Blog Posts by vetstreet.com

By Arden Moore

We spoke with Dr. Allen Schoen, a veterinarian, behaviorist and author of the best-selling book Kindred Spirits and Vetstreet's own Dr. Marty Becker, author of Your Cat: The Owner's Manual, to share 10 ways cats deliver love and affection to the people who matter most to them.

More on Vetstreet.com:
* 9 Cat Breeds That Crave Affection
* Why Does My Cat... Head Butt Me?
* Teen Busted for Marijuana Due to Dog's Veterinary Exam
* Why Does My Cat.. Bite Me When I Pet Her?
Read More »from 10 Ways Your Cat Shows You Love

By Dr. Nancy Kay | vetstreet.com

High French Bull DogEvery now and again, the sleuthing I do to diagnose what is ailing my patient ends up revealing some unexpected and sometimes embarrassing information about my client. Consider the case of Layla, an effervescent, adorable, 5-year-old French Bulldog. This little girl had experienced two neurological episodes during which she appeared depressed, minimally responsive, and unable to walk. The first episode lasted approximately six hours; the second was shorter in duration with milder symptoms. Dribbling of urine was noted throughout both episodes. Layla was reported to be completely normal otherwise, and normal is exactly how she appeared when I examined her.

See Also: Pot for Spot? Medical Marijuana Isn't Just for Humans

I discussed the potential causes for Layla's neurological events with her caregivers, a lovely couple in their forties. The possibilities included epilepsy, infectious or inflammatory brain disease, exposure to a toxin (none

Read More »from Busted: 15-Year Old Son Caught with Marijuana Thanks to Dog’s Strange Symptoms

By Amy Sinatra Ayres | vetstreet.com

Hank the Cat Loses Election, Wins Big for Charity

Hank the Cat lost the Virginia Senate race, but was a winner for animal rescue groups.Hank was the purrfect candidate. But, alas, after giving it his all, the Virginia cat couldn't claw his way into the state's open U.S. Senate seat. While Hank conceded the race late Tuesday to Democratic candidate Tim Kaine, he said the good news is that he got more than 6,000 write-in votes - and his supporters' $16,000 in campaign donations went to animal rescue groups. "Our campaign … is a perfect example of making your community better for everyone, even if you're just a 13lb cat," Hank told his 27,000 Facebook fans. - Read it at Seattle's KING 5 TV

See More on Vetstreet.com
* Photos: 11 Truly American Dog Breeds
* Photos: An Unexpected Look at Kittens
* Which President Had the Most Pets?
* Why Does My Cat... Head Butt Me?

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Read More »from Virginia Cat Gets Thousands of Votes in Senate Race

By Jenn Andrlik

Miracle workers for pet-stained carpetsHe may be a member of the family, but sometimes your dog sure doesn't smell like one.

Rolling around in the dirt. Getting into things he shouldn't. Accidents that happen more often than you'd like. All of these things can leave your pet - not to mention your rugs - smelling like the furthest thing from roses.

Related: 4 Tips to Keep Your Home Pet-Odor Free

And even after you give him (and your carpet) a good scrubbing, pet odors can still linger. So we asked the team at brightnest.com to test four pet-safe common household products, like club soda, that can eliminate those funky ground-level stains and scents.

"While my wife and I were out of the country, our dog sitter let my two Golden Retrievers explore the tomato garden," says BrightNest CEO Justin Anthony. "If you don't know what happens when dogs dine on tomatos, let me share - a very messy carpet. So I asked our team to explore the best techniques for turning my living room back into a

Read More »from 4 Best Household Items that Remove Carpet Pet Stains

By Dr. Marty Becker

Real age of your pet is...Q. I've read that "one year equals seven" isn't true anymore for dogs. What's the new guideline? And how do you figure out how old a cat is?

A. The old "dog years" formula (one year of a dog's life is equal to seven years of human life) never really worked for any dog, based on a comparison of the general lifespan of humans vs. dogs. Cats age at a more predictable rate than dogs do, mostly because we don't see the range of size and body types we do in dogs, but the 1-to-7 formula doesn't work for them either.

See Also: Why Does My Cat... Not Show Her Age?

How Old Is My Dog?

Consider two 10-year-old dogs, a Great Dane and a Chihuahua. Under the 1-equals-7 formula, they'd both be considered the equivalent of a 70-year-old person. And while that's probably not too far off the mark for the Great Dane (10 years for a Dane is indeed near the outer edge of life expectancy), the Chihuahua is likely still acting middle-aged.

But even the Great Dane didn't

Read More »from How Old is My Pet in People Years? Probably Not the Age You Think

By Amy Sinatra Ayres, Laura Cross, Shayna Meliker

This 4-month-old puppy was found in New York, and shared on the Hurricane Sandy Lost and Found Pets Facebook page.When Hurricane Sandy ravaged the Northeast this week, it left behind severe flooding, millions of people without electricity - and lots of displaced pets.

The good news is that the lessons learned in the wake of 2005's Hurricane Katrina - which left about 250,000 pets stranded - seem to have helped so far, based on the number of pet-friendly shelters in the affected areas. All of the shelters in New York City, for example, accepted pets, reported USA Today.

Photos: Pets Brave the Wrath of Superstorm Sandy

But it's unclear just how many pets have been impacted by the superstorm. There are hundreds - if not thousands - of animals in need across the region. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reports that shelters in hard-hit New York and Long Island are temporary homes to nearly 400 animals.

Vetstreet, with a little help from the folks at World Vets, has compiled the information below both for

Read More »from How You Can Help Pets on Superstorm Sandy's Aftermath

By Dr. Patty Khuly | vetstreet.com

KittenCats produce copious amounts of saliva for a variety of reasons, including oral pain, difficulty swallowing and even as a response to nausea. Excessive drooling can also occur when cats ingest foul-tasting or toxic food, poison or medication.

But what about otherwise healthy felines who salivate when they're simply happy?

It seems that a small but significant percentage of cats drool in response to positive stimulation, which is typically also accompanied by purring, rolling over submissively or rubbing their faces against the objects of their adoration. Most of these cats will be lifelong "happy droolers."

Although the biological rationale for this physiologic response remains a mystery, the important thing to keep in mind is that it's a benign behavior. But if you do suspect any sign of disease, don't hesitate to consult your veterinarian.

More From Vetstreet.com:
· Polydactyl Cats: Why Some Felines Have Extra Toes
· Why Does My Cat... Read More »from Why Does My Cat... Drool when She’s Happy?

By Laura Cross, Shayna Meliker

As much of the Northeast digs out from Superstorm Sandy's devastation, it's clear that both pets and people need as much help as they can get. During the storm, pet-friendly evacuation centers up and down the coast welcomed owners and animals forced to leave their homes.

Check out our photo gallery of pets weathering the storm, and one dog who's already "helping" with cleanup efforts in New York.

More From Vetstreet.com

* 6 Foods to NEVER Feed Your Pet

* Vets Show Heart & Skill Trying to Save Paralyzed Dog Gigi

* How to Prepare Your Pets For Future Disasters

See Also: Dog Strangled By Phone Cord Saves Own Life

Read More »from Pets Brave the Wrath of Superstorm Sandy