Are table scraps good for your pet?
You’ve probably heard a couple different opinions on feeding table scraps to your dog or cat. Some say, “Sure, why not? I’ve always fed my dog table scraps and he’s never had a sick day in his life.” Others—especially if they’re from a pet food company—will say, “Absolutely not.” Before I tell you why my [...]
When is it time to euthanize?
Part Two: My Personal Decision As the pet parent to six beloved dogs and cats over the last 18 years, the most heart-wrenching decisions I’ve had to make revolved around my cat Eliot and my dog Hans. Eliot suffered a stroke almost five years ago due to a careless medication error on the part of [...]
How will I know when it’s time to euthanize my pet?
Part One: The Options When your beloved dog or cat becomes seriously ill, you’ll probably have to make many choices concerning care. One of the most painful decisions you’ll have to make is this: When is the right time to euthanize? How will I know when it’s time?
Cat odors? Try vinegar
Awhile back, one of my cats was seriously ill, and I thought I would lose him. He was unconscious after a sudden seizure, and the prognosis was grim. Despite being told that he had less than a 1% chance of survival after two days of intensive care, I insisted that we give him at least [...]
What’s in a name?
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet.” ~Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet What are you going to call that new puppy or kitten or older dog or cat you’ve adopted? The possibilities are endless. If you’re like many dog lovers, you’ll go with something common [...]
Human foods that could be poisonous to pets
I keep a compost pile—actually two—in my back yard. They’re very basic and simple, but they work for me: four sturdy metal fence posts wrapped twice in fine mesh fencing. The wire mesh is sunk six inches below the ground, and it’s three feet high and about three feet wide in any direction. One compost [...]
Pumpkin for constipation or diarrhea in dogs and cats
Constipation? Diarrhea? Maybe your veterinarian has suggested that you increase the fiber in your pet’s diet by giving pureed pumpkin to either bulk up the stool or loosen it. Both cats and dogs usually love it, plus it’s inexpensive and a natural, healthy choice. In either case, you probably went to the grocery store, searched [...]
When your pet dies
Eventually, a beloved pet becomes very old, seriously ill, or badly injured to the point that his or her end is near, and it may be time to make some very difficult decisions. This isn’t an easy subject for most animal lovers, but I’ve had to tackle it several times, unfortunately. The first time was [...]
How to give a cat a pill
Even the most dedicated cat lover may find that “pilling” a cat is trying, at best. A few cats are agreeable, but most of us learn just how sharp a cat’s teeth and claws actually are when we try to give him a pill. No matter what technique you use, here are some helpful tips:
Pigs as pets
As you probably know, so-called swine flu is primarily a human disease, and it doesn’t come from eating pork or being around pigs. Unfortunately, though, it looks like pigs might be able to contract the influenza, known in medical communities as H1N1, and local pot bellied pig enthusiasts, like the owners of Ross Mill Farm, [...]