Sunday - July 04, 2010

Deciphering Pet Food Label-ese

Pet food labels contain a lot of information, if you know how to read them.

The Association of American Feed Control Officers (AAFCO) has its own set of regulations regarding pet food labels, which many states use. AAFCO labeling guidelines cover aspects such as product naming standards, guaranteed analysis (minimum percentages of protein and fat, and maximum percentages of fiber and moisture), and nutritional adequacy.

Always look for an AAFCO statement on your pet food that says either: 
“ABC Dog/Cat Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog/Cat Food Nutrient Profiles."

Wednesday - June 23, 2010

Looking Back at Giving Back

We’re nearly midway through 2010, and we’d like to take this opportunity to share the progress made by the Dr. Jane’s HealthyPetNet Foundation thus far into 2010. While we have highlighted some of the caring animal rescue agencies who have received financial awards this year, many more grants have been awarded. Before we convey some of the details about these worthy organizations, we want to thank you for all that you’ve done to support our foundation. Even if you have never made a donation directly to the Dr. Jane’s HealthyPetNet Foundation, if you have ever purchased any of our products, you have contributed to its reserves and thus helped animals in need. And for that, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

As you’ve probably noted, the vast majority of the animal rescue groups selected for our grants are small non-profits who typically operate on shoestring budgets. In many cases, the only assets these heart-full groups have are the people dedicated to aiding homeless and abused companion animals. Frequently located in small communities, these affiliations fulfill a vital need in under-served areas of the U.S. Not only do they accomplish so much with so few resources, they work every day to relieve suffering and enrich their communities.

In recent months, we have explored gifts made to Golden Rescue South Florida, Palmetto Animal League of South Carolina and Dachshund Rescue South Florida. In what follows, we provide a brief summary of the other eight rescue groups who have received grants so far this year.

Wednesday - June 23, 2010

Why Do Cats Purr?

As a veterinarian, I am commonly asked “Why do cats purr?” Most people believe cats purr when they are content or happy. While cats do purr when they are content, researchers attempting to uncover the answer to this 3,000-year-old mystery are finding the answer more complicated than previously thought. All domestic cats purr, as well as many wild cats, like pumas, ocelots, lions and cheetahs. Purring can occur in a variety of situations. When cats purr in the presence of other unknown cats or kittens, the behavior may serve to convey submissiveness or a friendly greeting. While it is true that cats purr contentedly while on their pet parent’s lap, they also purr when they give birth, when they are frightened, severely injured and even while dying. Because kitties clearly cannot be content in all these situations, contentment or friendliness cannot be the only reason they purr.

Saturday - June 05, 2010

Heatstroke and Pets: What Owners Need to Know

As summer kicks off, the heat can bring dangers to pets. Even on seemingly "cool" days, the risk of heatstroke can be alarming.

Often, on days with mild temperatures, pet owners might be tempted to leave their pet in the car for "just a minute" while they run into the store. But a recent Stanford University study showed that on a 72-degree day, a car's internal temperature could climb to 116 degrees within one hour.

Saturday - June 05, 2010

Summer Hazards That Can Harm Your Pets

As the sun starts to stay out later for the Summer time, your pet will want to bask in the daylight, too! But there are some hazards you need to know before letting your pet roam around outside. Here are some tips to help your pets not get sick or hurt in the spring time!

Saturday - June 05, 2010

Give Your Dog a Bone? Nope, Not Any More, FDA Says

Knick-knack, paddy-whack, give a dog a bone — this nursery rhyme might keep rolling home, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says giving your family pet a bone is a thing of the past.

“Some people think it’s safe to give dogs large bones, like those from a ham or a roast,” said Carmela Stamper, a veterinarian in the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine. “Bones are unsafe no matter what their size."

Saturday - June 05, 2010

How to Choose the Right Dog Breed For You

Although dogs have been domesticated for a long time now, their personalities still differ from one breed to the other. Chihuahuas are cute, but did you know that they are not suitable for families with small children, because of their territorial and impatient nature?

So how do you go about choosing the right dog breed for you?

Saturday - June 05, 2010

Children Must Be Taught How To Look After Pets

Abusive households are not the sole preserve of abusive behaviour towards Pets; studies show that it happens too in ordinary non-abusive households. Because children derive their behaviour from watching what adults do, behaviour tends to be passed down from generation to generation. The way you treat Pets and people will act as a lesson to your children.

Saturday - June 05, 2010

USDA fails to crack down on puppy mills

Federal investigators have uncovered grisly conditions at puppy mills around the country where dogs were infested with ticks, living with gaping wounds and in pools of feces, according to a disturbing new report that placed the blame on lax enforcement.

Saturday - June 05, 2010

Great Dane fans fear popularity boost -- and abandoned pets -- as a result of new 'Marmaduke' film

Fearing a "101 Dalmatians"-style upswing in Great Dane purchases in the wake of the upcoming release of the film "Marmaduke," the American Kennel Club and the Great Dane Club of America are urging potential pet owners to do their research before bringing home an adorable, big-pawed Dane puppy.

Friday - June 04, 2010

Keeping an Indoor Cat Happy

Make your kitty's indoor world safe and stimulating with these easy-to-implement tips.

