Everyone loves a puppy or kitten and the whole house gets excited about the idea of bringing one home. Sometimes, in the excitement we forget that taking responsibility for bringing a pet into the house is a lifelong commitment. Both you and your pet are aging and while it may seem trivial when you first bring a puppy or kitten into your home, knowing how to care for an elderly pet will become an important consideration in just a few short years. This article strives to answer some of the most important questions about living with an aging pet. When […]
Ideally, all pets would be allowed to live indoors with their owners and never have to worry about dealing with the elements. This however is not always the case. The following are some tips to consider when preparing your outdoor pets for the winter and summer seasons. Winter If temperatures drop below zero, pets should be brought indoors whenever possible. If this is not possible, be sure to provide adequate shelter with warm, clean bedding material such as blankets, straw or pine/cedar shavings. Be careful when using straw or shavings for dogs, as some dogs may have an allergic reaction […]
With approximately one-third of households in the US owning a dog or a cat, or both, businesses and communities across the country are offering an array of pet-friendly services. These services run the gamut from a shopkeeper placing a water bowl in front of their shop to large cities dedicating significant portions of their parks and recreation budgets to the pet-oriented citizen. In fact, some cities have purposely sought to cater to pet-friendly visitors wishing to include their family pet in their family vacation. There really is no limit anymore to the type and number of services available to the […]
Finding the right veterinarian for your pet is an important aspect of being a pet owner. It is important to find a vet and develop a relationship with them in the early stages of pet ownership. Don’t wait until your pet has a major illness and find yourself scrambling to find a good vet. Following are some things to consider when searching for a veterinarian. Location Try to find a vet close to home. Many pets become stressed when traveling in a car. The shorter the trip to the vet’s office, the less stressed they will be. A relaxed pet […]
Most of us are aware of the pet overpopulation problem in the United States and many other countries. In most places, the local municipal animal shelter is at the forefront of the effort to combat pet overpopulation. Today, the global economic slowdown has businesses, non-profit organizations and governments everywhere cutting back. Given these abiding issues, many of us are wondering what, besides paying our local taxes or making a charitable donation, we can do to help our local animal shelter. Volunteer The one thing many of us have in abundance these days is time. Consider spending a few hours a […]
Children have a natural curiosity about animals and at some point nearly every parent hears, “Mom, Dad, can I keep it?” as their child clutches a small furry something, beaming expectantly. The first worry most parents feel in this situation is, “how do I keep both my child and the new pet safe.” Many people don’t know that most domestic animals, with the right training, naturally respect and obey humans. This article will use the idea of teaching “mutual respect” to show how you can use it in your home to help you and your family transition a new pet […]
Adopting pets, particularly dogs and cats from rescues or saving them from shelters have become two of the most popular and inexpensive ways of finding a family pet. There are, however, some very important differences between rescues and shelters. This article will outline some of the biggest differences to help you choose which might be best for you to find your family pet. Adopting from a rescue group can be a somewhat long process, depending on the group. Many rescue groups require you to fill out an application where you will need to list veterinary and personal references. Once your […]
Every spring as the flowers begin to bloom and the wind shifts I can count on getting that itchy, watery-eyed, sneezy and scratchy feeling that says to anyone with allergies, “hay fever alert”. What I didn’t know until my vet told me, pets can get allergies like hay fever too. In fact, many of the most bothersome allergies found in humans (hay fever, food allergies, etc.) also show up in our closest animal companions such as dogs and cats. Many things might cause a moderate to severe allergic reaction in your pet. This list includes things that don’t usually cause […]
We all wish our pets could be with us everywhere we go but this is often impractical or impossible. Thus, many pet owners find themselves having to decide on one of the boarding kennels in their area. Here I hope to give you a few of the most important things you will want to consider when choosing a local boarding kennel to care for your pet while you are away. First, whenever possible, you should personally visit any boarding kennels you are considering. Pick two or three so you can do some comparison-shopping. You may want to do some phone […]
Over the past few years, veterinarians have begun to place increased emphasis on dental care for pets. Dental care is as important for the overall health of pets as it is for humans. According to the Animal Medical Center of New York, 85% of dogs and 50% of cats have periodontal disease by the age of three (http://www.amcny.org/dentistry). Proper dental care can prevent periodontal disease that can lead to more serious health issues, and could actually increase your pet’s life by two to five years. Stages of Periodontal Disease Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria in the mouth causing a […]
