The Cat and the Binder Clip

A friend told me about a segment on the Martha Stewart Show where an expert demonstrated different ways to get your pets to take pills. The thing I couldn’t believe was the expert using a binder clip on the scruff of the cat’s neck to immobilize her. It sounded harsh. It sounded painful. So I looked up the Martha Stewart Show website and looked for information from that particular episode. The recap had several different methods listed — but not the binder clip. The comments on the article (and on the episode) were a different story. More than one person … Continue reading →

The Problem with Show Dog Science

I’ve long known certain dogs were specifically bred with others to get desired traits, but I hadn’t realized how far back it had all started. Which is pretty remarkable considering science hasn’t always been as advanced as it is now. A few months back I caught part of an episode called “Science of a Dog” on the National Geographic Channel which addressed the topic in depth. It was about how certain breeds have come to be, why, and where they go from here. Because for some breeds their health-future isn’t too bright. That was a really sad part of the … Continue reading →

The Limp is Back

Back in November, I noticed that Moose was limping a bit on some of our walks. The limp comes and goes, but with the recent colder weather, the limp is here more often than not. In fact, during the several days of sub-freezing temperatures, Moose seemed worse than ever: He would yelp or whine at even the lightest touch near his hips or rump. He limped when he walked. He held his back feet very close together while he walked or stood. He was very restless at night, and seemed to have a hard time finding a comfortable position. He’s … Continue reading →

Lead Paint a Concern in Pet Products Too?

All the coverage about lead paint contaminating some kids’ toys got me to thinking: China also manufactures pet toys and bowls. Are they using the same paint on those as well? It stands to reason they would. I haven’t seen anything on the news about this yet –at least not in my area– so I Googled it and found that some others had my same train of thought. Pet Products DO Contain Lead Paint Albuquerque’s KOAT 7 conducted an investigation into the matter using an at-home lead testing kit. They tested a yellow dog ball, a green ceramic pet bowl, … Continue reading →

National Pet Cancer Awareness Month: What You Should Know

November is National Pet Cancer Awareness Month, which is a subject near and dear to my heart because Budly had cancer. In his case, we detected it far too late to even attempt treatments. (By the time we did find it he was suffering pretty badly and the most humane thing to do was immediately put him to sleep.) But if I could prevent Murphy, Kitty, or Tabby –or any of your pets– from experiencing the abrupt and heart wrenching goodbye we were forced to endure with Budly, I’m all for it. So I did a little research to find … Continue reading →

What Do You Get When You Cross a…

…horse with a zebra? Or a lion with a tiger? Would you believe new animals? (Nope, I’m not kidding!) A Horse is a Horse, Of Course, Of Course, Unless It Is a…Zorse? I can’t remember where it was I first saw the image of the zorse. I believe someone sent me an email with a picture of one. My first reaction was, “No way!” But, yep, there before my very eyes was a horse with stripes…also known as a zorse. I had to find out more, and here’s what I came across at a place called the Spots ‘N Stripes … Continue reading →

Fat Cats: A Growing Problem

Girth View: Tab’s ever increasing belly A while back I wrote about Tabby’s eating disorder and how she’s packing on the pounds lately. That’s why when I finally booted up my computer today and saw the title “Morbidly Obese Cats On The Rise” for a Comcast Fan story I clicked on it. Apparently a university in Edinburgh (might have even been the University of Edinburgh) did a study and determined one third of cats are now overweight. They also calculated that diabetes in cats has risen 500%. They attribute it to the same thing that befalls many humans these days: … Continue reading →

Figuring Out What Fido Is: Doggie DNA Tests

About a month ago Murph and I ran into a neighbor, Marlene, and her dog Zeus. Zeus is a very big dog (I want to say in the 100 pound range) and a mix of some sort. Maybe Saint Bernard, maybe Newfoundland, maybe even Lab. Marlene’s not quite sure…but she now has a way to find out. Unlocking The Genetic Safe to Determine a Dog’s Breed She told me about a company called MetaMorphix that sells a DNA testing kit specifically designed to determine a dog’s breed. It’s called the Canine Heritage Breed Test. You order the kit online (costs … Continue reading →

Feline Hunting Games

Cats are hunters by nature. Where dogs chase and overcome prey, cats wait, stalk, and pounce. Cats rarely miss their prey; they wait for the right moment to strike, when victory is almost assured. There are many ways to stimulate your cat’s hunting instincts through play. A cat has several different stances or body positions for hunting and play hunting. Mousing: a low to the ground stalk, followed by a pounce or a one-paw scoop Birding: an upward scooping motion, with toes spread and claws out Fishing: a downward scooping motion, with the paw bent like a hook and claws … Continue reading →

Cat Physiology Facts

From head to toe, from whiskers to tail tip, cats are unique animals! Here are some things you may not know about your cat’s body. A cat’s spine has more vertebrae than a human’s spine, making it far more flexible. The main spine has thirty vertebrae; the tail may have between fourteen and twenty-eight vertebrae, depending on the breed. Do cats always land on their feet? Not always, but a lot of the time. A cat can quickly turn downwards, thanks to amazing flexibility, strong muscles, and an amazing sense of balance. The longer the fall, the greater chance a … Continue reading →