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DR. MARTY BECKER
Dr. Marty Becker. Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian,” has spent his life working toward better health for pets and the people who love them. A COMMON BLOOD CLOT THAT CAN CRIPPLE OR KILL CATS Here’s something many cat owners don’t know about until they hear a heart-stopping scream from their cat — who suddenly can’t walk. It’s called an aortic thromboembolism (ATE), or “saddle thrombus,” and usually occurs in cats with heart disease — something else the owner may not know their cat has. This is a seriouscondition
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BRINGING PETS TO HIGH One of my team members recently had to leave early from a mountain vacation when her dog developed severe altitude sickness, requiring hospitalization. Coincidentally, a reader just wrote me about that very subject – here’s my answer, which should cover what you need to know before your next “Rocky Mountain High”! Q: Can pets get HOW TO TRANSITION A PUPPY FROM A POTTY PAD TO THE OUTDOORS Gradually move the potty pad closer to the door outside. Eventually phase out the potty pad altogether. Tether her to you with a leash when you’re at home so you can notice instantly if she gets up and starts to move around. Restlessness can be a signal that she needs to go out. She will probably start to develop ways to tell you that she HOW TO REMOVE TREE SAP FROM YOUR PET'S FUR Whichever you choose, rub it into the area with the sticky substance, let it sit for a few minutes, and then carefully comb it out or work it out with your fingers. Tree sap can be a stickier wicket, though. The peanut butter or oil trick may work, but sometimes tree sap is a job for alcohol — the drinking kind. Vodka, to be exact. WHEN CATS LICK ALL THE HAIR OFF THEIR BELLIES Compulsive licking and chewing can be incredibly tough to resolve in a pet. This cat owner wrote asking for information and advice, and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, and I teamed up to help. Q: My 11-year-old male cat keeps licking all the fur off his WHAT TO DO IF YOUR NEW CAT WON'T COME OUT OF HIDING The best thing you can do is to give her the opportunity to relax and explore her new surroundings at her own pace. Don’t push her by trying to pet her or play with her. Sit in the room quietly, but don’t try to coax her over to you. Right now, she just needs to become accustomed to your scent and presence. WHY DOGS LICK THEIR FEET AND LEGS, AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT Dogs who lick their paws and legs may be attempting to relieve the awful itch of skin allergies or bacterial or fungal infections or the joint pain from arthritis, which can settle in the carpus (wrist), stifle (knee), elbows, hips and lower back. Anytime a dog licks excessively, he should be seen by the veterinarian to rule out ahealth
WATCH FOR THESE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF CANINE CANCER Catching your dog’s cancer early can make all the difference in treatment and outcome. A reader wanted to know what signs to watch for. Here’s what I told her. Q: The breed of dog I have is prone to cancer, and it scares me. Are there signs I can watch for to helpcatch it
DO DOGS DO THINGS OUT OF SPITE? Do dogs misbehave out of spite or anger? That’s a question I get asked a lot, including recently by a reader. I turned to my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, for an answer. Q: My boyfriend was two hours late getting home to feed his corgis, and one of them pooped on thekitchen floor. They
DR. MARTY BECKER
Dr. Marty Becker. Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian,” has spent his life working toward better health for pets and the people who love them. A COMMON BLOOD CLOT THAT CAN CRIPPLE OR KILL CATS Here’s something many cat owners don’t know about until they hear a heart-stopping scream from their cat — who suddenly can’t walk. It’s called an aortic thromboembolism (ATE), or “saddle thrombus,” and usually occurs in cats with heart disease — something else the owner may not know their cat has. This is a seriouscondition
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BRINGING PETS TO HIGH One of my team members recently had to leave early from a mountain vacation when her dog developed severe altitude sickness, requiring hospitalization. Coincidentally, a reader just wrote me about that very subject – here’s my answer, which should cover what you need to know before your next “Rocky Mountain High”! Q: Can pets get HOW TO TRANSITION A PUPPY FROM A POTTY PAD TO THE OUTDOORS Gradually move the potty pad closer to the door outside. Eventually phase out the potty pad altogether. Tether her to you with a leash when you’re at home so you can notice instantly if she gets up and starts to move around. Restlessness can be a signal that she needs to go out. She will probably start to develop ways to tell you that she HOW TO REMOVE TREE SAP FROM YOUR PET'S FUR Whichever you choose, rub it into the area with the sticky substance, let it sit for a few minutes, and then carefully comb it out or work it out with your fingers. Tree sap can be a stickier wicket, though. The peanut butter or oil trick may work, but sometimes tree sap is a job for alcohol — the drinking kind. Vodka, to be exact. WHEN CATS LICK ALL THE HAIR OFF THEIR BELLIES Compulsive licking and chewing can be incredibly tough to resolve in a pet. This cat owner wrote asking for information and advice, and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, and I teamed up to help. Q: My 11-year-old male cat keeps licking all the fur off his WHAT TO DO IF YOUR NEW CAT WON'T COME OUT OF HIDING The best thing you can do is to give her the opportunity to relax and explore her new surroundings at her own pace. Don’t push her by trying to pet her or play with her. Sit in the room quietly, but don’t try to coax her over to you. Right now, she just needs to become accustomed to your scent and presence. WHY DOGS LICK THEIR FEET AND LEGS, AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT Dogs who lick their paws and legs may be attempting to relieve the awful itch of skin allergies or bacterial or fungal infections or the joint pain from arthritis, which can settle in the carpus (wrist), stifle (knee), elbows, hips and lower back. Anytime a dog licks excessively, he should be seen by the veterinarian to rule out ahealth
WATCH FOR THESE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF CANINE CANCER Catching your dog’s cancer early can make all the difference in treatment and outcome. A reader wanted to know what signs to watch for. Here’s what I told her. Q: The breed of dog I have is prone to cancer, and it scares me. Are there signs I can watch for to helpcatch it
DO DOGS DO THINGS OUT OF SPITE? Do dogs misbehave out of spite or anger? That’s a question I get asked a lot, including recently by a reader. I turned to my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, for an answer. Q: My boyfriend was two hours late getting home to feed his corgis, and one of them pooped on thekitchen floor. They
THE EASY WAY TO TEACH YOUR CAT TO DO TRICKS A very brave reader wanted to teach her cat some tricks. Instead of telling her to run away from the idea, I got my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, to explain how to do it.And guess what? It’s easy! Q: I want to teach my cat some tricks. What’s an easy one to startwith? A:
WHAT TO DO IF YOU'RE ALLERGIC TO YOUR DOG An allergist can suggest a treatment plan for your particular symptoms. Bathe your dog weekly to keep down dander. Have a family member or groomer do it to reduce your exposure. Putting him in a onesie or doggie T-shirt can also help to keep dander on the dog, not floating around in the air. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter. DO OUR CATS ACTUALLY LIKE US? 2. Even if your cat doesn’t settle into a lap, choosing to sit or lie near you — maybe next to your keyboard — is a sign that she thinks you’re A-OK. 3. Humans connect by making and holding eye contact, but for a cat, that’s bold behavior. They don’t do it with other cats unless they’re ready to start a THE TRAGEDY OF POST-DECLAW PAIN SYNDROME, AND HOW TO HELP As a veterinarian, I was taught early on that while declawing cats wasn’t without its drawbacks, it was a valuable tool in preserving the human-cat bond, and kept cats out of shelters. I no longer believe that today. As I’ve learned more about the negative effects of pain and fear on our companion animals, I’ve HOW TO GET YOUR ESCAPED PET BIRD BACK A: It can indeed be difficult to catch a bird on the wing, which is why the best strategies for preventing a pet bird from being lost forever are preventive. Have your bird microchipped. Keep his wings clipped to prevent him from flying away, and make sure everyone in the family knows to keep doors and unscreened windows closed. VIDEO: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DOG NOT TO BE AFRAID OF THE Few noises are more universally hated and feared by pets than that monster, the vacuum cleaner. But you can teach your dog to accept and not fear his former enemy (and yes, it involves treats!). In this latest video in her ongoing training series with our friends at Bissell, my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, shares DO DOGS DO THINGS OUT OF SPITE? Do dogs misbehave out of spite or anger? That’s a question I get asked a lot, including recently by a reader. I turned to my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, for an answer. Q: My boyfriend was two hours late getting home to feed his corgis, and one of them pooped on thekitchen floor. They
LOW PLATELET COUNTS ARE BIG TROUBLE FOR DOGS Does your dog have black stool, or bruises or other marks on his skin? This could be a lights and sirens emergency, and definitely requires a fast trip to the vet. Here’s what I told a reader about it. Q: My dog’s stool is black, and I noticed when I was grooming him that his WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CAT KEEPS GETTING BLADDER INFECTIONS As a veterinarian, I see plenty of cats who urinate outside the litterbox or have other signs of urinary tract disorders. Most of these cats have a medical, not behavioral, problem. Here’s what I had to say to one reader: Q: My cat gets bladder infections all the time, and it’s driving us both crazy. MALE CALICO CATS AREN’T JUST RARE According to feline genetics expert Leslie A. Lyons, Ph.D., that’s because calico or tortoiseshell males may have abnormalities in the X and Y (sex) chromosomes that lead to fertility problems. Calico is a color pattern, not a breed. The orange, black and white coloration is governed by genetics. Any cat, male or female, can be orange, but inDR. MARTY BECKER
