Thoughts from the Wild

July 19, 2018

Unplug your computer. Power down your phone. Disconnect from the stress of everyday life. And connect with your dog under a canopy of stars in the wilderness. What outdoor adventure is better than camping with your best friend? But before you pack up and head out, consider these tips to help make your trip safe …

July 12, 2018

If food is love, America’s pets are being loved to death. Veterinary professionals estimate that 60 percent of cats and 56 percent of dogs in the U.S. are overweight or obese, according to a 2017 survey by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. Those extra pounds can lead to diabetes, arthritis, kidney disease, high blood …

July 5, 2018

Is it possible to have too much fun in the sun? For dogs, the answer is yes. In fact, it may not take long for a dog’s body temperature to reach dangerous levels, leading to heatstroke. What Is heatstroke? It’s a potentially life-threatening condition in which the core body temperature rises to around 105 °F …

June 28, 2018

It’s no accident that pet food often comes in a rainbow of colors. When you open a bag, it’s comforting to see the golden yellow of chicken, the red of rare beef and the green of fresh vegetables — all hues that the original ingredients may lose during the manufacturing process. Often, these colors are …

June 21, 2018

You won’t find Doug, Manny or Nala on the Forbes “Richest People in America” list. But they’re among Forbes Top Pet Influencers, pets on social media who help their owners cash in on marketing sponsorships, book deals, merchandise sales and more. A new branding strategy, influencer marketing enables companies to tie into online personalities with …

June 14, 2018

Why gather around the office water cooler when you can convene around a tail-wagging Labrador retriever? That’s the idea behind Take Your Dog to Work Day on Friday, June 22. The culmination of Take Your Pets to Work Week, June 18–22, this is your chance to share your workspace with your canine counterparts. (Although cats …

June 7, 2018

Cat ownership can be like marriage: It’s designed to be a lifelong commitment. But sometimes family allergies, landlord rules, litter box issues or other unforeseen problems can make the best plans go awry. Sometimes, cat owners may feel as if they only have one heart-wrenching option: to rehome a beloved cat. But don’t resort to …

May 31, 2018

“Last one in the pool is a Rottweiler,” or so the saying may go if you’re at one of the new canine aquatic facilities popping up across the county. Catering to an exclusive clientele of the hairy four-legged sort, these centers are designed to bring another set of human-quality services to pampered pooches. Have a …

May 24, 2018

For people with insulin-dependent diabetes, hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) can be an emergency. Drops in glucose, the body’s main energy source, may occur suddenly and lead to seizures and loss of consciousness. Because the signs of hypoglycemia can be subtle, diabetics may not think to test their blood sugar levels. Continuous glucose monitors, tiny sensors …

May 17, 2018

Wearable activity monitors, once exclusively popular among the fitness obsessed, have gone mainstream. With more health and wellness functions available on every new edition, activity trackers are becoming the must-have gadget of the general population — so much so that use of the devices among Americans is expected to double by 2021, according to Juniper …