Oh, the thrill of celebrating the 4th of July! Crowds of family and friends, sparklers, firecrackers, fireworks, tons of food…all of it’s festive and fun – at least, it is for humans. For pets, our Independence Day celebrations can cause illness, anxiety, injuries and even death if we don’t take some steps to safeguard them. Dogs in particular are likely to suffer from anxiety and behave in uncharacteristic ways when they are subject to more noise, activity and (to their eyes) strange behaviors.
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Peanut Butter, our cranky but lovable old cat, has staked out her territory on Soldier’s orthopedic dog bed and handmade dog quilt. We’re used to it; so is Soldier. In my experience (and I’ve had tons of it!), cats rule the roost in most homes where there is a cat and a dog in residence. It may be a Maine Coon Cat intimidating a tiny Teacup Chihuahua, which almost makes sense when you look at their respective sizes.
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Most cat owners have had the less-than-pleasant experience of coming across a hairball their precious feline has hacked up. Hairballs are the tangled knots of hair that cats swallow when they’re grooming themselves. Cats cough up hairballs when they can’t pass them through their digestive tract and get rid of them in feces.
Minimizing Hairballs
Grooming your cat regularly will decrease the number of hairballs, especially if your cat has long hair.
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A reader from Michigan recently asked whether he should adopt the runt of the litter of pups for a family pet. We put the question to some of our subscribers and got a wide range of answers, some based on science and others based on personal experience:
“My family got their first pet when I was probably six years old. I remember going to see the puppies a few weeks before they were weaned and falling in love with the smallest pup in the group.
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Just like dogs and humans, felines can contract the cat flu and end up with common symptoms. Most cats who get feline influenza will end up with a sore throat, sniffles and watery eyes. They many also develop mild lethargy and aching muscles. In severe cases of cat flu, pets can run a high fever and become dehydrated or severely lethargic.
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While your dog can’t catch the flu from you or other people, he can catch it from other dogs. This year, cases of canine flu are on the rise. It’s very contagious, so if your dog is being boarded, visits dog parks or even has regular play dates with other dogs, he is likely to be exposed to the canine flu virus.
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There are multiple websites that offer detailed information on the ingredients and quality of various dog food brands. Most of them are helpful, but there are a few that are actually sponsored by or done by a particular brand. These are the ones to avoid because they will skew in favor of the company doing the testing. Instead, look for the best dog foods reviews by looking for reviews done by an independent testing agency that doesn’t have any stake in the sale or promotion of any dog food brands.
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Most people make the decision to adopt a pet because they love animals and they want one. For these people, it’s simple. But if you want to have a pet and your partner is hesitant, or if you’re not sure whether timing is right, there are at least seven great reasons to have a pet:
Pets are good for your health.
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“Does my cat need a rabies vaccine before going to Europe? I’ll be traveling overseas with my cat later this year. Will he need special vaccines? And how can I find out what’s needed?” asks Tim J., from Illinois. We asked Sue Smith from PetTravel.com:
“Nearly all countries worldwide will require that both dogs and cats be vaccinated for rabies at least 30 days before entering the country, so you’ll need to plan several weeks in advance to ensure that you cat’s rabies vaccine records will be accepted when you arrive at your destination.
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