Does your cat go crazy for catnip? Approximately 70-80% of cats are affected by catnip to some degree. What is it about this plant that provokes such a strong reaction in cats? Here’s a quick look at the science of catnip. Catnip, also called catmint, is...
Here is a simple but powerful reminder to never leave your dog unattended in a car during the warm summer months, courtesy of the RSPCA. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO84RKZtO7c&w=560&h=315] For more information on the dangers of leaving your dog in a hot car, check out the RSPCA’s “Dogs Die...
The Humane Society of the United States recently published the 2020 edition of its annual “Horrible Hundred” puppy mill report. This report documents problematic puppy breeding and/or puppy brokerage operations in the US. You can download and read a pdf copy of the full report HERE. ...
Join us on Monday, June 29th from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. PDT for a free live webinar on pet cancer awareness and screening. Dr. David Proulx, a veterinary oncologist from VCA California Veterinary Specialists will discuss incidence of cancer in pets and the importance of early...
With summer now in full swing, pet owners need to be more aware of the heat-related dangers that can impact dogs, cats, and other pets. Did you know that some dog breeds are at higher risk for heatstroke than others? A recent article in Nature’s Scientific...
Human health and safety precautions during the coronavirus pandemic have significantly impacted how veterinarians care for our animal companions. Besides implementing social distancing practices at veterinary clinics, vets are also turning to telemedicine. A recent article in JAVMA News reports that vets who were once exploring...
Have your heart set on a particular breed of dog as your next pet? Before you get your new best friend, be sure to do your research on the overall health of the breed you are interested in. Advances in DNA technology have made it easier...
The fetch Foundation is an Arizona-based non-profit that seeks to save the lives of family pets in fires and other emergency situations. They report that half a million pets are impacted by fire each year in the United States. 40,000 family pets die from smoke...
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) is a highly contagious and often fatal disease that is spreading among wild rabbits in the southwestern United States. This disease was first identified in China in 1984 and has since spread across the globe. RHDV is not known to affect...
“Slower, Shorter, Sadder” is the title of a study of English dog owners who describe how their walks have changed after a diagnosis of osteoarthritis in their dogs. The development of canine osteoarthritis can lead to big changes in dog walking routines. Most of the owners...
The ASPCA Pet Poison Helpline has seen an increase in calls from concerned pet owners since the COVID-19 crisis began. The issue? Many of us have questions about the safe use of cleaning and disinfecting products (such as bleach) around our pets. To help pet owners,...
Just like dogs, cats can also develop degenerative joint diseases like arthritis as they age. Studies suggest that 45% of all cats and 90% of cats over 10 years of age have some arthritis. Arthritis and other painful conditions in cats can go untreated because cats...
While we know that different people have varying degrees of tolerance for physical pain, what do veterinarians and members of the public think about pain sensitivity in different dog breeds? A new study asked both veterinarians and the general public to rate pain sensitivity in...
The knowledge about how pets are affected by the novel coronavirus is evolving every day. Recent news stories about a handful of dogs, cats, and big cats at a zoo testing positive for COVID-19 may have pet owners wondering about their own animals. Since humans seem...
Now this sounds like a fun scientific study…an animal behaviorist in Italy watched a YouTube video of a horse and dog playing together and noticed how in sync their play behaviors were to each other. She asked her students to search for more videos of horses...
With so much of our focus on the Coronavirus crisis, it can be easy to forget that we also must stay vigilant about natural disasters like wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. For pet owners, this means having an emergency preparedness plan that includes our dogs,...
For many dogs and cats, the arrival of spring means that shedding season is here. The temporary closure of pet grooming businesses for public health reasons can be difficult for dog owners accustomed to handing their pups over to a professional for grooming services. We’ve gathered...
Interested in learning more about your canine companion? Live Science’s “Life’s Little Mysteries” podcast series has gone to the dogs! The recent “Mysterious Dogs” podcast addresses these common questions about our four-legged friends: How did dogs evolve from wolves? What do dogs dream about? Are dogs...
The World Health Organization has announced that it plans to examine the transmission of the novel coronavirus between humans and pets. This has been prompted by a scientific study which found that among domestic animals, cats and ferrets can become infected with the virus that causes...
Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis) is caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, and is transmitted by the bite of infected deer ticks. Dogs are at increased risk for contracting Lyme disease in the spring and summer months. Lyme disease has been found in all 50 U.S. states,...
As more and more businesses are temporarily closing due to the Coronavirus outbreak, many concerned pet owners are wondering if their local veterinary practices will be open. According to an article on the Veterinary Information Network website, some—but not all—states are declaring veterinary clinics as...