Blog Posts by vetstreet.com

By Arden Moore | vetstreet.com

Thinkstock -- Why dogs lick other dogs' muzzlesWhat could be cuter than your puppy giving his doggy pal a smooch on the nose? Nothing, really. But is your dog actually planting a kiss on his buddy? Yes, but that's only one reason your dog may lick another dog's muzzle.

During an introduction, a timid and lower-ranking dog will lower his head, avoid direct eye contact and gently extend his tongue to lick the muzzle of a more dominant, confident and higher-ranking dog. The first dog licks the muzzle of the second dog to simply reconfirm that he comes in peace. Think of this as the doggy equivalent of social kissing.

See Also: Why Does My Neutered Dog Still Hump Things?

Dogs who are already friends will also trade smooches. Two strongly bonded canine pals will lick and groom each other. They give each other "dog kisses" in displays of affection and friendship. In this scenario, the dogs' social hierarchy is not an issue. These dogs know and trust each other. They

By Amy Sinatra Ayres | Vetstreet.com

Credit: KPBS -- Elizabeth Corso holds her long-lost pet, Bandit.

A 15-year-old cat who's spent most of his life missing has been reunited with his family in California. Bandit disappeared 13 years ago after a TV repairman left Dante and Elizabeth Corso's Las Vegas home. They searched all over the city for Bandit, with no luck. About 10 years later, they moved to San Diego. They were shocked to get a call last week from a Vegas veterinarian who said a man who rounded up feral cats had brought Bandit in, and they'd tracked the Corsos down using the feline's microchip. The first thing the next morning, the couple was on the road to Nevada to retrieve their kitty. "This cat here has an amazing story. Yeah, I wish I knew it," said Elizabeth Corso, according to NBC San Diego. "All of it - who he's [been] with, where he's been … he's a special one." - Watch it at San Diego's KPBS

More on Vetstreet.com:
* 9 Cat Breeds That Crave Affection
* Why Does My Cat... Lick Me?
* Looking for a Sweet, Gentle

By Caroline Golon | vetstreet.com

Thinkstock - Pet fur can be lurking in unexpected places Ah, springtime! It's the time of year when many people decide to give their homes a thorough "spring cleaning." Of course, cleaning year-round is necessary to keep pet hair under control, but when you embark on that once-a-year deep clean, you may be surprised where you find fur lurking.

A 2009 study conducted by Kelton for Bissell revealed that pet owners find fur in all kinds of unexpected places in their homes, including in their refrigerators and freezers, in their clothes drawers, in CD cases, on their toothbrush, in their contact lens solution and in their underwear! Jennifer Costello, a dog owner who blogs at My Brown Newfies, admits she's even found dog hair in her ice cream.

"Pet hair definitely shows up in odd places," says Tiffany Lewis, a Columbus, Ohio, professional who's been cleaning homes for more than 10 years. The place where homeowners most frequently miss? Under the refrigerator, Lewis

Alan Robinson, Animal Photography -- Warning Signs to Watch ForBy Gina Spadafori | vetstreet.com

Human stupidity (from the cat's point of view, that is) in misreading or ignoring body language earns more than a few cat lovers a scratch or bite from time to time -- the result of misinterpreting a cat's "I've had enough" signs.

See Also: Why Does My Cat... Bite Me When I Pet Her

The classic example of this phenomenon is the cat who, while being petted, "suddenly" grabs the hand that pets him with teeth and claws, to the shock and sometimes anger of the human doing the petting.

In fact, these "out of the blue" attacks rarely are. Before the biting or clawing, a cat gives out subtle (subtle to us, anyway) signs of diminished tolerance. Primary among them: an increase in the stiffness and twitching of the tail.

Often, the problem starts with petting your cat's tummy, a very vulnerable area for any animal. Your cat may even offer his belly out of love, but after you start to pet, he may become increasingly uncomfortable with the

By Dr. Patty Khuly | vetstreet.com

Heather Bickle, Flickr -- Pup on the prowl for poopDog eats poop. Pet owner gags. Dog eats poop again. Pet owner runs screaming from the room.

Yes, it's disgusting. Yes, it's potentially unhealthy. And, yes, it's fairly common in the animal world.

Related: Why Does My Dog... Kick Grass After Pooping?

A pup will eat his own poop for a number of reasons:

• He thinks it smells and tastes good. (Dogs are notoriously poor arbiters of taste.)
• He's hungry.
• He may be missing key nutrients in his diet or suffer malabsorption.
• He likes to keep his territory or bedding clean.
• He has fun playing with it. (This is especially true for dogs that are mouthy.)
• He's bored.
• He knows that removing the evidence means no punishment for inappropriate elimination.
• He knows that fewer predators will give him grief if there is no physical evidence of his having been around.

There may be other reasons for routine coprophagy, as the condition is known. It can be hard to

By Kate Benjamin

Creating a cat-friendly home means incorporating elements that accommodate your cat's natural instincts to climb, scratch and rest. Why not look for furniture that gives kitty what she needs and offers function for you too? We've rounded up some multifunction furniture that is designed specifically to suit both you and your cat.

More on Vetstreet.com:

* The Greyhound of the Cat World Can Run 30 MPH

* Want a Gentle, Quiet, Intelligent Cat? This Breed Is For You

* 3 Common Kitten Problems and How to Curb Them

By Dr. Patty Khuly | vetstreet.com

Tetsu Yamazaki, Animal Photography -- Feline Care Taking a Front SeatAs part of my series detailing the top trends, topics and products in vet medicine in 2013, I offer you this entry on what I see as my profession's 10 hottest topics. Pay attention, since they might just have a big impact on you and your pets' lifestyle and health care.

But, as always, remember that these ideas represent my personal take on vet med and, as such, might not jibe with what you or your veterinarian considers salient or salubrious where your pet's health care is concerned. So take these for what they are: one industry watcher's informed opinion.

1. Feline care takes a front seat. Over the past decade, the state of feline affairs has become an increasingly evident source of consternation within our profession. Despite their role as the No. 1 pet in the nation, population-wise, it's clear our cats aren't enjoying the benefits our dogs do. Vet visits are down, compliance is low relative to that afforded their canine

By Dr. Narda Robinson | vetstreet.com

Thinkstock -- Milk thistle derivatives are some of the most commonly prescribed plant compounds in veterinary medicine. Prescribing herbal remedies for animals is an expanding field within veterinary medicine. Practitioners are increasingly using these substances to replace or augment existing therapies. As a result, I have recently created a course for the veterinary students at my university called "medical herbology." In my course, we explore not only the safety and effectiveness of herbs, but also their interactions with medications. This is an important but much overlooked aspect of herbal medicine.

See Also: 8 Home Remedies Gone Wrong

For example, I have seen St. John's wort extracts advertised as a treatment for separation anxiety[i] in dogs. However, labels usually fail to warn consumers that this herb can reduce or alter the effectiveness of a wide array of drugs, including chemotherapeutic, cardiac, immunosuppressant, analgesic and anticoagulant medications.[ii][iii] So, a well-meaning owner who gives a dog St John's wort before chemotherapy