Tip – 13 – Cats and catnip – what is catnip?

Catnip is a non addictive, harmless herb that just over 50% of cats react to. Whether your cat responds to catnip or not, is genetically determined. The reaction that most cats have to catnip, includes rubbing, rolling around, purring and …

IMHA – Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia

What is an immune-mediated disease? It is any disease where the clinical signs (fever, pain, etc) are caused by the immune system. The immune system normally acts to protect an animal from viruses, parasites, bacteria, and all sorts of other …

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 …

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.

Fearful Cats – Pet tip 197

Although phobic and extremely fearful domestic cats are not as common as domestic dogs, fearful feline behaviour does occur regularly. The most common phobias in cats are fear of storms and loud noises. One of the main differences between cats …

Tip – 31 – Dog has ear mites – cat has ear mites – itchy ears

If your cat or dog is scratching a lot around the ear or neck, along with repeated head shaking, and a possible bad smell coming from the ear(s), a common cause might be ear mites. Ear mites are tiny parasites …

Dogs eating grass – Pet tip 18

Dogs eating grass? Some people will have never heard of this before as their dog has never exhibited this behaviour, but others may be wondering why their dog sometimes acts like a lawnmower. The reasons are not clearly known, but …

Tip 52 – Going on a trip – what to do with your cat

Many cat owners wonder what to do with their cat(s) when they go out of town or on vacation. Do you bring the cat with you, leave it at home or board the cat at a facility? The answer usually …

Car Travel with Dogs

Whether you’re planning to bring your dog up to the cottage, taking him/her for his/her annual check-up at the vet, or simply heading to the off-leash dog park, there is a good chance that you’ll need a car to get …

Lap Dogs – Pet tip 179

There is enough variety in the hundreds of existing dog breeds to suit almost any type of lifestyle. Some people want dogs that they can exercise with and they can easily choose from many dog breeds that love vigorous exercise. …