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Dogs Fears & Anxieties Training & Grooming

Monster Alert! Helping Your Dog Overcome Fear of the Vacuum Cleaner

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes “The monster must DIE!” At least, that’s what I imagined the Chow mix was thinking as she launched herself at the vacuum cleaner, growling and snapping as if she were taking on a zombie horde. I cued the owner to shut off the machine. “You’re right,” I nodded. “She hates the vacuum cleaner.” Now that […]

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Dogs Training & Grooming

Pandemic Pups Learn About Visitors

Article

Reading Time: 5 minutes Now that vaccination rates are rising, you may be starting to think about having visitors come to your home again. This may be a big surprise for your recently acquired dog. “It’s the classic pandemic puppy story,” says Beth Harpaz. “My husband and I wanted a dog to bring some joy into our boring pandemic […]

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Cats Shelters & Fostering

Cats Wanted; Dogs Need Not Apply

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes Like humans, animals need a purpose in life. Although dogs are often in the spotlight for the jobs they do, cats are not to be outshone. Working cats have their own areas of expertise, going beyond the familiar entry-level job of barn cat. As a feral cat rescue and socialization facility, the Kitty Bungalow Charm […]

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Cats Dogs Life at Home Travel & Safety

Is It Okay for Pets to Eat Cicadas? Mostly, the Bugs are Harmless

Article

Reading Time: 2 minutes Depending on where you happen to live, your neighborhood may seem like a horror movie come to life. Millions of cicadas from Brood X, or the 17-year cicadas, will swarm and create a cacophony louder than several jackhammers. They are annoying to us but otherwise harmless, although some dogs consider them an opportunity for a […]

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Cats Veterinary Care

Plastic Surgery for Your Cat?

Article

Reading Time: 5 minutes A “nose job” or a “boob job” and “tummy tuck” for your cat? Yes! But not for cosmetic reasons to get her thousands of Instagram followers. Such reconstructive surgeries in pets are done strictly for medical reasons to improve quality of life. Take 2-year-old Pandora, a beautiful Persian kitty who was snoring a lot. At […]

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Dogs Senior Pets Veterinary Care

Pain and Pet Behavior: Learn How They’re Linked

Article

Reading Time: 5 minutes In some ways, the fact that pain will affect how a living creature behaves is obvious. If I have a bad headache, I’ll stop writing this article and go lie down. If my dog steps on something sharp, she’ll stop walking and hold up her paw. But even for an experienced pet owner, it can […]

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Activities & Enrichment Dogs

Flirt Your Way to a Tired Dog

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes Boing! Boing! The Boxer puppy was bouncing all over the place, her wiggly butt somehow defying physics and going in different directions at once. “We take her for three walks a day!” her owner complained. “She’s never tired!” Taking your dog for a walk is great for mental enrichment, but to truly exercise your energetic […]

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Senior Pets Veterinary Care

Fear Free Euthanasia: How to Say Goodbye Peacefully

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes You’ll remember your pet’s euthanasia for the rest of your life, and if your pet is agitated or anxious, you’ll remember that, too. Taking these few simple steps to plan ahead will make help make the experience easier for your pet and your family. When you make the difficult decision to euthanize your pet, there […]

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Activities & Enrichment

Strategies to Help Pets Enjoy a Stress-Free Summer

Article

Reading Time: 4 minutes The canine – and feline – nose knows. Expect pets to rely on their superior sense of smell this summer after being cooped up at home and limited to neighborhood boundaries during the pandemic. One year in a pet’s life is a mighty long time. Even some well-trained dogs and confident cats may feel a […]

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Cats Dogs Veterinary Care

Prepping Pets for Annual Visits: Vaccines

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes Before I moved to Texas, my allergies were like a normal person’s allergies–occasional sniffles, but no big deal. After living here for several years, I had to start getting 3 allergy injections into my upper arms every four weeks. I hate the sting of the needle and the feeling of cold liquid slowly going into […]