Dr. Marty Becker. Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian,” has spent his life working toward better health for pets and the people who love them. A COMMON BLOOD CLOT THAT CAN CRIPPLE OR KILL CATS Here’s something many cat owners don’t know about until they hear a heart-stopping scream from their cat — who suddenly can’t walk. It’s called an aortic thromboembolism (ATE), or “saddle thrombus,” and usually occurs in cats with heart disease — something else the owner may not know their cat has. This is a seriouscondition
HOW TO REMOVE TREE SAP FROM YOUR PET'S FUR Whichever you choose, rub it into the area with the sticky substance, let it sit for a few minutes, and then carefully comb it out or work it out with your fingers. Tree sap can be a stickier wicket, though. The peanut butter or oil trick may work, but sometimes tree sap is a job for alcohol — the drinking kind. Vodka, to be exact. WHY DOGS LICK THEIR FEET AND LEGS, AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT Dogs who lick their paws and legs may be attempting to relieve the awful itch of skin allergies or bacterial or fungal infections or the joint pain from arthritis, which can settle in the carpus (wrist), stifle (knee), elbows, hips and lower back. Anytime a dog licks excessively, he should be seen by the veterinarian to rule out ahealth
WHEN CATS LICK ALL THE HAIR OFF THEIR BELLIES Compulsive licking and chewing can be incredibly tough to resolve in a pet. This cat owner wrote asking for information and advice, and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, and I teamed up to help. Q: My 11-year-old male cat keeps licking all the fur off his WHAT TO DO IF YOUR NEW CAT WON'T COME OUT OF HIDING The best thing you can do is to give her the opportunity to relax and explore her new surroundings at her own pace. Don’t push her by trying to pet her or play with her. Sit in the room quietly, but don’t try to coax her over to you. Right now, she just needs to become accustomed to your scent and presence. HOW TO TRANSITION A PUPPY FROM A POTTY PAD TO THE OUTDOORS Gradually move the potty pad closer to the door outside. Eventually phase out the potty pad altogether. Tether her to you with a leash when you’re at home so you can notice instantly if she gets up and starts to move around. Restlessness can be a signal that she needs to go out. She will probably start to develop ways to tell you that she WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BRINGING PETS TO HIGH One of my team members recently had to leave early from a mountain vacation when her dog developed severe altitude sickness, requiring hospitalization. Coincidentally, a reader just wrote me about that very subject – here’s my answer, which should cover what you need to know before your next “Rocky Mountain High”! Q: Can pets get LOW PLATELET COUNTS ARE BIG TROUBLE FOR DOGS Does your dog have black stool, or bruises or other marks on his skin? This could be a lights and sirens emergency, and definitely requires a fast trip to the vet. Here’s what I told a reader about it. Q: My dog’s stool is black, and I noticed when I was grooming him that his WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CAT KEEPS GETTING BLADDER INFECTIONS As a veterinarian, I see plenty of cats who urinate outside the litterbox or have other signs of urinary tract disorders. Most of these cats have a medical, not behavioral, problem. Here’s what I had to say to one reader: Q: My cat gets bladder infections all the time, and it’s driving us both crazy.DR. MARTY BECKER
Dr. Marty Becker. Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian,” has spent his life working toward better health for pets and the people who love them. A COMMON BLOOD CLOT THAT CAN CRIPPLE OR KILL CATS Here’s something many cat owners don’t know about until they hear a heart-stopping scream from their cat — who suddenly can’t walk. It’s called an aortic thromboembolism (ATE), or “saddle thrombus,” and usually occurs in cats with heart disease — something else the owner may not know their cat has. This is a seriouscondition
HOW TO REMOVE TREE SAP FROM YOUR PET'S FUR Whichever you choose, rub it into the area with the sticky substance, let it sit for a few minutes, and then carefully comb it out or work it out with your fingers. Tree sap can be a stickier wicket, though. The peanut butter or oil trick may work, but sometimes tree sap is a job for alcohol — the drinking kind. Vodka, to be exact. WHY DOGS LICK THEIR FEET AND LEGS, AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT Dogs who lick their paws and legs may be attempting to relieve the awful itch of skin allergies or bacterial or fungal infections or the joint pain from arthritis, which can settle in the carpus (wrist), stifle (knee), elbows, hips and lower back. Anytime a dog licks excessively, he should be seen by the veterinarian to rule out ahealth
WHEN CATS LICK ALL THE HAIR OFF THEIR BELLIES Compulsive licking and chewing can be incredibly tough to resolve in a pet. This cat owner wrote asking for information and advice, and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, and I teamed up to help. Q: My 11-year-old male cat keeps licking all the fur off his WHAT TO DO IF YOUR NEW CAT WON'T COME OUT OF HIDING The best thing you can do is to give her the opportunity to relax and explore her new surroundings at her own pace. Don’t push her by trying to pet her or play with her. Sit in the room quietly, but don’t try to coax her over to you. Right now, she just needs to become accustomed to your scent and presence. HOW TO TRANSITION A PUPPY FROM A POTTY PAD TO THE OUTDOORS Gradually move the potty pad closer to the door outside. Eventually phase out the potty pad altogether. Tether her to you with a leash when you’re at home so you can notice instantly if she gets up and starts to move around. Restlessness can be a signal that she needs to go out. She will probably start to develop ways to tell you that she WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BRINGING PETS TO HIGH One of my team members recently had to leave early from a mountain vacation when her dog developed severe altitude sickness, requiring hospitalization. Coincidentally, a reader just wrote me about that very subject – here’s my answer, which should cover what you need to know before your next “Rocky Mountain High”! Q: Can pets get LOW PLATELET COUNTS ARE BIG TROUBLE FOR DOGS Does your dog have black stool, or bruises or other marks on his skin? This could be a lights and sirens emergency, and definitely requires a fast trip to the vet. Here’s what I told a reader about it. Q: My dog’s stool is black, and I noticed when I was grooming him that his WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CAT KEEPS GETTING BLADDER INFECTIONS As a veterinarian, I see plenty of cats who urinate outside the litterbox or have other signs of urinary tract disorders. Most of these cats have a medical, not behavioral, problem. Here’s what I had to say to one reader: Q: My cat gets bladder infections all the time, and it’s driving us both crazy. THE EASY WAY TO TEACH YOUR CAT TO DO TRICKS A very brave reader wanted to teach her cat some tricks. Instead of telling her to run away from the idea, I got my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, to explain how to do it.And guess what? It’s easy! Q: I want to teach my cat some tricks. What’s an easy one to startwith? A:
DO OUR CATS ACTUALLY LIKE US? 2. Even if your cat doesn’t settle into a lap, choosing to sit or lie near you — maybe next to your keyboard — is a sign that she thinks you’re A-OK. 3. Humans connect by making and holding eye contact, but for a cat, that’s bold behavior. They don’t do it with other cats unless they’re ready to start a HOW TO GET YOUR ESCAPED PET BIRD BACK A: It can indeed be difficult to catch a bird on the wing, which is why the best strategies for preventing a pet bird from being lost forever are preventive. Have your bird microchipped. Keep his wings clipped to prevent him from flying away, and make sure everyone in the family knows to keep doors and unscreened windows closed. WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CAT KEEPS GETTING BLADDER INFECTIONS As a veterinarian, I see plenty of cats who urinate outside the litterbox or have other signs of urinary tract disorders. Most of these cats have a medical, not behavioral, problem. Here’s what I had to say to one reader: Q: My cat gets bladder infections all the time, and it’s driving us both crazy. CAT HEART CONDITION CAN CAUSE SUDDEN DEATH Cats with HCM can go into congestive heart failure, develop an arterial thrombus — a clot lodged in an artery — or die suddenly. Any cat, pedigreed or random-bred, can develop HCM. We don’t know what causes the disease, but Maine coon and ragdoll cats have a genetic mutation for it. A genetic test can identify cats in thosebreeds who
16 INTERESTING TIDBITS OF TRIVIA ABOUT ALL KINDS OF PETS 1. Cats rub on people, other cats and even other animals as a sign of affection. They may do it most insistently when we are about to feed them, but they also do it just to say, “Hey, I like you.”. 2. In mythology and folklore around the world, dogs are associated with the afterlife. They were believed to act as guides to the underworld and WATCH FOR THESE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF CANINE CANCER Catching your dog’s cancer early can make all the difference in treatment and outcome. A reader wanted to know what signs to watch for. Here’s what I told her. Q: The breed of dog I have is prone to cancer, and it scares me. Are there signs I can watch for to helpcatch it
WHY DO DOGS LICK US? THE ANSWER COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE! A: Dogs do love to lick us, for lots of different reasons. One is that our skin is salty. If we’ve been perspiring, we taste even better, so you may notice that your dog loves to lick you even more in the summertime. I’m not sure why, but the scent or taste of lotion or YOUR CAT IS BREATHING WITH HER MOUTH OPEN. IT IS HEART A reader wants to know what it means that her cat is breathing with an open mouth and seems disinterested in play. Here’s what I told her. Q: My ragdoll cat has been breathing with his mouth open, and he doesn’t seem to want to play very much. Do you think he’s justgetting older
