Pet obesity is an epidemic, which is bad, but obesity also causes other serious diseases, which is worse. Diabetes is a growing concern among vets in the UK, and USA and dogs and cats are fairly equally affected. Diabetes is a chronic disease that can’t be cured. It requires lifelong treatment, and close management and monitoring.
Hip dysplasia in dogs is a condition in which the hip joint doesn’t develop sufficiently to support the leg bone. This results in gradual joint deterioration over time as the leg bone bumps and grinds against it.
Terriers are working dogs, bred to root vermin out of holes. They have more energy than most people can conceive and can going long after other dogs want a nap. Bear this in mind before you welcome a terrier into your home. They can be small, but they don’t always make good lap dogs. They’re far better suited to active lifestyles that include dog sports and activities.
Summer rolls round every year and every year it means the same thing? Shorts, strappy tops, flip flops, ice-cream and chilled drinks. But what about your pets? What can you do to make summer a fun time for your dogs and cats? It’s easy. Give them lip-smacking summer treats.
The first part of our buying vs. adopting a pet series looked at buying. In this part we look at rescuing pets.
People who adopt usually do so because they believe it’s the right thing to do. After all, you can give an abandoned, neglected or abused animal a second (third or fourth) shot at a happy home.
Once you’ve decided to get a pet, the biggest question is whether you’re going to buy or adopt. Almost everyone in animal welfare will tell you that adopting is by far the better option. But is it really right for you? We look the differences between buying pets and adopting pets, including the pros and cons of each, so that you can make an informed decision. We’re going to approach it in two parts, starting with buying.
Getting pets to take their medication is probably one of the most challenging tasks pet owners face. Cats are especially difficult because they don’t just spit out pills; they also claw and bite and put up a major fight that spills spit, half-dissolved tablets and your blood everywhere. It’s traumatic for both sides, for sure. Here are some tips on how to give your cat tablets and other meds.
If you’re going away on a business trip or holiday that is not going to be pet-friendly then you have two options:
A pet sitter is the better option because your pets can stay in their comfort zone and enjoy a mostly unchanged routine.
If you’ve never had a cat before, but feel like there is a kitty-shaped hole in your life you should think carefully about your expectations. For example, do you expect your cat to sleep on your lap while you read, or to automatically use the litter box, or not to kill the birds who visit your bird-feeder. What do you know or think you know about cat behavior?
Stoners think it’s a hoot to get their pets high (it’s really not, so don’t do it). Anecdotal evidence suggests that cannabis-based products can be good for pets. They alleviate pain, nausea and anxiety in dogs and cats. The key point is that all evidence is anecdotal. There is no scientific evidence to support the use of medical marijuana in pets.
