Blog Posts by Purina

ThinkstockMost pups need interaction, exercise and a bit of adventure in their day. But sometimes pet owners get busy - and a few days can go by without a long, leisurely walk or a romp at the dog park. If you find that your pup is in need of a little extra attention, perhaps a visit to doggie daycare is in order.

Doggie daycare is great for dogs who can easily get lonely, anxious or destructive when left alone for too long. If they've got a place to roughhouse and play, they'll typically come home pooped - and probably pretty happy. And you won't have to worry about which pair of shoes they'll chew up next. But there are some important considerations to take into account if you decide that doggie daycare is an option for you - and it's important to be sure you choose the right place to leave your pup for the day. So before you decide where to drop off your dog, consider these important factors:

The Vibe. Do you get a good feeling when you walk in the place? Does it seem like the staff is

ThinkstockEvery once in a while, Ike will start snorting uncontrollably. He'll inhale noisily. And he'll spasm from his ribs to his hocks. It's an episode that usually scares the ever living daylight out of me - despite the fact that it's actually a pretty common dog phenomenon.

This weird episode is called a reverse sneeze. The cause for it isn't exactly known, but allergies, nasal irritants or nasal inflamation have all been named as possible culprits. And dogs of any age or breed can be affected.

This snorting spasm may look scary, but if it happens to your dog, don't worry. It'll usually pass quickly, and typically won't cause any long-term problems. If it's a particularly bad or extended episode, however, there are ways to stop it and give your pup some relief. Making him swallow is your best bet. To do this, simply massage his throat or gently pinch off the nasal cavities. Giving him something to drink can be a big help too.

Keep in mind, though, that while reverse sneezing itself isn't

Cats have earned a bit of a reputation for being finicky - especially when it comes to food. But when your cat won't eat, it may be more than her taste buds at action. If your four legged-friend isn't eating dinner, it could be an indicator of bigger issue.

Before you can figure out how to get her to chow down, you need to examine what may be causing the problem. Illness is a typical culprit. Intestinal problems and even cancer can cause your cat to stop eating. So can less serious problems, like toothaches. Vaccinations may have appetite-suppressing affects as well. Additionally, travel and unfamiliar territory may make your cat nervous enough to avoid her food bowl. Or, you may have a cat that's actually suffering from depression, a psychological issue - or just plain finickiness.

The first thing you should do if you notice that your cat has suddenly stopped eating is make a trip to the vet to determine the cause. If illness is the culprit, your vet can help you develop a plan of

ThinkstockWhen we decided to add a second dog to our family, my husband and I deliberated endlessly. I'd always wanted a small dog. He felt like our current big dog needed another big dog buddy. We constantly went back and forth, and at the core of Michael's argument was this: How would Gunner possibly play with a tiny little puffball?

Well, as many of you know, I won that argument, and we ended up with a Pomeranian named Ike (who the hubby adores, by the way). And since the day we brought him home, we've never had an issue with the way that they play.

Granted, Gunner is a pretty gentle dog. And he'd usually rather hover by the food bowl than scrap with other pups, but every once in a while he and Ike get rough and tumble - and it doesn't take a genius to see that a little dog and a big dog can get along just fine. They wrestle, roughhouse and chew on each other's ears for hours. And even with all the rolling, running and chasing their play never gets out of hand.

Ensuring your dog

George Washington kept horses. James Madison had a parrot. And Barack Obama went the traditional route with a good old dog. Pets have long been inhabitant of the white house - and many have become as famous as their presidential owners. But there may be a few pets you haven't heard about -and some interesting stories that may surprise you. Read on, and learn a little more about the pets our leaders have chosen to keep.

There's an alligator in the White House! John Quincy Adams was gifted an alligator by the Marquis de Lafayette, which he allowed to live in the White House. He also kept Silkworms, which belonged to his wife

This place is a zoo! Martin Van Buren housed an exotic pair of tiger cubs at the White House during his presidency. They were a gift from the Sultan of Oman. Congress eventually convinced him to send the furry duo to the zoo. A herd of elephants once made it's home at the white house as well. Owned by James Buchanan (who also kept a pair of Bald Eagles), the

With more and more hotels catering to cats and dogs, it's getting easier and easier to travel with your pets. But before you book that room, you need to think about how you're going to get yourself - and your pet - to that final destination.

For the jet-setting types, planes are an option, but it's not as simple as packing your pet away in a TSA-certified crate. If you're not fully prepared, you may make the trip unnecessarily stressful on your furry little friend, or yourself - and no one wants that.

Before you even think of booking a ticket for your cat or dog, check TSA regulations and make sure you're up-to-date on airline rules. If you're planning on bringing your pet to your seat, there are some strict rules about the size of carrier that may be allowed, and you'll probably incur an additional cost to carry your pet on. There's also the option of having your pet travel in the storage area of the plane. This is undoubtedly a bit more disorienting for your pet, and not

ThinkstockLosing your dog or cat can be gut wrenching. After all, for many of us, our pets are a part of our family, and if one of them goes missing - well, then a little part of us goes missing too.

Luckily, missing pets can be recovered. And there are a few things you can do to up the chances that your furry friend will make it back home - safe and sound.

Keep a recent photo on hand. Use it to make a lost poster, then plaster it on notice boards and sign posts. Take out an ad in your local paper, and drop some off at the vets office. Show the photo to your neighbors and ask them to keep an eye out - and last, but not least, give a photo to your local animal shelter and animal control agency.

Reach out to animal shelters. Speaking of animal shelters - if you lose your pet, one of the first things you should do is file a lost pet report with every shelter in drivable range. Visit them often and check in by phone as much as you can. If you don't happen to have an animal shelter in your

ThinkstockChange is hard. Moving to a new home is taxing - and that goes for furry family members as well. New neighborhood, new house, new smells - these things all require adjustment. Luckily, when we moved into our new house I got some great tips from friends and from my vet on making sure my pets' needs didn't get left behind.

First, we exercised the basic safety measures. All Ike and Gunner's papers were in order, up-to-date and accessible - in case of emergency and ready to hand over to the new vet. In addition, to prevent injury or escape, we kept them in their kennels on our way to the new place and confined them to an upstairs bedroom as we moved in furniture. Something I learned along the way - keep a few toys handy. Because stuff that's packed in boxes is tough to track down.

Second, we accompanied them for all outside time during the first few days - even in our yard. On walks, we exposed them to the new area and let them meet all their future buddies. We definitely kept them