WHY PET PAIN PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE That’s because of a phenomenon known as “wind-up,” or the sensitization of nerve pathways to pain, making things that hurt feel more painful the longer the pain persists. Preventing or interrupting wind-up not only makes your pet feel better, it prevents the development of chronic or disabling pain syndromes that might requireweeks
DR. MARTY BECKER
Dr. Marty Becker. Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian,” has spent his life working toward better health for pets and the people who love them. A COMMON BLOOD CLOT THAT CAN CRIPPLE OR KILL CATS Here’s something many cat owners don’t know about until they hear a heart-stopping scream from their cat — who suddenly can’t walk. It’s called an aortic thromboembolism (ATE), or “saddle thrombus,” and usually occurs in cats with heart disease — something else the owner may not know their cat has. This is a seriouscondition
HOW TO REMOVE TREE SAP FROM YOUR PET'S FUR Whichever you choose, rub it into the area with the sticky substance, let it sit for a few minutes, and then carefully comb it out or work it out with your fingers. Tree sap can be a stickier wicket, though. The peanut butter or oil trick may work, but sometimes tree sap is a job for alcohol — the drinking kind. Vodka, to be exact. WHY DOGS LICK THEIR FEET AND LEGS, AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT Dogs who lick their paws and legs may be attempting to relieve the awful itch of skin allergies or bacterial or fungal infections or the joint pain from arthritis, which can settle in the carpus (wrist), stifle (knee), elbows, hips and lower back. Anytime a dog licks excessively, he should be seen by the veterinarian to rule out ahealth
WHEN CATS LICK ALL THE HAIR OFF THEIR BELLIES Compulsive licking and chewing can be incredibly tough to resolve in a pet. This cat owner wrote asking for information and advice, and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, and I teamed up to help. Q: My 11-year-old male cat keeps licking all the fur off his WHAT TO DO IF YOUR NEW CAT WON'T COME OUT OF HIDING The best thing you can do is to give her the opportunity to relax and explore her new surroundings at her own pace. Don’t push her by trying to pet her or play with her. Sit in the room quietly, but don’t try to coax her over to you. Right now, she just needs to become accustomed to your scent and presence. HOW TO TRANSITION A PUPPY FROM A POTTY PAD TO THE OUTDOORS Gradually move the potty pad closer to the door outside. Eventually phase out the potty pad altogether. Tether her to you with a leash when you’re at home so you can notice instantly if she gets up and starts to move around. Restlessness can be a signal that she needs to go out. She will probably start to develop ways to tell you that she WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BRINGING PETS TO HIGH One of my team members recently had to leave early from a mountain vacation when her dog developed severe altitude sickness, requiring hospitalization. Coincidentally, a reader just wrote me about that very subject – here’s my answer, which should cover what you need to know before your next “Rocky Mountain High”! Q: Can pets get LOW PLATELET COUNTS ARE BIG TROUBLE FOR DOGS Does your dog have black stool, or bruises or other marks on his skin? This could be a lights and sirens emergency, and definitely requires a fast trip to the vet. Here’s what I told a reader about it. Q: My dog’s stool is black, and I noticed when I was grooming him that his WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CAT KEEPS GETTING BLADDER INFECTIONS As a veterinarian, I see plenty of cats who urinate outside the litterbox or have other signs of urinary tract disorders. Most of these cats have a medical, not behavioral, problem. Here’s what I had to say to one reader: Q: My cat gets bladder infections all the time, and it’s driving us both crazy.DR. MARTY BECKER
Dr. Marty Becker. Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian,” has spent his life working toward better health for pets and the people who love them. A COMMON BLOOD CLOT THAT CAN CRIPPLE OR KILL CATS Here’s something many cat owners don’t know about until they hear a heart-stopping scream from their cat — who suddenly can’t walk. It’s called an aortic thromboembolism (ATE), or “saddle thrombus,” and usually occurs in cats with heart disease — something else the owner may not know their cat has. This is a seriouscondition
HOW TO REMOVE TREE SAP FROM YOUR PET'S FUR Whichever you choose, rub it into the area with the sticky substance, let it sit for a few minutes, and then carefully comb it out or work it out with your fingers. Tree sap can be a stickier wicket, though. The peanut butter or oil trick may work, but sometimes tree sap is a job for alcohol — the drinking kind. Vodka, to be exact. WHY DOGS LICK THEIR FEET AND LEGS, AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT Dogs who lick their paws and legs may be attempting to relieve the awful itch of skin allergies or bacterial or fungal infections or the joint pain from arthritis, which can settle in the carpus (wrist), stifle (knee), elbows, hips and lower back. Anytime a dog licks excessively, he should be seen by the veterinarian to rule out ahealth
WHEN CATS LICK ALL THE HAIR OFF THEIR BELLIES Compulsive licking and chewing can be incredibly tough to resolve in a pet. This cat owner wrote asking for information and advice, and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, and I teamed up to help. Q: My 11-year-old male cat keeps licking all the fur off his WHAT TO DO IF YOUR NEW CAT WON'T COME OUT OF HIDING The best thing you can do is to give her the opportunity to relax and explore her new surroundings at her own pace. Don’t push her by trying to pet her or play with her. Sit in the room quietly, but don’t try to coax her over to you. Right now, she just needs to become accustomed to your scent and presence. HOW TO TRANSITION A PUPPY FROM A POTTY PAD TO THE OUTDOORS Gradually move the potty pad closer to the door outside. Eventually phase out the potty pad altogether. Tether her to you with a leash when you’re at home so you can notice instantly if she gets up and starts to move around. Restlessness can be a signal that she needs to go out. She will probably start to develop ways to tell you that she WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BRINGING PETS TO HIGH One of my team members recently had to leave early from a mountain vacation when her dog developed severe altitude sickness, requiring hospitalization. Coincidentally, a reader just wrote me about that very subject – here’s my answer, which should cover what you need to know before your next “Rocky Mountain High”! Q: Can pets get LOW PLATELET COUNTS ARE BIG TROUBLE FOR DOGS Does your dog have black stool, or bruises or other marks on his skin? This could be a lights and sirens emergency, and definitely requires a fast trip to the vet. Here’s what I told a reader about it. Q: My dog’s stool is black, and I noticed when I was grooming him that his WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CAT KEEPS GETTING BLADDER INFECTIONS As a veterinarian, I see plenty of cats who urinate outside the litterbox or have other signs of urinary tract disorders. Most of these cats have a medical, not behavioral, problem. Here’s what I had to say to one reader: Q: My cat gets bladder infections all the time, and it’s driving us both crazy. THE EASY WAY TO TEACH YOUR CAT TO DO TRICKS A very brave reader wanted to teach her cat some tricks. Instead of telling her to run away from the idea, I got my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, to explain how to do it.And guess what? It’s easy! Q: I want to teach my cat some tricks. What’s an easy one to startwith? A:
DO OUR CATS ACTUALLY LIKE US? 2. Even if your cat doesn’t settle into a lap, choosing to sit or lie near you — maybe next to your keyboard — is a sign that she thinks you’re A-OK. 3. Humans connect by making and holding eye contact, but for a cat, that’s bold behavior. They don’t do it with other cats unless they’re ready to start a HOW TO GET YOUR ESCAPED PET BIRD BACK A: It can indeed be difficult to catch a bird on the wing, which is why the best strategies for preventing a pet bird from being lost forever are preventive. Have your bird microchipped. Keep his wings clipped to prevent him from flying away, and make sure everyone in the family knows to keep doors and unscreened windows closed. WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CAT KEEPS GETTING BLADDER INFECTIONS As a veterinarian, I see plenty of cats who urinate outside the litterbox or have other signs of urinary tract disorders. Most of these cats have a medical, not behavioral, problem. Here’s what I had to say to one reader: Q: My cat gets bladder infections all the time, and it’s driving us both crazy. CAT HEART CONDITION CAN CAUSE SUDDEN DEATH Cats with HCM can go into congestive heart failure, develop an arterial thrombus — a clot lodged in an artery — or die suddenly. Any cat, pedigreed or random-bred, can develop HCM. We don’t know what causes the disease, but Maine coon and ragdoll cats have a genetic mutation for it. A genetic test can identify cats in thosebreeds who
16 INTERESTING TIDBITS OF TRIVIA ABOUT ALL KINDS OF PETS 1. Cats rub on people, other cats and even other animals as a sign of affection. They may do it most insistently when we are about to feed them, but they also do it just to say, “Hey, I like you.”. 2. In mythology and folklore around the world, dogs are associated with the afterlife. They were believed to act as guides to the underworld and WATCH FOR THESE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF CANINE CANCER Catching your dog’s cancer early can make all the difference in treatment and outcome. A reader wanted to know what signs to watch for. Here’s what I told her. Q: The breed of dog I have is prone to cancer, and it scares me. Are there signs I can watch for to helpcatch it
WHY DO DOGS LICK US? THE ANSWER COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE! A: Dogs do love to lick us, for lots of different reasons. One is that our skin is salty. If we’ve been perspiring, we taste even better, so you may notice that your dog loves to lick you even more in the summertime. I’m not sure why, but the scent or taste of lotion or YOUR CAT IS BREATHING WITH HER MOUTH OPEN. IT IS HEART A reader wants to know what it means that her cat is breathing with an open mouth and seems disinterested in play. Here’s what I told her. Q: My ragdoll cat has been breathing with his mouth open, and he doesn’t seem to want to play very much. Do you think he’s justgetting older
