Pet of the Week
These are two kitties that were saved, brought to a cat shelter, and adopted out to fine homes!
It's easy to get your pet into the Pet of the Week feature - here is what you need to do!
Your New Pet – Cat or Dog?
Most people have definite feelings about the topic of dogs versus cats. It is like the war of the sexes. It will never end and proponents of each side are intensely loyal to the animal of their choice. We have heard of “cat people” and “dog people,” and some of us enjoy both. But when deciding on a pet, it is a personal choice as to whether cats rule and dogs drool, or the other way around.
Weight Loss Pills (?) For Dogs?
Is Fido fat? Does your best four pawed canine friend, need to go on a diet? It seems unbelievable, but a weight loss drug has been developed for dogs. Sentrol, the name of the new medication, works in two ways. It makes the dog feel full so he or she is less likely to want to eat, and it also blocks fat absorption.
The thinking behind this drug is that as Americans gain weight, so do their pets. Food equals pleasure according to some, and therefore if we are loving our dogs enough, they may very well be overweight. And an overweight dog has the same health issues as an overweight person.
What I don’t get is the whole reasoning behind this. The dog may not feel full and want to eat, but he can’t really call and order and pizza, or stand in front of the refrigerator for hours grazing on this and that left over from a previous night’s dinner. And he certainly can’t buy a healthclub membership so he can work off his extra pounds.
Part of the responsibility of owning a dog (or any other pet) is feeding it properly so that weight isn’t a problem. And much of the fun of having a dog is that you always have a partner to go for walks; no matter how much a friend might not want to go out on a cold and gray day, you can count on your dog to walk with you.
Perhaps these pills will have some use for dogs with medical conditions that cause weight gain. But for the vast majority of the dogs who need to drop a few pounds, the answer can be found in owners who feed responsibly and play with abandon.
FDA Approves Weight Loss Drug For Dogs
Prevent Pet Loss: Identifying Dogs & Cats
Is your four-legged friend, whether it be a cat or dog, your treasured best friend? Then surely you have protected your 
FurBaby with the means to locate him or her, should, Heaven forbid, Socks or Rover get lost. A missing pet is one of the worst scenarios possible for those of us who live in a world of “meows” and “bow-wows.” (I have never actually heard a dog say “bow-wow” but it is the common translation for a bark, so we’ll just go with it.)
My cats are strictly indoor residents so the risk of them getting outside and becoming lost are slim. But it has happened. One of my good friends had a beautiful purebred Maine Coon cat escape through the smallest opening possible near an air conditioner. Seven days later we had all but given up hope. The hundreds of “Lost Cat” posters she had put up finally paid off one evening, with a late phone call, that resulted in Trevor returning home. He had lost weight, brought along a few hundred of his new flea friends, and had ear mites. But no matter. Trevor was home and some good meals and minor vetting had him in tip top shape in no time at all.
My Pembroke Welsh Corgis are only outside on a leash. Again, the risk of them becoming lost is minimal but leashes can break. Dogs that are in a fenced back yard can come up with the most cleaver methods of escape as well; Houdini would have been impressed at some of the escape antics I have heard about.
So how do you prevent this problem? How do you do everything you can to avoid that sinking feeling the first night that you go to bed not knowing where your lovable best friend is?
This problem not only applies to all of us with our beloved pets, but is an issue for purebred dog and cat breeders. Animals that make regular appearances in the show ring, or that are used for breeding, can be at high risk for kidnapping. This is not only an emotional issue, but a financial concern as well for the professional breeder.
Four basic tips that are the smartest ways to begin with identifying your dog, or cat, are featured by Cesar Milan, The Dog Whisperer. These tips are easy, inexpensive and can save lots of tears and worry. They can also save your pet’s life.
