With the increasing popularity of edible cannabis products like cookies and brownies, pet poison hotlines are seeing an increase in calls about marijuana intoxication in dogs and cats. The Pet Poison Helpline has seen a fourfold increase in cases over the past 3 years. In...
A troubling practice called “dog flipping” is on the rise in many parts of the U.S. Dog flipping is when a family dog is stolen from its owners and then turned around and sold online, such as on Craigslist, for a profit. The American Kennel Club...
The list of plants that can be harmful to cats is a long one. The effects of plant toxins in cats can range from moderate gastrointestinal upset to life-threatening cardiovascular and nervous system poisoning. Prevention is the best way to avoid accidental plant poisoning in cats....
Wishing all of our friends a happy July 4th holiday weekend! Don't forget to keep your pets calm and safe this July 4th by keeping them indoors in a quiet area during fireworks displays. Play some relaxing music or put on some pet-friendly nature shows to...
We all love to take our dogs with us when we go out and about, but should you really leave your dog tied up unattended on the sidewalk while you go inside shops and restaurants? Animal welfare advocates say that there are too many threats...
Summer is a great time for having fun with your pets, but it’s important to keep a few simple things in mind to make sure your pets don’t overheat, both outdoors and indoors, in the summertime. The core body temperature of cats and dogs is warmer...
The American Animal Hospital Association’s excellent PetsMatter blog recently posted an article by veterinarian Dr. Anna Coffin about the dangers of common household items to pets. Take a look at this list of the different kinds of pet toxins to see if you need to...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a safety alert warning pet owners of the dangers of topical pain medications containing the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) flurbiprofen. Several cats have recently been sickened, and some have died, from exposure to topical pain medications. In all of the...
We’ve all seen how texting and talking on the phone while driving can be a safety hazard, causing unsafe distracted driving and even car accident fatalities. But is that cute little dog sitting on your lap also causing you to be a distracted driver? Lawmakers...
A recent article published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery summarizes the results of a large scale feline health and longevity study in the UK. Data from 90 veterinary practices on over 118,000 cats was examined for feline health trends, including longevity and...
Now that winter is coming to an end and March is finally here, many homeowners’ thoughts are turning to spring and gardening! If you’re a dog owner as well, you may be wondering how to make your yard safer and more welcoming for your furry...
The regular presence of coyotes is a new reality for many cities and suburban communities across the U.S. Coyotes are found in every state except Hawaii and have easily adjusted to life in populated human developments, including large cities, due to their adaptability and the...
A news story out of Russia is getting a lot of attention lately. A homeless cat in the city of Obninsk, known to locals as Masha and described as very calm and friendly, saved a 12 week old baby boy from freezing to death. The...
Being prepared for a veterinary emergency is more than having a pet first aid kit in the house. Few pet owners know what to do if their dog or cat begins choking on food or falls unconscious. Did you know that you can perform the...
Veterinarians are warning pet owners that the sago palm plant is highly poisonous to dogs and cats. This is an outdoor ornamental plant in warm climates like here in San Diego, but also poses a health risk to pets when planted indoors in pots in...
A recent study published in the Veterinary Journal investigated the health risks to cats in large-scale hoarding environments. Researchers found that cats in crowded living conditions are at great risk for respiratory infections, gastrointestinal disease, parasites, malnutrition and other symptoms of neglect. Key findings from the...
This time of year is always fun, with lots of shopping, decorating, baking and party-hopping to keep us busy. But it’s also a good time to remember that the Christmas season poses some extra hazards to our pets. Here are a few useful pet safety...
Yesterday it was announced that Dallas nurse Nina Pham’s beloved dog Bentley tested negative for the Ebola virus. Bentley had been placed in quarantine when Nina contracted Ebola. This good news is tempered by the earlier story of a Spanish nurse’s dog being euthanized when...
Are cats, especially black cats, in danger of harm at Halloween? There are many opinions about this issue, with some experts stating that Halloween poses no extra risk to cats, and others who argue that people with an anti-cat bias are more likely to abuse...
Cats falling from high places—over two stories, often from apartment windows or balconies—is so common that there is a name for the types of injuries sustained in these falls: Feline High-Rise Syndrome. The most frequently-occurring injuries from falls are trauma to the chest, face/mouth, limbs,...
Rattlesnakes are common here in Southern California, particularly the western diamondback. While much is known about rattlesnake bites in humans and dogs, less research has been done on the effects of, and treatment for, rattlesnake bites in cats. Recently, a study of cats bitten by rattlesnakes...