Ask A Vet - Pet Health Questions and Veterinary Advice
AskVetAdvice.com's goal is to help you, the pet owner, improve your knowledge of your pet's everyday needs and health care through a variety of pet services and veterinary resources.
Recommended Health Pet Foods
The Online Veterinarian has also compiled a list of Recommended Healthy Pet Foods - including Wysong Pet Foods - all pet owners can consider when making the decision to buy the very best pet food for their pet(s). We recommend browsing through this list, which contains links to company and product ingredients and purchase information.
A Diet That is NOT Mostly Garbage Pet Food
December 1, 2009
Thought this was a pretty funny SNL skit worth sharing with our audience. Obviously we don’t condone a “mostly garbage” diet for your favorite pets 
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Categories: Pet Food, Pet Health | 1 Comment »
About Cerenia for Dogs (a.k.a. Maropitant)
November 9, 2009
Cerenia is touted by its manufacturer, Pfizer, as a medication which allows pet owners to travel by car with their dogs, without the unpleasant experience of a pet vomiting due to motion sickness. Motion sickness is said to affect 1 in 6 dogs, this medication has been purported to have an effectiveness rate of 93% (reference). So, now owners do not have to suffer with pangs of guilt from having to leave their pets behind with sitters or in a kennel.
What May Cause Motion Sickness Read the rest of this article…
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“Rescue Pets” are More Than Today’s Hot Trend
November 19, 2008
Kate Woodviolet of the Los Angeles Pet Rescue Examiner’s article about an emerging fad, “The Rescue Pet” is worth reading for prospective pet owners. Read the rest of this article…
Categories: Pet Health, Pet News | 2 Comments »
Pet of the Month for July – Lucy
August 9, 2008
Check out our July Pet of the Month Lucy, down in sunny Florida and a beloved family member. Lucy’s parents write, “I hope you think they (the photos) are as adorable as our family does.” – we do, we certainly do
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Categories: Pet Photos, Pet of the Month | 5 Comments »
May Pets of the Month – Tigger, Bandit & Smokey
June 14, 2008
Our May Pets of the Month come from a good friend of ours in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. Recently adopted kittens Tigger and Bandit with their new pal Smokey.
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Categories: Pet Photos, Pet of the Month | 1 Comment »
March Pet of the Month – Meka
April 9, 2008
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Categories: Pet Photos, Pet of the Month | 7 Comments »
Parents With New Babies and Pet Ownership
March 17, 2008
Far too often I hear a familiar scenario, whereby a couple is panicking about the fact they think they will need to get rid of their pet dog/cat because of their new baby. It is upsetting to me, given my love of and commitment to animals, to hear people first consider getting rid of, or re-housing a pet, before they have even asked for my or another professional’s assistance. Often these situations can be remedied by simple changes in a person’s behaviors which in turn impact an animal’s behavior. But to most lay persons this is not known, nor is the patience to pursue means of peaceful coexistence considered. Thus the pet is not given a fair chance to be assessed, and they are thus surrendered, abandoned, or neglected by their owners.
Our Relationship With Our Pets
Unfortunately, we live in a time when EVERYTHING is believed to be easily replaced and/or “disposable”, and this to me is a disturbing trend. For these animals, over the years, we have established a relationship, a bond in which we have becoming their everything-provider, protector, and friend. It is very sad to see how common it is that people can give up so easily and succumb to this idea that a pet is disposable, and better off elsewhere. Consequently, this is far from true. And in far too many cases, this results in the euthanasia of millions of animals each year- some because they are considered too old to be placed, and others because people assume they were “bad” with children and therefore do not want to take a chance with these pets.
It is a very common situation for a pet, which has lived as the “apple of one’s eye” for many years, to be a bit curious, upset by, or show resentment toward a newborn. To them it is the equivalent to being replaced by a new pet. Only in this instance, it is one that takes up all of their owners’ time, is sometimes kept away from them, makes horrific sounds/smells at times, and to which they are denied access thus preventing them from using their natural need to explore with all their senses.
A Time Investment in Getting Your Pets Comfortable
If one wanted to give a pet a chance to remain a member of their family, they would need to dedicate some time (frequently/intermittently) to allow each (the pet and the baby) exposure to the other, in a controlled situation. Over time, in many instances the pet would likely adapt, perhaps even become protective of what they may grow to see as “their new charge”. The child in turn, as it grows in understanding, may be taught appropriate means of interacting with pets, and how to enjoy their “new pal”.
Getting Professional Veterinary Assistance
Should one find they are having a more difficult time in getting their pets to interact appropriately with a child, then aid of an expert should be sought. A veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist, as a professional, can be called upon to give specific means of attempting to bring about a positive relationship. A behaviorist may even visit one’s home to see the pet in its natural surroundings and watch the relationships/interactions in person. They will then give their honest opinion of the likelihood that change can occur, and input as to how to bring about this change.
Final Thoughts
I do think it is best, if one has tried to follow the above-referenced path and to no avail to consider another circumstance for the pet, but only if there is NO OTHER WAY. As I have mentioned far too many of these pets are destroyed with minimal attempt in getting them a new home. And as “pet lovers” and civilized people, how can we knowingly contribute to an already sad statistic and betray a pet that we have sworn to love and provide for during its lifetime.
Categories: Pet Health | 3 Comments »
February Pet of the Month – Sonsy
March 12, 2008
Sonsy was a foundling back in 2001 … one of a big litter found wandering a rural highway.
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Categories: Pet of the Month | 4 Comments »
Pet Photo Submissions From Our Readers
March 8, 2008
We’ve been offline for a bit in recent times but wanted to showcase some of the great photographs we’ve received from pet owners around the world!
“I don’t know who made this mess; I’m just reporting the crime!”
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Tips for Protecting Your Pets During the Winter
February 24, 2008
When the temperatures are below 40 degrees, your pets should not stay outside for very long.
No more than 15 minutes or so is alright, unless you are taking them for a walk or they are participating in another aerobic activity-hunting, luring, racing, etc.
Types of Animals We Worry About Most
Animals we worry about especially during the colder temperatures are the very young/old who may not have the best immune system and/or fat reserves to keep them warm, or pets who are naturally extremely lean and thin-coated (e.g. Greyhounds).
This category of animals can quickly become hypothermic, and get frostbite very rapidly, especially as temps start dipping below 35 Fahrenheit.
No pet should ever be left at home out of doors unattended. In Massachusetts there is actually a law against doing this.
Remember also if the temps drop below freezing, any water that may be left outside for our pets will freeze too.
For those adventuresome pets, or those we like to take with us during colder weather, there are coats, as well as booties made to protect our pets from extreme temperatures and trauma.
Though some pets (like mine
You can legitimize your actions by saying that you are helping protect their feet from ice which can injure their pads, and helping them to maintain a normal body temperature in more extreme/inclement weather.
Another consideration that most of us forget is that the caloric intake needs for many pets will decrease if their activity level diminishes with decrease in temperature.
If this is true for your pet, you may ask your vet about how to decrease their feed so as to not promote obesity.
Obesity is one of the number one causes of many disease conditions in our pets that can eventually lead to severe pain & even death.
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