Having furry friends is a lot of fun, but it’s also a lot of responsibility. If you’re a dog owner and you're looking for ways to improve your fur-baby’s health (both mental and physical), taking daily walks is a great way to tune up your relationship, learn new things, and bond with that special
Imagine a dog who could retrieve dropped belongings, turn light switches on and off or even hand packages or checks to a sales associate. Imagine one who works full time in a special education classroom or nursing home, helping engage students and residents in activities. Or even imagine one who can respond to noise alerts such
By Elise Hattingh, DVM The summer forecast at the ASPCA is cats, cats and more cats! Monday, June 1, kicks off Adopt a Shelter Cat Month and marks the height of kitten season, the time of year when felines breed. This time of year, shelters across the country get a major influx of homeless
Many people don’t realize that first aid for pets is a real thing. There are pet first-aid kits, courses, and classes, just like there are for humans. And just like for humans, the goal is to treat any immediate medical emergencies and stabilize the patient long enough to get professional medical treatment. While it’s
By Jodi Reed, DVM If there’s one thing I can say about every single case of pet poisoning I’ve treated, it’s that the owners of the pet were responsible, caring, careful people that never imagined they’d ever need to seek treatment for poisoning. It's a pet owner’s worst nightmare: arriving home to an empty bag
Bringing a new puppy home is just like bringing in any new addition to the family. At first, they’re squirmy and helpless. Then, before you know it, they become toddlers throwing tantrums and getting into everything (like scribbling on walls and sticking fingers into light sockets if they are two-legged, or chewing on wires and playing in
Sir Walter Wally may not have seen his shadow this year, and it may seem as though winter is over but you never can tell for sure, and Old Man Winter may yet have some snow and ice up his sleeve. That means more grit, salt and chemicals on sidewalks and roads, which can be bad
By Dr. Elise Hattingh At some point every pet owner will ask themselves, “is it time to say goodbye?” Depending on the circumstances, this decision may be one of the most difficult that you will make for your pet. There are no rules or charts that will make this decision any easier. However, there are
January is both National Walk Your Dog month and Train Your Dog month, and if you’re giving your furbaby an appropriate amount of exercise, you may occasionally visit off-leash areas where he or she can run free and play with other dogs. In that case, one of the most important things you can teach is to respond reliably to a recall command. Whether danger
By Jodi Reed, DVM The idea of giving a friend or loved one a cute puppy, kitty, or other pet may seem enticing. After all, there are loads of movies where a new furry friend comes to the family with a bow around her neck, wagging and happy to join the crew for a
