Category Archives: Pet Connection

Normally when I’m asked about storm phobias, the pet in question is a dog. But cats suffer fear of storms, too. I teamed up with my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, to respond to this reader with a terrified kitty. Q: I have an 11-year-old female domestic shorthair cat. In the past year, she has started […]

Stories of pets harmed by essential oils are making the rounds on social media right now. Is it hype, or is it true? Here’s what I told a reader who wrote with that question. Q: Someone told me that the essential oils I use in our home could be harmful to my pets. Do I […]

What would you do if you moved far away and had to find a new veterinarian for your pets? That was the question posed to me by a reader. Here are my tips. Q: We have moved cross-country and need to find a veterinarian for our two cats. Do you have any tips for us? […]

Stretching benefits dogs, whether you’re taking them for a walk around the block, a two-hour hike or a 10-day backpacking trip. After a five-minute warm-up of walking or light jogging, start with a play bow, luring your dog into position by holding a treat low and pushing it toward the dog. Next, a counter stretch […]

Giardia is a very difficult parasite to cure in dogs. Here’s what I told a reader who asked me about her dog’s diagnosis. Q: My dog doesn’t seem to keep any weight on and has been having occasional diarrhea for no apparent reason. I took in a fecal sample and it showed that he had […]