They’re there for us year after year, through our best times and through our worst. Aptly named, man’s best friend, our dog is always at our side. However, many pet owners struggle with the realization that their four-legged pal is growing older. After all, they are family, and while all good things must unfortunately come to an end, that doesn’t mean that you and your dog can’t enjoy their golden years to the fullest. Just as in humans, there are many factors that contribute to a pet’s overall health and longevity. Among them are the obvious ones: nutrition, exercise, regular...

Is your cat lying around the house, or napping on the couch much of the day? Do you feel like you’re his servant; picking up his cat toys, cleaning his litter box and preparing his evening meals?  Maybe it’s about time your cat gets a job! If your cat is a couch potato, it may be that he is bored.  Cats need to feel useful, too and without an adequate amount of mental and physical stimulation, they can become lethargic and unengaged.  How do you know if your cat is bored to tears?  Here are a few warning signs: He’s...

It is probably safe to assume that we’ve all had this experience at one point or another – you go to the supermarket for a simple grocery item and find yourself confronted with an entire aisle of options! Decisions, decisions. With the recent spike in interest in the health food scene, people are finally beginning to question not only the integrity of their own diets, but that of their furry, four-legged friends as well. For a long time, dog food brands have contained unnecessary and potentially harmful ingredients such as pea starch, tapioca, cornmeal, by-products and more, and while this...

Is your pet feeling chilly this winter? As a responsible pet owner, it’s up to you to ensure that your pets are kept healthy and safe throughout the winter months. This doesn’t mean your pet can’t venture out into the cold for some exercise and fresh air, but it does mean that you will need to take some precautionary measures to keep Fluffy happy, healthy and warm. Follow these 5 tips to help winterize your beloved pet during the coldest months of the year.   OUTDOOR PLAYTIME Playing outside is a favorite pastime for many pets and the exercise they get...

Do you suffer from cynophobia, the pathological fear of dogs? Has anyone ever tried to tell you that if you just remained calm and not let him see you're afraid everything would be ok? Of course, that's easier said than done, especially when your heart is pounding and sweat is trickling down the back of your neck because you are standing within lunging range of either a Rottweiler or a tiny terrier.   When dogs look at a trembling, panicky human, what do you think they see, if anything? Do they sense your terror, and if so, does it influence...

Breakups can be tough, and the custody of a shared dog or cat can become a central issue when a couple separates or divorces, leading to anguish, arguments, and in some cases, a courtroom. In the eyes of the law, custody of your pet is not technically what a pet-owner should be expecting when they enter a courtroom. In all 50 states, animals are considered property, and many judges will not grant custody of a pet but rather award him as property. But animals fall into a separate category than replaceable or exchangeable property like cars or homes. Dogs and...