Category Archives: Pet Connection

Have you ever found bruising or little red dots on your dog’s skin? It could be the sign of a serious condition known as thrombocytopenia. Here’s a reader’s question and my answer about the problem: Q: My dog’s stool is black, and I noticed when I was grooming him that his body was covered in […]

Some cats lick themselves bald — and there’s not just one reason why, or one way to address it. Here’s a reader’s question about this problem in his cat, and my response: Q: I know cats are good at grooming themselves, but my cat is taking it to extremes. He’s licking himself so hard that […]

Fitness trackers are all the rage for humans right now, and anything that gets us up and moving is a good thing. But how useful are they for our dogs — who could also benefit from more exercise? My Pet Connection co-writer, Kim Campbell Thornton, did some research: The benefit for pets — primarily dogs […]

Pets seem to enjoy fall as much, if not more, than we do. They all seem to perk up as the evenings get cooler. With their incredible eyesight, cats find interest in the early darkness, and dogs love being able to go for walks without enduring the heat. We need to remember, though, that fall […]

Tennis balls are not chew toys. Put them away after every game of fetch. Dogs have been known to compress tennis balls in their throats and then die when the ball springs back to full size in the back of the mouth, cutting off the dog’s air supply. The other thing to remember is that […]