Category: Pets

Pets and Medication Errors

Your dog or cat is sick, and you head to the animal hospital. The veterinarian prescribes medications that you hope will make your pet better. But with pets, as with people, medication errors can happen. Just as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors medication errors that affect people, the agency watches out for mistakes… Continue reading Pets and Medication Errors

Disaster Preparedness for Your Pet

Pets are family. Do you have a plan for your pet in an emergency? Including pets in emergency plans helps your family’s ability to respond to an emergency. Be prepared: make a plan and prepare a disaster kit for your pet. Leaving pets out of evacuation plans can put pets, pet owners, and first responders… Continue reading Disaster Preparedness for Your Pet

Fresh and Raw Diets for Dogs May Have Health Benefits

Many dog owners think of their furry companions as part of the family, and now products are available to feed them that way, too. Some owners are moving away from traditional extruded kibble products, instead choosing ultra-premium fresh and raw diets found in the refrigerated aisle. The foods may look more similar to what we’d… Continue reading Fresh and Raw Diets for Dogs May Have Health Benefits

Who’s a Good Boy? Why “Dog-Speak” Is Important for Bonding with Your Pet

Scientists at the University of York in the UK have shown that the way we speak to our canine friends is important in relationship-building between pet and owner, similar to the way that “baby talk” is to bonding between a baby and an adult. The research paper was published in March 2018 in the journal… Continue reading Who’s a Good Boy? Why “Dog-Speak” Is Important for Bonding with Your Pet

Cats and Dogs Are Consuming Toxic Parabens In Their Pet Food

According to a release from the American Chemical Society, scientists examined how pets could be exposed to toxic parabens in their food. The report was published in February 12018 in ACS’ journal Environmental Science & Technology. The release explains that parabens are preservatives commonly found in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, and their use in human… Continue reading Cats and Dogs Are Consuming Toxic Parabens In Their Pet Food

Helping Veterinarians Navigate Complex Care Situations

Advances in veterinary technology provide pet owners with an ever-increasing array of treatment options for their pets. However, more options can lead to complex situations and difficult questions about care goals and quality of life that must be navigated by veterinary caregivers and pet owners. Clinicians and researchers from North Carolina State University and Duke… Continue reading Helping Veterinarians Navigate Complex Care Situations

Dog Safety Quiz

[Editor’s note: The U.S. Postal Service has created this quiz about how to stay safe – and keep others safe – around dogs.] Is it okay to open a door and let dogs out when a letter carrier drops off mail? Yes OR No Answer: NO If a letter carrier delivers mail or packages to… Continue reading Dog Safety Quiz

Best Car Accessories for Pet Owners

According to the ASPCA, 37 to 47 percent of all U.S. households have a dog, and 30 to 37 percent have a cat. Meanwhile, the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that more than 90 percent of all U.S. households have at least one car. When you combine the high number of pet owners with the high… Continue reading Best Car Accessories for Pet Owners

How to Safely Drive with a Pet in Your Car

Just a few decades ago, it was considered perfectly acceptable for adults to travel in cars without wearing seat belts and for young kids to ride without the safety and support of car seats. These days, we have access to better information and safer technology, and we wouldn’t dream of putting ourselves or our loved… Continue reading How to Safely Drive with a Pet in Your Car

Keep Calm and Measure Cats’ Blood Pressure!

The International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM), the veterinary division of International Cat Care, is highlighting some concerns about high blood pressure in our feline companions. Hypertension is a well-recognized condition in older cats, yet probably remains significantly underdiagnosed. The consequences can be severe, with target organ damage typically affecting the eyes, heart, brain and… Continue reading Keep Calm and Measure Cats’ Blood Pressure!

Therapy Dogs and Their Benefits to Senior Citizens

As the United States population shifts to more people over the age of 65 than ever before, healthcare providers are searching for new methods to help address some of the specific concerns of senior citizens. According to the Pew Research Center, every day for the next 19 years, 10,000 baby boomers will reach age 65. There are… Continue reading Therapy Dogs and Their Benefits to Senior Citizens

Children and Teens at Risk from Medicine Intended for Pets

Almost two thirds of households in the US own a pet and many of these households have children and teens that either live in or visit the home. As pet owners know, it is common for pets to need medications either to treat health conditions or to prevent things like fleas, ticks, and heartworm. Many… Continue reading Children and Teens at Risk from Medicine Intended for Pets

Bisphenol A in Canned Dog Food May Increase BPA Concentrations in Pets and People

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used industrial chemical found in many household items, including resins used to line metal storage containers, such as food cans. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that short-term feeding of canned dog food resulted in a significant increase of BPA in dogs. Scientists believe that because… Continue reading Bisphenol A in Canned Dog Food May Increase BPA Concentrations in Pets and People

Keep Your Dogs and Cats Safe From Holiday Hazards

This holiday season, while you’re busy decorating, cooking, and wrapping gifts, remember to watch out for holiday temptations for your pets. FDA veterinarian Carmela Stamper tells how to keep your animals safe. Stocking Stuffers and Pet Treats If your dog received a stocking full of pet treats, make sure he doesn’t gobble them all up… Continue reading Keep Your Dogs and Cats Safe From Holiday Hazards

“Food Puzzles” Can Boost Your Cat’s Wellbeing

The effect of “food puzzles” on cats is a relatively new area of study and a group of veterinarians and cat behavior consultants in the USA provide a welcome addition to the peer-reviewed literature with a state-of-the art review in the August 2016 issue of Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. A release from the… Continue reading “Food Puzzles” Can Boost Your Cat’s Wellbeing

MUTTS Comic Strip Creator Patrick McDonnell: “I Try My Best to Give a Voice to Shelter Animals”

According to the ASPCA, each year approximately 7.6 companion animals enter shelters nationwide – approximately 3.9 million dogs and 3.4 million cats. Of those, approximately 1.2 million dogs and 1.4 million cats are euthanized. Patrick McDonnell, creator of the phenomenally successful, award-winning comic strip MUTTS (http://www.Mutts.com), is devoted to helping shelter animals avoid that fate.… Continue reading MUTTS Comic Strip Creator Patrick McDonnell: “I Try My Best to Give a Voice to Shelter Animals”