Pet Related News

July 17, 2003 - April 5, 2005

Should you have health insurance for your pets?

If your pets need only routine care for all their lives, pet health insurance probably costs more than the cost of veterinary bills. On the other hand, if your pets require emergency treatment or ongoing care for a chronic condition, pet insurance can save you a lot of money.

Read more about
Insurance for Pets


Article by Lois Summers

Fluffy and Fido play together, eat together, and even sleep together — or so you've heard. Some cats and dogs do become best friends, while in other households, they just tolerate each other, or they don't get along at all.

Millions of Americans live with at least one dog and one cat. How do they do it?

Read more about
Can Cats and Dogs Live Together?


Article by Lois Summers

Does declawing harm cats? Is it really worse than spaying or neutering? Are there other successful methods to prevent cats from clawing furniture?

Yes, yes, and yes.

Read more about
To Declaw or Not Declaw Your Cat


Article by Lois Summers

They work without a contract and they don't receive salaries, but they never complain or go on strike. We rely on them and they thrive under the responsibility we give them.

Service dogs, also called assistance dogs, are trained to meet the disability-related needs of people with disabilities.


Read more about
Jobs for Dogs: Service and Therapy Dogs


Article by Lois Summers

Fido is eating less, he's tired all the time, and he doesn't have enough energy for exercise. He's been having difficulty breathing. You hear abnormal sounds from his lungs, and he has a deep, soft cough. He may be losing weight and vomiting. Fluffy may also be having these problems . or you may see no signs of the condition that could kill her.

You know something is wrong, but what? And what can you do about it?

Read more about Heartworm Disease in Dogs and Cats


Article by Lois Summers

Your prized furniture has become a collection of cat scratching posts. While Fluffy can't stop herself from scratching, you can't accept the destruction of your furniture. Can scratch-free furniture and cats co-exist?

To prevent your cat from scratching furniture, you need to convince her that scratching furniture isn't pleasurable, and that the alternatives you provide are.

Read more about When Your Cat Scratches the Furniture


Article by Lois Summers

Dogs can be athletes too. In dog agility competitions, dogs negotiate obstacles while following their handlers' directions. Judges award points for speed and accuracy, and they hand out fault points for mistakes on the course. Dogs gain skills, confidence, and an increased fitness level while playing in a giant doggie playground.

Read more about The sport of Dog Agility


Article by Lois Summers

Fido barks and dances in circles to greet you. He barks when you come home and when he's home alone. He frightens off burglars and brings in neighbors' complaints. Fluffy, on the other hand, purrs when you sit down for her to snuggle on your lap. The neighbors never complain about her meows, but they do complain when she digs up their gardens.

Read more about Cats Versus Dogs: Which Are Better Pets?


Article by Lois Summers

Fido's arthritic legs sometimes collapsed under him. He was having difficulty walking up and down stairs, and he could lie on only one side.

His owner started him on a homeopathic remedy. Three days later, the leg trembling had stopped, and within a week, he could climb and descend stairs without pain. He no longer favored one side when he was lying down.

Read more about Homeopathy for Animals


Article by Lois Summers

Rain, wind, snow, and ice. Cold temperatures and the accompanying weather can cause discomfort to our pets as well as to us. It can also be life-threatening. Adjust to the elements with your pets, and they'll be safer and healthier.

Read more about Protecting Your Pet from Winter Cold



Article by Lois Summers

What is the perfect gift for Fluffy or Fido's caregiver? You can spend a little, a lot, or even nothing — just give of your time. We've compiled some ideas to help you choose gifts for the pet owners in your life.

Read more about Gift Ideas for Pet Owners

Article by Lois Summers

Veterinarians are not alike. Neither are veterinary clinics. Choose your pet's veterinarian carefully, and when your pet needs veterinary care, everyone will be happier.

Read more about How to Choose a Veterinarian

Article by Lois Summers

You're emotionally ready for your new puppy, kitten, dog, or cat. You've done your shopping — pet food, dishes, toys, brush, comb, identification tag, litter box, litter, collar, leash. Now you need to see your home from a dog or cat's point of view.

Read more about How to Pet-Proof Your Home

Article by Lois Summers

Fluffy purrs when you stroke her head. Your hand moves down her back, along her soft fur. You feel the pleasure of connecting with your feline friend.

Suddenly her teeth or claws meet your skin.

Your cat didn't turn into a monster. She gave you feline messages that she'd had enough, but we humans tend to be dense about understanding cat-speak.