WHY PET PAIN PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE That’s because of a phenomenon known as “wind-up,” or the sensitization of nerve pathways to pain, making things that hurt feel more painful the longer the pain persists. Preventing or interrupting wind-up not only makes your pet feel better, it prevents the development of chronic or disabling pain syndromes that might requireweeks
DR. MARTY BECKER
Dr. Marty Becker. Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian,” has spent his life working toward better health for pets and the people who love them. A COMMON BLOOD CLOT THAT CAN CRIPPLE OR KILL CATS Here’s something many cat owners don’t know about until they hear a heart-stopping scream from their cat — who suddenly can’t walk. It’s called an aortic thromboembolism (ATE), or “saddle thrombus,” and usually occurs in cats with heart disease — something else the owner may not know their cat has. This is a seriouscondition
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BRINGING PETS TO HIGH One of my team members recently had to leave early from a mountain vacation when her dog developed severe altitude sickness, requiring hospitalization. Coincidentally, a reader just wrote me about that very subject – here’s my answer, which should cover what you need to know before your next “Rocky Mountain High”! Q: Can pets get HOW TO REMOVE TREE SAP FROM YOUR PET'S FUR A Facebook follower asked me about this particularly sticky pet problem. Here’s my advice! Q: Help! My border collie got pine tree sap in her fur. How do I get it out? A: When it comes to sticky things in fur, there are a lot of different recommended remedies for removal. For instance, creamy peanut WHY DOGS LICK THEIR FEET AND LEGS, AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT Allergies? Pain? Boredom? Why do dogs lick their legs and feet obsessively, and what can you do about it? Here’s how I answered those questions from a reader. Q: I have a dog who licks her feet and legs too much. She is groomed every month, and I give her daily dietary supplements. Her vet WHEN CATS LICK ALL THE HAIR OFF THEIR BELLIES Compulsive licking and chewing can be incredibly tough to resolve in a pet. This cat owner wrote asking for information and advice, and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, and I teamed up to help. Q: My 11-year-old male cat keeps licking all the fur off his WHAT TO DO IF YOUR NEW CAT WON'T COME OUT OF HIDING Most cat owners have been there: You bring a new cat home, and she hides and won’t come out. What does it mean and what should you do? That’s what a reader asked. Here’s what my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, and I told her. Q: We’re fostering a cat, and she beelined for the bedroom HOW TO TRANSITION A PUPPY FROM A POTTY PAD TO THE OUTDOORS If you got a puppy or small dog during the winter months, you may have trained her to use a potty pad instead of waiting to be taken outdoors. Can you train her away from the pad? That was the question a reader had for me, and as usual with behavior questions, I asked my WATCH FOR THESE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF CANINE CANCER Catching your dog’s cancer early can make all the difference in treatment and outcome. A reader wanted to know what signs to watch for. Here’s what I told her. Q: The breed of dog I have is prone to cancer, and it scares me. Are there signs I can watch for to helpcatch it
DO DOGS DO THINGS OUT OF SPITE? Do dogs misbehave out of spite or anger? That’s a question I get asked a lot, including recently by a reader. I turned to my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, for an answer. Q: My boyfriend was two hours late getting home to feed his corgis, and one of them pooped on thekitchen floor. They
DR. MARTY BECKER
Dr. Marty Becker. Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian,” has spent his life working toward better health for pets and the people who love them. A COMMON BLOOD CLOT THAT CAN CRIPPLE OR KILL CATS Here’s something many cat owners don’t know about until they hear a heart-stopping scream from their cat — who suddenly can’t walk. It’s called an aortic thromboembolism (ATE), or “saddle thrombus,” and usually occurs in cats with heart disease — something else the owner may not know their cat has. This is a seriouscondition
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BRINGING PETS TO HIGH One of my team members recently had to leave early from a mountain vacation when her dog developed severe altitude sickness, requiring hospitalization. Coincidentally, a reader just wrote me about that very subject – here’s my answer, which should cover what you need to know before your next “Rocky Mountain High”! Q: Can pets get HOW TO REMOVE TREE SAP FROM YOUR PET'S FUR A Facebook follower asked me about this particularly sticky pet problem. Here’s my advice! Q: Help! My border collie got pine tree sap in her fur. How do I get it out? A: When it comes to sticky things in fur, there are a lot of different recommended remedies for removal. For instance, creamy peanut WHY DOGS LICK THEIR FEET AND LEGS, AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT Allergies? Pain? Boredom? Why do dogs lick their legs and feet obsessively, and what can you do about it? Here’s how I answered those questions from a reader. Q: I have a dog who licks her feet and legs too much. She is groomed every month, and I give her daily dietary supplements. Her vet WHEN CATS LICK ALL THE HAIR OFF THEIR BELLIES Compulsive licking and chewing can be incredibly tough to resolve in a pet. This cat owner wrote asking for information and advice, and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, and I teamed up to help. Q: My 11-year-old male cat keeps licking all the fur off his WHAT TO DO IF YOUR NEW CAT WON'T COME OUT OF HIDING Most cat owners have been there: You bring a new cat home, and she hides and won’t come out. What does it mean and what should you do? That’s what a reader asked. Here’s what my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, and I told her. Q: We’re fostering a cat, and she beelined for the bedroom HOW TO TRANSITION A PUPPY FROM A POTTY PAD TO THE OUTDOORS If you got a puppy or small dog during the winter months, you may have trained her to use a potty pad instead of waiting to be taken outdoors. Can you train her away from the pad? That was the question a reader had for me, and as usual with behavior questions, I asked my WATCH FOR THESE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF CANINE CANCER Catching your dog’s cancer early can make all the difference in treatment and outcome. A reader wanted to know what signs to watch for. Here’s what I told her. Q: The breed of dog I have is prone to cancer, and it scares me. Are there signs I can watch for to helpcatch it
DO DOGS DO THINGS OUT OF SPITE? Do dogs misbehave out of spite or anger? That’s a question I get asked a lot, including recently by a reader. I turned to my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, for an answer. Q: My boyfriend was two hours late getting home to feed his corgis, and one of them pooped on thekitchen floor. They
THE EASY WAY TO TEACH YOUR CAT TO DO TRICKS A very brave reader wanted to teach her cat some tricks. Instead of telling her to run away from the idea, I got my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, to explain how to do it.And guess what? It’s easy! Q: I want to teach my cat some tricks. What’s an easy one to startwith? A:
WHAT TO DO IF YOU'RE ALLERGIC TO YOUR DOG How can you be allergic to man and woman’s best friend? Sadly, many people who love dogs are. Here’s what I told a reader struggling with this problem. Q: I have asthma, and my allergy to my dog is making it worse. Do you have any suggestions? A: So many of us wholove dogs
DO OUR CATS ACTUALLY LIKE US? It’s something all cat parents have asked ourselves at least once: Do our cats really like us, or just put up with us for convenience? Here’s what I told a reader who is a first time cat mom. Q: I have a cat for the first time, and I’m not sure if she likes me WATCH FOR THESE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF CANINE CANCER Catching your dog’s cancer early can make all the difference in treatment and outcome. A reader wanted to know what signs to watch for. Here’s what I told her. Q: The breed of dog I have is prone to cancer, and it scares me. Are there signs I can watch for to helpcatch it
VIDEO: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DOG NOT TO BE AFRAID OF THE Few noises are more universally hated and feared by pets than that monster, the vacuum cleaner. But you can teach your dog to accept and not fear his former enemy (and yes, it involves treats!). In this latest video in her ongoing training series with our friends at Bissell, my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, shares HOW I LEARNED TO STOP HURRYING AND LET MY DOG CHECK HIS Didn’t I read something, perhaps a soliloquy from a doggy Shakespeare who exclaimed from beside a fire-hydrant, “To pee, or not to pee, that is not the question.”? A dog’s motto is to pee frequently with as much volume and elevation as possible. I long agocoined the now
LOW PLATELET COUNTS ARE BIG TROUBLE FOR DOGS Does your dog have black stool, or bruises or other marks on his skin? This could be a lights and sirens emergency, and definitely requires a fast trip to the vet. Here’s what I told a reader about it. Q: My dog’s stool is black, and I noticed when I was grooming him that his MALE CALICO CATS AREN’T JUST RARE Male calico cats are rare, but that’s not their whole story. Here’s what I told a reader. Q: I’ve just adopted a rare male calico cat, and I’m thinking of breeding him. Is that a good idea? A: I hate to burst your bubble, but although male calicos are rare, trying to breed one will WHY DO DOGS LICK US? THE ANSWER COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE! A reader asked about one of the mysteries of the universe: Why do dogs like to lick us? There are multiple reasons for this behavior, including one that might save your life! Q: My dog is constantly licking me. She likes to lick my legs, my hands, my face — any placeshe can get
