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Cat & Dog Behavior & Care Advice

Amy Shojai, CABC, Pet Expert & Award-Winning Author

DWAA Hall of Fame & AVMA Veterinary Media Award Winner 

Don’t Go! Dog Separation Anxiety & What to Do

Don’t Go! Dog Separation Anxiety & What to Do

WIth back to school this month, you may wonder how to deal with dog separation anxiety. Whether the adults change work schedules, kids have less time to play with Fido, or college and classes means routine goes out the window, dog separation behaviors cause stress for everyone. Will canine separation anxiety become a problem for your dog? After summer vacation with the kiddos, dogs left behind at home can mope and feel awful…and so can cats. Any kind of absence might result in canine separation anxiety. Here’s what you need to know.

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Trick Training Tabby: How to Teach Cats Tricks

Trick Training Tabby: How to Teach Cats Tricks

With many of us now working from home, and our cats demanding more attention, I’ve heard from many folks wondering how to manage pestering kitties. Others have adopted a new kitten (bless you!) and are at a loss what to do. Why not train cats? Training offers one of the best ways to connect with new kitties or enhance the bond with our longtime cat friends…

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Expert Witness in Dog Bite Case

Expert Witness in Dog Bite Case

I’ve always described myself as a pet owner advocate, one who figuratively speaks for dogs and cats and translates for their owners. But I never realized that I’d serve as a spokesperson in the more literal sense.

In August 2010, a local defense attorney contacted me about a dog bite case that happened many months earlier. At first, he simply wanted my opinion about dog behavior. Ultimately, the court appointed me as an expert witness…

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Easter Dangers for Pets: Toxic Lilies, Chocolate, and Bunnies

Easter Dangers for Pets: Toxic Lilies, Chocolate, and Bunnies

It occurred to me a roundup blog post made the most sense to put important information about Easter dangers for pets in one, easy-to-find location. I’m sure most dog and cat lovers know the basics. But this way, if y’all need to share information with new pet adopters, you’ll have one link. What do you think?

This includes all the must knows about Easter lilies pet danger, Easter candy dangers like chocolate poisoning, and even concerns about Easter bunnies. Read on!

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Cat in Heat Behavior, What to Know About Feline Estrus

Cat in Heat Behavior, What to Know About Feline Estrus

Recently, a friend contacted me about her cat in heat. She wanted to know about a cat in heat behavior, how long are cats in heat, if cats in heat feel pain, and what to do to relieve the cat’s discomfort until spay surgery. Cats in heat signs include several distinctive behaviors common to feline estrus (the technical term). In fact, her newly adopted girl, although she looked too young, had already had kittens (they didn’t survive), and now loudly proclaimed Kitty’s determination to repeat the process.

I planned to refer my friend to one of my blogs—and instead realized I hadn’t specifically addressed cats in heat behavior, feline reproduction, and what to know about cat estrus. Yes, I write about this in my Complete Kitten Care and Cat Facts books in more detail, and now you get the kitty Cliff’s notes here.

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World Spay Day and Pros & Cons of Dog Neutering

World Spay Day and Pros & Cons of Dog Neutering

Every year, the last Tuesday in February we celebrate World Spay Day! Yes, actually, there really are both pros and cons to dog neutering and puppy sterilization that may surprise you. It did me. After all, we’ve heard from animal welfare advocates for years preaching the gospel of spay/neuter. Heck, I preached this myself and for the majority of dogs and cats (ESPECIALLY cats!), “the big fix” is the best thing that ever happens to them.

There’s evidence, though, that the pros and cons of dog neutering are not so black and white….

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