pets

When American service men and women finish their tours of duty overseas they return home, often to a hero's welcome.  For their canine comrades on the front lines, it's a different story. 

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Gone are the days when your pet had to spend its "vacation" in a cramped cage.  Pet resorts have become very popular - with both owners and their furry friends!

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Generally, the DEA does not approve of storing or transporting controlled substances in vehicles, but for those in the veterinary profession that can be a necessity if they are going to effectively treat their animal patients.

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Hot spots are more than just a nuisance; they can cause your dog some real discomfort.  Some owners of long-haired dogs get their pets clipped for the summer just to make sure the dog's heavy coat can't trap and hold moisture in the hot weather.

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Some folks consider cats to be aloof and one-dimensional, but those of us who have feline family members know they are funny, affectionate, playful and, yes, independent.  But that very spirit that makes them independent also helps to make them lower maintenance pets when compared to, say, dogs.

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The most common cause of heat stroke in a pet is leaving it in a parked car on a warm (not necessarily hot) day.  If it's too hot for you to sit in a closed car (or one with the windows slightly cracked), it's too hot for your furry friend.

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As cats age, their coat may lose some of its luster but their color often remains much as it was in their younger days. It can be deceptive to judge a cat's age by its color.

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Feral cats that have been neutered or spayed also have their left ear "tipped" surgically to indicate the cat is part of a colony and has already been trapped and altered.

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Having supplies packed and ready to go in case of an emergency can make necessary evacuations easier on everyone.  It also helps to practice so you and your pet both know what to expect if and when the real emergency occurs.

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About half of jerky pet treats in the US are imported from China.  New warnings indicate that such treats could pose serious and even deadly risks to your pet's health.

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Many of us refer to our pets as our best friends, but a 4-year-old boy can claim his cat is not only his best friend but his hero.  She proved that the human-animal bond is strong, and that cats can be just as loyal and protective as their canine counterparts!

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In the pet world, Mother's Day has a very different connotation from that in the human experience.  Most pet mothers never get to see their babies grow up.  This Mother's Day, consider things from your pet's point of view.   Make plans to keep your pet from becoming a mother by having her spayed. 

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The puppies and kittens you see at your local animal shelter are the lucky ones, because they are up for adoption.  (The unlucky ones never made it that far.)  But even those who did make it to the adoption area still may not find homes.  That's the sad reality of pet overpopulation.  

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For years people believed that interaction with companion animals was helpful for children with autism, providing them with unconditional love, nonjudgemental friendship, and social interaction.  A new study shows that dogs can provide very real benefits for these children.

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Easter is another holiday that can be a wonderful occasion for humans, but filled with dangers for our pets.  It's up to us to make sure our best friends are protected from things that can harm them. 

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