strategies to ease the hurt. "Animals can feel all the same aches and pains that we can because they share the same physiologic structures," says Dr. Robin Downing, owner of Colorado's The Downing Center for Animal Pain Management.
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Dogs seem to be even more excited about walks in the autumn crispness, and cats seem to love playing in the leaves, no doubt looking for the mice who are busy beneath. But even as we're enjoying the brisk beauty of fall, we need to remember it means winter is around the corner, and with it, an awareness of seasonal challenges for our pets. |
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Mud, mud and more mud. The soupy remains of winter on the paws of our pets is the constant nemesis of all dog lovers, and it's never so bad as in the spring. The best way to keep floors clean is to never let them get dirty. And that means catching those muddy paws before they come inside. Here are some tips: |
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Biting, destructiveness, noisiness, house-soiling can be more of a threat to a pet than cancer. That's because too often behavior problems are eventually "solved" by getting rid of the pet. While some behavior problems aren't fixable, most can be. Quick-fix, half-hearted efforts are doomed from the start. |
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Little attention used to be paid to animals after back and joint surgery. When the stitches were taken out, we veterinarians figured our job was done. Looking back, I shudder to think of the withered limbs and stiff joints, and the weakened bones, cartilage, ligaments and tendons that resulted. With 20/20 hindsight, veterinarians now know we broke the most basic medical mantra, which is to first, "Do no harm." |
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The Christmas puppy is one of those ideas that seem so perfect, but the months that follow are the worst for raising and training a puppy. By summer, too many of those puppies are untrained and too often on their way to being unwanted. The "puppy cutes" are long gone, and the boisterousness of adolescence is at its peak. I hear every day from people who are ready to give up. "If we can't get him to stop (jumping up, disobeying, digging, barking, chewing), we have to get rid of him," they say.
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Puppies grow up too soon, as anyone who has ever loved one can tell you. When your pup is grown you've lost not only some of the cuteness, but also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get him off to a good start in life. It's always easier to prevent problems than to try to fix them later, and one of the most important ways to do this is by socializing your puppy. |
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Is there a cat for whom you need to find a home? A stray who just turned up, or the cherished pet of a relative or friend who has passed on? While adult cats can be very hard to place -- they have the lowest rates of adoption for all animals at shelters -- it's not impossible to find a good home. Be patient and persistent, and follow these tips. |
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The best upholstery, by a fairly wide consensus, is leather, the higher the quality the better. Pet fur, stains, and odor find no home on good leather, which wipes clean with a damp cloth. If leather doesn't appeal, cover your furniture with washable throws. |
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Play fighting is a joy to a kitten but when it is directed at a loving hand, this play is suddenly not so cute. And neither are the scratch markes borne by the owner. How does one get from the athletic young fluff ball practicing hunting skills to the snuggling purr machine we want? |
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About once a month, I'll get a frantic e-mail from someone who's frustrated to the point of desperation. "Help!" the e-mail will scream. "I have a Jack Russell, and he digs, barks and chews when we're gone. He's too hyper! We can't take it anymore!" Sometimes, it's all I can do not to write in return, "High energy? Digging? Barking? Chewing? Congratulations! You have an authentic Jack Russell terrier! What did you expect?" |
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About once a month, I'll get a frantic e-mail from someone who's frustrated to the point of desperation. "Help!" the e-mail will scream. "I have a Jack Russell, and he digs, barks and chews when we're gone. He's too hyper! We can't take it anymore!" Sometimes, it's all I can do not to write in return: "High energy? Digging? Barking? Chewing? Congratulations! You have an authentic Jack Russell terrier! What did you expect?" |
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If you're moving or traveling, is it safe to transport your pet by air? While horror stories make the news, the truth is that airline travel is relatively safe for most pets, and it will be for yours if you play by the rules, plan carefully, and are prepared to be a little pushy on your pet's behalf. |
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 About the author(s) |
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Gina Spadafori
Gina has two loves in her life -- animals and writing. As former director of the VIN Pet Care Forum on America Online, the world's largest online area for animals, and with her award-winning columns and books, she has finally accomplished one of her life's goals -- a career writing about animals. Pet Connection is an award-winning column on pets and their care written by Gina and Dr. Marty Becker that appears in newspapers across the United States through the Universal Press Syndicate. Gina is the author of Dogs for Dummies and co-author (with VIN owner/founder Paul D. Pion, DVM, DACVIM) of Cats For Dummies, both from IDG Books Worldwide. Dogs for Dummies was named the Best General Reference book by the Dog Writers Association of America as well as the most outstanding writing on dogs in 1996. Cats For Dummies was named "Best Work on Feline Behavior," "Best Work on Feline Nutrition" and "Best Work on Responsible Cat Care" by the Cat Writers Association. Both books are top-sellers, offering nearly 400 pages of advice on choosing, raising, training, caring for and living with a pet. They've been translated into several languages. Gina has also been a columnist and regular contributor to the AKC Gazette, the official magazine of the American Kennel Club, and she has written on pets for other magazines, including Modern Maturity. She has also been quoted in scores of newspaper and magazine articles, and appeared on TV and radio. She has taught basic dog-obedience classes and competed in obedience trials with her own dogs. Gina has earned the esteem of trainers and other top-selling pet writers, all of whom have praised her breezy writing style and dogged pursuit of the facts. She also counts among her readers scores of veterinarians, many of whom use her articles in their practices to help educate their clients. Gina has been active in efforts to help homeless pets, organizing and running a breed-rescue program in her community. She has served on the board of directors for both the Cat Writers Association and the Dog Writers Association of America, and served as contest chair of the DWAA writing contest in 1993. The DWAA has three times awarded her its Maxwell Medallion for Best Newspaper Column, and Pedigree dog food presented her with its Outstanding Journalist Pet Care Award in 1993. In 1995, she was honored with the Geraldine R. Dodge Award for an article promoting cooperation between shelters and breed-rescue groups. The Cat Writers Association has twice awarded her column a Certificate of Excellence.
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