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Prevent food guarding: The AKC shares tips to avoid defensive behavior
The urge for dogs to guard their food is natural. If you notice your dog is defensive of their toys or bed, it is important to take action to keep it from progressing.
To prevent your dog from food guarding, the American Kennel Club suggests the following tips:
Give your dog space during mealtime. Refrain from interacting with your pup ...Read more
Ask The Vet: Wobbly Kitten With CH Can Have Good Quality of Life
Q: My friend adopted a kitten she named Clown because she's so funny to watch. Clown has a condition called CH, which makes her wobble like a drunk and sometimes fall over. What exactly is CH?
A: CH is cerebellar hypoplasia, a condition caused by incomplete (hypo-) development (-plasia) of the cerebellum, the part of the brain that coordinates ...Read more

My Pet World: A cat gets stressed and stops eating when the owner goes on vacation
Dear Cathy,
I have two sibling cats, one male and one female, who have been with me since they were eight weeks old. They are now nine years old. During my recent week-long vacation, my male cat stopped drinking water, leading to dehydration and constipation. He also had a bowel movement outside the litter box and vomited.
My vet prescribed ...Read more

House cats with bird flu could pose a risk to public health
More than 80 domestic cats, among many other types of mammals, have been confirmed to have had bird flu since 2022 — generally barn cats that lived on dairy farms, as well as feral cats and pets that spend time outdoors and likely caught it by hunting diseased rodents or wild birds.
Now, a small but growing number of house cats have gotten ...Read more

The AKC offers tips on how to keep your dog safe around Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is coming up and many homes will be filled with chocolates and flowers. Most dog owners are aware of the danger of giving chocolate to dogs, but accidents do happen and every year thousands of dogs are still seen at veterinary emergency rooms for chocolate ingestion.
Here are some tips to identify, prevent and treat ...Read more

Why Is Your Cat Peeing Outside the Litter Box
Cats are known for their fastidious nature, which makes it all the more frustrating when they start peeing outside the litter box. This behavior can be a sign of an underlying issue, ranging from medical conditions to environmental stress. Understanding the cause is key to resolving the problem and restoring harmony in your home.
Medical ...Read more
Ask the Vet: Garlic and Onions Toxic to Dogs
Q: Whenever my partner and I treat ourselves to roasted garlic on warm French bread, our dog begs for some. Is garlic safe for dogs?
A: No, so please don't let him snack on it. Garlic, onions and related vegetables are members of the genus Allium, and all are toxic to dogs.
Garlic is more toxic than onions, which are more toxic than shallots, ...Read more

My Pet World: Easing your dog’s car ride fears
Dear Cathy,
I have a three-year-old Shih Tzu mix who has brought tremendous joy to our household. The one major issue is her anxiety when traveling in a car. She pants incessantly throughout the ride but is fine as soon as it’s over. It doesn’t matter if it’s a 5-minute trip or a longer drive.
We’ve tried over-the-counter and ...Read more

What to do when your elderly dog has diarrhea
If your elderly dog has diarrhea, there are steps you can take to help manage their condition while keeping them comfortable.
Monitor for Other Symptoms
Diarrhea in older dogs can be caused by diet changes, infections, food allergies, stress or underlying health conditions like kidney disease. Watch for signs like lethargy, vomiting...Read more

Fair-weather pets: These states have seen the biggest change in cats surrendered to shelters
The year has started fairly positively for the shelters and rescue facilities caring for homeless kitties. In most parts of the country, shelters recorded notably lower rates of cat surrenders in 2024 than in 2023 and 2022, with around 340,000 cats surrendered to shelters by December of last year, according to Shelter Animals Count's intake ...Read more

Tips to keep your dog from accidentally starting a fire
During the winter months, everyone is trying to keep the heat in and the cold out. The use of heating devices and candles, while effective, can be a serious fire hazard. Especially with a four-legged friend running around.
The American Kennel Club offers these tips to help prevent home fires and keep your pets safe:
Install smoke detectors...Read more
Ask the Vet: Which brands are best for my cats?
Q: I heard that byproducts are bad for pets, so I want to buy cat food that is free of them. What brands do you recommend?
A: Actually, byproducts are full of nutrients, and it would be unwise to forgo them.
A byproduct is something produced or left over when something else is made. In the U.S., most people who eat meat consume only the animal...Read more

My Pet World: Tips for re-housetraining your dogs
Dear Cathy,
I have two small dogs, neither of which are housetrained – a five-year-old “shorkie” I got four years ago, and a 10-year-old Shih Tzu mix that I just added to the family.
When I first got the “shorkie,” I tried to crate train him, but he would go berserk. He had been thrown out of a car, so was likely very traumatized. ...Read more
Detroit council approves ban on selling dogs, cats at pet shops in city
DETROIT — Detroit is banning the sale of dogs and cats at retail pet stores in the city, under a new ordinance the city council approved Tuesday.
In a unanimous vote, the council approved the measure, which still allows breeders to still sell dogs and cats directly to the public. Pet stores also could work with animal adoption groups to sell ...Read more

Does your feline think she's a tiger? 'Cats: Predators to Pets' exhibit shows she has a point
CHICAGO -- The Field Museum’s lakefront building isn’t original to the “White City” constructed for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, but its collection began as a permanent home for many of the items exhibited at that famous fair. One of these 19th century specimens, a taxidermy tiger, is now prominently displayed in an array of ...Read more

The Chihuahua: A Small Dog with a Big Personality
The Chihuahua is one of the smallest dog breeds in the world, yet it carries itself with the confidence and charisma of a much larger dog. Known for their larger-than-life personalities and strong bond with their owners, Chihuahuas have become a beloved breed for many pet enthusiasts. In this article, we’ll delve into the history of the ...Read more

The AKC offers socialization tips for your puppy
Socializing your pup is an important part of being a responsible dog owner. Making sure your dog is comfortable and well-behaved around others is critical and should start early on in their training. It is key to start exposing your puppy to new people, places and situations as soon as you can for them to feel happy and confident throughout ...Read more

Understanding Separation Anxiety in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Separation anxiety is a common behavioral condition in dogs that can lead to significant stress for both pets and their owners. It occurs when a dog becomes overly attached to their human companion and experiences extreme distress when left alone. This article will explore the causes, symptoms, and practical treatment strategies for managing ...Read more

Paris Hilton's foster dog is 'sliving her best life'
Paris Hilton's foster dog is "sliving her best life" after she rescued the pooch amid the Los Angeles wildfires.
The 43-year-old socialite opened up her home to Chihuahua mix Zuzu, who was being cared for at the Pasadena Humane Society after her owners lost their homes in the devastating blazes and she fitted in so well to their household, she'...Read more

Dogs paired with providers at hospitals help ease staff and patient stress
DENVER — Outside HCA HealthONE Rose medical center, the snow is flying. Inside, on the third floor, there’s a flurry of activity within the labor and delivery unit.
“There’s a lot of action up here. It can be very stressful at times,” said Kristina Fraser, an OB-GYN in blue scrubs.
Nurses wheel a very pregnant mom past.
“We’re ...Read more
Inside Pets
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