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CAT KEEPS GETTING BLADDER INFECTIONS As a veterinarian, I see plenty of cats who urinate outside the litterbox or have other signs of urinary tract disorders. Most of these cats have a medical, not behavioral, problem. Here’s what I had to say to one reader: Q: My cat gets bladder infections all the time, and it’s driving us both crazy.DR. MARTY BECKER
Dr. Marty Becker. Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian,” has spent his life working toward better health for pets and the people who love them. A COMMON BLOOD CLOT THAT CAN CRIPPLE OR KILL CATS Here’s something many cat owners don’t know about until they hear a heart-stopping scream from their cat — who suddenly can’t walk. It’s called an aortic thromboembolism (ATE), or “saddle thrombus,” and usually occurs in cats with heart disease — something else the owner may not know their cat has. This is a seriouscondition
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BRINGING PETS TO HIGH One of my team members recently had to leave early from a mountain vacation when her dog developed severe altitude sickness, requiring hospitalization. Coincidentally, a reader just wrote me about that very subject – here’s my answer, which should cover what you need to know before your next “Rocky Mountain High”! Q: Can pets get HOW TO TRANSITION A PUPPY FROM A POTTY PAD TO THE OUTDOORS Gradually move the potty pad closer to the door outside. Eventually phase out the potty pad altogether. Tether her to you with a leash when you’re at home so you can notice instantly if she gets up and starts to move around. Restlessness can be a signal that she needs to go out. She will probably start to develop ways to tell you that she HOW TO REMOVE TREE SAP FROM YOUR PET'S FUR Whichever you choose, rub it into the area with the sticky substance, let it sit for a few minutes, and then carefully comb it out or work it out with your fingers. Tree sap can be a stickier wicket, though. The peanut butter or oil trick may work, but sometimes tree sap is a job for alcohol — the drinking kind. Vodka, to be exact. WHEN CATS LICK ALL THE HAIR OFF THEIR BELLIES Compulsive licking and chewing can be incredibly tough to resolve in a pet. This cat owner wrote asking for information and advice, and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, and I teamed up to help. Q: My 11-year-old male cat keeps licking all the fur off his WHY DOGS LICK THEIR FEET AND LEGS, AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT Dogs who lick their paws and legs may be attempting to relieve the awful itch of skin allergies or bacterial or fungal infections or the joint pain from arthritis, which can settle in the carpus (wrist), stifle (knee), elbows, hips and lower back. Anytime a dog licks excessively, he should be seen by the veterinarian to rule out ahealth
DO DOGS DO THINGS OUT OF SPITE? Do dogs misbehave out of spite or anger? That’s a question I get asked a lot, including recently by a reader. I turned to my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, for an answer. Q: My boyfriend was two hours late getting home to feed his corgis, and one of them pooped on thekitchen floor. They
WATCH FOR THESE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF CANINE CANCER Catching your dog’s cancer early can make all the difference in treatment and outcome. A reader wanted to know what signs to watch for. Here’s what I told her. Q: The breed of dog I have is prone to cancer, and it scares me. Are there signs I can watch for to helpcatch it
LOW PLATELET COUNTS ARE BIG TROUBLE FOR DOGS Does your dog have black stool, or bruises or other marks on his skin? This could be a lights and sirens emergency, and definitely requires a fast trip to the vet. Here’s what I told a reader about it. Q: My dog’s stool is black, and I noticed when I was grooming him that hisDR. MARTY BECKER
Dr. Marty Becker. Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian,” has spent his life working toward better health for pets and the people who love them. A COMMON BLOOD CLOT THAT CAN CRIPPLE OR KILL CATS Here’s something many cat owners don’t know about until they hear a heart-stopping scream from their cat — who suddenly can’t walk. It’s called an aortic thromboembolism (ATE), or “saddle thrombus,” and usually occurs in cats with heart disease — something else the owner may not know their cat has. This is a seriouscondition
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BRINGING PETS TO HIGH One of my team members recently had to leave early from a mountain vacation when her dog developed severe altitude sickness, requiring hospitalization. Coincidentally, a reader just wrote me about that very subject – here’s my answer, which should cover what you need to know before your next “Rocky Mountain High”! Q: Can pets get HOW TO TRANSITION A PUPPY FROM A POTTY PAD TO THE OUTDOORS Gradually move the potty pad closer to the door outside. Eventually phase out the potty pad altogether. Tether her to you with a leash when you’re at home so you can notice instantly if she gets up and starts to move around. Restlessness can be a signal that she needs to go out. She will probably start to develop ways to tell you that she HOW TO REMOVE TREE SAP FROM YOUR PET'S FUR Whichever you choose, rub it into the area with the sticky substance, let it sit for a few minutes, and then carefully comb it out or work it out with your fingers. Tree sap can be a stickier wicket, though. The peanut butter or oil trick may work, but sometimes tree sap is a job for alcohol — the drinking kind. Vodka, to be exact. WHEN CATS LICK ALL THE HAIR OFF THEIR BELLIES Compulsive licking and chewing can be incredibly tough to resolve in a pet. This cat owner wrote asking for information and advice, and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, and I teamed up to help. Q: My 11-year-old male cat keeps licking all the fur off his WHY DOGS LICK THEIR FEET AND LEGS, AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT Dogs who lick their paws and legs may be attempting to relieve the awful itch of skin allergies or bacterial or fungal infections or the joint pain from arthritis, which can settle in the carpus (wrist), stifle (knee), elbows, hips and lower back. Anytime a dog licks excessively, he should be seen by the veterinarian to rule out ahealth
DO DOGS DO THINGS OUT OF SPITE? Do dogs misbehave out of spite or anger? That’s a question I get asked a lot, including recently by a reader. I turned to my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, for an answer. Q: My boyfriend was two hours late getting home to feed his corgis, and one of them pooped on thekitchen floor. They
WATCH FOR THESE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF CANINE CANCER Catching your dog’s cancer early can make all the difference in treatment and outcome. A reader wanted to know what signs to watch for. Here’s what I told her. Q: The breed of dog I have is prone to cancer, and it scares me. Are there signs I can watch for to helpcatch it
LOW PLATELET COUNTS ARE BIG TROUBLE FOR DOGS Does your dog have black stool, or bruises or other marks on his skin? This could be a lights and sirens emergency, and definitely requires a fast trip to the vet. Here’s what I told a reader about it. Q: My dog’s stool is black, and I noticed when I was grooming him that his THE EASY WAY TO TEACH YOUR CAT TO DO TRICKS A very brave reader wanted to teach her cat some tricks. Instead of telling her to run away from the idea, I got my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, to explain how to do it.And guess what? It’s easy! Q: I want to teach my cat some tricks. What’s an easy one to startwith? A:
DO OUR CATS ACTUALLY LIKE US? 2. Even if your cat doesn’t settle into a lap, choosing to sit or lie near you — maybe next to your keyboard — is a sign that she thinks you’re A-OK. 3. Humans connect by making and holding eye contact, but for a cat, that’s bold behavior. They don’t do it with other cats unless they’re ready to start a WHEN CATS LICK ALL THE HAIR OFF THEIR BELLIES Compulsive licking and chewing can be incredibly tough to resolve in a pet. This cat owner wrote asking for information and advice, and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, and I teamed up to help. Q: My 11-year-old male cat keeps licking all the fur off his WHAT TO DO IF YOUR NEW CAT WON'T COME OUT OF HIDING The best thing you can do is to give her the opportunity to relax and explore her new surroundings at her own pace. Don’t push her by trying to pet her or play with her. Sit in the room quietly, but don’t try to coax her over to you. Right now, she just needs to become accustomed to your scent and presence. WATCH FOR THESE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF CANINE CANCER Catching your dog’s cancer early can make all the difference in treatment and outcome. A reader wanted to know what signs to watch for. Here’s what I told her. Q: The breed of dog I have is prone to cancer, and it scares me. Are there signs I can watch for to helpcatch it
VIDEO: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DOG NOT TO BE AFRAID OF THE Few noises are more universally hated and feared by pets than that monster, the vacuum cleaner. But you can teach your dog to accept and not fear his former enemy (and yes, it involves treats!). In this latest video in her ongoing training series with our friends at Bissell, my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, shares WHY DO DOGS LICK US? THE ANSWER COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE! A: Dogs do love to lick us, for lots of different reasons. One is that our skin is salty. If we’ve been perspiring, we taste even better, so you may notice that your dog loves to lick you even more in the summertime. I’m not sure why, but the scent or taste of lotion or HOW I LEARNED TO STOP HURRYING AND LET MY DOG CHECK HIS A dog’s motto is to pee frequently with as much volume and elevation as possible. I long ago coined the now popular term “pee-mail,” which is basically a social media platform (or vertical surface) for canines. While some humans like my 94-year-old mother-in-law shun Facebook and Instagram, all dogs use Assbook and Piss-ta-gram. WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CAT IS CHEWING UP Whenever you find what your cat doesn’t like, keep reapplying it to reinforce the point. Pot your plants in heavy, wide-bottomed containers, and cover the soil of the problem plants with rough, decorative rock to end digging. Foil, waxed paper and double-sided tape are also effective digging deterrents, albeit less attractiveones.
