Posted in Health & Wellness

(hi jim) Can you help us end a deadly veterinary dog lab in Oklahoma? Veterinary schools should teach compassion and respect for the animals their students are learning to treat. Although a growing majority of veterinary schools have adopted humane teaching methods, some schools, including Oklahoma State University at Stillwater, still buy dogs… read more

Posted in Health & Wellness

Sago Palm Plant Kills Puppy It’s hard to believe a houseplant could harm a tough cookie like the Woytek family’s Lab mix, Amber. A survivor of Hurricane Ike, the young pup was diagnosed with distemper in the months after her adoption from the Houston SPCA in September 2008. But according to Laurie Woytek, Amber defeated the often fatal vir… read more

Posted in Health & Wellness

On a recent episode of a TV talk show—which shall go unnamed—a doctor advised a woman who was planning to become pregnant to avoid contact with her three cats because of the risk of toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection that can spread through cats’ feces and cause birth defects. I’m always one for the “better safe than sorry” route, … read more

Posted in Health & Wellness

I've heard warnings about cocoa mulch before, so I checked it out on Snopes(dot)com who said this: --------------------------------- Cocoa Mulch Claim: Theobromine, a chemical found in cocoa mulch, can be harmful to pets. Status: True. Example: [Collected via e-mail, 2003] Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Home Depot, Foreman's Ga… read more

Posted in Health & Wellness

Although they are equipped with fur coats, dogs and other animals can still suffer from frostbite, exposure, and dehydration when water sources freeze. Cold temperatures mean extra hardship for “backyard” dogs, who often go without adequate food, water, shelter, or medical care. When the temperatures nosedive and you start piling on the layers,… read more