Indoor cats have a cushy life, with food they don't have to catch, soft beds, and warm laps.

Indoor cats live longer, too, because they don't face the dangers of cars, predators, other cats, weather, and many diseases. The life span of an indoor cat can be between 12-18 years, while a free-roaming cat may live for as little as 3.

Still, it's not always catnip for indoor kitties, whose instincts are still telling them to hunt, stalk, scratch, and mark their territory. When they don't have a chance to do these things comfortably, some indoor cats can get depressed, bored, irritated, and even sick.

You can keep your indoor tabby bright-eyed and bushy tailed, and make kitty’s indoor world a safe and happy one, with these tips for a feline-friendly home.

Friday - June 04, 2010

8 Common Cat Problems and How to Solve Them

Keep the peace between you and your feline friend with these solutions to common cat problems.

We love our feline friends when they rub against our legs, knead our laps, or look us in the eye and purr. Yet sometimes we may not like everything about our four-footed friends. Not when they streak through the house at 3 a.m. or reject a perfectly clean litter box.

The good news is that just about every common cat problem can be managed with a little help. That's why WebMD turned to the pet pros to get their solutions for some of the most common kitty conundrums.

Friday - June 04, 2010

Fat Cats: Questions and Answers for Getting Your Tubby Tabby Back into Shape

How to get overweight or obese cats back in shape.

An estimated 57% of U.S. cats are overweight or obese, according to a 2008 study by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention.

Friday - June 04, 2010

Top 10 Dog Poisons

Last year, there were more than 100,000 cases of pet poisoning in the U.S. Many of these were caused by substances you probably have in your home, substances that may seem perfectly harmless to you. But just because something is safe for people doesn’t mean it won’t hurt beloved pets. Some of the most dangerous dog poisons are foods and medications we take on a daily basis.

Depending on how a particular substance affects your dog’s body and how much was ingested or inhaled, pet poisoning symptoms can include gastrointestinal and neurological problems, cardiac and respiratory distress, coma, and even death.

Wednesday - June 02, 2010

Ticks and Lyme Disease in Dogs

Ticks are external parasites that feed on the blood of unlucky host animals such as our canine companions. Like mites and spiders, ticks are arachnids. The brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) and the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), examples of ticks that commonly affect dogs, require three feedings to complete their life cycles.

Wednesday - June 02, 2010

Diseases You Can Get From Your Pets: Worms, Rabies, and More

Can Your Pet Make You Sick?

Zoonotic illnesses are diseases humans can get from animals. Many infectious diseases can spread from animals to people, and some of these can come from your pet. But before you become too alarmed, know that getting diseases from a pet is pretty uncommon, and that you can prevent most of them with some very simple steps. For example, teach children not to kiss pets or put their hands in their mouths after touching them. Frequent hand washing and regular vet checks are two other great ways to help prevent a wide range of diseases from pets. This includes diseases from dogs, diseases from cats, diseases from birds, or diseases from reptiles.

Friday - May 28, 2010

Saving Small Wonders

The old adage that “good things come in small packages” couldn’t be truer with regards to the lively, lovable Dachshund, affectionately referred to collectively as “doxies”. Although it’s hard to imagine anyone abandoning one of these clever little canines, sadly it happens all too often. Fortunately, the Dachshund Rescue South Florida is committed to rescuing Dachshunds, giving them a chance to live better lives. That’s why we are so pleased to report that The Dr. Jane’s HealthyPetNet Foundation has granted a financial award to this worthy organization to help them cover the costs of much-needed veterinary services.

Saturday - May 22, 2010

Your Pet May Predict Your Personality

Study Shows 'Dog People' May Be More Outgoing, 'Cat People' More Creative

Are you a "cat person" or a "dog person"? Even people who don't own either pet tend to self-identify as one or the other, and the answer may say something about their personalities, a study shows.

As a rule, dogs are more social and eager to please, while cats are more introverted and curious.

In the new study, self-described cat and dog people appeared to share these traits.

Saturday - May 22, 2010

Pet Symptoms: 6 Signs of Illness in Your Dog or Cat

What our sick pets can’t say in words, they’ll demonstrate through physical symptoms and behavior changes.

Monty's behavior mystified his owner, Karen Mitchell. The 7-year-old dog, a mix of pit bull, boxer, and pointer, was long housebroken and rarely had indoor accidents.

So when Monty began urinating in odd places, Mitchell, 43, at first attributed the dog's behavior to the stress of big life changes. Mitchell and her husband had recently welcomed a new baby daughter and had moved into a new house in Alameda, Calif.

But when the urinating didn't stop, a worried Mitchell finally took Monty to the veterinarian after he wet himself during sleep. "He actually slept in his pee," she says. "He wasn't acting out by peeing in the corner because he's mad that we moved. This was definitely a sickness."

Monty's vet delivered a prompt diagnosis: diabetes.

Tuesday - May 18, 2010

Dogs and Chocolate: Get the Facts

Most of us have heard that chocolate can make dogs sick. But how serious is the risk?

If your canine companion is more family member than pet, you may be in the habit of sharing the foods your family loves with him.

Although some people foods are fine in moderation, this is definitely not the case with chocolate.

Chocolate can sicken and even kill dogs, and it is one of the most common causes of canine poisoning.