CAN WE TALK ABOUT GRAINS IN PET FOOD? Can dogs eat grains? That was the topic of a frustrating conversation I had with a pet owner recently. Dogs, she informed me, can’t digest grains. When I assured her they can, she insisted that they can’t, adding, “Besides, they make them fat.” I started to explain that those two things are mutually exclusive, becauseDR. MARTY BECKER
Dr. Marty Becker. Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian,” has spent his life working toward better health for pets and the people who love them. A COMMON BLOOD CLOT THAT CAN CRIPPLE OR KILL CATS Here’s something many cat owners don’t know about until they hear a heart-stopping scream from their cat — who suddenly can’t walk. It’s called an aortic thromboembolism (ATE), or “saddle thrombus,” and usually occurs in cats with heart disease — something else the owner may not know their cat has. This is a seriouscondition
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BRINGING PETS TO HIGH One of my team members recently had to leave early from a mountain vacation when her dog developed severe altitude sickness, requiring hospitalization. Coincidentally, a reader just wrote me about that very subject – here’s my answer, which should cover what you need to know before your next “Rocky Mountain High”! Q: Can pets get HOW TO TRANSITION A PUPPY FROM A POTTY PAD TO THE OUTDOORS Gradually move the potty pad closer to the door outside. Eventually phase out the potty pad altogether. Tether her to you with a leash when you’re at home so you can notice instantly if she gets up and starts to move around. Restlessness can be a signal that she needs to go out. She will probably start to develop ways to tell you that she HOW TO REMOVE TREE SAP FROM YOUR PET'S FUR Whichever you choose, rub it into the area with the sticky substance, let it sit for a few minutes, and then carefully comb it out or work it out with your fingers. Tree sap can be a stickier wicket, though. The peanut butter or oil trick may work, but sometimes tree sap is a job for alcohol — the drinking kind. Vodka, to be exact. WHEN CATS LICK ALL THE HAIR OFF THEIR BELLIES Compulsive licking and chewing can be incredibly tough to resolve in a pet. This cat owner wrote asking for information and advice, and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, and I teamed up to help. Q: My 11-year-old male cat keeps licking all the fur off his WHY DOGS LICK THEIR FEET AND LEGS, AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT Dogs who lick their paws and legs may be attempting to relieve the awful itch of skin allergies or bacterial or fungal infections or the joint pain from arthritis, which can settle in the carpus (wrist), stifle (knee), elbows, hips and lower back. Anytime a dog licks excessively, he should be seen by the veterinarian to rule out ahealth
DO DOGS DO THINGS OUT OF SPITE? Do dogs misbehave out of spite or anger? That’s a question I get asked a lot, including recently by a reader. I turned to my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, for an answer. Q: My boyfriend was two hours late getting home to feed his corgis, and one of them pooped on thekitchen floor. They
WATCH FOR THESE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF CANINE CANCER Catching your dog’s cancer early can make all the difference in treatment and outcome. A reader wanted to know what signs to watch for. Here’s what I told her. Q: The breed of dog I have is prone to cancer, and it scares me. Are there signs I can watch for to helpcatch it
LOW PLATELET COUNTS ARE BIG TROUBLE FOR DOGS Does your dog have black stool, or bruises or other marks on his skin? This could be a lights and sirens emergency, and definitely requires a fast trip to the vet. Here’s what I told a reader about it. Q: My dog’s stool is black, and I noticed when I was grooming him that hisDR. MARTY BECKER
Dr. Marty Becker. Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian,” has spent his life working toward better health for pets and the people who love them. A COMMON BLOOD CLOT THAT CAN CRIPPLE OR KILL CATS Here’s something many cat owners don’t know about until they hear a heart-stopping scream from their cat — who suddenly can’t walk. It’s called an aortic thromboembolism (ATE), or “saddle thrombus,” and usually occurs in cats with heart disease — something else the owner may not know their cat has. This is a seriouscondition
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BRINGING PETS TO HIGH One of my team members recently had to leave early from a mountain vacation when her dog developed severe altitude sickness, requiring hospitalization. Coincidentally, a reader just wrote me about that very subject – here’s my answer, which should cover what you need to know before your next “Rocky Mountain High”! Q: Can pets get HOW TO TRANSITION A PUPPY FROM A POTTY PAD TO THE OUTDOORS Gradually move the potty pad closer to the door outside. Eventually phase out the potty pad altogether. Tether her to you with a leash when you’re at home so you can notice instantly if she gets up and starts to move around. Restlessness can be a signal that she needs to go out. She will probably start to develop ways to tell you that she HOW TO REMOVE TREE SAP FROM YOUR PET'S FUR Whichever you choose, rub it into the area with the sticky substance, let it sit for a few minutes, and then carefully comb it out or work it out with your fingers. Tree sap can be a stickier wicket, though. The peanut butter or oil trick may work, but sometimes tree sap is a job for alcohol — the drinking kind. Vodka, to be exact. WHEN CATS LICK ALL THE HAIR OFF THEIR BELLIES Compulsive licking and chewing can be incredibly tough to resolve in a pet. This cat owner wrote asking for information and advice, and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, and I teamed up to help. Q: My 11-year-old male cat keeps licking all the fur off his WHY DOGS LICK THEIR FEET AND LEGS, AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT Dogs who lick their paws and legs may be attempting to relieve the awful itch of skin allergies or bacterial or fungal infections or the joint pain from arthritis, which can settle in the carpus (wrist), stifle (knee), elbows, hips and lower back. Anytime a dog licks excessively, he should be seen by the veterinarian to rule out ahealth
DO DOGS DO THINGS OUT OF SPITE? Do dogs misbehave out of spite or anger? That’s a question I get asked a lot, including recently by a reader. I turned to my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, for an answer. Q: My boyfriend was two hours late getting home to feed his corgis, and one of them pooped on thekitchen floor. They
WATCH FOR THESE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF CANINE CANCER Catching your dog’s cancer early can make all the difference in treatment and outcome. A reader wanted to know what signs to watch for. Here’s what I told her. Q: The breed of dog I have is prone to cancer, and it scares me. Are there signs I can watch for to helpcatch it
LOW PLATELET COUNTS ARE BIG TROUBLE FOR DOGS Does your dog have black stool, or bruises or other marks on his skin? This could be a lights and sirens emergency, and definitely requires a fast trip to the vet. Here’s what I told a reader about it. Q: My dog’s stool is black, and I noticed when I was grooming him that his THE EASY WAY TO TEACH YOUR CAT TO DO TRICKS A very brave reader wanted to teach her cat some tricks. Instead of telling her to run away from the idea, I got my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, to explain how to do it.And guess what? It’s easy! Q: I want to teach my cat some tricks. What’s an easy one to startwith? A:
DO OUR CATS ACTUALLY LIKE US? 2. Even if your cat doesn’t settle into a lap, choosing to sit or lie near you — maybe next to your keyboard — is a sign that she thinks you’re A-OK. 3. Humans connect by making and holding eye contact, but for a cat, that’s bold behavior. They don’t do it with other cats unless they’re ready to start a WHEN CATS LICK ALL THE HAIR OFF THEIR BELLIES Compulsive licking and chewing can be incredibly tough to resolve in a pet. This cat owner wrote asking for information and advice, and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, and I teamed up to help. Q: My 11-year-old male cat keeps licking all the fur off his WHAT TO DO IF YOUR NEW CAT WON'T COME OUT OF HIDING The best thing you can do is to give her the opportunity to relax and explore her new surroundings at her own pace. Don’t push her by trying to pet her or play with her. Sit in the room quietly, but don’t try to coax her over to you. Right now, she just needs to become accustomed to your scent and presence. WATCH FOR THESE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF CANINE CANCER Catching your dog’s cancer early can make all the difference in treatment and outcome. A reader wanted to know what signs to watch for. Here’s what I told her. Q: The breed of dog I have is prone to cancer, and it scares me. Are there signs I can watch for to helpcatch it
VIDEO: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DOG NOT TO BE AFRAID OF THE Few noises are more universally hated and feared by pets than that monster, the vacuum cleaner. But you can teach your dog to accept and not fear his former enemy (and yes, it involves treats!). In this latest video in her ongoing training series with our friends at Bissell, my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, shares WHY DO DOGS LICK US? THE ANSWER COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE! A: Dogs do love to lick us, for lots of different reasons. One is that our skin is salty. If we’ve been perspiring, we taste even better, so you may notice that your dog loves to lick you even more in the summertime. I’m not sure why, but the scent or taste of lotion or HOW I LEARNED TO STOP HURRYING AND LET MY DOG CHECK HIS A dog’s motto is to pee frequently with as much volume and elevation as possible. I long ago coined the now popular term “pee-mail,” which is basically a social media platform (or vertical surface) for canines. While some humans like my 94-year-old mother-in-law shun Facebook and Instagram, all dogs use Assbook and Piss-ta-gram. WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CAT IS CHEWING UP Whenever you find what your cat doesn’t like, keep reapplying it to reinforce the point. Pot your plants in heavy, wide-bottomed containers, and cover the soil of the problem plants with rough, decorative rock to end digging. Foil, waxed paper and double-sided tape are also effective digging deterrents, albeit less attractiveones.