Read more about Understand and Communicate with Your Cat



Article by Lois Summers

Dog neutering is a routine veterinary operation, but the decision is not always routine. Some people are concerned that having their dog neutered reduces his quality of life. In reality, unless you're a professional dog breeder, you're giving your dog far more than you're taking from him when you have him neutered.

Read more about Should You Have Your Dog Neutered?


Article by Lois Summers

As cats and dogs get older, they're prone to many of the same ailments that people may experience with aging. Unfortunately, instead of helping their companions grow old gracefully, some people replace their aging pets as they would an older car. Shelters are full of even healthy older animals that no one wants.

Animals have even more to give when they need you more. Learn how to manage their problems, and you'll be rewarded as you help your cat or dog live a longer and more comfortable senior life.

Read more about Your Aging Cat or Dog

Kids call it Cops and Robbers. To cats and dogs, the premise of the game is the same, but the players are different. While rabbits see things a little differently, they can get into the fun too.

When we're one of the players, playing becomes a way to bond with our pets more and have fun ourselves. Playing also provides our pets with exercise and a positive outlet for aggression.

Read more about Games Animals Play


Article by Lois Summers

Itchy, puffy, watery, red eyes. A stuffy or runny nose. Sneezing. A scratchy or sore throat. Itchy skin. Hives. Shortness of breath.

Allergic reactions to family pets can develop in childhood or in adulthood, even after years of living with animals. Finding another home for pets is often not an acceptable option. In a 1997 study, only 21 percent of adults with allergies to dogs or cats complied with their doctors' advice to stop sharing living quarters with their pets. What can you do if you become allergic to Fluffy or Fido?

Read more about When You're Allergic to Animals


Article by Lois Summers

We remember...Blackie. Or Brandy. Or Buddy. Animals don't live forever, but the imprint of their bonds with children does. Adult help in selecting pets and guiding children in their care can help nourish these bonds.

Read more about Children and Pets: Choosing a Pet for a Child


Article by Lois Summers

He's panting excessively. He's restless and agitated, or maybe lethargic. He salivates, vomits, staggers, and loses coordination. If you're there to see it, you may observe that his eyes are glazed, and his gums and tongue are reddish or purple. In just a short time, he may lose consciousness.

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are preventable when you know how to take care of animals in hot weather. If you see these symptoms, you need to act fast to save the animal's life.

Read more about Protecting Your Pet from Summer Heat


Article by Lois Summers

Fido or Fluffy may be lethargic. Or hyperactive. Eating less and gaining weight, or eating more and losing weight. Feeling cold. Feeling hot.

The thyroid gland, which sits against the windpipe, could be responsible.

Read more about Thyroid problems in Dogs and Cats


Article by Lois Summers

To cats, gardens are a little piece of heaven. Fresh soil makes a perfect litter box, and seedlings that get uprooted in the digging process are of no consequence to them. You may not want your cat in your garden, and if the cats in your garden aren't your cats, you probably like having them there even less.

The solution? Make your garden unattractive to cats, and give them a garden of their own.

Read more about Gardens for People and Gardens for Cats


Article by Lois Summers

First, they're kittens and puppies. They wiggle and totter and fall in love with us as we fall for them. Kittens and puppies remind us what it's like to start on life's great adventures, but they require a lot more work than adult cats and dogs do.

Read more about Adopting an Adult Cat or Dog



Article by Lois Summers

It's annoying. It's sometimes maddening. It can even be life threatening.

Your dog's bark may not be as bad as his bite, but dogs' barking is a common reason that dogs are poisoned. The good news is that you can work with your dog to reduce his urge to bark.

Read more about When Your Dog Barks Too Much


Article by Lois Summers

It happens on your linoleum floor. Or worse, on your carpet. Your cat has done her litter-box business somewhere other than in the litter box. Why? And what can you do?

Read more about When Your Cat Won't Use the Litter Box


Article by Lois Summers

They didn't have — or need — toothbrushes. For the ancestors of our dogs and cats, chewing through bone and skin of wild prey accomplished the same job. Unlike their wild ancestors, though, domesticated dogs and cats eat mostly food that's gentle on the teeth and gums. Without the workout that the teeth and gums need, dental problems typically develop after the first few years of life.

Read more about Dental Care for Dogs and Cats


Article by Lois Summers

Some have been abused. They may have lived in real homes until their families lost interest in them, and they were discarded like old toys. The luckier ones lived with people who loved them but were no longer able to take care of them. They came from humane societies or crowded animal shelters, or were found on the street. All of them are waiting at a pet rescue for a new home, where they can love and be loved in return.

