Pets
/Home & Leisure
Pets mourn the loss of other pets, too. Here's how experts say you can help them.
Many movies, cartoons, and television shows often depict pets in a lighthearted way, showcasing their cheerfulness and laissez-faire attitude. On the contrary, modern science suggests that pets possess a deeper level of intelligence than we ever dared to imagine, and they experience the range of feelings we once assumed were just felt by humans....Read more
Shedding season: Tips to help deal with your dog’s heavy shedding
Whether your dog’s hair is long or short, it is inevitable that you will find loose hair around the house when they are shedding. Regular grooming and plenty of brushing in between will help minimize the stray fur you find. However, when shedding gets heavy during the winter months from blowing coats, pet owners need to resort to Plan B.
...Read more
A man and his dog find stash of rare books on the sidewalk; 8 months later, library solves the mystery
CHICAGO -- On an evening walk in Chicago's North Center neighborhood back in early March, Sparky — Robert Miller’s golden brown mutt that weighs 35 pounds and has hunting dog in its DNA — seemingly caught a scent.
“She’s a creature of habit,” said Miller, a retired 75-year-old who has lived in the neighborhood for about a dozen ...Read more
Caring for Your Dog's Teeth: A Comprehensive Guide
Caring for your dog’s teeth is a critical component of their overall health and well-being. Just like humans, dogs can suffer from dental problems, including plaque buildup, gum disease, and tooth decay. These issues can lead to pain, difficulty eating, and even systemic infections that affect the heart, kidneys, and liver. Ensuring your dog ...Read more
Thanksgiving safety for your dog
Thanksgiving is fast approaching, which means there is plenty to be done, planning each dish and table setting. With so much going on, it’s important to keep in mind that there will be a lot of food around and you might not be able to give your dog your full, undivided attention.
This gives your pup plenty of opportunities to sneak some ...Read more
A Missouri deer hunter just killed a mountain lion. How common are these big cats?
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Missouri deer hunter reportedly killed a mountain lion Monday, Nov. 18, according to a social media post from the Missouri Department of Conservation.
“We are aware of an incident that occurred this past weekend in Iron County where a deer hunter killed a mountain lion,” the department wrote on Facebook on Monday. “...Read more
Research aims to improve quality of life for dogs with epilepsy
Just like people, dogs can suffer from epilepsy.
This seizure disorder is characterized by uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain resulting in abnormal movements, altered behavior, and/or loss of consciousness. Seizures can have many causes, such as trauma, infection, metabolic disturbances, brain tumors and more. When no specific ...Read more
A dog's congressional life: Babydog to Dakota, Deco to Splash and more
WASHINGTON — Sen.-elect Jim Justice already knew that his canine companion, Babydog, would not be allowed on the Senate floor, but much of the rest of the Capitol building is dog-friendly — and has been for years.
“Senator-Elect Bernie Moreno jokingly asked about dogs and mentioned Babydog in jest. I told them they do not have to worry ...Read more
Dogs competed in a 'smile-off' contest at the National Dog Show preview. Everybody won
PHILADELPHIA — Two dog breeds renowned for their uncanny smiles — the Lancashire heeler and the Samoyed — were pitted head-to-head in a “smile-off” contest at the National Dog Show press preview Tuesday, shepherding in howls of laughter from the crowd and confused head tilts from the contestants.
These noble descendants of wolves, ...Read more
Winter is coming: Tips to prepare for the cold and keep your dog safe
As the winter season is creeping up on us, chances are your dog can feel the change in weather too! As responsible pet owners, it is important to take extra good care of our canine companions during the winter months.
The American Kennel Club recommends the following tips for a safe winter season.
Be mindful of window drafts. Small dogs ...Read more
The American Kennel Club shares clues to know when your dog needs a visit to the dentist
Caring for your dog’s teeth is an important part of keeping them healthy. Brushing your dog’s teeth should be a regular activity to keep their mouth and teeth in good condition. However, sometimes the dental care required goes beyond your own capabilities.
To help you keep your dog and their smile healthy, the American Kennel Club ...Read more
How dogs were implicated during the Salem witch trials
I teach a course on New England witchcraft trials, and students always arrive with varying degrees of knowledge of what happened in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692.
Nineteen people accused of witchcraft were executed by hanging, another was pressed to death and at least 150 were imprisoned in conditions that caused the death of at least...Read more
Dog bites: How to prevent or treat them
Each year, more than 4.5 million dog bites occur in the United States. Despite what you might assume, most of these incidents dot happen when an unfamiliar dog attacks someone in a park or another outdoor location. Instead, most dog bites are inflicted by a pet dog in a home.
Here’s advice for avoiding these upsetting and potentially serious ...Read more
Carrie Fisher's Dog Steals The Spotlight
Did you know that August 26th is World Dog Day? Here are some of our favourite celebrity dog stories.
Service dogs can reduce the severity of PTSD for veterans – new research
Service dogs can alleviate some symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder for veterans, according to a study our team published in June 2024 in the medical journal JAMA Network Open.
Over the past decade, our research group has been studying whether trained service dogs can help veterans with PTSD – a mental health condition that ...Read more
When people are under economic stress, their pets suffer too – we found parts of Detroit that are animal welfare deserts
Nearly two-thirds of U.S. households have at least one pet. More than ever before, companion animals are a part of life – particularly in cities, where the majority of Americans live.
Cities offer access to many resources, but often it’s not distributed evenly. Some scholars describe parts of U.S. cities with few or no grocery ...Read more
Pets give companionship, cuddles and joy – and also unavoidable stresses
Owning a pet can be a roller coaster. There are the highs, like when your dog greets you with a full-body wiggle when you return home, or when your cat purrs loudly as you cuddle next to one another. Then there are the lows, like stressful trips to urgent care, waking up to that unpleasant vomiting noise, or making the difficult choice to say...Read more
Could sharing a bedroom with your pets be keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep?
Sleeping with your dog in the same room could be negatively affecting your sleep quality, according to my team’s recently published research in Scientific Reports.
We recruited a nationally representative sample of more than 1,500 American adults who completed questionnaires assessing their sleep habits. Overall, about half of the ...Read more
Popular Stories
- A wave of cat deaths from bird flu prompts new rules on pet food production
- Dealing with Cats Who’ve Gone Off Their Litterbox: A Comprehensive Guide
- Vaccine hesitancy among pet owners is growing – a public health expert explains why that matters
- New year’s resolutions for you and your pup
- What does racial bias have to do with pet adoptions?