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Dogs Travel & Safety

Xylitol: Keep Away From Dogs!

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes Florida resident Britani Atkinson was sitting on her porch, catching up with her brother and other family members who’d just arrived for a visit, when her teen son called her cell phone. His urgent message: “You need to come inside and see this.” Atkinson rushed in to find their 5-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever, Link, lying […]

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Activities & Enrichment Dogs Travel & Safety

Are Power Walks Good for Your Dog?

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes You see them everywhere, and you may think kinda cool, a dog walker with anywhere from four to a dozen and even more dogs all strolling together in what are sometimes marketed as “power walks” or “pack leader walks.” A more accurate term may be “precarious walks.” Dog walkers can be a valuable benefit, assuming […]

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Dogs Holidays Shelters & Fostering

How Fostering Pets for the Holidays Benefits Them—And You!

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes Looking for a special way to add some magic to your holidays? Consider fostering a shelter pet! Karen Hirsch, public relations director for LifeLine Animal Project in Atlanta, Georgia – a nonprofit that manages two county shelters and a private shelter, in addition to other services – said fostering pets gives the animals a break […]

Categories
Cats Life at Home New Pets Senior Pets

Adopting a Senior Cat? Help Them Feel at Home

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes When senior cats end up in shelters, it’s often because their elderly owners have passed away and there’s no one to care for them. The good news is that they are ideal housemates for everyone: millennial singles, empty nesters, and of course, human seniors. November is Adopt a Senior Pet month. Give a senior cat […]

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Dogs Training & Grooming Travel & Safety

Why You Shouldn’t Use an In-Ground Fence System

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes The idea of having an open lawn—a requirement in some communities for aesthetic reasons—and still being able to keep your dog from roaming is enticing. Electric, in-ground fence systems cost less to install than traditional fencing and they may meet the requirements of your homeowners association. But the cost to your dog can be much […]

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Cats Uncategorized

Real-Life Cats Inspire Fictional Counterparts

Article

Reading Time: 4 minutes Cozy mystery authors have found that a furry friend for their main characters can be useful in solving crime. As in real life, the level of help cats provide will vary.

Categories
Dogs Fears & Anxieties Training & Grooming

The Snarling Side of Fear

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes “CAN HE HAVE CHICKEN?” I yelled, projecting over the commotion of the terrier barking and growling at me. He was safely behind a baby gate, something I had arranged ahead of time with my client. This was our first meeting. “SURE!” the client yelled back. I tossed a piece of freeze-dried chicken over the baby […]

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Dogs Training & Grooming

Dog Pulling on Leash? Fear Free Ways to Fix It

Article

Reading Time: < 1 minutes With training, management, and some “quick fix” strategies,
you can be walking smoothly with your dog in no time.

Categories
Cats Life at Home Veterinary Care

What Your Cat’s Hairballs Tell You

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes I remember a cat-loving friend telling me once that her cat Bradshaw had vomited a hairball. There was something off about the hairball – perhaps it was the appearance, or texture — that made my friend investigate further. She smelled the hairball, and it had a uniquely foul odor. My friend rushed her cat to […]

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Dogs Veterinary Care

Prep School: Help Dogs Get Ready for Blood Draws

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes By training your dog to accept the handling used by veterinary staff to draw blood, you can help to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress.