Blog

What can cause a dog to start marking in the house? That was the question I got from a reader, and I teamed up with my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, to answer. Q: Last year I adopted a 9-year-old chocolate Lab who was badly neglected and has permanent limited mobility. He joined my pack of […]

Drowning is the number one cause of death for children between the ages of 1 and 4, but this rate is higher for children with special needs, including autism. For that reason, safety swim classes are something parents often seek out. But what if your child is terrified of the water, and experiences such severe […]

Is aspirin safe to give pets for their pain? That’s the question a reader had for me. The short answer is no; here’s why. Q: Is it OK to give my pet aspirin if he’s feeling sore or stiff? A: I don’t recommend it. In an acute pain situation, a veterinarian may prescribe aspirin for […]

How many people who say they hate cats just don’t know cats? A while ago, Buzzfeed sent two self-professed cat haters to volunteer at a cat adoption cafe. I give you one guess what happened: Each of them fell in love with a cat. This emotional transformation demonstrated the power specifically of the cat, of […]

Compulsive licking and chewing can be incredibly tough to resolve in a pet. This cat owner wrote asking for information and advice, and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, and I teamed up to help. Q: My 11-year-old male cat keeps licking all the fur off his belly. I’ve tried Apoquel and Cerenia, my vet did […]