Articles: dogs

Dr. Kendall Houlihan, assistant director of animal welfare of the American Veterinary Medical Association chats on my national Steve Dale’s Pet World radio show about how to choose the right pet for you.  We talk about it all, from Guinea pigs to cats and dogs. And do your homework. People get rabbits when little kids…

Heat stroke can be a real issue for dogs. People sweat, dogs pant. And panting isn’t nearly as efficient at cooling the body. That’s the case for all dogs, just because they are dogs. Dogs do sweat a bit from their paw pads (sometimes leaving sweat marks – and if that happens, you know your…

For the past few years, whenever I write a piece about leaving pets in hot cars, I actually get criticized for writing about the same old same old boring thing. Well, it may be boring – but it’s still happening! I don’t quote People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals often – but they’re the…

A animal cruelty law passed by Virginia’s legislature and signed by Gov. Ralph Northam stiffens the penalty for animal cruelty, and just went into effect. The law, also referred to as “Tommie’s Law” is named a dog dog that died after be being tied to a pole and set on fire. That’s as horrific as…

One of the lesser known and hidden dangers of hurricanes and tropical storms is a water-borne bacterial infection, called leptospirosis which can be deadly to people, dogs and other animals. Regarding Hurricane Barry, now tropical depression Barry, it’s too early to tell – but it’s very likely incidents of leptospirosis will increase in the area…

When about 30 dogs were killed in a fire in West Chicago at Bully Life Animal Services (formerly D and D Kennels),  2N442 County Farm Road on January 14, 2019, instantly much of the animal welfare community came together to support the facility’s trainer, caretaker and business owner Garrett Mercado. I admit I was among…

The Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine offers a warning about Xylitol toxicity and dogs, following their warning about pig ears causing salmonella.

Have a great summer vacation! So many people, many thousands, place their beloved dogs in kennels and boarding facilities as they take off for well-earned vacations. Happily, the overwhelming majority of kennels recommend, even mandate, that pets have certain vaccines. One vaccine typically mandated is for kennel cough or Bordetella. Kennel cough is an all-encompassing…

As more states legalize marijuna, cannabis, CBD, for pets has become a popular topic of discussion at veterinary conferences. I talk here on my national Steve Dale’s Pet World radio show with veterinary technician Stephen Cital, Founder & Executive Director at Academy of Laboratory Animal Veterinary Technicians and Nurses about whether or not cannabis makes sense…

If you haven’t been keeping score, Buffalo Grove, IL (a large Chicago suburb) and Indian River County in Florida are among the most recent jurisdictions to unanimously ban sales of dogs and cats at local pet stores. In both cases, backers of the ordinances simply pointed out the truth: Dogs and cats sold at pet…