Cat Litter and the Environment – Pet tip 178

Did you know that in the United States alone there are 100 000 trucks of kitty litter dumped in landfills every year? That’s over 2 million tones of clay, or silica, that sits in landfills almost forever. In this article …

Fear of Vet Clinics

For many pet owners, the annual visit to the veterinarian is an annual struggle and an overall stressful event for both owner and pet. The animal may tremble on the exam table, or whimper and bark. They may hide in …

Dog coats and shedding dogs – Pet tip 103

We choose our dogs mostly based on their character and their appearance. But for some of us, our preference also accounts for the dog’s type of coat. Some people prefer fluffy dogs, while others prefer short-haired dogs. But few take …

Dog Constipation – Cat Constipation

Constipation – cat constipated dog constipated – Answered by Dr. Slome

Constipation in cats and dogs – General rules of thumb

Let me start by separating both cat and dog conditions since they are very different even though the symptoms …

Cats that Beg for Food – Pet tip 183

Begging behaviour is really common in dogs and normally occurs when dogs hang around humans eating at a table. They stare you down with their sad eyes; they whimper, paw you and perhaps even bark in order to get you …

Holiday Hazards for Pets

As the holiday season quickly approaches, out come the various decorations and paraphernalia necessary to celebrate the holidays. It is always a wonderful opportunity to spend time with friends and relatives, but one must also remember the little four legged …

Dog food is for dogs – cat food is for cats – Pet tip 97

A common problem in homes that have both cats and dogs centers around the food issue and which species should eat which food. Unlike many cats that are finicky, in general, dogs truly love their mealtimes and puppies will eat …

Basic Gerbil Care

The gerbil was first brought to the United States from Mongolia in 1954. Since then, it has rapidly become a popular pet with its enticing large eyes and long furry tail. In fact its tail is the same length or …

Dogs Cats and Anesthesia – Pet tip 239

Most cats and dogs undergo some type of surgery that requires anesthesia during their lifetimes even if it is only the surgery done for spaying and neutering. Other common procedures that require anesthesia include dental cleaning or dental surgery as well as repairing broken bones. Whenever surgery is done on a pet the topic of anesthesia arises. For the purposes of this article we will be talking about general anesthesia where pets are completely unconscious. We’ve all heard about the potential risks and possible complications regarding anesthesia in our own lives, and so it makes good sense to wonder about anesthetic complications when it comes to our pets as well.

Luckily, veterinary medicine has made huge strides in reducing anesthetic complications. So long as the pet is properly monitored during the actual surgery and the pet has been carefully prescreened for possible problems, anesthesia on pets is quite safe and problems are few.

Tip 81 – Scooting – dog or cat rubs bum on the floor – anal sac problems in dogs and cats

Although more common in dogs than cats, scooting is the action of a pet that drags its bum on the floor. The cat or dog literally moves using its two front paws while its whole backside gets dragged. It may …