Blog Posts by vetstreet.com

By Mikkel Becker

The stereotype of cats and dogs is that when they get together, they fight like - well, cats and dogs. But this isn't necessarily the case; felines and canines can live harmoniously under one roof. It's important to choose a cat and a dog who will get along, though. While there are certain dog-friendly characteristics to look for in a cat, the best place to start is with your dog.

Related: 5 Things About Cats & Dogs You Didn't Know

Dogs who are exposed to cats during their primary socialization period, from about two to nine weeks of age, are more likely to be relaxed around cats in their adult life. Breeds with a lower occurrence of predatory behavior may also be less likely to chase after a cat. Keep in mind, though, that while one dog may be fine with a cat, two or more dogs living under the same roof may feed off of each other, creating an increased chance of multiple canines chasing, seriously injuring or killing the cat.

By Dr. Marty Becker

Nothing ever gets a good dog down. As a veterinarian, I've seen it time and time again: dogs with handicaps find a way to not only cope but to live joyously. How others see them doesn't matter. They find their way and live each day with joy that is infectious. When we care, they share.

Amazing the lessons we can learn from our dogs, don't you think?

Related: Strategies for Training a Deaf or Blind Dog

I've met some dogs coping incredibly well with all kinds of handicaps, including Faith, the dog who was born without her front legs. Faith is an inspiration to people - and pet owners - around the world. But more commonly, I see pet owners wondering how they can help their dogs cope with more common conditions, such as deafness. I love to reassure them that their dogs can and will do just fine with their help.

This condition can be broken down into three categories:

• Congenital. Although any dog (like any person) can be

By Dr. Mary Fuller

Q. My cat repeatedly hacks up hairballs. Is this cause for concern?

A. For most cats, especially the longhaired variety, a hairball every now and then is normal, and there's no need for alarm.

When your cat grooms himself - and sometimes other pets in the household - his barbed tongue pulls out loose hair, which is eventually swallowed. The fur can then collect in the stomach or intestine, forming a hairball. It will typically pass through the digestive tract without incident, but your cat may periodically hack up the telltale "hair cigar."

Related: Why Does My Cat... Get Hairballs?

You should be concerned, however, if your cat goes through the motions of hacking up a hairball, without anything to show for it. Repeated, unproductive gagging and retching may be a sign that a hairball is too large to pass into the intestines, can't be spit up or has formed an obstruction in the digestive tract.

Cats with obstructions may vomit clear or yellowish

By Dr. Patty Khuly

Sunday is Hairball Awareness Day.

Call it a marketing tactic designed to sell more hairball (scientifically known as the trichobezoar) remedies, but veterinarians everywhere are undeniably on board with the simple message being disseminated on this day: hairballs = bad.

Yeah, they're disgusting. But we get used to them, don't we? We pick up the chunks with paper towels by the bag load. And we get treated to the unmistakable sound of that early morning "Gaaakkk!" wake-up call.

Related: My Cat Keeps Coughing Up Hairballs. Should I Be Worried?

As long as there's fur on Fluffy's back, it seems that the ingestion of incomprehensibly copious amounts of fur will never cease. But, luckily, not all cats are seriously afflicted. Only one of my two indoor cats seems especially predisposed.

Just in time for Hairball Awareness Day, here are a few tips to make hairballs less of a hassle in your home:

I recommend that all cat owners get

By Mikkel Becker

Today is National Kids and Pets Day - and we all know that there's nothing cuter than a polite child with a well-behaved pet. But, like children, many dogs and cats misbehave because they've never been taught any differently. Just as our children have to be taught to say "please" and "thank you," animals need training to learn how to use their good manners. Getting your children involved in training their pets helps to create well-mannered pets at the same time that it deepens the bond between your kids and their animals.

Related: 5 Ways Pets Are Great for Children

When you're working with a child and a pet, keep it simple: Clicker training is one of the best forms of reward-based training and can easily be mastered by even a very young child. This method uses a small plastic or metal box that clicks when it's pushed; after the click, the pet is given a treat to reinforce the good behavior. If you don't have a clicker, or if your child has trouble using

By Dr. Patty Khuly, vetstreet.com

I hate to trim toenails! And, no, it's not because I have better things to do and can't be bothered with it. Nor is it because I'm no good at it. (I've been doing it for almost 30 years, so I'd better be an expert by now.)

It has more to do with the stress of the event.

See Also: 6 Steps for Grooming Your Pet

By and large, my canine patients hate having their claws clipped more than any other routine procedure. In fact, injections, blood draws and even the dreaded fecal rod are far more readily accepted by the average dog than a nail trim. The majority of these patients shake and cower as we trim their nails. A sizable percentage must be forcefully restrained.

Although a significant percentage of my owners have trained their pets to accept the manipulation of their paws - and rely on a professional groomer to get the job done on a regular basis - a surprising many still rely on the every-time-we-see-the-vet

John D'Amico-Martinez of Living Color Aquariums cleans the aquarium behind home plate before a spring training game earlier this month.By Dr. Gregory A. Lewbart, vetstreet.com

Bam! The sound is easily heard by the first 20 rows of fans cheering wildly in the 11th inning of a tie game between the Miami Marlins and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Thwump! A speed-of-sound vibration courses through a 250-gallon tropical marine aquarium embedded in a cement wall that's located between third base and home plate. A dirty smudge persists, like an erasable tattoo, on the bulletproof glass from the loud impact of the 95-mile-an-hour foul tip.

See Also: 7 Popular Excuses Vets Hear From Pet Owners

The place is the shiny new Marlins South Florida Park, home to the National League's Miami Marlins. Despite protests from animal welfare activists, animal behaviorists and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the ballpark is set to open with two large saltwater aquariums full of tropical fish, crabs, snails, sea urchins, sea stars and a host of other creatures native to the Caribbean and

See More on vetstreet.com:

* Top 10 High-Maintenance Dog Breeds
* Why Does My Dog... Walk in a Circle Before Lying Down?
* 3 Quirky Animal Museums Including "The Sex Lives of Animals"
* What Your Dogs Eyes Say About His Health

Source of the Original Article: 11 Tiny Dogs With Big, Bold Personalities