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Cold-Weather Gear for Your Pet

As the weather turns colder for most of us, it’s time to get our coats out of the back of the closet. Some of our pets require winter apparel as well, and ZooToo has a rundown of some of the latest products out on the market for keeping your pets warm. You can go with the traditional cute little sweaters and jackets that fill aisles at pet stores, or you can try something a bit different for your pets this winter. What you need depends on you and your pet’s lifestyle, so we’ll take a look at three different types. … Continue reading →

Safe Holidays For Pets and Children

The holiday’s are such a joyful time, no one wants to think that they can also be such a hazardous time as well. Our homes are filled with things that are not usually there, Christmas trees, poinsettias, holiday foods and other decorations. If you have a little one in the house you know how hard it can be to toddler proof your Christmas. Toddlers will pull over Christmas trees, pull tablecloths off tables and eat anything they can get their hands on. Most of us are hyper vigilant about the kids this time of year, but what about our pets? … Continue reading →

Keep Your Pet Safe This Halloween

Halloween can be dangerous for your pets. You may be well aware of the things that could pose a danger to your children on Halloween night. Keep in mind that there is potential for your pets to become injured or anxious on Halloween, too. You might be able to avoid an expensive trip to the vet. Many pet owners have pet insurance. You might think of this as a type of health insurance for pets. It covers the cost of certain types of preventative care that your pet needs. It can also decrease the out of pocket costs that a … Continue reading →

Caring for Pets in Cold Weather

In June I posted about the dangers of heatstroke for animals. Now that we’ve entered the opposite extreme of seasonal weather, I’d like to take a look at ways to keep our pets safe when it’s cold outside. The ASPCA has a list of several things to remember when looking after pets in the winter. Just as leaving a dog in the car is dangerous in the heat the same is true in the cold. Especially when it isn’t sunny outside, cars trap the cold and can drop to dangerous freezing temperatures. If you must leave your pet in the … Continue reading →

Your Dog Ate…. What? Pet Insurance Can Help!

It’s always a good idea to pay attention to what your pets are eating. This advice is especially true around Christmas, when there will be a whole lot of eye catching decorations, with interesting new smells and scents, that your pet will be tempted to taste, chew on, or even eat. This can require an expensive trip to a vet. Pet insurance can help you cover the cost of the necessary medical care. Many, if not all dogs, take great delight in things that humans find repulsive. Humans find a bad smell, and back away from it, gagging. Dogs think … Continue reading →

More “Whoever Heard of” Expressions

Even though my mom is gone, an expression we’d say still lives on. I find myself coming up with some pretty funny “whoever heard of” lines. Ones I know would make my mom smile, if not chuckle. Perhaps they’ll tickle you as well. Whoever Heard Of… A cat drinking coffee? (Inspired by Mr. Meow dipping his nose into my empty coffee mug to check out what I’d been drinking. And don’t worry. I’d never let him really drink coffee. I know it’s dangerous for him.) A cat eating Cheerios? (My mom loved her Cheerios for breakfast. Sadly, no one in … Continue reading →

Summer Gathering Safety for Pets

A backyard barbeque or garden party can be fun for the whole family — including your pets. Here are some tips to help ensure that your four-legged friends have a good and safe time. Take your dog on a nice, long walk before guests arrive. If he’s already tired, he will be less likely to jump, bark, or be over-enthusiastic in his greetings. Set up a safe place for your pets to get away from the activity of a cookout or party. Maybe a bed or blanket in a shady spot; maybe a safe room inside where the guests won’t … Continue reading →

Meals to Share with Your Dog

I’ve recently been introduced to BARK magazine (the vet who owns the cats-only boarding facility has a subscription) and they had a recipe in the April 2008 issue that sounds absolutely delicious: meatloaf made with lean meat, oatmeal, and veggies. The recipe creators probably didn’t plan on readers like me who wanted to make the dish for themselves… but it got me thinking. There are probably lots of meals that would be nutritious and delicious for both pups and people. Dogs need foods from many of the same food groups humans do: Meats/proteins like ground beef, turkey, or chicken. Fruits … Continue reading →

Teach Your Dog to Leave It

Leave it is an amazingly useful and versatile command — it can save your dog from eating something dangerous or instigating a fight with another dog or chasing your cat. Here’s one way to teach your dog to leave an object/treat: Find some treats your dog can’t resist. Keep all but one out of sight. (The one is for training; the rest are for rewards.) Place that one treat on the floor or on a low table that your dog can reach. Your dog will almost definitely pay attention if the treat is good enough! As you set the treat … Continue reading →

Chaotic Cat Chronicles: What Pretty Roses…

Today as part of our Proposalversary celebrations, Wayne surprised me by having half a dozen red roses delivered to the house. (a.k.a. My place of business.) The flowers are for me, but try telling that to the cats. Shredded Petals Make Such a Pretty Mess Pre-Tabby, Mr. Meow was bad enough on his own about getting into flowers. Roses are most definitely his favorite. I don’t know that he actually eats the petals. Mainly he loves to pluck the petals to pieces. (Leaving a trail of shreds in his wake.) Now whether Tabby would’ve developed this trait on her own … Continue reading →