CAN WE TALK ABOUT GRAINS IN PET FOOD? Can dogs eat grains? That was the topic of a frustrating conversation I had with a pet owner recently. Dogs, she informed me, can’t digest grains. When I assured her they can, she insisted that they can’t, adding, “Besides, they make them fat.” I started to explain that those two things are mutually exclusive, because A COMMON BLOOD CLOT THAT CAN CRIPPLE OR KILL CATS Here’s something many cat owners don’t know about until they hear a heart-stopping scream from their cat — who suddenly can’t walk. It’s called an aortic thromboembolism (ATE), or “saddle thrombus,” and usually occurs in cats with heart disease — something else the owner may not know their cat has. This is a seriouscondition
HOW TO TRANSITION A PUPPY FROM A POTTY PAD TO THE OUTDOORS Gradually move the potty pad closer to the door outside. Eventually phase out the potty pad altogether. Tether her to you with a leash when you’re at home so you can notice instantly if she gets up and starts to move around. Restlessness can be a signal that she needs to go out. She will probably start to develop ways to tell you that she WHEN CATS LICK ALL THE HAIR OFF THEIR BELLIES Compulsive licking and chewing can be incredibly tough to resolve in a pet. This cat owner wrote asking for information and advice, and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, and I teamed up to help. Q: My 11-year-old male cat keeps licking all the fur off his HOW TO REMOVE TREE SAP FROM YOUR PET'S FUR Whichever you choose, rub it into the area with the sticky substance, let it sit for a few minutes, and then carefully comb it out or work it out with your fingers. Tree sap can be a stickier wicket, though. The peanut butter or oil trick may work, but sometimes tree sap is a job for alcohol — the drinking kind. Vodka, to be exact. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BRINGING PETS TO HIGHDOG REACTION TO AMOXICILLINDOG REACTION TO PREDNISONEDOG REACTION TO SHOTS One of my team members recently had to leave early from a mountain vacation when her dog developed severe altitude sickness, requiring hospitalization. Coincidentally, a reader just wrote me about that very subject – here’s my answer, which should cover what you need to know before your next “Rocky Mountain High”! Q: Can pets get WHAT TO DO IF YOUR NEW CAT WON'T COME OUT OF HIDING The best thing you can do is to give her the opportunity to relax and explore her new surroundings at her own pace. Don’t push her by trying to pet her or play with her. Sit in the room quietly, but don’t try to coax her over to you. Right now, she just needs to become accustomed to your scent and presence. WHY DOGS LICK THEIR FEET AND LEGS, AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT Dogs who lick their paws and legs may be attempting to relieve the awful itch of skin allergies or bacterial or fungal infections or the joint pain from arthritis, which can settle in the carpus (wrist), stifle (knee), elbows, hips and lower back. Anytime a dog licks excessively, he should be seen by the veterinarian to rule out ahealth
DO DOGS DO THINGS OUT OF SPITE? Do dogs misbehave out of spite or anger? That’s a question I get asked a lot, including recently by a reader. I turned to my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, for an answer. Q: My boyfriend was two hours late getting home to feed his corgis, and one of them pooped on thekitchen floor. They
WHY DO DOGS LICK US? THE ANSWER COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE! A: Dogs do love to lick us, for lots of different reasons. One is that our skin is salty. If we’ve been perspiring, we taste even better, so you may notice that your dog loves to lick you even more in the summertime. I’m not sure why, but the scent or taste of lotion or LOW PLATELET COUNTS ARE BIG TROUBLE FOR DOGS Does your dog have black stool, or bruises or other marks on his skin? This could be a lights and sirens emergency, and definitely requires a fast trip to the vet. Here’s what I told a reader about it. Q: My dog’s stool is black, and I noticed when I was grooming him that his A COMMON BLOOD CLOT THAT CAN CRIPPLE OR KILL CATS Here’s something many cat owners don’t know about until they hear a heart-stopping scream from their cat — who suddenly can’t walk. It’s called an aortic thromboembolism (ATE), or “saddle thrombus,” and usually occurs in cats with heart disease — something else the owner may not know their cat has. This is a seriouscondition
HOW TO TRANSITION A PUPPY FROM A POTTY PAD TO THE OUTDOORS Gradually move the potty pad closer to the door outside. Eventually phase out the potty pad altogether. Tether her to you with a leash when you’re at home so you can notice instantly if she gets up and starts to move around. Restlessness can be a signal that she needs to go out. She will probably start to develop ways to tell you that she WHEN CATS LICK ALL THE HAIR OFF THEIR BELLIES Compulsive licking and chewing can be incredibly tough to resolve in a pet. This cat owner wrote asking for information and advice, and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, and I teamed up to help. Q: My 11-year-old male cat keeps licking all the fur off his HOW TO REMOVE TREE SAP FROM YOUR PET'S FUR Whichever you choose, rub it into the area with the sticky substance, let it sit for a few minutes, and then carefully comb it out or work it out with your fingers. Tree sap can be a stickier wicket, though. The peanut butter or oil trick may work, but sometimes tree sap is a job for alcohol — the drinking kind. Vodka, to be exact. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BRINGING PETS TO HIGHDOG REACTION TO AMOXICILLINDOG REACTION TO PREDNISONEDOG REACTION TO SHOTS One of my team members recently had to leave early from a mountain vacation when her dog developed severe altitude sickness, requiring hospitalization. Coincidentally, a reader just wrote me about that very subject – here’s my answer, which should cover what you need to know before your next “Rocky Mountain High”! Q: Can pets get WHAT TO DO IF YOUR NEW CAT WON'T COME OUT OF HIDING The best thing you can do is to give her the opportunity to relax and explore her new surroundings at her own pace. Don’t push her by trying to pet her or play with her. Sit in the room quietly, but don’t try to coax her over to you. Right now, she just needs to become accustomed to your scent and presence. WHY DOGS LICK THEIR FEET AND LEGS, AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT Dogs who lick their paws and legs may be attempting to relieve the awful itch of skin allergies or bacterial or fungal infections or the joint pain from arthritis, which can settle in the carpus (wrist), stifle (knee), elbows, hips and lower back. Anytime a dog licks excessively, he should be seen by the veterinarian to rule out ahealth
DO DOGS DO THINGS OUT OF SPITE? Do dogs misbehave out of spite or anger? That’s a question I get asked a lot, including recently by a reader. I turned to my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, for an answer. Q: My boyfriend was two hours late getting home to feed his corgis, and one of them pooped on thekitchen floor. They
WHY DO DOGS LICK US? THE ANSWER COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE! A: Dogs do love to lick us, for lots of different reasons. One is that our skin is salty. If we’ve been perspiring, we taste even better, so you may notice that your dog loves to lick you even more in the summertime. I’m not sure why, but the scent or taste of lotion or LOW PLATELET COUNTS ARE BIG TROUBLE FOR DOGS Does your dog have black stool, or bruises or other marks on his skin? This could be a lights and sirens emergency, and definitely requires a fast trip to the vet. Here’s what I told a reader about it. Q: My dog’s stool is black, and I noticed when I was grooming him that hisDR. MARTY BECKER
Dr. Marty Becker. Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian,” has spent his life working toward better health for pets and the people who love them. THE EASY WAY TO TEACH YOUR CAT TO DO TRICKS A very brave reader wanted to teach her cat some tricks. Instead of telling her to run away from the idea, I got my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, to explain how to do it.And guess what? It’s easy! Q: I want to teach my cat some tricks. What’s an easy one to startwith? A:
HOW TO GET YOUR ESCAPED PET BIRD BACK A: It can indeed be difficult to catch a bird on the wing, which is why the best strategies for preventing a pet bird from being lost forever are preventive. Have your bird microchipped. Keep his wings clipped to prevent him from flying away, and make sure everyone in the family knows to keep doors and unscreened windows closed. CAT HEART CONDITION CAN CAUSE SUDDEN DEATH Cats with HCM can go into congestive heart failure, develop an arterial thrombus — a clot lodged in an artery — or die suddenly. Any cat, pedigreed or random-bred, can develop HCM. We don’t know what causes the disease, but Maine coon and ragdoll cats have a genetic mutation for it. A genetic test can identify cats in thosebreeds who
WATCH FOR THESE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF CANINE CANCER Catching your dog’s cancer early can make all the difference in treatment and outcome. A reader wanted to know what signs to watch for. Here’s what I told her. Q: The breed of dog I have is prone to cancer, and it scares me. Are there signs I can watch for to helpcatch it
WHY DO DOGS LICK US? THE ANSWER COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE! A: Dogs do love to lick us, for lots of different reasons. One is that our skin is salty. If we’ve been perspiring, we taste even better, so you may notice that your dog loves to lick you even more in the summertime. I’m not sure why, but the scent or taste of lotion or YES, YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR CAT'S AGE-RELATED Yes, you can do something about your cat’s age-related changes. Those changes your older cat is going through may be age-related, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do something about them. Here’s what I told a reader who has concerns about her elderly cat’s behavior. Q: My 17-year-old indoor cat is eating less than she used to, and she YOUR CAT IS BREATHING WITH HER MOUTH OPEN. IT IS HEART A reader wants to know what it means that her cat is breathing with an open mouth and seems disinterested in play. Here’s what I told her. Q: My ragdoll cat has been breathing with his mouth open, and he doesn’t seem to want to play very much. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR CAT'S GALLBLADDER Just like people, cats can have gallbladder problems, including a life-threatening blockage. Here’s what I told a reader who contacted me about her cat’s diagnosis. Q: My cat has an inflamed gallbladder and maybe a blocked bile duct. I didn’t know cats could have gallbladder problems! What can you tell me about them? A: The WHY PET PAIN PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE That’s because of a phenomenon known as “wind-up,” or the sensitization of nerve pathways to pain, making things that hurt feel more painful the longer the pain persists. Preventing or interrupting wind-up not only makes your pet feel better, it prevents the development of chronic or disabling pain syndromes that might requireweeks
A COMMON BLOOD CLOT THAT CAN CRIPPLE OR KILL CATS Here’s something many cat owners don’t know about until they hear a heart-stopping scream from their cat — who suddenly can’t walk. It’s called an aortic thromboembolism (ATE), or “saddle thrombus,” and usually occurs in cats with heart disease — something else the owner may not know their cat has. This is a seriouscondition
