Whether you’re taking your pets on a short vacation or are moving to another country, it is important to know how to travel with your pets safely. Having moved from Ontario to Newfoundland with my critters, here are some tips I have picked up. #1 Local Vaccine and Parasite Requirements When travelling, it is important to know what diseases are prominent or protected against in that area. If you are travelling to another country or even another province, it is important to make sure your pet receives their required vaccines. For example, it is mandatory that all animals that cross international ..read more

Dog sports are a great way to bond with your dog. They are great physical and mental stimulation for both your dog and yourself. My dog Moose and I are new to the sport of Agility and are loving it. Moose and I started with the Foundations Class with the Newfoundland Athletic Dog Association (NADA), which is a requirement before beginning any dog sport with the NADA. NADA is run by volunteers and is an awesome organization to join if you want to get into dog sports in Newfoundland. In addition to Agility, NADA offers many dog sport classes such as Fly ball and Rally-O. The dog sport of Agility ..read more

Sometimes owners can feel overwhelmed by trying to trim their cats’ nails at home, and taking them to the vet or groomer to get them done can be upsetting for the cat. Nail trims can be done very easily at home as long as you have the right tools and know-how. There are a wide variety of nail trimming tools that you can purchase at your local pet store or vet clinic. The easiest tool to use at home is the small scissor-type clippers. They are inexpensive and easy to use – ideal for someone just starting to try to trim their cats’ nails at home. Below you will find some tips and tricks on how t ..read more

As ticks are continuing to become a growing concern in Newfoundland and Labrador, veterinarians are informing pet owners of how to protect their fur families (and themselves!) from exposure. However, no matter what precautions you take, there is still a chance a tick may end up on your pet. What do you do if you find a tick on your furry friend? Step 1: Don’t panic! While it is true that some ticks carry diseases, improper removal can increase the risk of exposure. Remember to remain calm. Step 2: Wear gloves if possible (risk of disease transmission to you is low, but if you can, why not be a ..read more

While I was growing up, our family pets were always dogs. It was fun as a child to go outside on nice sunny days and toss the ball around, and playing fetch for hours. Going for the daily walk was a little less fun, but always enjoyable once you were on your way and our pups loved it! Scooping poop was never glamorous but a necessary evil and a small price to pay for the infinite, unconditional love of a canine sibling. As an adult, I became a cat mom. I currently have two female felines. The first is named Kafer, a medium-haired, 15-year-old, brown and black tabby with white and my second is ..read more

Back to school days are very fast approaching. Your carefree lifestyle will change into more of a routine schedule with kids going back to school. This not only means a change in your routine schedule but also the schedule of your fur family as well. Have you considered how this will impact your canine family? Don’t get me wrong, your, feline family will miss you as well, however, cats usually make themselves scarce during the day. The need for feline family is generally on their terms and time (usually at 5 am for my 3 feline babies). Dogs are more social creatures who are loyal to the point ..read more

Harmony between household pets is often taken for granted by their owners and families. Misdirected aggression can disrupt this harmony by impacting or changing pet relations in the home. Misdirected aggression occurs when one animal perceives a threat – for example, another new animal has entered the home territory. The first animal then transfers its aggression for the intruder onto another household animal, putting two household pets at odds with one another. While incidents of misdirected aggression are unlikely to occur out of the blue, these events cause extreme stress and anxiety for th ..read more

To prevent serious dental disease, it is recommended to brush your pet’s teeth at home at least two to three times per week and take your pet for a professional dental cleaning once a year if necessary. As your pet ages, depending on the breed of dog, dental disease may be more prevalent in some breeds. Below are 7 of the top breeds of dogs that suffer from dental disease: Pug. Those squishy faces may be cute, but they usually have some of the worst teeth. Yorkshire Terrier Chihuahua Italian Greyhound Shetland Sheepdog Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Maltese Periodontal Disease in dogs when fo ..read more