Category: dogs

Lyme Disease Is Infecting More Dogs and Spreading to New Areas

Q: My veterinarian offers Lyme vaccination, but I’m uncertain whether I should have my dog vaccinated because none of the neighborhood dogs have developed Lyme disease. What do you think? A: The answer depends on where you live, along with your dog’s breed, lifestyle and health status. Therefore, your veterinarian is the best person to…


Posh Pets

Our dogs and cats are some of our favorite companions; they give us unconditional love, asking little in return. We can show them we care in the form of these special gifts. A Bed All Their Own (Courtesy of Petmate) La-Z-Boy Duchess Fold Out Sleeper Sofa Dog Bed $176.99 Even if your pampered pooches sleep…


More Bacteria on Human Beard Than Dog Fur

Q: I grew up with dogs, but my husband wasn’t as fortunate. We now have a dog—and a toddler who loves to hug him and bury her face in his fur. My husband worries that this is unsanitary, while I say it’s fine because our dog is healthy, takes monthly antiparasitic medication and sees his…


Pet Turtles Carry Salmonella

Q: Our son wants to adopt a turtle from his friend, who has become bored with his pet. Is there any reason not to agree? A: Pet turtles commonly carry Salmonella bacteria, which can cause bloody diarrhea, vomiting, fever and abdominal pain in humans. Youngsters are most often affected. So, take into account your son’s…


Puppy’s Hernia Needs Surgical Repair

Q: Rosie, our pit bull puppy, has a soft lump where her belly button should be. When we push on it, it disappears temporarily. What is it, and should we be concerned? A: It sounds like Rosie may have an umbilical hernia. Your veterinarian can do a physical exam and tell you whether it needs…


Beloved and Debated, French Bulldog Becomes Top US Dog Breed

NEW YORK—For the first time in three decades, the U.S. has a new favorite dog breed, according to the American Kennel Club. Adorable in some eyes, deplorable in others, the sturdy, push-faced, perky-eared, world-weary-looking, and distinctively droll French bulldog became the nation’s most prevalent purebred dog last year, the club announced Wednesday. Frenchies ousted Labrador…


Cats’ Tails Tell Tales

Q: I am about to adopt a cat, my first. I want to understand what my new cat is trying to tell me through meowing and body language. Please educate me. A: Congratulations on adopting your new family member and learning how to communicate with your kitty. Feline vocalizations, body language, scent communication, visual signals…


Dogs: The Silent Sufferers of the Growing California Cannabis Industry

A northern California sheriff is sounding the alarm on the abuse of hundreds of dogs at illegal marijuana cultivation sites in his county. Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue told The Epoch Times that during eradication of an illegal site, commonly known as grows, deputies often encounter “poor treatment of dogs,” which are used to guard…


Canine Influenza Very Contagious

Q: My dog’s annual physical is coming up soon, and my veterinarian is sure to recommend the flu shot, which I’ve declined in the past. I’m rethinking that after a friend’s dog came down with the disease. Please tell me about dog flu. A: Dog flu, formally known as canine influenza, was first recognized in…


2-Pound Kittens Ready For Vaccinations

Q: I found a litter of kittens and want to give them away to good homes. How do I determine their age and genders? They average two pounds and are eating dry kitten food. A: Most kittens’ weight in pounds correlates with their age in months. So, a 1-pound kitten is about 1 month old,…