By WebVet.com

Cats like us to believe that they're independent creatures and can manage without us, thankyouverymuch, since they don't require walks and be left alone for longer periods of time than their canine counterparts. This generalization also leads some to believe that felines exhibit an air of superiority -- and dare we say, intelligence.

But how smart are cats? Sure they can groom themselves, have a natural inclination to use the litter box and are easily amused, but not too many have a repertoire of tricks or follow commands. Those who have more than one cat probably differentiate their kitties in terms of their smarts (being "the dumb one" doesn't mean you're loved any less!), so just like any other animal, we know there is an intelligence hierarchy.

5 Least Intelligent Dogs | Webvet

There's no scientific method to determine how brainy your cat actually is -- but we can try to figure it out! CatChannel.com devised this clever IQ test, which could indicate you're hous

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A movie can have a big effect on you. During the film you may become enchanted, entranced, and emotionally invested in the characters on the screen. And when the characters happen to be adorable dogs from Jack Russell Terriers to St. Bernards, it's even easier to become attached.
As W.C. Fields famously said, "Never work with animals or children." And for good reason -- they are scene-stealers. We've compiled a collection of 7 of the most famous, beloved, and notorious movie dog characters.

Beethoven

1. Beethoven
The St. Bernard character named Beethoven made his debut in the John Hughes-penned family comedy aptly named Beethoven back in 1992. There were then six sequels starring a variety of different large, lovable St. Bernards.
Find out more about Beethoven

Lassie

2. Lassie
Lassie has to be one of the most famous dog characters ever. The fictional Collie was in movies, on the radio, on TV, and in books. The first - and most famous - Lassie portrayer was a Collie named Pal wh

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A new set of ads produced by the Best Friends Animal Society is educating the public on when to spay and neuter their pets – by comparing puppies and kittens to human teenagers.

Sponsored by the BFAS and featuring voice-over work by actors Linda Hunt ("NCIS: LA") and Eric Stonestreet ("Modern Family"), the public-service announcements hope to grab attention for the new campaign, "Prevent more. Fix at month four." One of the ads, narrated by Stonestreet, is a fairly straightforward cute-fest in which puppies and kittens frolic around animated words while Stonestreet explains the perils of waiting too long to fix a young dog or cat.

But the attention-grabber is the ad titled "Afternoon Stroll." A dad and his (human) daughter go for a walk in their suburban neighborhood while teen boys rush up to the windows and fences nearby in a dog-like fashion, eagerly greeting the girl and "panting" things like, "Hey! Hi! Live around here? You're pretty. Where you guys going?" The dad looks

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By Hope Schultz for WebVet.com

No matter where you go in the world today, the trend seems relatively consistent. For those of us who love our dogs - and we are many - we unquestionably treat them more like people than pets. And, as we should!

A recent study published by David Blouin of Indiana University indicates that while this behavior tends to be somewhat of a global phenomenon, those of us who live in urban areas are more likely than those in rural environments to treat our pets as if they are our children. So while a precious Poodle in New York City might spend more than her share on the latest fashions, it's highly unlikely that Bessie the Cow is looking for the latest hoof wear styles on TopShop. But then you never know.

Related: What Is Your Cat's IQ?
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And then there are those lovely Europeans who revere their pets to the extent that they take them almost everywhere with them! They travel with their pets, shop with them and, in some cases, even dine with them. Take Par

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By Dr. Marty Becker

Q. Why do cats get stuck in trees? How can a cat lover get them out?

A. Cats have claws that are designed to take them in one direction: forward - or up, if that's where they're pointed. That's why a cat can shimmy up a tree in mere seconds to get out of the way of whatever might be chasing him, such as a dog. If you were to watch in slow-motion, you'd see the claws anchoring the cat to the tree similar to mountain-climbing crampons (which probably take their inspiration from feline claws!), so the ascent is swift and safe.

See Also: How to Keep Cats Off Kitchen Counters

Going Up Is Easy, Coming Down Is Not

But what goes up doesn't necessarily come down easily. Going up is a breeze for cats; coming down can best be described as a series of awkward falls, hopefully none very far or very hard. Because the descent can be so scary, cats (especially young ones who don't know better) do get themselves stuck up high pretty regularly. Most come down on their

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By WebVet.com

A dog -- and a whole lot of cash -- are caught in the middle of a messy breakup between a New York man and his ex-girlfriend, who now lives in California with the puggle named Knuckles. Craig Dershowitz, 34, has spent over $60,000 trying to win custody of Knuckles from Sarah Brega, claiming she "kidnapped" the pooch after their split.

