Blog Posts by vetstreet.com

By Dr. Patty Khuly, vetstreet.com

Can feral felines ever come home? That's the question I constantly ask myself when confronted with yet another snarling cat freaking out in the back of one of those have-a-heart cat-friendly traps I keep in my backyard shed.

They're all teeth and claws at the outset - almost uniformly. It's enough to make you want to do a spay/neuter, and release them back where they came from.

Related: Can a Feral Cat Become a Friendly House Pet?

Why so harsh? These are not your average house cats. They are no cuddlesome balls of fur. And hell hath no fury like a properly motivated feline - hence the desire to release them as soon as possible.

But sometimes we don't - because sometimes we can't.

Consider the case of the feral cat whose fractured leg or fan belt injury requires longer-term incarceration than the standard TNR (trap-neuter-release) candidate.

Or ponder this scenario: A tiny,

See More on vetstreet.com:

* Why Does My Dog... Walk in a Circle Before Lying Down
* An Actor's Death Puts Spotlight on Banned Breeds
* 6 Foods to Never Give Your Pet
* Why Does My Dog... Roll Around In Stinky Stuff?

Source of the Original Article: America's Funniest Shelter Dog Blooper Photographs

By Shayna Meliker, vetstreet.com

High above the frenetic traffic and flashing lights, some of the world's busiest cities are keeping a secret on their rooftops: bees.

That's right. Urban beekeeping has been gaining popularity across the world. And if you think this is just a fringe trend, you'll be surprised to learn that apiaries can be found on the rooftops of hotels, restaurants, museums, universities and even operas.

See Also: Top Dogs Across America - 10 Most Popular Breeds By State

It may seem counterintuitive, but some bees actually thrive in non-agricultural areas like Paris, London and New York City because of a lack of pesticides present. The rewards are sweet, too: One hive can produce more than 100 pounds of honey per year.

Here are five surprising urban locales that have jumped on the rooftop beehive bandwagon.

City: Manhattan
Buzz-Worthy Fact: The hives atop the Whitney were installed last July - and the 50 pounds of

By Dr. Patty Khuly, vetstreet.com

You may be surprised to hear how much veterinarians shell out when it comes to their own pets. Although you could be forgiven for assuming that it's all comped and covered, the truth is undeniably otherwise.

So have I piqued your interest in peeking behind the curtain to learn what a vet really spends?

Here's a taste of the cumulative expenditures I've endured on behalf of my pets, with a special focus on my congenitally challenged (and exceptionally expensive) French Bulldog, Vincent.

See Also: Meet iPhone-Sized Puppy Who Could Be World's Smallest

Dogs: 3 (plus or minus my mom's two, whom I tend to comp out of familial courtesy)

Cats: 5 to 10 (I foster a lot)

Chickens: 11 to 12, on average, but I'm looking to expand my flock soon (I currently source an average of six eggs a day and about 12 edible hens every three to four years)

Goats: 1 to 2 (one right now, but I tend to keep two at all times, one of

Tiny puppy Beyoncé could be world's smallest pup. (CBS Sacramento)

By Amy Sinatra Ayres, Vetstreet.com

Even at 2 weeks old, Beyoncé could easily fit into the palm of your hand. The pint-sized pup, who perches comfortably on an iPhone, weighs just four ounces.

According to a report from CBS Sacramento, Beyoncé - named for the singer, who has a tune called "Survivor" - is one of five Dachshund and Chihuahua puppies born to mom, Casey, who was found pregnant and abandoned.

See Also: 12 Guinness World Record Winning Pets

After Casey was picked up by animal control, she was set to be euthanized - until she was taken in by The Grace Foundation, which cares for abused and neglected animals.

When Beyoncé was born on March 8, she was abnormally small, had no heartbeat and wasn't breathing. A veterinarian on the scene was able to get her heart started, and Beth DeCaprion, founder of The Grace Foundation, gave the tiny puppy mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Since then, the pup has been bottle-fed every hour and, according to the

By Dr. Mary Fuller, Vetstreet.com

While some dogs may seem to just like the sound of their ID tags jangling against one another, most dogs shake their heads because their ears are bothering them.

Without fingers and thumbs to massage their own ears, it's simply the next best thing.

If you notice that your dog is shaking his head more than usual, it's time for a trip to the veterinarian.

See Also: Why Dogs Walk in Circles Before Lying Down

A common cause for head shaking is otitis externa, an inflammation of the external ear canal. While ear mites, wax plugs, grass awns and other factors can cause the behavior, in most cases, there's an underlying allergy at work.

Once the ear canal is inflamed, bacteria and yeast can invade the area because moist, dark places are exactly where they like to hang out.

In addition to head shaking, dogs with otitis may have red and swollen ears. Your dog may moan with relief when you rub his ears, or

By Dr. Patty Khuly, Vetstreet.com

Confusion, disorientation, dogzheimers. Call it what you will, but canine dementia (known clinically as canine cognitive dysfunction) can be a serious problem.

See Also: 10 Tips to Keep Your Cat's Brain Forever Young

Just like humans, dogs can suffer from many of the same symptoms:

• Sleep-wake cycle disturbances
• Generalized anxiety
• Lower threshold for aggression
• Decreased activity levels
• Inappropriate vocalization (howling, barking or whining)
• Repetitive behaviors (pacing)
• Elimination disorders
• Staring at walls
• Fewer social interactions
• Disorientation (getting "lost" in the house)

But getting old and loopy doesn't have to be as stressful as all that - not for dogs lucky enough to be cared for by owners willing to learn what it takes to mitigate the effects of dementia as they age.

Here's how, in six mostly simple steps:

The early signs of canine

By Dr. Marty Becker, Vetstreet.com
Q. We adopted a kitten a few months ago, and she is up on everything - from the china cabinet to the refrigerator. The problem is that I have my collectibles on shelves, and she has broken a couple after knocking them off. How can I teach her to stay on the ground?

A. Kids will be kids, puppies will be puppies and kittens will be kittens. And with kittens, you're talking about animals who run, jump, climb and pretty much get into anything. They're still working on takeoffs and landings, and that means anything that can be knocked off a shelf is at high risk.

See Also: How to Keep Your Cat Off Kitchen Counters

Put valuables out of kitty's reach. It's actually much easier, at least while your pet is a rambunctious kitten, to put your fragile items away. Either just pack them up for a few months or put them safely behind doors in glass-fronted cabinets. The heavier items that you don't mind risking can be secured with putty used by museum