Blog Posts by vetstreet.com

By Caroline Golon | vetstreet.com

Nala and Sonia CharryWhen Sonia Charry of Scottsdale, Ariz., adopted her new puppy, Nala, she had no idea that the mixed breed "mutt" would turn out to be the inspiration for a thriving new business.

Charry first met Nala when a friend of hers was pet-sitting the puppy. "The first time I picked her up, I was smitten," Charry remembers. "She put one paw on each side of my neck and put her head on my shoulder." Something compelled Charry to tell her friend, "If the owner ever changes her mind about this dog, let me know!"

Related: "I Spent $18,000 on a Yard for My Dog"

For two weeks, Charry couldn't get the puppy out of her mind.

In a happy coincidence, the puppy's new owner decided she couldn't keep the dog after all and began searching for a home. Charry was overjoyed. "Yeah, I will take the dog!" she told her friend. And Nala was hers.

Nala was "all ears and paws," Charry says. Adopted originally from a shelter, Nala's

By Dr. Marty Becker | vetstreet.com

Q. How can I keep my dog from taking my socks and underwear?

A. Socks and underwear are extremely appealing to dogs. After all, few things smell more strongly of family members than these items. But as any practicing veterinarian can tell you, these items are among the most dangerous things your dog can chew on. That's because they often end up being swallowed, and once that happens, they can form blockages that may require surgery, and could even kill your dog.

See Also: 14 Common Dog Behavior Myths Decoded

Because of this danger, my number-one recommendation is training - for you and the other two-legged members of your family. You need to get in the habit of putting your clothing in a hamper, preferably one that lives behind a closed closet door so your dog can't chew through the side or lift the lid. Putting dangerous items beyond the reach of your dog is paws-down the best way to protect your pet.

While you're getting that

Humans aren't the only ones who deserve to celebrate their accomplishments on Labor Day - many of our canine friends have had very important vocations too.

See More on vetstreet.com:

* 11 Truly American Dog Breeds
* 8 Amazing Animal Eaters: You Won't Believe How Much They Can Consume
* Can You Guess What Breed That Dog Is?

By Linda Lombardi

Everyone should have an emergency disaster plan, including preparations for those furry family members.

Of course, living in an urban area presents a few extra challenges, so we reached out to emergency management experts for advice on what pet owners should do now to prepare for everything from a future tornado (yes, they can touch down in major cities) to a big hurricane.

Related: 10 Emergency Preparedness Tips Ever Pet Owner Should Know

You should have ample warning when it comes to a hurricane. But in some cases you'll be stuck indoors, possibly without power.

Hurricanes can rage for hours, so if your pet panics during storms, you may want to invest in a calming product, like the Thundershirt. A blanket draped over a crate can also help soothe a storm-skittish pet. It's advisable to have one crate per animal - and get them used to being crated before an emergency arises.

Of course, hurricanes also bring up the possibility

By Colleen Oakley | vetstreet.com

Think all bird watchers are blue-haired retirees?

Think again.

It was actually a 12-year-old boy who recently logged the 100 millionth observation on eBird, a popular site where birders can record daily feathered-critter sightings.

See Also: Can Birds and Cats Live Safely Together?

Two scientists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, in conjunction with Audubon, launched eBird in 2002 with the sole purpose of creating a massive scientific database of citizen observations about avian abundance and distribution. Since then, more than 93,000 people have submitted their findings.

But eBird wasn't always such a raging success.

"The first few years of the project failed to capture much interest," says Cornell eBird project leader Chris Wood. "In hindsight, we had done a very good job of thinking about how to gather data so that it would be useful for the scientific community, but we hadn't

By Linda Lombardi | vetstreet.com

During Hurricane Andrew, Zoo Miami sheltered its flock of pink flamingos in a public bathroom.Whether you're faced with a hurricane, blizzard or a sudden wildfire, pet owners should consider having emergency plans in place to protect their pets during natural disasters.

But what if you were responsible for hundreds of wild animals - and a category 4 hurricane was bearing down?

Emergency preparedness at a zoo involves a lot more than just a few gallons of bottled water and a full tank of gas. It takes knowledge of animal behavior, creative use of facilities, and a huge amount of human dedication.

See Also: 10 Emergency Preparedness Tips Ever Pet Owner Should Know

Zoo animals aren't evacuated in advance of a storm, says Ron Magill, communications and media relations director at Zoo Miami. "These storms can change course at the last minute, so you may end up evacuating animals into the hurricane zone," he adds.

Plus, the stress associated with moving animals can lead to injuries and even death, so

By Gina Spadafori | vetstreet.com

After the fun and playtime of summer vacation, fall can be tough on dogs who've become used to having the kids around. For some dogs, the household changes that accompany a school-year routine - particularly the absence of family from the house all day - may be distressing, triggering bouts of destructiveness.

-- See Also: The Best Age for a Child to Get a Dog --

If your dog seems stressed about the disruption, there are ways you can minimize his anxiety and soothe him when he is alone.

Give your dog his most substantial meal (and probably a walk) before he's about to spend his biggest chunk of time alone. Dogs often nap after they eat, so he may snooze away much of his time alone. Another trick is to use food puzzles when you feed your dog. He may be so engaged trying to get to the food that he doesn't notice everyone leaving.

Have a really good chewy that's just for his alone time and hand

Lots of kitties live pampered lives - hence the classic quip that dogs have owners, but cats have staff.

Despite so often living the proverbial sweet life, felines actually lack the ability to taste sweetness.

While people and most fellow mammals enjoy the taste of something sugary, "cats prefer the protein and fat found in meat," says veterinary nutritionist Dr. Jennifer Larsen, DVM, PhD, DACVN, of the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of California, Davis.

Not only do cats not prefer sweets, but they also can't taste them.

Also from Vetstreet: 7 Foods You Should NEVER Feed Your Cat

"Cats lack the receptor necessary to taste sweet," explains Dr. Lisa P. Weeth, DVM, DACVN, a clinical nutritionist based in New Jersey. Thanks to certain genetic defects, she adds, feline sweet receptors are permanently on the fritz, leaving cats indifferent to sugars.