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Ask the Vet: Protect Cats Traveling in Motor Home
Q: My spouse and I want to take our dog and two cats on a monthlong trip across the United States in our 30-foot recreational vehicle. The dog is no problem, but we are concerned about whether this is feasible with the cats. What's your advice?
A: Your family can make this work, but only if the cats are amenable. I suggest you first take an ...Read more
My Pet World: Mom concerned over dog’s reaction to adult daughter
Dear Cathy,
I have an adult daughter on the autism spectrum. She is high-functioning and lives in an assisted living environment. When she visits, our dog, Willow, growls and barks at her. My daughter has done nothing to warrant this response, and it breaks my heart and hers to see it because she wants to have a positive relationship with ...Read more
Getting kids involved in dog training: AKC offers tips on learning responsible dog ownership
For some parents, kids begging for a puppy might be a familiar experience. The kids might even win out!
Although there are many joys in adding a new canine companion to the family, owning a dog is a big responsibility. Kids might not anticipate all that goes into responsible dog ownership.
Involving your kids in dog training is a great way...Read more
Chinese zoo exhibit features dogs disguised as pandas
(UPI) A Chinese zoo exhibit is raising controversy online after a video showed a pair of dogs with their fur colored to look like pandas.
A video posted to Douyin, China's version of TikTok, went viral this week after showing the two fluffy chow chow dogs with their fur artificially colored to resemble pandas at the Shanwei Zoo in southern ...Read more
Cat vanishes in Yellowstone, turns up 800 miles away
(UPI) A cat who went missing during a camping trip in Yellowstone National Park turned up 60 days later on the streets of a California town more than 800 miles away.
Benny and Susanne Anguiano of Salinas, Calif., said they often take their cats with them on camping trips, but during a June trip to Yellowstone National Park one of their pets, ...Read more
Ask The Vet: Chocolate Toxic to Dogs
Q: Our dog Riley ate a lot of semisweet chocolate bits. His veterinarian advised us to use hydrogen peroxide to make him throw up. After Riley vomited all the chocolate, he was fine.
What are the toxic effects of chocolate? How much does it take to make a dog sick?
A: Before I became a veterinarian, one of my golden retrievers ate a big bag of...Read more
My Pet World: Submissive urination, butter fingers, and a cat who vomits
Dear Cathy, We have a nine-month-old pup, Winnie, who gets very excited whenever anyone visits our home. She squirms, wiggles her butt wildly, and then lays on her back, continuing to squirm. Eventually, she also piddles on the floor. We love her dearly, but this behavior is becoming a nuisance. What can we do to prevent her from greeting our ...Read more
Vet care costs are skyrocketing in California. 8 people share their bill horror stories
LOS ANGELES -- Two things are certain in pet parenting: 1) your furry loved one will one day have to visit the vet and 2) the cost of veterinary care is increasing, rising more than 60%, over the last decade, according to a recent New York Times report.
Stacie Straw, in Long Beach, California, spent about $30,000 in 2022 on her English Bulldog ...Read more
Firefighters give lifesaving CPR to dog rescued from a cooking blaze
(UPI) Utah firefighters rescued a dog from an apartment blaze that seems to have been caused by cooking, officials say.
The emergency call came in around 5:30 a.m. EDT, and rescue officials located a burning unit in Midvale.
The only resident inside the apartment at the time was a dog, who had been in a kennel and was not responding when ...Read more
Tips for handling a hyperactive dog
Hyperactivity is a commonly reported behavioral concern of dog owners. In many cases, the problem is really that the dog may need a more suitable exercise plan and activity opportunities.
The American Kennel Club offers the following tips for the owner of the energetic dog:
Daily exercise. Adequate exercise is extremely important for your ...Read more
Dog rescued after weeks of wandering N.J. highways
(UPI) A New Jersey animal shelter said a Jack Russell terrier spotted running loose for weeks along highways near Newark Liberty International Airport is now safe and has a new name: Monkey.
The dog, believed to be under a year old, was spotted on multiple occasions over the course of several weeks and evaded previous capture attempts.
The ...Read more
Ask The Vet: Protect Dog From Intestinal Parasites With Monthly Dewormer
Q: My dog Frankie and I were at the dog park when another dog had diarrhea and the owner did a poor job cleaning up. Now I'm worried that every time we visit this dog park, Frankie may be exposed to parasites. Is this a valid concern?
A: Yes, so be sure you give him a broad-spectrum chewable or topical dewormer every month throughout the year. ...Read more
My Pet World: How to curb a dog’s food-seeking behaviors and coax a cat downstairs
Dear Cathy,
I have a little beagle that someone just dropped about a year ago. She is the sweetest dog but has gotten fat. She has gotten terrible about taking food out of your hand, jumping up to the table to get food, and taking food out of the refrigerator. She went through obedience training and did well. This food thing started within the ...Read more
Would you consider cloning your pets?
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Everyone has that one pet in life who they fall in love with at first sight — or first scratch.
For San Francisco resident Wyatt Boumedine, that was Zine, his white cat with a raccoon-like tail who would constantly growl, claw — and probably curse, if he could speak — at his owner. But Boumedine adored him. When Zine ...Read more
Canine infectious respiratory disease: new research insights
It is incredibly important to stay alert to any changes in your dog’s health. Any minor differences in the way they are breathing or walking can be indications of a health problem. There is always research being done on new and existing diseases to better educate pet owners on what to look out for in and how to treat different diseases.
...Read more
Lost cat turns up 2,000 miles from home after nearly 3 years
(UPI) A cat who went missing from his family's Texas home nearly three years ago was reunited with his owners after turning up in Massachusetts.
The Dakin Humane Society said on social media that "a skinny stray cat" was recently brought in by a member of the public and staff members were left in disbelief when his microchip identified ...Read more
Ask the Vet: Cat Scratching Posts Must Be Tall, Stable and Numerous
Q: We read your column about the importance of not declawing cats -- or, as you put it, amputating their toes. We're convinced! Now our question is: What can we do to prevent our cats from scratching our furniture?
A: Multiple toe amputation, euphemistically called declawing, causes long-term medical and behavioral problems in cats. Readers who...Read more
Dog bites: How to prevent or treat them
Each year, more than 4.5 million dog bites occur in the United States. Despite what you might assume, most of these incidents dot happen when an unfamiliar dog attacks someone in a park or another outdoor location. Instead, most dog bites are inflicted by a pet dog in a home.
Here’s advice for avoiding these upsetting and potentially serious ...Read more
My Pet World: Managing behavioral challenges — Peeing issues, cognitive decline, and aggression
Dear Cathy,
I have a rescue cat who has always been skittish, but developed unfortunate peeing habits at about a year old. I tried hyper cleaning litter boxes (we have four) and changed litter types, but nothing has helped. We have pulled up the rugs in the house. I did the whole workup with the vet, and he put him on medication, which helped...Read more
Most popular dog breeds in the US and the states where they're #1
From bags of kibble in the grocery store to modern home sizes, things are getting smaller—and evidently, Americans are starting to look for furry friends that match. Small breeds like terriers and toys have largely dethroned the retrievers that once dominated the most popular breed rankings. This is a continuation of a trend that began in 2022...Read more
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