Tag: pets

‘I Felt Locked Out’: Pet Owners Denied Entry Into Veterinarian Clinics During Pandemic

COVID-19 forced many businesses to go online or to limit themselves to curbside service, while others had to shut down permanently. Veterinary medicine was one line of work where the approach taken due to safety restrictions unfortunately caused distress for many of its unique clientele. During the lockdowns, many veterinary offices across the country closed…


Rabbits Are Social Animals, so Adopt More Than One

Q: I’ve fallen in love with my friend’s rabbit, and I want one of my own. I wonder if the rabbit is lonely when my friend is at work and whether I should acquire two instead of one. Also, do shelters have rabbits, or should I go to the pet store? A: Rabbits are the…


Man’s Dog Leads Him to Skinny Abandoned Foxhound Laying in Mud in Dog Park; He Adopts Her Into Family

On a weekend jog with his dog last fall, a man was surprised when his pet, who usually never leaves his side, suddenly ran off into a nearby dog park. Confused by her strange behavior, he went to investigate what had caused her to rush off in such haste. The 36-year-old dog lover, Will Green, caught…


How to Plant a Pet-Safe Garden

Q: I live in the country, and my cat sometimes ventures off my deck on nice days. I am planning a garden and want to choose plants that won’t poison my cat if he nibbles them. What do you suggest? A: I’m sure your cat will thank you if you plant some catnip, cat mint,…


Petdemic: One of the Pandemic’s Surprise Legacies

During the ongoing pandemic, Australia has seen the greatest surge in pet ownership—with 10 percent more people seeking furry companionship in a time of significant uncertainty and reduced social interaction in the past two years. A recent study by Animal Medicines Australia found it was “the biggest boom Australia has seen” with the number of Australians…


Immunocompromised People Should Take Precautions With Pets

Q: I have a compromised immune system, and I want to adopt a cat. What do I need to know about protecting my health? A: Many people are immunocompromised because of physiologic factors like pregnancy or extremes of age, metabolic conditions such as diabetes, infectious diseases like HIV, or treatment with immunosuppressant drugs for autoimmune…


Protect Feral Cats From Winter Hazards

Q: Our neighborhood is inundated with feral cats. I don’t feed them because I don’t want to increase their population, but I do feel sorry for them during the cold winter weather. What can I do to help them? A: You can protect feral cats from injury and poisoning, provide shelters to help them stay…


Pets Poisoned by Marijuana a Growing, Expensive and Embarrassing Problem

Confessing that a pet may have munched on marijuana can be embarrassing, or even spark fears about possible penalties for animal owners. But coming clean fast with a veterinarian is key to getting treatment that can save a pet’s life, and it’s unlikely an animal doctor would reveal confidential details of a patient’s case to…


Undetectable Bat Bite Can Transmit Rabies

Q: Our cat Brewster tangled with a bat in our house. I managed to get the bat away from him and move it outside. Brewster’s rabies vaccination is current, and I don’t see any bites on him. Do I need to make an appointment with his veterinarian? A: Yes. It’s prudent to assume Brewster was…


Loud Noise Can Damage a Dog’s Hearing

Q: My husband began taking Winchester, our 5-year-old Labrador retriever, hunting with him this season. Win seems too young to be going deaf, but I’m convinced his hearing isn’t as sharp as it was before hunting season. Could the gunfire have damaged Win’s hearing? Can it be tested? A: Yes, any loud noise can damage…