Brega claims that Dershowitz gifted her Knuckles as a puppy, but he counters that they agreed she would only retain custody until he found a place to live following the split. Both hired lawyers and filed court papers back in February.

WebVet: What Is Your Cat's IQ?

Faced with the massive legal bill, Dershowitz is looking for financial help online via "Rescue Knux." The site offers a variety of compensation for donations, ranging from "a virtual smooch" from the dog, for $10, to a customized mural done by "legends of graffiti," for $10,000. The goal is to raise $20,000 by June 16.

WebVet: Tim Tebow Changes Dog's Name From Bronco To

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More than a dozen genetically modified pigs, part of a series of experiments at an Ontario, Canada university, will not get adopted out to "loving homes." Despite a plea from an animal-rights group for the University of Guelph to release the pigs to civilian pet owners, Professor Rich Moccia, an associate vice president at the institution, claimed on Tuesday that "there is absolutely no opportunity for this to occur for many reasons."

Although Moccia didn't get into specifics, one of the reasons seems to be that the so-called "enviropigs" could represent a danger if they aren't supervised in the strict manner they are currently. Moccia acknowledged the "many generous and well intentioned offers" the university has received from both animal-protection groups and individuals interested in adopting the porcine subjects. But it seems that the risk of an enviropig either getting loose and interbreeding with "standard" local pigs, or making its way onto a dinner table, isn't one the U of G is

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Just when you thought there was nothing more swoon-worthy than a sleeping newborn - throw in a basset hound spooning with her and your heart goes into instant overdrive. Dogs and cats hold a special place in the hearts of families throughout America … and YouTube is proof of that!

We scoured the site to find the best videos of kids with their furry best friends - and what we found was heartwarming. From babies rolling around with their kittens to doggy tea parties, we found a ton of the cutest clips of babies and kids, dogs and cats. Check out 8 adorable photos below and click through to see the videos!

Bedtime Buddies

1. Bedtime Buds
One commenter on this video of 2-week-old Amber and the family basset hound wrote: "This video is so sweet, I think it just gave me diabetes." We couldn't have said it better ourselves.
Watch the video

Who's walking whom?

2. Who's Walking Whom?
This little girl and pug make a pretty pair. No doubt they'll grow up to be BFFs.
Watch the video












Related: 25 hilar

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By WebVet.com

As the weather starts getting warmer, don't forget that dogs and cats face increased risk of heat stroke during the summer. Unlike people, they have few sweat glands, which are found primarily on their paws and noses. Though many people believe that dogs sweat through their tongues, panting is not an effective method of heat loss.

Related: Shaving dogs in the summer | Webvet

If your pet exhibits frantic breathing, a bright red tongue, vomits, or staggers, it is likely suffering from heat stroke. In severe cases you will notice your pet's lips begin to turn pale blue or gray. Pets most susceptible to heat stroke are animals with shortened muzzles such as Bulldogs, Pugs or Persian cats; old and overweight pets; and those with respiratory problems. The Humane Society advises that immediately after you notice symptoms of heat stroke, move the pet into the shade or indoors with air conditioning. Apply cool - not cold - water to your animal to gradually lower their body te

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By Dr. Mary Fuller

If you've ever been in a car with a wet dog, you've probably been tempted to drive with your head out the window.

When your dog isn't bathed or groomed on a regular basis, his hair can collect all kinds of dirt, including morsels of dried food stuck to the hair around his muzzle and a bit of poo stuck under his tail for good measure. Add water to the mix, and all of those scents come to life.

That's why it is a good idea to give your dog a periodic bath with a vet-approved pet shampoo. (It wouldn't hurt to wash his collar and bedding, too.) Dogs with longer coats should also be groomed on a regular basis to remove excess hair and snarls that can trap stink-inducing particles.

See Also: Why Does My Dog... Kick Grass After Pooping?

Is there ever a medical reason for a funky smell?

Dogs can have different skin conditions, such as parasite infestations, as well as secondary bacterial and yeast infections. These skin conditions can affect any area o

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