Q: I recently adopted Sophie, a 1-year-old standard poodle, who has an endearing trait. Sometimes she tilts her head when I’m talking, as though she’s trying to understand everything I’m saying. None of my other dogs did this. Why does she? A: In a recent study, researchers concluded that especially smart dogs more often tilt…
Keep Your Puppy Safe During Hanukkah
Q: We recently adopted Reena, a curious, lively 6-month-old puppy. Please advise us about keeping her safe during her first Hanukkah, when our young children will want her to participate in the festivities. A: During the eight nights of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, as you light your menorah’s candles to celebrate the miracle that…
Buy Pet Health Insurance or Start a Pet Care Savings Account
Q: I’m considering adopting Hope, a 1-year-old cat who tested positive for the feline leukemia virus. She’s healthy now, but I know from your column that she may get sick in the future. If I could buy pet health insurance for her, I would be more likely to seek out the best treatment if her…
China: The Killing of Pets and the Consumption of Dog Meat
Commentary China has an odd relationship with animals. For example, it is now illegal to walk your dog without a leash; yet, in almost every village, town, and city, it’s not illegal to consume dog meat. Across the country, even as rates of pet ownership increase, acts of animal cruelty appear to know no bounds. In…
10 Pet-Friendly Houseplants for Your Home
While houseplants have the ability to bring life to a room and purify the air while doing it, a drawback is that many houseplants are toxic to animals. Here are 10 plants that add beauty to your home without worry. First, keep in mind that while many plants are technically safe for cats and dogs,…
Ask the Vet: Centipede Bites and Foggy Eyes
Q: Panda, our black and white tuxedo cat who also responds to the more fitting name of Pandemonium, plays with the centipedes in our bathroom. If she eats one, could it harm her? A: No, but eating too many of them could result in stomach upset. The greater concern is that centipedes bite, and the…
Ingested Pennies Are Toxic to Pets
Q: Our son collects pennies and was dismayed to get home from school today and find that our new puppy, Lincoln, had knocked over his penny jar. Hundreds of pennies were scattered over his bedroom floor, but I am more concerned that Lincoln may have eaten some. Are ingested pennies dangerous? A: Yes, for two…
Sterilizing Pet Rabbits Has Medical and Behavioral Benefits
Q: Our children were given two rabbits, and they’d like to know each bunny’s sex before they name them. We parents would like to know, too, so we don’t end up with a house full of rabbits. How do we tell what sex each rabbit is? If one is female and the other male, can…
Dogs That Eat High-Fat Snacks Risk Pancreatitis
Q: Max, our 7-year-old terrier mix, lost his energy, stopped eating, and started vomiting. His veterinarian diagnosed pancreatitis and hospitalized him for treatment. How can we prevent this from happening again? A: Pancreatitis is inflammation (“-itis”) of the pancreas, the organ in the abdomen that secretes two important groups of chemicals: the digestive enzymes that…
Cat’s Silent Heart Disease Causes Painful Hind Leg Paralysis
Q: Latte, our 8-year-old indoor cat, suddenly started crying and pulling himself along on his front legs while dragging his back legs. We rushed him to his veterinarian who diagnosed a saddle thromboembolism and recommended euthanasia because Latte’s prognosis was so dire. We agreed, but because of Latte’s stress and ours at the time, we…
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