Articles

Finding the Best Halloween Costume for Your Pet Halloween isn’t just for people anymore. Pets are joining the fun as well with costumes made just for them. Although pet costumes are certainly cute, dressing up might not be the right choice for every pet. Before you go costume shopping, you’ll want to consider these factors. Your Pet’s Personality Some pets

Is a surgery in your pet’s future? If it is, you probably have a few questions about pre- and post-surgery care. Paying close attention to care recommendations will help you ensure that the surgery is just a minor disruption to your pet’s normal routine. Before Surgery Stop Food Your pet will need to stop eating prior to surgery. If your

Does your dog like to bark, dig and chew everything in his line of sight? Before you panic and head straight for doggy boot camp, the solution may be simpler than you think. Just as humans do, dogs get bored. Unlike humans, however, dogs have fewer means of passing the time. Instead, bored dogs can develop unhealthy behaviors and stress-related

Pet owners keeping reptiles in captivity as household pets may sometimes find that their pets have a nutritional deficiency. Metabolic bone disease is “the most common nutritional deficiency affecting captive reptiles,” advises veterinarian Fredrick L. Frye in Reptile Care: An Atlas of Diseases and Treatments. Dr. Frye suggests that the disease is a result of dietary intake creating an excessive amount

The Environmental Protection Agency indicates that polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have a negative impact on your health and environment. These chemicals in your home environment may be causing harm to your pet without your knowledge. In the body, PBDEs are found in breast milk, blood and the blood of umbilical cords. These chemical compounds persist in the environment and accumulate

When examining a blood panel, a veterinarian may report to the owner that a pet has hypercalcemia, which is an elevated level of calcium in the blood. The owner often then wonders if there is too much calcium in the pet’s food or in the vitamins or supplements the pet is taking. Ingesting calcium in food or canine nutritional supplements

Camping is an increasingly popular activity for families and their pets. Many dogs and some cats enjoy traveling with their families. Here are a few tips to help make your pet’s adventure into the great outdoors a success. Research the campground or area that you are planning on visiting. Not all campgrounds accept pets and many wilderness areas have leash

Reading Cat Food Labels: What Nutrients Does Your Cat Need? Product labels provide the information you need to decide if a particular food is a good choice for your feline friend, but they can be a little difficult to decipher. Here’s what you need to know about cat food labels. Understanding the Information on the Label Before you take a

Why You Never Want to Leave Your Pet in the Car News stories about pets dying in hot cars begin appearing in the news media about this time every year. Unfortunately, some pet owners ignore these cautionary tales, assuming that something so tragic could never happen to their pets. No matter how quickly you plan to return to your vehicle,

Unlike your dog, you’ve probably never had the urge to lick someone to show you care. Pets not only demonstrate affection by licking but may also pass along bacteria that can trigger serious infections in humans. Although the infections aren’t common, they can be severe and life-threatening in some people. What Types of Infections Can I Get from My Dog?