HOW TO TRANSITION A PUPPY FROM A POTTY PAD TO THE OUTDOORS Gradually move the potty pad closer to the door outside. Eventually phase out the potty pad altogether. Tether her to you with a leash when you’re at home so you can notice instantly if she gets up and starts to move around. Restlessness can be a signal that she needs to go out. She will probably start to develop ways to tell you that she WHEN CATS LICK ALL THE HAIR OFF THEIR BELLIES Compulsive licking and chewing can be incredibly tough to resolve in a pet. This cat owner wrote asking for information and advice, and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, and I teamed up to help. Q: My 11-year-old male cat keeps licking all the fur off his HOW TO REMOVE TREE SAP FROM YOUR PET'S FUR Whichever you choose, rub it into the area with the sticky substance, let it sit for a few minutes, and then carefully comb it out or work it out with your fingers. Tree sap can be a stickier wicket, though. The peanut butter or oil trick may work, but sometimes tree sap is a job for alcohol — the drinking kind. Vodka, to be exact. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BRINGING PETS TO HIGHDOG REACTION TO AMOXICILLINDOG REACTION TO PREDNISONEDOG REACTION TO SHOTS One of my team members recently had to leave early from a mountain vacation when her dog developed severe altitude sickness, requiring hospitalization. Coincidentally, a reader just wrote me about that very subject – here’s my answer, which should cover what you need to know before your next “Rocky Mountain High”! Q: Can pets get WHAT TO DO IF YOUR NEW CAT WON'T COME OUT OF HIDING The best thing you can do is to give her the opportunity to relax and explore her new surroundings at her own pace. Don’t push her by trying to pet her or play with her. Sit in the room quietly, but don’t try to coax her over to you. Right now, she just needs to become accustomed to your scent and presence. WHY DOGS LICK THEIR FEET AND LEGS, AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT Dogs who lick their paws and legs may be attempting to relieve the awful itch of skin allergies or bacterial or fungal infections or the joint pain from arthritis, which can settle in the carpus (wrist), stifle (knee), elbows, hips and lower back. Anytime a dog licks excessively, he should be seen by the veterinarian to rule out ahealth
DO DOGS DO THINGS OUT OF SPITE? Do dogs misbehave out of spite or anger? That’s a question I get asked a lot, including recently by a reader. I turned to my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, for an answer. Q: My boyfriend was two hours late getting home to feed his corgis, and one of them pooped on thekitchen floor. They
WHY DO DOGS LICK US? THE ANSWER COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE! A: Dogs do love to lick us, for lots of different reasons. One is that our skin is salty. If we’ve been perspiring, we taste even better, so you may notice that your dog loves to lick you even more in the summertime. I’m not sure why, but the scent or taste of lotion or LOW PLATELET COUNTS ARE BIG TROUBLE FOR DOGS Does your dog have black stool, or bruises or other marks on his skin? This could be a lights and sirens emergency, and definitely requires a fast trip to the vet. Here’s what I told a reader about it. Q: My dog’s stool is black, and I noticed when I was grooming him that his A COMMON BLOOD CLOT THAT CAN CRIPPLE OR KILL CATS Here’s something many cat owners don’t know about until they hear a heart-stopping scream from their cat — who suddenly can’t walk. It’s called an aortic thromboembolism (ATE), or “saddle thrombus,” and usually occurs in cats with heart disease — something else the owner may not know their cat has. This is a seriouscondition
HOW TO TRANSITION A PUPPY FROM A POTTY PAD TO THE OUTDOORS Gradually move the potty pad closer to the door outside. Eventually phase out the potty pad altogether. Tether her to you with a leash when you’re at home so you can notice instantly if she gets up and starts to move around. Restlessness can be a signal that she needs to go out. She will probably start to develop ways to tell you that she WHEN CATS LICK ALL THE HAIR OFF THEIR BELLIES Compulsive licking and chewing can be incredibly tough to resolve in a pet. This cat owner wrote asking for information and advice, and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, and I teamed up to help. Q: My 11-year-old male cat keeps licking all the fur off his HOW TO REMOVE TREE SAP FROM YOUR PET'S FUR Whichever you choose, rub it into the area with the sticky substance, let it sit for a few minutes, and then carefully comb it out or work it out with your fingers. Tree sap can be a stickier wicket, though. The peanut butter or oil trick may work, but sometimes tree sap is a job for alcohol — the drinking kind. Vodka, to be exact. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BRINGING PETS TO HIGHDOG REACTION TO AMOXICILLINDOG REACTION TO PREDNISONEDOG REACTION TO SHOTS One of my team members recently had to leave early from a mountain vacation when her dog developed severe altitude sickness, requiring hospitalization. Coincidentally, a reader just wrote me about that very subject – here’s my answer, which should cover what you need to know before your next “Rocky Mountain High”! Q: Can pets get WHAT TO DO IF YOUR NEW CAT WON'T COME OUT OF HIDING The best thing you can do is to give her the opportunity to relax and explore her new surroundings at her own pace. Don’t push her by trying to pet her or play with her. Sit in the room quietly, but don’t try to coax her over to you. Right now, she just needs to become accustomed to your scent and presence. WHY DOGS LICK THEIR FEET AND LEGS, AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT Dogs who lick their paws and legs may be attempting to relieve the awful itch of skin allergies or bacterial or fungal infections or the joint pain from arthritis, which can settle in the carpus (wrist), stifle (knee), elbows, hips and lower back. Anytime a dog licks excessively, he should be seen by the veterinarian to rule out ahealth
DO DOGS DO THINGS OUT OF SPITE? Do dogs misbehave out of spite or anger? That’s a question I get asked a lot, including recently by a reader. I turned to my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, for an answer. Q: My boyfriend was two hours late getting home to feed his corgis, and one of them pooped on thekitchen floor. They
WHY DO DOGS LICK US? THE ANSWER COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE! A: Dogs do love to lick us, for lots of different reasons. One is that our skin is salty. If we’ve been perspiring, we taste even better, so you may notice that your dog loves to lick you even more in the summertime. I’m not sure why, but the scent or taste of lotion or LOW PLATELET COUNTS ARE BIG TROUBLE FOR DOGS Does your dog have black stool, or bruises or other marks on his skin? This could be a lights and sirens emergency, and definitely requires a fast trip to the vet. Here’s what I told a reader about it. Q: My dog’s stool is black, and I noticed when I was grooming him that hisDR. MARTY BECKER
Dr. Marty Becker. Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian,” has spent his life working toward better health for pets and the people who love them. HOW TO GET YOUR ESCAPED PET BIRD BACK A: It can indeed be difficult to catch a bird on the wing, which is why the best strategies for preventing a pet bird from being lost forever are preventive. Have your bird microchipped. Keep his wings clipped to prevent him from flying away, and make sure everyone in the family knows to keep doors and unscreened windows closed. CAT HEART CONDITION CAN CAUSE SUDDEN DEATH Cats with HCM can go into congestive heart failure, develop an arterial thrombus — a clot lodged in an artery — or die suddenly. Any cat, pedigreed or random-bred, can develop HCM. We don’t know what causes the disease, but Maine coon and ragdoll cats have a genetic mutation for it. A genetic test can identify cats in thosebreeds who
WATCH FOR THESE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF CANINE CANCER Catching your dog’s cancer early can make all the difference in treatment and outcome. A reader wanted to know what signs to watch for. Here’s what I told her. Q: The breed of dog I have is prone to cancer, and it scares me. Are there signs I can watch for to helpcatch it
MYTHS AND TRUTHS ABOUT ‘FILLERS’ IN PET FOOD What they – and we – need are nutrients. Ingredients are just the vehicle for the nutrients, and also contribute to the food’s taste and form. Even sugar, which is an ingredient I don’t want to see in a pet’s food, isn’t really a “filler” – it’s there to make the food taste better to the pet. It WHY DO DOGS LICK US? THE ANSWER COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE! A: Dogs do love to lick us, for lots of different reasons. One is that our skin is salty. If we’ve been perspiring, we taste even better, so you may notice that your dog loves to lick you even more in the summertime. I’m not sure why, but the scent or taste of lotion or YES, YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR CAT'S AGE-RELATED Yes, you can do something about your cat’s age-related changes. Those changes your older cat is going through may be age-related, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do something about them. Here’s what I told a reader who has concerns about her elderly cat’s behavior. Q: My 17-year-old indoor cat is eating less than she used to, and she WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR CAT'S GALLBLADDER Just like people, cats can have gallbladder problems, including a life-threatening blockage. Here’s what I told a reader who contacted me about her cat’s diagnosis. Q: My cat has an inflamed gallbladder and maybe a blocked bile duct. I didn’t know cats could have gallbladder problems! What can you tell me about them? A: The YOUR CAT IS BREATHING WITH HER MOUTH OPEN. IT IS HEART A reader wants to know what it means that her cat is breathing with an open mouth and seems disinterested in play. Here’s what I told her. Q: My ragdoll cat has been breathing with his mouth open, and he doesn’t seem to want to play very much. WHY PET PAIN PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE That’s because of a phenomenon known as “wind-up,” or the sensitization of nerve pathways to pain, making things that hurt feel more painful the longer the pain persists. Preventing or interrupting wind-up not only makes your pet feel better, it prevents the development of chronic or disabling pain syndromes that might requireweeks
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Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian,” has spent his life working toward better health for pets and the people who love them. Learn More About Dr. Becker SIGN UP FOR DR. MARTY BECKER'S NEWSLETTER!FROM THE BLOG
Help a frightened shelter cat today THE MYSTERY BEHIND THIS DOG’S SUDDEN BEHAVIOR CHANGE What would you think if your senior dog suddenly started lying across your bedroom door every night — something he has literally never done before? Here’s what I told a reader whose dog is doing exactly that. Q: My dog never goes anywhere but the living room and kitchen. He’s a senior and has arthritisread more »
FEAR FREE FRIDAY DEAL: VETSMART FORMULAS ADVANCED HIP + JOINT COMPLEX Are you worried about your dog and arthritis? Have you been wanting to try a green-lipped mussel/Omega-3 supplement, to see if it helps? On Friday, March 2, 2018, for 24 hours only, Fear Free Happy Homes members can get 50 percent off any order of VetSmart Formulas Advanced Hip + Joint Complex as our Fearread more »
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Fear Free Symposium: Salt Lake City, Utah March 18th, 2018 Global Pet Expo 2018 March 21st, 2018 Fear Free Symposium: San Diego, California April 8th, 2018 JOIN THE OTHER 700,000+! ABOUT DR. MARTY BECKER Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian,” has spent his life working toward better health for pets and the people who love them. He is the founder of Fear FreeSM, an initiative to "take the ‘pet’ out of ‘petrified’"" and get pets back for veterinary visits by promoting considerate approach and gentle control techniques used in calming environments.Learn More
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