Blog

If your dog has been diagnosed with mitral valve disease, you might be feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what that will mean for your pet’s future. A reader asked me about managing the condition, and here’s how I explained the problem and its management to her. And good news: a surgical repair to the mitral […]

Your dog doesn’t actually have to throw up in the car for you to know he has carsickness. Panting, restlessness, and anxiety are all signs he’s not feeling well while on the road. Short of never leaving home, what can you do? Here’s what I told a reader who has a 12-hour drive coming up […]

Ever wondered about “Hemingway cats,” those felines with extra toes? A reader did; here’s the story! Q: Why do some cats have extra toes? A: Cats normally have 18 toes: five on each front paw and four on each back paw. Some cats are born with additional toes — usually on front paws, but sometimes […]

Monday is Memorial Day in the U.S., a day to honor those who have their lives for our country and for freedom around the world. Among that number were many who never volunteered but still served: the dogs, birds, horses, and mules of war. Kurt Most people are aware of the incredible work done by […]

When a reader asked if it was possible to crate-train a cat the way you would train a dog, I immediately turned to my usual source of all things training, my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker. And of course, she had the answer! Q: Can cats be crate-trained the way dogs can? A: Cats don’t need […]