Whether you’re headed to the airport for a weekend getaway or taking your pup on their first road trip, puppy travel requires thoughtful planning. From packing the essentials to keeping your dog comfortable and calm on the go, we’vegot you covered. Use these 20 tips to make traveling with your puppy a safe, drama-free experience for both of you.
It’s hard to walk past a puppy at the shelter and not scoop them up immediately (because, well, those faces), but they’re not the only ones deserving of forever homes. Senior dogs are just as adorable and lovable as puppies—and a lot less likely to shred your favorite shoes while you’re at work.
Originally developed as a hunting dog that was large enough and had the stamina to hunt and retrieve a large number of game birds at once, Golden Retrievers are now among the most popular family pets, service animals and search and rescue dogs. Loving and eager to please, Golden Retrievers enjoy playing games and socializing with people, children and other animals and can be calm at home with appropriate daily exercise and activity. While these breeds can all be relaxed by nature, many dogs can go from “mellow to intense in 6 seconds,” Frei said. If you know your dog is easily stimulated by dog toys, dog treats, phrase (like “go out”) or activity, prepare for it to become much more active the moment you pull out the doggy cookie jar or make a move for the leash.,With busy work days and packed weekend schedules, sometimes we all need to take a cue from our pups and do one thing – relax. While it may seem impossible to calm down and chill out for some people (and dogs!), others can hit the “relax” button fairly quickly. Here’s a list of breeds that, if raised and socialized properly, are generally calm around the home, courtesy of David Frei, the co-host of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and expert analyst for The National Dog Show Presented by Purina.
Bobby Flay has a ton of important jobs: chef, restauranteur, media personality and beyond. But the one closest to his heart just might be cat dad. Flay’s the pet parent to two cats, Nacho, his Instagram-famous Orange Maine Coon, and Stella, his sister. But cats have been in his family since childhood. Flay grew up in a household that, at any given time, had two or three felines, he says—and as an only child, he considered them his siblings.
WRITTEN BYJennifer Coates, DVM Veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Coates is an accomplished veterinarian, writer, editor, and consultant with years of experience in the fields of veterinary…,If you notice that your cat has a swollen leg or paw—or worse yet, all of their legs and paws are swollen—you are no doubt wondering what to do, and probably worried if they’ve broken something. Here’s everything you need to know about swollen paws and legs in cats. What To Do if Your Cat’s Paw or Leg Is Swollen The first thing to do is to check their overall well-being. If any of the following are true, see a veterinarian immediately, because you could be dealing with an emergency situation: The swelling is severe All of your cat’s legs or feet are swollen Your cat is in a lot of pain (hiding, won’t let you touch them, vocalizing, or aggression) You know that your cat has been hit by a car, attacked by a dog, or had another major trauma You see evidence of a serious injury, like bleeding, limb dragging, or an obviously broken bone or dislocated joint Your cat has other worrisome symptoms, like trouble breathing, disorientation (confusion), weakness, or extreme lethargy (tiredness) On the other hand, it’s unlikely that you are dealing with an emergency if your cat’s leg or paw swelling is relatively mild and isn’t having a big effect on their movement, energy level, comfort, and appetite. Be careful if you decide to examine your cat, as touching a swollen area may hurt them. As long as the swelling is minor and your cat seems fine otherwise, it’s okay to give it a day or two to see if it will get better on its own. But if it doesn’t, make an appointment with your veterinarian. In the meantime, keep your cat indoors, encourage them to rest, and monitor them closely. Get them to a vet quickly if things get worse.
