Featured Articles
Dogs and Cats with Retained Baby Teeth
Usually baby teeth fall out before adult teeth grow in. What happens if the baby teeth don’t fall out? Retained puppy/kitten teeth (‘baby’ teeth that don’t fall out) are very common. A retained tooth is not a life-threatening issue, but …
Dangers of “Free to Good Home” ads
You see them everywhere you turn, in the newspapers, on grocery store bulletin boards, and in a cardboard box at stores. Animals that are “Free to a good home”. Often these animals are puppies and kittens from irresponsible owners, cats and dogs that are no longer wanted, and of course the occasional good samaritan that found a lost dog or cat that they are unable to keep.
Placing a “free to good home” ad is down right dangerous. Often people known as “bouchers” (French for butchers) search the newspapers, the Internet, and bulletin boards for free animals, only to turn around and sell them to research laboratories, to illegally train fighting, hunting, and guard dogs, to sacrifice in cult rituals, and other cruel purposes. Yes this is indeed true, and it doesn’t just happen in the big cities. I am extremely offended by anyone who would want to get rid of their own animal, and even more offended by anyone who would allow their own animal to become pregnant. Remember pets are for life, and you permitted your animal to have puppies and kittens by not spaying, and by not keeping them indoors/supervised. However, if you are going to do this, I feel it needs to be done correctly.
Choosing a Dog Breed
Which dog breed is right for you?
WHICH BREED? By Dr. Bruce Fogle DVM
Purebreds now account for the majority of dogs in North America, Europe, and Japan. The variety of sizes, shapes, and coats available appeals to virtually all …
Barley Apple Cinnamon Cookies
Dog treat recipe – Barley Apple Cinnamon Cookies – From Better Food for Dogs
NB: This recipe is for doggie treats. It should not constitute the primary diet of your dog, and is not suitable for cats.…
Barley Apple Cinnamon
Greeting Strange Dogs
Are two always better than one? It is often tempting to add a second dog to the family, whether for your own enjoyment or just to keep your current dog company. Two dogs will give you twice and fun and …
Deaf Dog Psychology
Dealing with issues faced by most deaf dogs
For all dogs, the main lesson during puppy-hood is normal dog behavior through socialization with their mothers and littermates. Puppies learn lessons in dominance and submission by roughhousing and getting responses such …
Kittens and Birth Infections – Pet tip 241
When kittens are born they are extra small and fragile. This increases their potential of becoming ill or getting an infection. Infections in newborn kittens are quite serious as their bodies are small and they have not built up adequate immunity against many diseases or potential infections that may harm them. This article will focus on three infections that can affect newborn kittens; umbilical infections, toxic milk syndrome and septicemia.
When a female cat (aka a queen) gives birth, she will bite open the amniotic sac that surrounds the kitten. She will then chew through the umbilical cord of the kitten. Normally there are no problems.
Service Dogs and Autistic Children – Pet Tip 253
Dogs help humans in so many ways. They help with companionship, with tasks that they carry out for us and sometimes they help make every day living much easier. Perhaps the best demonstration of this fact is when dogs help people with disabilities. Many of us have seen dogs helping blind people and many have heard of dogs that feel when a seizure in an epileptic person is about to occur and then protect them from injury. Dogs can also help aid autistic children and parents of autistic children in many ways as well. Recent studies suggest that the prevalence of autistic children in Canada may be 1 in 165 children or higher. Therefore, many people may well personally know of an autistic child in their extended family, or know of friends or acquaintances that have an autistic child. So how can dogs help these autistic children?
The National Service Dogs (NSD) organization in Ontario Canada, is one of the best organizations that specifically help train dogs to make the lives of autistic children better. You might be wondering how a service dog can be useful to autistic children
Dogs and Hybrid Vigour
Why does is seem that certain breeds of dogs are more likely to develop specific health problems than other breeds? For example, why are Doberman pinchers more likely to have heart problems than other breeds? You may or may not be familiar with the term “hybrid vigour”, but you have probably run across this concept before. In this article we will discuss how this term can be used to explain why various dog breeds are predisposed to developing certain health issues.
How are dog breeds created? If you think about it, all dog breeds descended from a single ancestor related to the modern wolf. The Chihuahua and the Great Dane, as well as the Yorkshire terrier and the Bull Mastiff all came from the same genetic background.
