Blog Posts by Webvet

By WebVet.com

Six new breeds will be competing at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show this week. A total of 2,000 dogs, representing 185 breeds will fight for the title of Best in Show beginning on February 13.

The new breeds include Mexico's hairless Xoloitzcuintli, the Finnish Lapphund, the Norwegian Lundehund, the Cesky Terrier, the American English Coonhound and the Entlebucher Mountain Dog.

"We will have at least two dogs in every breed, including the new ones," explained David Frei, the Westminster Kennel Club's director of communications. "New breed is a little bit of a misnomer because a lot of these breeds have been around for hundreds, or even thousands of years in some of the cases."

In the past 23 years of the show's 136-year history, more than 40 new breeds have been added to the competition -- however their chances of winning the top prize are slim.

"The shortest time between a breed competing at Westminster and winning best of show is 27 years," said Frei. "That

By WebVet.com

2320080911153422bulldogingrass

After you've found the perfect dog breed, it's time to find the dog perfect breeder. How do you find a responsible, trustworthy professional breeder? Here's a handy list of resources to help in your search:

• The American Kennel Club has a National or Parent Club for each dog breed, as well as contact information. The Club can direct you to breeders in your state or region.
• Area kennel clubs
• Obedience training clubs
• Veterinarians
• Groomers
• Boarding kennel operators

What breeders want to know about you

Gail Miller, former director of marketing for the American Kennel Club (AKC), grew up in a family that bred bearded collies. "My mother would screen people scrupulously over the phone before she ever made an appointment for them to come meet the dogs,'' Miller said. "She was very concerned about matching the right family, or individual, with the right puppy.''

That's what responsible breeders do -- screen, question and evaluate

By WebVet.com

Congratulations to pet lover Jessica Chastain on her Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Help!

Chastain recently burst onto the national scene as a result of her role in the film, and while not much is known about the actress's personal life -- one tidbit we have learned is that she's the mom of a three-legged pup!

As we've mentioned before, disabled pets desperately need loving homes! In a recent survey by Petfinder, 33 percent of adoption groups said they've had pets who were posted on Petfinder for 1-2 years without being adopted, and 27 percent have had pets who have waited more than two years for a forever home.

Jessica is up against Berenice Bejo (The Artist), Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids), Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs) and her costar Octavia Spencer for the big prize!

WebVet: Looking to adopt? Consider a disabled pet


Photo credit: People.com

More from WebVet:

• Does Your Dog Need To Wear a Jacket?
• Pets for Adoption!
• Miley

By WebVet.com

2120081124104444puppy

Pets and poison is a growing concern among pet owners. Household poisons are not the only thing that can harm your pets. Many common household foods and drugs can also be toxic to your pets. The following are foods that can be toxic or poisonous to your pets.

Avocados
Avocados contain a toxin known as persin. Persin is found in various parts of the avocado and avocado trees (eg, leaves, rind, etc). This toxin is known mostly to cause vomiting and diarrhea. Birds and small pets seem most affected by the negative side effects of consuming avocado.

Beer
Not just beer…all alcohol. Depending on how much alcohol your animal ingests, it can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, depression, difficulty breathing, coma, and possible death.

Chocolate
Chocolate contains a compound called theobromine that is toxic to pets. If enough is ingested, your animal can suffer from vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rhythms, tremors, seizures, and possible death. Cocoa mulch

By WebVet.com


2320080516170852iStock_000003852728XSmall

From the bright glow of a cat's gaze to the slow, almost sultry, sashay of a passing tabby, ancient Egyptians found feline qualities overwhelmingly mystical. In fact, many even believed cats to be daughters of Isis, the powerful moon goddess.

In ancient Egypt, the glance of a cat was believed to hold actual sunlight, while statues of cats were placed outside of homes to ward off evil spirits. A cat's mere presence was thought to bring luck, love and healing.

Among the Egyptian deities associated with cats are Mafdet, the first Egyptian feline deity; Bastet, the goddess of love, often shown with the head of a cat and the figure of a woman; and Sekhmet, usually depicted with a lion's head.

Gods and goddesses

That cats were viewed as manifestations of gods and goddesses in ancient Egypt was not at all uncommon. In fact, affection and respect for many animals permeated daily culture, particularly during the era of the "New Kingdom" (1540 to 1069 BC). Yet,

By WebVet.com

Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez have a lot in common. They both rose to fame on the Disney Channel with their own shows, they both have famous boyfriends, their own albums, are considered teen icons -- and recently adopted puppies!

Everyone has their own opinions of whose star shines brighter, but what about their pups? Which is better?

Let's take a look:

Names: After some initial confusion, Miley revealed that her puppy (breed unknown) is called Ziggy. A fan tweeted that she was under the impression the pup was called Daisy Dukes, which Miley quickly corrected, writing: "Liam wanted to name her that! I said NOOO WAY." Okay, okay! Ziggy it is!

No drama surrounding Selena's name! Her husky mix is Baylor. Seems a little boring by comparison, right? We'll give the edge to Miley here.

Boyfriends: Miley presented boyfriend Liam Hemsworth with Ziggy the puppy for his birthday, while Selena and her beau Justin Bieber went in on their pooch Baylor together.

We're giving this

By WebVet.com

Mitt Romney risks losing the support of pet-lovers at a crucial point in the Republican primary now that protesters have revived the story of him tying his dog to the roof of the car during a family trip.

Last year, Romney admitted to once putting his Irish Setter Seamus into a carrier strapped to the roof of his family's car. Not only was he unaware that such an act is considered "cruel and inhumane" in Massachusetts, Romney said that Seamus enjoyed the dangerous seat and was likely more comfortable than he would have been inside the vehicle.

At a recent GOP candidates forum at the College of Charleston, two protesters held "Dogs Against Romney" signs and stood need a car with a giant stuffed dog placed in a crate on the roof.

To counter Romney's uneducated car safety behavior, WebVet offers the following advice when traveling with your dog:

Don't think for a second that safety belts are merely for people. As canine companions go along for the ride, dogs need to be

By WebVet.com

2120081009124008puppy
The Association of Pet Dog Trainers dedicated January as "National Train Your Dog Month," because so many dogs and puppies are adopted or purchased from breeders and brought home during the winter holidays.

WebVet is here to help with some tips on house training your new puppy:

How long does it usually take to housetrain a puppy?

With a consistent routine, most puppies can be trained within a relatively short time, sometimes only days to weeks. However, you will still need to remain vigilant until eliminating outside has become an ingrained habit.

How long should a puppy be expected to hold it?

Most new puppies need to eliminate every 2-3 hours during the day, and many need to go out once or twice during the night. With each passing month, you can expect your puppy to last a little longer between eliminations.

What signs should I look for when my puppy has to go out?

Signs that your pup needs to eliminate include circling, squatting, sneaking off,