Ask a Pets Blogger: Helping Pets with Flaky Skin

My cat has terrible dandruff… at least I think it’s dandruff! She’s always got flakes on her skin and in her coat. What can I do to clear this up? This is a conversation I get to have often at the cats-only boarding facility where I work. As part of our check-in process, we give each cat a quick brushing with a very fine-toothed comb. Our goal is to check for fleas, but we often end up talking to owners about skin and coat care… and dandruff. Dry skin can be a seasonal problem, especially in the winter months when … Continue reading →

How Not to Clean Your Dog’s Ears

My dog Moose has been doing that head shake lately — the one that says ear mites might be to blame. If you’re a dog owner, you may know what I’m talking about: one ear at half mast, frantic head shaking, lots of ear scratching. A quick swipe with a baby wipe showed me that he has debris in the wonky ear. Ear mite debris is usually very dark, and looks a bit like coffee grinds. This was lighter in color, so maybe ear mites aren’t to blame. Maybe he’s got an excess of ear wax, or some other kind … Continue reading →

Indoor Activities for Stir-Crazy Pets

Bad weather can be tough on pets AND owners — your usual walks or yard time are cut short, sometimes for days on end. How can you keep your pets entertained and yourself sane? Here are a few ideas. Homemade toys can provide a few minutes (or hours) of entertainment so you can get some peace. I’ve been stuffing treats into paper towel tubes and then taping the ends shut, so the dogs have to chew or rip them open. Moose figured out that he can tear the tube on the seam and get to his treats quickly; Lally likes … Continue reading →

Irresponsible Owner Breaks Writer’s Heart (Again)

I was driving home from work yesterday and I saw something that had me pretty upset: a little white dog tied up to a car antenna in the middle of a parking lot. My first thought was: what a dumb place to tie your dog. But it isn’t just stupid, it’s irresponsible. It endangers the dog. Would you tie a child to a car and leave them there while you do your shopping or run back into the house for something you forgot? What makes you think a dog wouldn’t get spooked or distracted and try to dart out into … Continue reading →

Getting Cheap with Pet Toys

Or… what to do with all those old, mismatched socks? There’s an interesting phenomenon going on in my sock drawer: all my socks are sprouting leaks at the same time. Okay, maybe it’s not that interesting when I recall the fact that I tend to buy my socks in six packs. It’s no wonder they’re all wearing out at the same time — I bought them at the same time! But I’m left with a bunch of socks with extra holes, and I’m not sure what to do with them. After much thought, I came up with two ideas: Quick … Continue reading →

Three Cheers for the Furminator!

I’m an unusual person, I guess, so my friends and family get me unusual presents. One of my best gifts EVER was my Dremel tool (a gift from my parents for Christmas a few years ago). I love that thing. For my birthday in March, my roommates got me a Furminator. I know, I know… the Furminator isn’t new. You’ve probably heard about it already, or seen it in action, or even own one of your own. I’d seen ads, but never experienced the wonder of the Furminator until it was in my hot little hands. The Furminator was developed … Continue reading →

The Balance

Some friends of mine have a cat who is very ill. The cat first started having health issues around her first birthday, prompting several visits to the vet and emergency vet to get things stabilized. Daily medication managed the condition for a while… but the balance is starting to shift. These friends of mine have done everything in their power to figure out what’s causing the illness and find a way to treat it. They’ve been to the vet many times, had to learn how to give subcutaneous fluids, and more. They really love this cat, and want her to … Continue reading →

Building a Paludarium

If you want to combine land and water habitats in your tank — create a paludarium — the best bet for a beginner may be a paludarium kit. However, after poking around various shopping and search sites, it seems like it might be difficult to find one! Terrarium kits are far easier to find. Educational suppliers like Carolina do offer “river tank” ecosystems for classrooms that can support aquatic and land animals and plants. Don’t be put off by the lack of kits available at the moment — you can still make your own paludarium! The first think you need … Continue reading →

Two Legs, Two Wheels

I saw an ad recently (but can’t remember where) about custom wheelchairs for pets. The image was of a small, white dog smiling/panting in a grassy backyard. Instead of front legs, the dog was resting on a wheeled frame. The caption was something like “I know my person loves me because they got me new legs” — that’s not the exact quote, but that’s the feeling I got. In general, pets are very adaptable. They bounce back from accidents and injuries that might be life-altering for a human. Lost a leg? Animals seem to accept it with a sort of … Continue reading →

Grooming: Sanitary Clip

For long haired pets, a sanitary clip may be a good grooming option. What is a sanitary clip? A vet or groomer will remove hair from areas that can get stinky and dirty from urine and feces. The area may be entirely shaved or simply trimmed to make cleaning easier and prevent cling-ons. Who might benefit from a sanitary clip? Very young animals. Kittens, for example, learn how to groom themselves between the ages of one and four months. A sanitary clip can help keep them clean until they learn how to handle things themselves. Pregnant animals. That round belly … Continue reading →