Blog - Dr. Marty Becker

Blog

From pet health tips to ideas on fighting boredom and loneliness in pets, you can learn how to make your pets' lives better here.

The evidence against declawing cats just keeps mounting

Thursday, Jul 20th, 2017 | By Dr. Marty Becker

We’re seeing yet more evidence that not only does declawing not keep cats out of shelters, but it can cause a lifetime of pain and difficulty walking for cats who have undergone the procedure. The routine declawing of cats, known as “onychectomy,” has become extremely common in the United States, but that’s not the case […]

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Stopping the pain of your dog’s arthritis

Tuesday, Jul 18th, 2017 | By Dr. Marty Becker

Arthritis is common in dogs — common, and painful! Here’s what I told a reader who wanted to know how she could help her dog feel better. Q: My dog seems really stiff, and the veterinarian says he probably has arthritis. Is there anything that can be done to help him feel more comfortable? A: […]

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Is a bearded dragon the right pet for you?

Thursday, Jul 13th, 2017 | By Dr. Marty Becker

A reader asked for the low-down on bearded dragons as pets. Here’s what I know. Q: I’ve just acquired a bearded dragon. What should I know about taking care of him? A: Congratulations on your new reptile companion! Bearded dragons are popular because of their small size, quiet nature and variety of colors. They enjoy […]

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Cats ‘knead’ us because they love us

Monday, Jul 10th, 2017 | By Dr. Marty Becker

Why do cats blissfully paw and push at us when we’re petting them? Here’s what I told a reader who asked. Q: Why do cats like to knead their paws on our skin? Does it have a purpose? A: One of the great colloquialisms of our language is the phrase “making biscuits,” used to describe […]

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Gone fishing. (Not really)

Saturday, Jul 1st, 2017 | By Dr. Marty Becker

Friends, I’m doing something I’ve never done for more than a day before now: stepping away from social media and my blog for the holiday week. Sometimes we all need to disconnect, and our family decided this is the time. I hope you have a wonderful Independence Day holiday, and I’ll see you on July […]

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