Featured Articles
Below are some of our recent featured articles. We hope you enjoy them!
Halloween Costumes for Pets
With Halloween quickly approaching, my friends and I were talking about some great costumes for cats and dogs. I am always a fan of those costumes that help the breed’s attributes, such as hot dog buns on dachshund dogs. But my pals wanted more creative dog costumes for this year. We thought we would research some of the most outrageous dog and cat costumes that we could find. While my friend’s dog is game to dress up in just about anything, there are a number of animals that feel threatened by putting anything on them. Be sure to try on costumes at home first before going dressed up into unfamiliar places. Start with something simple if costumes have never been tried before...
Halloween Pet Do’s and Don’t’s
Trick-or-treating. Costume parties. Jack-o-Lanterns. Halloween is filled with fun and games, but could present some dangers for your pets. Here are some tips to help you make sure your pet stays safe.
Candy
Keep a careful watch on that candy bowl you leave out for trick-or-treaters. Chocolate — particularly the dark or baking varieties—is potentially toxic for dogs and cats. The artificial sweetener xylitol can also cause problems, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). If you think your pet has ingested something toxic, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately.
Additi..
Pet Owners Aim for Healthy Diet with Homemade Food
We often read and are told by dieticians and other nutrition experts that for optimal health we need to eat whole foods and avoid the processed stuff. It stands to reason that diets for our pets would follow the same basic principle. But how does one go about making food for the family dog or cat at home? And how exactly is it a better, more nutritious alternative to what we find on the shelf in bags and cans in pet supply and grocery stores?
Touted by many as an option that’s healthier than store-bought food, there has been a surge in recent years in pet owners preparing meals for their animal companions, according to Pet Web MD, since the 2007 recall of melamine-tainted pet..
Is your pet overweight? Here's how to help
You may have recently discovered that your dog or cat has packed on a few pounds. If so, you’re not alone. A recent survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) indicates over 50% of America's pet population is overweight or obese.
Some pet owners find the subject of their fuzzy friend’s size trivial or even amusing, but there is genuine cause for concern. Weight problems in dogs and cats can lead to osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, breathing problems, kidney disease, and shortened life expectancy, according to APOP. Additionally, obese cats are up to four times more likely to develop diabetes. In some cases, losing weight c..
Pet Insurance: Is it right for you?
There’s a lot of buzz about healthcare and how to make it more manageable and affordable — for people. But what about for our pets?
With veterinary costs increasing, and pet owners’ rising expectations for their animals’ health and quality of life, the idea is rapidly gaining acceptance. money.msn.com reported that of the estimated $45.4 billion Americans spent on their pets in 2009, $12.2 billion — 27% of the total cost — was expected to be devoted to veterinary care, according to the American Pet Products Association.
This spike in popularity is also reflected in the recent increase among U.S. employers looking to attract prospective pet-o..
Train Your Pet, Prevent Problem Behavior
Recent studies have shown that in many American households, pets are treated similarly to children. Just like with our kids, we need to ensure our pets learn the proper behavior and skills they need to interact with people and other animals. Dogs and cats in particular require behavior and socialization training.
Training your pet dog or cat lays the groundwork for preventing the development of problem behavior such as jumping on people and barking, and can be invaluable in preventing problems such as ripped furniture, cats eliminating outside the litter box and aggression with other pets inside and outside the household.
With dogs, especially puppies, your training should incl..
Recognizing our pets’ personalities and emotions – do we see them as children?
Many of us believe our pets have personalities all their own and acknowledge that they have social and emotional needs, just like us. One recent study, conducted by New York-based Kelton Research, even concludes that we have come to think of our pets as children.
Pet owners everywhere will tell you that their dogs, cats, gerbils or iguanas are extended members of their families. We tend to feel this way about our animal companions because we see their unique personalities every day. Long gone are the days when we treated pets as workers, and were satisfied to let them sleep out in the yard and simply give them some food and water.
Like any other family member, our pets share in s..
7 Tips for Finding the Right Veterinarian
How to find quality pet care for your animal family member.
One of the biggest and most influential choices you make for your pet is selecting quality, reliable medical care for them. Your veterinarian, in addition to helping diagnose sickness and prescribing treatment for your pet, also can help you create an optimal nutrition and exercise plan for them, and help with any behavioral issues. It is also important to find a veterinarian that is well-versed in issues specific to your pet. Careful planning will ensure that you find the right fit for you and your animal family member. Here are some tips to help guide you through the process.
Look for a vet before you actually nee..
Pet Bill of Rights: Promoting Your Pet's Well-Being
Animals cannot speak up for or defend themselves. We, as their caretakers, have to provide that protection and support for them. The role of a pet has evolved considerably from the days when we let our dogs and cats roam outside until they felt like coming home. We now consider pets to be members of our families and treat them with the extra care and concern that we would provide to a child or spouse.
Our goal at Pet Advocate is to help you provide exceptional care to your pets and advocate on their behalf. One of the fundamentals is the Pet’s Bill of Rights (http://www.petadvocate.net/pet-bill-of-rights). As a responsible and caring pet owner, you support the general well-bei..
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News
New Center Helping Dogs with Fear
18-Mar-2013
An animal’s ability to be adopted often hinges on one key aspect .. read more
Plastic Surgery for Pets?
18-Mar-2013
We have seen them on TV or the internet – people who have radical.. read more
Green Cleaning Not Always Safe for Pets
12-Mar-2013
The move toward “green cleaning” – reducing the numbe.. read more
Events
18th Annual Pug Gala
1-Jun-2013
Monroe, Washington
Seattle Pug Rescue's biggest event of the year and the best pug party in the whole Northwest!
.. read more
Dallas Pet Expo
8-Jun-2013
Dallas, Texas
Saturday, June 8, 2013
10AM to 6PM
Location: Tower Building in Fair Park
Admission: FR.. read more
July 4th Festival and Pet Parade
4-Jul-2013
Bend, Oregon
If you are looking for a special way to celebrate July 4th, start the day with Bend's most histo.. read more
Frogs & Dogs
6-Jul-2013
Issaquah, Washington
The benefiting charity for Frogs and Dogs is Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery. FISH is a.. read more
Pet on Wheels 8th Annual Pet-a-Paw-Looza
6-Jul-2013
Timonium, Maryland
Pets On Wheels, Inc.’s Annual Pet-a-Paw-looza! is a volunteer driven activity. It is our b.. read more