Pit Bull Information

By the Positive Pitbull Awareness Society

NOTE: Throughout discussions of the Pit Bull breed, you will notice two words repeated over and over again: Responsible Ownership. With media hysteria and BSL (Breed specific legislation), we good owners, find ourselves endlessly …

Mouthing, Nipping, Biting in Puppies

Why is my puppy nipping and biting? Mouthy biting behaviour in puppies

Although often thought to be a teething behavior, nipping, mouthing and biting in young dogs is generally a form of social play. Teething is more likely to involve …

Dog Noses – facts and myths – Pet tip 115

Whether it’s big, round, and the palest pink or small, pointy and glossy black – you can’t miss it, it’s right there in the middle of your dog’s face: its nose. You’ve probably heard all sorts of stories about the …

Dogs and the parvovirus

It starts with a little bit of diarrhea. But within 24 hours your puppy starts having severe diarrhea and is vomiting. It becomes depressed and looks very sick, and refuses to eat. You get very concerned and rush it to …

Expecting Kittens

Pregnancy signs in cats – cat is pregnant
Expecting kittens – Dr. Bruce Fogle DVM

Early on, there are few outward signs of pregnancy.
The cat may adopt a more serene disposition.
Sensible nesting activity begins.

Pregnancy in cats lasts …

Aggressive Cats

Tim Cuthbertson has a long scratch down his arm, now nearly healed. It’s the latest reminder of his cat’s favorite game—wrestling.

“Once a day, he’ll come up and bite me on the arm,” Mr. Cuthbertson said. “The only time it’s really annoying is when he’ll do it when I’m trying to sleep. He’ll come up and bite me on the face.”

Cat aggression falls into several categories: play aggression, defensive aggression, misdirected aggression, and territorial status aggression.

Aggression toward people is a problem most commonly associated with dogs, but cat owners also deal with this issue. Though it’s not one of the top 10 reasons for turning cats over to shelters, it plays a significant role in the number of cats turned over for behavioral reasons. A 2000 study of 12 shelters by the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, found that about 14 percent of owners turning in their cats for behavioral reasons only listed aggression toward people as the basis, with about 9 percent citing biting. The numbers dropped only slightly, to about 11 and 8 percent, respectively, for mixed behavioral and non-behavioral reasons.

Ear Problems in Cats – Pet tip 104

Just like humans, cats can have the occasional problem with their ears and just like humans their internal ears (their ear canals) are made up of three sections; the outer or external ear, the middle ear and inner ear. Infection …

Dogs and Glaucoma

You may have heard the word ‘glaucoma’ and know that it is a disease of the eye. But if you’ve ever wondered what exactly it is and how it develops, this article might shed some light on the subject. Simply speaking, glaucoma means that there is increased pressure in the eyeball, along with a nerve problem that causes that eye to become blind. Glaucoma may be a primary problem, where an abnormality in the eye itself causes the problem. It can also be a secondary issue where an underlying disease or condition causes the pressure in the eye to increase, thus leading to glaucoma. The presentation of the disease can either be acute (sudden), chronic, or even congenital (the animal is born with it). A few breeds that often get glaucoma are Bassett Hounds, American and English Cocker Spaniels, Siberian Huskies, Toy and Miniature Poodles, and many more.

Heartworm in Cats

Heartworm Disease in Cats

Heartworm disease is caused by Dirofilaria immitis, a parasitic worm that gains entry into cats via mosquito bites. There is widespread distribution of this parasite in Canada at the lower latitudes, and your local veterinary team …

Petting a Cat

Petting your cat – Something to Purr About

And you’re right. Heck, yes. A few granules short of a litter box. If your cat were a person, he’d be holding in-depth conversations with giant, walking tacos. But we have some …