Health and Well-Being Articles:

Life in the 21st century is crazy-busy.

Between running kids to school and sports and music lessons, working, keeping the household running, and maybe even trying to squeeze in a trip to the gym…you’re busy and more than a little stressed out.

Guess what? Your pets pick up on that. And when you’re stressed, they can start feeling a little stressed too. Prolonged anxiety can extend beyond just an unpleasant time; if ignored, it can lead to health and behavior problems.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, this aircraft is in an oversold situation, and we’re looking for a few volunteers…”  The gate area buzzes as passengers groan and consider their options. Over the murmur, the radio crackles: “Ramp, hold off on loading those dogs…I don’t think we can take them.”

Think traveling with your pet is easy? Think again.  But there are ways to improve the chances of a good trip.

Gemini loves to run.  And run.  And run.

She loves to jump, too. Sixty pounds of Greyhound/German Shepherd mix, she leaves a wake of broken lamps and vases behind her as she bounds around the house.

She also loves guests. She loves to greet them. She loves to draw them into games and races. She loves to join them on the couch and stand on their laps.

Visitors depart with bandages from her rambunctious play.

Her person takes her for long walks, and he has taken her to obedience school more times than he can count. But she simply has more energy than he does. And on the cold or rainy days when their walks are short, something in his house will be eaten.

Gemini has more energy than her owner knows how to handle.

Sound familiar?

Very few subjects among cat owners create as much division as the topic of declawing. 

For some, declawing is tantamount to ripping a child’s fingernails off with a pair of pliers. To others, it’s viewed as the only way to protect both furniture and sanity.

But what if there was another option?

Too many people make the mistake of letting their animals fun free and completely disconnecting from the entire time their dogs are out socializing.

There are a number of steps the activity-minded owner can take to reduce the potential for pet sports injuries.

Remember that the overall health exam and consult with your veterinarian during your pets’ annual or bi-annual visit can be even more important than the actual vaccinations in discovering hidden medical problems with your pet.

Shared Diet and Exercise Program Helps Owner and Dog Lose Weight.

The American Heart Association says a person weighing 150 pounds walking at a rate of 2 mph will burn 240 calories an hour. So, you and your dog can shed pounds along the trail.

Install a barrier between your dog and flower beds/ gardens.

Pets who have had their bodies and their minds stimulated by regular play tend to act out problem behaviors less frequently.

Remember that the only silly question is the one that you do not ask. Your veterinarian and his staff is there to provide you and your pet with a lifetime of quality, compassionate, qualified health care.

"Dog's use their mouths in lieu of hands, and so they pick up, mouth, chew and end up exposing themselves to all manner of potential toxins in and around the home."

The kitchen garbage pail is full of potential dangers. Even a cover cannot deter a clever canine. Common throwaways, such as apple cores, potato skins and moldy cheese can make dogs sick.

Antifreeze that contains ethylene glycol has a sweet taste and is deadly in small quantities.

Medicine bottles are seen as rattling toys to a puppy, who once he gnaws the bottle open, can eat the pills inside as treats.

For most dogs, outdoors is where they prefer to be, especially after being cooped up all day in a quiet house with nothing to stimulate their senses. And don't think letting them outside to go to the bathroom while you prod them to hurry up is enough to fill their needs.

The adolescent canine is still in an active growth phase during this portion of his development to adulthood. It is very important that you work with your veterinarian to maintain the optimal level and type of nutrition for your specific breed of dog

Senior pets often develop health issues that can appear initially as changes in behavior. These changes can be misinterpreted as a sudden loss of normal good behavior in the pet.

Training your pet to let you brush his teeth can be accomplished just as any other training program. You need to be patient, consistent and reward your pet after each session. The end result, lower incidence of dental disease, is health rewarding by adding years to your pet's life.

Don't wait for your pet pal to start doing the itchy, scratchy twostep before you get a complete education on the dangers of fleas and ticks. Good help is only a phone call to your veterinarian away.