Articles: pets

If you don’t believe pets are members of the family, consider these facts. For starters, there are actually more pets than children in the U.S., and the numbers are rising – led by millennials. Retailers, manufacturers, entrepreneurs and inventors are clamoring to win a leadership position in the U.S. pet economy, with sales projected to…

Socialization has become a buzz word. People know the word, care about socializing their pet but exactly what does it mean? I talk with Dr. Kendall Houlihan, assistant director of animal welfare about the topic on my national Steve Dale’s Pet World radio show. Indeed socialization is imperative – and we talk about why that…

At the Conference of the Animal Behavior Society, I met Dr. Erica Feuerbacher, assistant professor of Companion Animal Welfare and Behavior in the Department of Animal and Poultry Science at Virginia Tech. Her talk at the conference was great, and I was thrilled when I heard she’d come on my WGN Radio Steve Dale’s Pet…

Certified veterinary technician Mary Ann Minnick and I talk HERE on WGN Radio about how veterinary medicine is changing. Beginning with talking about all pets’ wellness, how integrative medicine is more important than ever. We mean integrating modalities like physical therapy or acupuncture – as just two examples – combined with traditional medicine. We discuss…

The message is “take it easy,” as the weather heats up again. As people need to acclimate to heath, so do our dogs, according Dr. Kurt Venator, chief veterinary officer at Purina. Is there a link between how much exercise your dog gets and nutrition? Seems like an easy thing to know, but studies demonstrate…

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…

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…

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…

Here are some fireworks facts: Many pets are frightened, and even terrified. And many pets are lost as a result. They’re kept outside in the yard, panic and run off. Some pets are tethered to ropes or chains and even choke to death. As a result, shelter intake of lost pets increases around the country.…