Starting over isn't easy, but in the success stories at animal rescue organization websites, you can read how dogs, cats, guinea pigs, horses, and other animals adapted to their new homes and families. And when we change animals' lives by giving them a second chance, they change our lives too.

Read more about Animal Rescue Organizations: Where Hearts Keep on Giving


Article by Lois Summers

Fluffy and Fido are scratching, shaking, and rubbing their heads and ears. It looks like ear mites...or ear infections. Both are common with cats and dogs, but how can you tell the difference, and what can you do about the problem?

Read more about Cat and Dog Ear problems: Ear Mites and Infections


Article by Lois Summers

Fences aren't always practical. Even if you have one, some dogs can jump them, and to cats, they're just a flat, narrow tree to climb.

Indoors, we may want to limit our pets from out-of-bounds areas. Counters, tables, couches, babies' rooms, balconies, and poisonous plants may be restricted areas or objects. Training methods such as spraying water deter pets only while we're there.

Fortunately, there are other types of pet containment systems.

Click here for the full story.

Article by Lois Summers

Your cat darts across the carpet like it's a bed of hot coals. Your dog has become a 24/7 scratching machine. You find red, itchy bite marks on your body when you wake up.

Fleas can attach themselves to animals outdoors, move indoors with you, jump from one pet to another, spring from carpets or upholstered furniture, or hatch from dormant larvae in your home. They can live year-round indoors, and outdoors as well in warmer climates.

Walk into a pet shop and you'll find topical flea treatments ranging from flea spray to flea shampoos. They may work to rid your pet of fleas — but are they safe?

Click here for the full story.

Article by Lois Summers

Cat Bag, a commercial venture in Tokyo, Japan that charges people approximately $5 to play with cats, is proving to be very successful.

"People may think cats are common because they used to be everywhere," Makoto Suematsu, the proprietor, told an Asahi Newspaper reporter. "However, cats are not familiar animals anymore. There are many people who want to have a cat, but are not able to do so."

Click here for the full story.

Originally published December 7, 2001
By David Milner/Animal News Center

Some artists have taken to killing animals in the name of what they call art.

Still others have claimed they are guaranteed the freedom of artistic expression by law and that this supersedes any rights that the animals they kill may have.

Animal advocates have been contacting the ministry of Sweden to voice their protests.

Click here for the full story.

By Sherry Morse/Animal News Center

Police were tipped off by doctors after Antoine Yates appeared at the emergency room complaining of a pit bull bite. Upon finding the damage much to extreme to be a dog bite doctors became suspicious and phoned police. When the police arrived to investigate, they were surprised to find themselves face to face with a 400# bengal tiger.

Click here for the more info.

By OD Newswire

Pet microchips are becoming increasingly popular around the world. But as their popularity increases, the debate over microchipping animals has heated up as well. Even as some cities are passing laws to mandate them, other pet owners see them as curel and would like to see them outlawed. In this article, we try and shed some light on mysteries behind microchipping.

Click here for the full story.

By OD Newswire

It might be if you don't know what to watch out for. Many things found commonly around our homes are deadly to animals. Did you know that grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs? That garlic and onions are toxic to cats? It's true. Items as simple as chocolate, coffee grounds, and even apple seeds can be fatal if ingested by your pet. In this article, we discuss how to prevent pet poisoning, and what to do if you suspect your pet has been poisoned.

Read more about pet poisioning prevention.

By OD Newswire

Feliway behavior modification spray has always been the coup-de-gras product for stopping unwanted cat spraying, urination, and marking. However, because you have to apply the Feliway spray to each location your cat has or might spray twice every day, Feliway spray is not the most convienent product to use. In fact, many Feliway users do not receive the full benefit of the Feliway spray because they quit using the product prematurely or under apply the Feliway spray.

It appears that the powers that be at Farnham heard the cries of Feliway customers everywhere. This spring, Feliway was introduced Feliway Comfort Zone. Comfort Zone is a plug in dispenser similar to many popular plug in air fresheners. Now all you do is plug in one Feliway Comfort Zone dispenser for every 650s sq.ft you need protected and the product does the rest. One bottle of Feliway Plug-in lasts approximately 30 days. This works out nicely because the recommended time period for using Feliway Comfort Zone is 30 days.

Feliway spray is an analogue of feline facial pheromones designed to mimic naturally occurring feline pheromones. By applying these "happy" pheremones, Farnham claims a 95% success rate at eliminating spraying, urine marking, and scratching.

For more information about the Feliway Comfort Zone plug in, Please visit OdorDestroyer.com.

By OD Newswire