The dog was obsessed with a mole on his person’s leg. The mixed breed constantly sniffed at the blemish — even when the woman wore pants — and eventually tried to bite it off. Although the woman wasn’t particularly concerned about the mole, her dog’s persistence convinced her to seek her doctor’s opinion. As it …
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When cats urinate outside the litter box, no one’s happy. You’re not happy on your hands and knees, dabbing at the damp spot on your oriental rug. And your cat certainly isn’t happy to deal with a painful urinary tract, which is often the cause of this behavior. Feline lower urinary tract disease is one …
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What if your four-legged friend didn’t have four legs? Birth defects, cancer, trauma and other conditions can result in fewer than the standard number of appendages. In the past, pet owners had very few options; their pets had to learn to hobble on their remaining limbs, or they made the tough decision to let the …
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When you’re sick, your dog or cat is often the best medicine. The soothing purr of your cat or the warmth of your dog’s chin on your lap can help you rest and recuperate. But did you know you could make your pet sick? Sharing the Love — and the Germs You may have heard …
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Not all dogs live the cushy life, snoozing and playing all day; some dogs go to work every day! Service, therapy and emotional support dogs can play pivotal roles in helping people lead more confident, comfortable and independent lives. Service Dogs These highly trained dogs perform tasks that help the handler with physical or psychiatric …
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The pervasiveness of smartphones, webcams and the internet has made face-to-face communication from remote locations commonplace, if not mundane. Even, to some degree, when the other face is sporting a white lab coat. In human health, telemedicine has not only gained traction, it’s breaking speed records. According to one estimate, global use of telemedicine services …
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Can your dog predict thunderstorms more accurately than the Weather Channel? Does he pace, pant or whine hours before the first dark cloud rolls in? Has he ever chewed or scratched your doors or windows in an effort to get inside the house (or vice versa) during a storm? Does he tremble and hide at …
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Just when you thought leeches and abandoned fishhooks were the only dangers lurking in lakes and rivers, here’s another thing: leptospirosis. This bacterial infection, caused by various species of the genus Leptospira, can lead to kidney damage, liver failure and worse in dogs and their human counterparts. Go Jump in the Lake… or Not Leptospires …
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Bees (and wasps and hornets) are helpful to the environment, which is why we plant bee-friendly gardens replete with nectar-filled blossoms to attract them. But to most dogs, bees are not so helpful! Bees won’t hesitate to sting any pet that noses about, paws at or otherwise disturbs their crucial pollinating work. For pets, especially …
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Guide dogs do an important job in helping blind or low-vision people gain independence, confidence and greater mobility. In addition to guiding people safely through traffic and crowds, dogs may also be trained to find certain nearby objects such as a doors, elevators or mailboxes. The term “seeing-eye dog” is somewhat of a misnomer. The …
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