Americana Vineyards is located on 75-acres in the Finger Lakes wine country where leashed dogs are free to roam. “A lot of people travel with their furry family members, and we’ve always welcomed them” says Joseph Gober Jr., owner of the winery. Expect a pet-friendly lawn where you and your dog can watch concerts, a pond where your dog can swim and a dog-friendly winery and tasting room. Owners can nosh on food from the on-site café on the patio with their dogs by their sides. Americana also sometimes includes dogs on its Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts. After your visit, check those social media feeds to see if your pooch appears. Americana Vineyards is open seven days a week and is closed on Christmas and Thanksgiving.,Wineries make for great day trips or places to relax if you’re on vacation. Fortunately, many winery owners love their pets just as much as you do and have created inclusive and welcome environments for dogs. Even better, a number of wineries across the country also have winery dogs on property so your dog will have a buddy while you taste test. From New York to California, check out these pet-friendly wineries:
If you have an apartment cat that likes to sleep all day near a window while basking in the sun, a cat perch may be the right choice for him. The Kitty Cot Original World’s Best Cat Perch is great for small areas as it securely attaches to any window, and doesn’t require permanent installation. The MidWest Curious Cube for Cats is also a great option for small spaces! By featuring hide-and-seek crevices, plush toys and plenty of space to lie down and relax, this portable piece of kitty furniture will become your cat’s favorite place in your home and on the go.,Cat instincts are strong tendencies that result from natural selection that drive cat behavior. These natural compulsions trace back through the evolution of each animal to the survival techniques that they once used to stay alive. “Cats need some of their own furniture that they can enjoy because it has only their smell on it,” says cat behavior expert Lana Fraley Rich, aka the Catsultant. “But, not just any furniture. It needs to be cat furniture. Our homes don’t have to look like the Wild Kingdom to properly meet our feline family’s needs, but for them to thrive instead of just survive, our kitties need environmental enrichments.” They use these cat perches and climbing trees to get away from dangers that they perceive as predators. “If a home has dogs and/or small children, the cats need to have lots of safe places, usually up high, for them to hang out and get away from the stressors—two or four-legged.” Rich says. “Tall, sturdy cat trees are a not a luxury; they are a necessity for a home with dogs or small children.” In order to make your cat as comfortable as he can be, whether you live in an apartment or family home, Chewy offers a variety of products that support his natural instincts. Consider different cat furniture options to find which ones may be appropriate for you and your pet.
One of the most common diseases I see in aging pets is degenerative joint disease, otherwise known as osteoarthritis. I would guess that about 85% of my clients’ aging pets develop some form of osteoarthritis as they become older. Patients come to me with symptoms such as difficulty standing, no longer jumping up on furniture, wanting to go on shorter walks, avoiding stairs, and restlessness. Many arthritis symptoms in our pets go unnoticed, and it is difficult for my clients to see that their pets are in pain. I cannot count the number of times that I have placed a dog in pain with arthritis symptoms on pain medication or supplements for their joints, and clients call me later, excited about the noticeable improvements. Today I would like to discuss degenerative joint disease and all the best treatment options for our pets.
If your cat eats too fast, it’s a habit you should try to break. When your cat eats too fast, she is more likely to vomit up her meal soon after eating. But that’s not the only drawback to your feline’s fast-eating habits. It can also lead to obesity, which can put her health at risk, says Bruce G. Kornreich, associate director of Cornell Feline Health Center at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, in Ithaca, New York. Obese cats increase their chances of developing a variety of serious conditions, including arthritis and diabetes, he explains. If your cat vomits after gobbling her cat food, avoid feeding her right away (even if you feel sorry for her), recommends Kornreich. In fact, you might want to wait 12 hours before the next meal to give her GI tract a rest, he adds.
How to Keep a Dog’s Weight Healthy Does your dog have a body condition score of 4 or 5 out of 9? Congratulations! Keep up your good work and monitor for weight gain or loss by checking their BCS once a month. If your dog is just a little underweight (BCS 3/9) or a tad overweight (BCS 6/9) and you know that they’re otherwise healthy, you may be able to manage the problem at home. Start by figuring out how many calories your dog takes in every day, including any treats or other extras. Manufacturers should provide the caloric content of a food or treat on its label. Try increasing your dog’s caloric intake by 10% if they need to gain weight and decreasing it by 10% if they need to lose weight and reassess their body condition score in a month. If your dog’s BCS isn’t improving, make an appointment with your veterinarian. Of course, dogs who are severely underweight (a BCS of 1 or 2) or significantly overweight (a BCS of 7, 8, or 9) should be seen by a veterinarian. The doctor can rule out health problems as an underlying cause of your dog’s poor body condition score and recommend an appropriate diet. Featured Image: iStock.com/andresr,WRITTEN BYJennifer Coates, DVM Veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Coates is an accomplished veterinarian, writer, editor, and consultant with years of experience in the fields of veterinary…,What Is a Body Condition Score? Stepping on a scale is an easy way for people to monitor their weight, but routinely weighing your dog can be a hassle. What if there was a simpler method for determining if your dog is too skinny, too overweight, or just right? There is…it’s called a body condition score (BCS). The only tools you need to determine your dog’s body condition score are your hands and your eyes. A 1997 study first described a body condition score system for dogs that is the basis for the ones that are in common use today.
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