Monday, December 23, 2024
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Can My Dog Eat Thanksgiving Dinner?

thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends to join together for one monster of a meal. When you look at it on paper - food and family - you’d think that Thanksgiving dinner is the perfect setting for a dog. But is it? While most of what’s on the table during Thanksgiving isn’t a direct threat to your dog’s health, it is important to be mindful of everything your dog does ingest (if you decide to allow him to have anything at all). Here’s a rundown of what you can do to make sure your dog has a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. 1. The turkey. Turkey by itself won’t hurt your dog. Who knows, maybe you’ll get a few hours of peace and quiet if the turkey works its magic like it does on the rest of your family. However, there are some parts of turkey your dog should not have. ...

Your Dog and Food – The Common Sense Tips

dog

If you’re a first-time dog owner, learning what is healthy for your dog to ingest can seem like a daunting task. Fortunately, by being aware of what is safe in your pantry, and what is not, you can not only prevent your dog from becoming ill, but provide relief in times of pain and discomfort. What not to give your dog Many foods are healthy for us, and it may seem surprising to learn that they are bad for dogs. According to the ASPCA, avocado leaves, fruit, and seeds all have toxic potential. In dogs, sensitivity to avocado flesh can often result in diarrhoea, while the pit comes with the additional, serious risk of obstructing your dog’s intestinal tract. Grapes and raisins might be one of your favourite snack between meals, but have been linked to kidney failure in dogs, which in extreme cases can lead to death (macademia nuts can also ...

Animals abandoned, rejected, and hoarded … by ‘no-kill’ shelters

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Last month, the Portsmouth Humane Society (PHS) in Virginia—a shelter touting its "no-kill" goals—was busted for "adopting" some 300 feral cats and then quietly abandoning them in the woods and on the streets. One employee who released six cats in her neighborhood at her boss's urging later found two of the cats dead, hit by cars. The areas where many cats were dumped border a busy highway and working railroad tracks. Of the more than 90 cats who were abandoned there, staffers could only account for about 20. It's anyone's guess what has become of the rest of the cats. These cats depend on humans for shelter, food, water, and veterinary care. When left to "fend for themselves," feral cats suffer and die from exposure, untreated broken bones, infections, parasite infestations, and contagious diseases (including rabies, which is no longer rare in outdoor cats). They are routinely poisoned, shot by cruel people ...

Is Bullfighting Culture or Cruelty?

bullfighting

They call it a dance. A graceful compilation of movement equal to the brushstrokes of a painter. But neither the waltz nor impressionism end in the slaying of a living being, which is why so many people have a hard time accepting bullfighting as cultural. And while there are forms of non-lethal bullfighting being practiced today, opponents of the sport claim that the cruelty begins weeks and even months before the actual event takes place. Still, there is more than a massive amount of supporters worldwide who laugh at those people who refer to bullfighting as a bloodsport. They cry foul, equating it to Americans not understanding cricket, for example. So, is bullfighting culture, or cruelty? What is bullfighting? Bullfighting involves toreros of different levels, with the highest level of torero being called the famed matador. These toreros practice the art of bullfighting and pick up their own style of movements that are easily ...

How to Help the Animal World by Fostering a Pet

fostering

It’s no secret that having a pet is a very costly endeavor.  There is of course the initial cost to buy the pet, which can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the breed and sire lines of the animal you are considering; however, you must also consider the ongoing costs of having a pet. These include food, toys, boarding if you go on vacation, grooming, and of course regular veterinary visits, and vaccinations.  These costs can add up, and are outside the realm of what some people can actually afford. This can lead to a pet being surrendered to a shelter or rescue, or even to the pet being given away by means of a site like Kijiji or Craigslist. Surrendering an animal is hard on the owner and their family, but it is no picnic for the animal either because they don’t understand what’s happened. All ...

Something to Consider: Senior Pet Adoption

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Most people immediately think of a puppy when they are getting a new dog. Those considering the adoption option tend to lean towards a young adult or pup. Dogs with special needs and seniors are often low down on adopter’s priority list and may languish in shelters or spend long periods of time in foster care waiting for homes. Shelters with limited space often end up euthanizing them first as they are the least likely to be adopted out. That’s why it was nice to see actress Lea Michele adopt a senior dog, she has named Pearl. Many worry that getting a senior means you will lose your dog sooner. If you have recently lost a pet, you are likely still grieving and do not want to repeat those feelings of loss anytime soon. That’s completely understandable but life in unpredictable. Young dogs do become ill and die tragically young. Old ...

Why Can’t the Jerky Dog Treat Mystery Be Solved?

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Over the past six years, more than 3,600 dogs (and 10 cats) have been reported as getting sick after eating jerky pet treats. Of those thousands of sick animals, 580 have died. Yet, despite these large numbers, the FDA still doesn’t know, or hasn’t reported, any specific brands of pet treats that are responsible. All they’ve said, to date, is that the animals mostly ate a chicken or duck jerky treat. The other commonality is that it appears most of the treats were made in China. The typical symptoms found in these pets include diarrhea, lack of appetite, and sluggishness. And while we can determine the symptoms, there still remains a mystery over the cause of the illnesses. The FDA, stumped over this since 2007, has sent an open letter to US veterinarians asking them to track and send detailed information about any animals who become sick following the consumption of ...

Can Animals Speak Different Languages?

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Tell a Mexican-born Chihuahua “sit” and he’ll cock his head at you and wonder what it is you just muttered. But tell him “siéntate” and he’ll do as he’s told. Is this evidence that dogs, and animals in general, can speak different languages? Or are we just fooling ourselves? And speaking about language, what about accents? Does a Boston Terrier say “Pahk the Cah at Hahvahd Yahd” while a North Carolina Plott Hound barks with a drawl and an Upper East Side French Poodle speaks with an air of arrogance and family money? Or do all dogs go woof, cats go meow, and foxes go … wait, what does the fox say? Animal language seems to be coded Stick an American-born baby in the middle of Japan at birth, and ten years later you won’t find a kid who speaks fluent English and struggles to understand the difference between konichiwa and Toyota. ...

The 5 Best Dogs for Lazy Owners

chihuahua

People prone to couch surfing and lazing around deserve the chance at a life with a dog, don’t they? These active-phobic folks shouldn’t have to be reduced to settling for a cat or a fish as the perfect pet, do they? Not that I’m saying cats or fish are consolation prizes … but still, they’re not quite dogs. Dogs are work, no matter the breed or size. They need exercise, attention, and love in order to be happy and healthy. So while the following five dogs make decent pairings for the sloth-like soldiers of the population, this doesn’t mean one should neglect his or her dog and treat it like a breathing ornament. That’s what fish are for … sorry fish lovers. Here are the 5 best dogs for lazy owners, including one breed of dog you’d least expect to find here. 1. Bolognese The Bolognese is a tiny dog fantastic for apartment dwellers, or, hey, lazy ...

Why Is My Dog…?

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Answers To The Questions That Boggle Your Mind Dogs do some crazy things that make us scratch our heads and laugh. And while we’re entertained and baffled by what they do, sometimes we just want to know - why do they do … that?. Here are answers to some of the questions that have probably run through your mind as a dog owner. 1. Why is my dog dragging his bottom? Ah, the infamous scoot that embarrasses us and haunts us in our sleep. Why does your dog scoot along the floor or ground? Chances are something’s really irritating your dog where the sun don’t shine. Here are some common reasons why your dog scoots: Anal Sac Problems,such as being abscessed, blocked or inflamed. You can treat that through expressing the sac (at home or at the vet’s), using antibiotics or adding more fiber to your dog’s diet. Worms - yup, your dog could ...