Blog Posts by vetstreet.com

By Crystal Miller-Spiegel | vetstreet.com

Thinkstock -- Dogs at a ShelterWhen I was a senior in college in Central Pennsylvania, I adopted my dog, Simmons, the Greatest Dog Ever, at the local animal shelter for $20, with no obligation to neuter him and no landlord's letter stating that, yes, dogs were allowed in my rental home. I simply showed up and took him home.

Fast-forward one year, however, and my job at a Boulder, Colo., animal shelter involved conducting in-depth adoption interviews to decide if the interested person or family could provide a suitable home for whatever cat, dog or other animal I was trying to find a home for. At that shelter, once the animals were deemed "adoptable," they were not killed because of overcrowding. So while there was a sense of urgency to placing them, it was not as if their days were actually numbered if I didn't do so. Still, I definitely experienced that "gut" feeling when it felt like the pet/family pairings might not be a good match, and I often felt happy but

By Mikkel Becker | vetstreet.com

Mikkel Becker, Vetstreet.comThe Kong toy is one of the most important innovations in the dog training world. It's a valuable tool for building better canine behavior because it focuses a dog's energy and chewing on an appropriate outlet. A Kong will keep a dog occupied for long periods of time as he uses his teeth and tongue to pull out the morsels hidden within.

One of the ways I pamper my Pugs, Willy and Bruce, is by creating new recipes to stuff in their Kongs. The Pugs are more than willing to try out my new creations, and I get the satisfaction of seeing them tail-wagging happy as they engulf the contents of their Kongs.

Video: How to Stuff a Kong for Your Dog

Here's one of my newest creations. I call it Tail Mix, which is simply the canine version of trail mix. It was a big hit with Willy and Bruce, and it's veterinarian approved by my father, Dr. Marty Becker.

This recipe can be used to replace part of your dog's normal meal, although

ThinkstockLike human babies, feline babies aren't born innately knowing how to be good. In fact, they're born innately knowing how to get into mischief. Your job is to curtail that misbehavior and, when it gets out of hand, redirect it into acceptable behavior. Of course, some kittens are wilder or more aggressive or harder to litterbox train or more fearful than others, and these kittens may need a little more work, training and socialization.

Inappropriate elimination of feces or urine is one of the most common complaints of kitten owners. Most often, failed attempts at litterbox training have expected too much of the kitten, with owners often assuming that kittens train themselves to use a litterbox. They don't. If they are given the opportunity to use a litterbox at the appropriate age, it may seem like they train themselves, but if not, they can train themselves equally effectively to use your carpet, a pile of laundry or any other place they grow accustomed to

By Michelle Leifer | vetstreet.com

ThinkstockWith Easter less than a week away, it can be tempting to buy a furry bunny to round out your child's holiday basket.

But, as adorable as they are, rabbits are more than just a seasonal decoration or a toy. When uninformed owners are faced with the reality of caring for their new pet, that cute bunny all too often ends up in a shelter.

Related: Biggest Misconceptions About Rabbits

To get a better sense of what to expect, Vetstreet asked Mary E. Cotter, Ed.D., who runs the New York City-area chapter of the House Rabbit Society (HRS) and serves as the vice president for the international HRS organization, to give us the lowdown on bunny ownership. Here are things to consider:

Bunnies can live seven to 10 years - and some even hit their teens. "This is not a quick fix for a lonely child," Cotter says. "You need to think long term and realize that a full-grown pet requires devotion and care."

And

By Laura Cross

The "gray ghost" is back in the limelight.

The latest campaign for Stockholm, Sweden-based fashion and design brand Acne Studios features a pair of fashionable Weimaraners shot by one of the most famous Weimaraner photographers of all - William Wegman.

Wegman made the breed's signature gray face famous back in the 1970s, when he started photographing his Weimaraner, Man Ray. Chances are, you or someone you know, owns, (or used to own), a William Wegman Weimaraner calendar.

So tell us, which gray ghosts are your favorites? The ones wearing dollar-print suits? How about the adorable duo in oversized floppy hats?

More on Vetstreet.com:
* Want a Large Dog That Is Gentle? Then This Breed Is For You
* The Toughest Decision a Pet Owner Has to Make
* Top 5 Pet Trends for 2013

By Dr. Donna Spector | vetstreet.com

ThinkstockDo you ever wonder how much your pet sees, or if they see the same things with the same detail that you do? Although it seems like a relatively simple question, the answer is quite complex. When compared to human vision, dogs and cats see both better and worse… just a little differently than we do.

In general, dogs and cats are much more sensitive to light and motion than people are, but they cannot see as accurately or in the same immense color spectrum that we can.

See Also: 9 Cat Breeds That Crave Affection

If you have ever wondered how your dog is able to go outside in the pitch black and make his way safely around, or how your cat can move so stealthily through a dark house at 1 a.m., it is because their eyes have amazing adaptations for nighttime - or nocturnal - vision.

Pets owe these abilities to their amazing light sensitivity. Both dogs and cats can detect very low levels of light and are far

By Amy Shojai

Barbara O'Brien, Animal PhotographyCats are living longer than ever before - it's not unusual for felines to reach their mid-to-late teens or even early twenties. A longer lifespan, however, can leave felines frazzled if their once-spry brains aren't properly stimulated. In fact, cats over the age of 15 can develop feline cognitive dysfunction (FCD), a cat version of Alzheimer's disease in which a starchlike, waxy protein (beta amyloid) collects in the brain.

The symptoms of FCD can frustrate owners because they often mimic other behavior problems. In addition to acting disoriented, cats with the condition may cry and pace, get lost in the house or even stuck in corners. They can also act scared and have trouble sleeping. Most felines with FCD develop hit-or-miss litter box tendencies - yuck! - and even when they do find the box, they may not know what to do with it. Perhaps most heartbreaking: Some senile kitties tend to shun petting, ignore people and other companion

By Arden Moore | vetstreet.com

ThinkstockThe sight of a puppy trotting off with a sock in her mouth might seem adorable, but if your dog is a chronic object stealer, it's not all that cute. Having Fido make off with the roast you cooked for Sunday dinner or your toddler's favorite toy can be stressful for you - and dangerous for your dog.

Certain breeds - including Golden Retrievers, Yorkshire Terriers and Papillons - are more likely than their canine peers to steal your things. But no matter what breed your pooch is, it is important that you put a stop to her thefts before she winds up at the vet's office with a tummy ache - or worse.

See Also: Why Does My Dog... Bark at Nothing?

When your dog steals something, she wants to take possession of the object for any number of reasons. She may want to play with it, because she views the object as a toy. Clothing, shoes and children's toys are favorite items for canine kleptomaniacs. These dogs may enjoy chewing