Blog Posts by vetstreet.com

By Mikkel Becker | vetstreet.com

Cat Misconceptions DispelledCats are the most popular pet in the United States; they are intelligent, affectionate and mysterious creatures. Despite this popularity - and perhaps because of their air of mystery - there are many misconceptions about cats that cause both social and physical problems for these animals.

Here are six common-but-false assumptions about felines - and the truth behind them.

False. Separation can be stressful for cats. Specifically, separation anxiety may manifest in behaviors such as urination and defecation outside of the litterbox, vocalization, vomiting, excessive grooming, lack of appetite, anxiety at departure or an exuberant greeting when you return. To keep your cat happy, it essential to limit their time alone and provide them with stimulation and interaction in the form of play, petting, food toys and perches. If you have an extremely stressed cat, it's essential to make an

By Amy Sinatra Ayres | vetstreet.com

Don't keep trying to fight it, pup. Just go off to dreamland.

By Mikkel Becker | vetstreet.com

Don't let a myth harm your relationship with your dog.Although dog training has become more of a science than a craft in recent years, some persistent myths still mislead us when reading canine behavior. Don't let a myth harm your relationship with your pooch. Here, we dispel 7 common myths and look at the facts.

False. Old dogs not only learn new tricks but they thrive when trained. My late Pomeranian, Mr. Teddy, who was adopted at an estimated 10 to 13 years of age, was a training superstar in Vetstreet videos, which were filmed two weeks before he passed away. By the same token, older dogs without housetraining experience as puppies can successfully be housetrained. As long as a dog is mentally and physically capable of learning to perform a behavior and is properly motivated, it's entirely possible to train her. While intense agility training for Teddy was not realistic, teaching basic commands was.

By Gina Spadafori

French Bull DogLike many people in late middle age, I find myself wondering if my next dog will be different. I have long shared my life with retrievers - active, field-bred dogs who throw themselves with joy into every situation (and every puddle of water bigger than a dinner plate). Their boisterousness is infectious: My dogs make me happy. But in 10 years, or 15, or 20, will I be up to the demands of dogs like these?

Or will a nice, quiet little spaniel be the dog I need?

My answer may be different than others, even among people of similar age (55), health (reasonably good) and activity level (decent, could be better). I live in a rural pocket near an urban center, and I can always walk out my back door and engage a bored retriever in a heart-thumping game of fetch in my horse pasture. But I won't always be able to lift a sick or injured 70-pound dog, and that's an unchangeable truth. These types of concerns explain in part the increased popularity of small dogs

By Laura Cross

We just can't get enough of this French Bulldog who dresses up in such cute and creative costumes that we don't know how she could possibly outdo herself for Halloween. When the Frenchie isn't mugging for the camera with a lei around her neck or a flower on her head, she's snuggling up with her favorite human, Olive, the super adorable baby, or clowning around with her canine bestie, Ruby. And, don't worry - the fashionable Frenchie seems to adore dressing up.

More on Vetstreet.com:

* 5 Popular Dog Breeds This Veterinarian Wouldn't Mind Seeing Less Of

* USA Just Became a Safe Place for Pets

* Is It OK to Kiss Your Pet?

By Lisa Granshaw

JustRosie.comImagine spending the first two years of your life in a house with 40 other dogs, hiding under a piece of furniture to avoid being trampled and never going outside to play in the sun. These horrible conditions are how Rosie, a 2-year-old Chihuahua, lived until being rescued from a backyard breeder in June 2012.

"She looked like a rat or an anteater. It was hard to figure out. So when you see that at first, it's hard to comprehend that that's a dog," says Cinnamon Muhlbauer, Rosie's rescuer. "I knew I had to get her and see what could be done."

The breeder and animal hoarder Rosie lived with was brought to Muhlbauer's attention by a friend who noticed a sign in her neighbor's front yard advertising free puppies. When the friend went into the neighbor's house, she discovered Chihuahuas who had been inbreeding for years, resulting in a number of puppies with deformities like Rosie's. When Muhlbauer arrived, she took Rosie and two other pups and went

By Kristen Seymour

For every name that moves up a mark on the list of the top 100 most popular cat names, another name has to slide. And some names have fallen more than their fair share over the past decade, with a few dropping off the list completely.

Do any of these names ring a bell? They might be losing ground now, but they were certainly popular once upon a time!

See More on vetstreet.com:

* 10 Trendiest and 10 Least-Trendy Dog Names
* Most Common Health Conditions in Cats
* 10 People Foods Pets Can and (Can't Eat)

By Dr. Marty Becker

Smooches With KittyThere's a controversy in veterinary medicine that divides the profession, and it's over something that many pet owners never give a second thought: kissing your pets. As you might imagine, I have some thoughts on this topic. Because, yes, I kiss my pets, and yes, I know I probably shouldn't.

To Kiss or Not to Kiss

Not long ago, Dr. Christina Winn came out in favor of pet kissing in a Veterinary Economics cover piece. Dr. Winn was looking at ways to develop better communications with pet owners so pets will be more likely to get the care they need. The antikissing contingent blew her a raspberry soon after, with a letter signed by a handful of veterinarians, including my good friend Dr. Tony Johnson, a clinical assistant professor of critical care at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. Their point: It is indeed possible to catch something from such close contact with a pet.

See Also: 5 Dog Breeds that Put the "D" in Drool

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