The 28th of September is World Rabies Day. You might wonder why there’s a full day for one disease that’s easily preventable. The truth is that not every community, not every country, has as robust a vaccination plan in place, so the threat of death from rabies is very, very real. Rabies is the oldest infectious disease we know of,...Read More
Cats are great. Nobody’s gonna deny that (okay, some people would very much like to deny that, but that’s alright). But even people who love cats don’t always understand their mysterious ways, or have learned some “common sense” techniques for dealing with cat problems that maybe don’t stand up to scrutiny. So let’s take you through some common cat issues,...Read More
What breed doesn’t tell you You may have seen the recent study that came out looking at the correlation between breed and behavior. In short, researchers determined through surveying nearly 20,000 dogs from a wide variety of backgrounds that “dog breed is generally a poor predictor of individual behavior and should not be used to inform decisions relating to selection...Read More
You’re lounging in a chair in your yard. The sun is shining, birds are singing. Your dog is running around in the sea of green grass that surrounds you. You just cut the lawn yesterday, and your bare feet in the grass feels so good. The lawn means many things to many people. But how did it come to be?...Read More
Among diseases dogs can contract, parvovirus is one of the most heartbreaking, because it’s very contagious, lives a long time in the environment, and can wreak havoc on an unvaccinated pet, especially puppies, causing death. It’s no joke. We want to make sure you know everything you need to know about what it is, how it’s spread, and how you...Read More
You’ve just taken your first step into a larger world and decided to get a cat. You’ve never had a cat before. What do you do? How do you begin? What do you need to give this new friend their best chance at success? Whether you’re getting a kitten or adopting an adult cat from a shelter, the basic needs...Read More
Ticks. Yuck. Right? I mean, they’re pretty gross. But they’re more than just gross. They’re dangerous, and not just for you. Dogs in particular are more common hosts for ticks than humans are. And cats are vulnerable, too. More than that, climate change is creating shifts in where and when ticks are most prevalent, which means that even if you...Read More
Only an estimated 4% of dogs have been through any sort of training, which is a shame, because it has lots of benefits that go beyond the ability to sit and stay. Let’s look at a few. 1. Strengthening that bond. Dog training isn’t just about your dog learning to understand commands; it’s also about you learning how to understand...Read More
“Old age does not announce itself.” — South African proverb You don’t expect it. After years of companionship, something’s different about your furry friend. They move differently. They slow down a little bit. It’s time to face it; your pet’s getting older. PET AGING Used to be that you could easily figure out your dog’s “real” age by multiplying how...Read More
Just one more treat. That’s what you’re thinking, isn’t it, when you’re sitting there with your pets? Just give ‘em one more treat. What harm could it do? But wait! Before you toss that treat, think about the ramifications. Fully 1/3 of pets are considered overweight, and if you factor in those who cross over into the obese category, we’re...Read More