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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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 you pet had been poisoned.

Winter can be a tough time for humans and their animal companions.  Pets can experience many of the same ailments and dangers that humans face when the weather turns cold.  Unfortunately, pet-owners are not always aware of what they can do to ensure their animals are safe, warm and healthy through the winter months.  Two very dangerous issues for animals can be frostbite and deadly hypothermia.

Fluffy meows when she’s hungry, when she wants attention, when she smells food…and sometimes for reasons unknown to us. Her meowing may be conversational, or it may be annoying. Especially when we’re trying to fall asleep at night.

He sees the moving object or person. Or perhaps he sees it or him or her as a threat to his territory. His instinct to chase overcomes him, so he runs after the car, the bus, the truck, the bicyclist, the jogger. Victory! Although he didn’t manage to bring down lunch, he did frighten off the predator.

You and your honey are spending some quiet time together. Your honey touches you, and your dog whines, growls, or tries to get between the two of you. Or perhaps a new baby has joined the family, and your dog has become withdrawn or aggressive.