To be posted VERY LOW on the refrigerator door - nose height.

Dear Dogs and Cats,

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn’t help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

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Although it has been around for a long time, few pet owners are aware that animals can have coverage to protect them from various diseases, injuries and so forth. Policies assist the pet owners financially, thus saving them steep expenses when visiting the Vet. Pet insurance is similar to a health insurance policy for humans. If the pet is ill or injured then the pet is cared for by the vet and claims are sent to the policy provider for reimbursement.

Pet insurance offers coverage to pets that need medical attention. The policies help owners get the most out of vet visits by allowing them to pay only co-payments to the vet. Most companies will not cover preexisting conditions, but some will if the condition is considered cured. Some plans will cover the common flea and tick problems, some cover neutering and vaccines of pets and others may even cover dental, pregnancy and so forth.

Policies especially come in handy during emergency visits, and will provide coverage for medications, including meds for poisoning, heart worms, pain meds, and so forth. Items like deductibles, co-pays, coverages, whether the vet can submit directly to the insurance company or if you have to do the submission, annual and lifetime payment limits, and other policy features vary, sometimes dramatically, from company to company and policy to policy, so the best solution for getting the most coverage at affordable rates is to shop around.

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If you seek to provide the best living environment possible for your furry feline friend, it is important to know about the different household items that could poison your cat. Remember, your cat cannot resist tasty-smelling or unusual substances, nor can he or she tell you what was ingested to make him or her feel badly. Therefore, know which items you own could hurt your pet and keep these items securely in cabinets and other places your cat cannot access. If possible, keep these items out of your home altogether.

First, many homes have bleach products. You’ll find bleach and Clorox mainly in the laundry room or in other cleaning supplies; however, you can also find bleach products in swimming pool supplies. In generally, household bleaches are fairly mild. Although they will make your cat feel ill, most animals are smart enough to not drink enough to kill. Signs that your cat may have drunk a bleach product include excess drooling, vomiting, and abdominal pain. If your cat seems to be in pain, smell his or her fur if possible to detect the scent of the bleach. In general, call you vet and have your cat drink large quantities of milk or water if you possibly can. Monitor your cat for bloody vomit and difficulty breathing, and wash the paws and mouth area thoroughly.

Mothballs and other products containing naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene can also make your cat sick. Ingesting this substance can cause live damage and seizures. Symptoms include vomiting, seizures, blue or brown colored gums, increased heart rate, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. If you cat has eaten mothballs or items like toilet bowl cleaner or bathroom deodorizer, call your vet immediately.

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Kidney failure is the decline of the function of the kidney, which results in changes to all body systems. The kidneys filter the blood and remove waste, passing it from the body in urine. They also produce hormones that stimulate the red blood cells and look after calcium balance.

Older cats are at a greater risk from kidney failure, but there are always exceptions to the rule, so never run the risk of doing nothing if you think it could be the kidneys.

Some of the signs to look out for are decreased urine, vomiting, weakness and a loss of appetite. If your pet has any of these symptoms, it is vital to get it to your vet immediately, so he/she can run tests to verify kidney failure and start medication.

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Texas A&M out to open 1st institute devoted to curing those unpleasant dog and cat ailments

By Howard Witt | Tribune senior correspondent
8:51 AM CST, January 13, 2008  

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - At long last, veterinary researchers are setting out to tackle one of the least pleasant aspects of pet ownership: digestive disorders.

Alarmed that millions of dogs and cats around the world may be suffering from gastrointestinal ailments that aren’t properly diagnosed and treated, the veterinary school at Texas A&M University here is ramping up a fundraising campaign to establish the world’s first Institute of Companion Animal Gastroenterology.

Officials hope to collect at least $10 million to endow several research chairs and expand the operations of the university’s 10-year-old Gastrointestinal Laboratory, which is already the largest lab of its kind devoted exclusively to the notoriously fickle stomachs of dogs and cats.

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This excerpt is from the CBS News Early Show web site. A link to the full article follows the excerpt.

Dr. Debbye Turner On How To Brush Their Teeth, And Why It Matters

NEW YORK, Jan. 8, 2008

(CBS) Pet owners do lots of great things for their four-legged friends, but one thing frequently overlooked is brushing their teeth.

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I was perusing pet-related news articles today and saw some articles about pet shelters being overwhelmed with unwanted pets left over from the Christmas holidays. Puppies were even found abandoned in the snow.

What a terrible shame this is! When we take on the responsibility of a pet, we should make sure we have the right loving attitude, the resources, and the time to devote to them before we bring them home.  To bring a pet home then discard it like worn-out sock it truly a sad situation.

The only consolation is that at least many of these furry friends are returned to a shelter and not abandoned or kept, but abused. That at least gives them a fighting chance of finding a truly loving owner.

So, if you decide you want a pet, please be ready for the responsibility. Be prepared for a possible 20-year relationship. If you aren’t able to commit to that, then please don’t even go to the shelter.

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It happens. Your cat is sunning themselves in the driveway and you don’t know they’re there. You back out, hear a painful yowl and realize what’s happened. You stop the car, run to your cat and it dies in your arms. You’re beside yourself. After the tears stop, you have an overwhelming guilt, guilt that will stay with you for a long time. How do you get past this tragedy?

You did not mean to hurt your cat. Don’t hesitate to talk to a pet-loss bereavement counselor. Many veterinary schools and colleges offer this service for free, staffed by veterinary students who understand how important pets are to us and how difficult their loss can be.

Also, you have to realize that you are not the first person to have run over your own cat. Unfortunately, it happens with some regularity. It is one of the dangers out there to a cat that is allowed to roam free.

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