Category Archives: Pet Connection

Dogs love to chew — and it’s good for them, too. But not all canine chew objects are created equal, and not all of them are safe. Here’s what I told a reader who wrote asking about cow hoof chews. Q: Are cow hooves safe for dogs to chew on? My dogs love them and […]

What should a parrot’s poop look like? And what do you do if it flunks the test? Here’s what I told a reader. Q: My bird’s poop looks more liquid than normal. Do birds get diarrhea? What should I do? A: Good question! If your parrot eats seeds, his normal fecal droppings probably are dark-colored […]

A reader asked about the common problem of a cat who bites after being petted. I enlisted my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, to help me respond. Q: My brother’s cat will come over to people purring, so we’ll pet her, and then all of a sudden she bites. A: That’s a common complaint of many […]

A cough in a dog can be no big deal, or it can be life-threatening. Here’s what I told a reader who wanted to know if her dog needed to see the veterinarian. Q: My dog has been coughing lately. Is this something I should worry about? Does he need to go to the vet? […]

We hear a lot about inter-cat aggressive behavior, but less so about cats who are aggressive toward strangers who visit the home. I teamed up with my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, to help a reader facing this problem. Q: My cat is aggressive toward people who visit our home. Is there anything I can do […]