Pets

ASK THE VET: Itchy pets need a diagnosis, not oil supplements

ANNE PIERCE

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Itching dogs drive us crazy, thumpa-thumpa-thumping against the floor when digging at themselves next to the bed all night while we are trying to sleep. Cats with an itch tend to be more subtle, appearing with highly unfashionable bald patches on... Full story

ASK THE VET: Vaccine the sure cure for preventing rabies

ANNE PIERCE

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Mountain lions and cattle and skunks, oh my! These are some of the species in this area that were recently confirmed as being infected with rabies. We all know we are required to vaccinate our dogs, cats and ferrets against rabies, but we see the... Full story

GOOD DOG: Some dogs are just born mean

JIM BEINLICH

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My last article, regarding a Shar Pei that was getting dangerously aggressive with the family, prompted one reader to send me an angry e-mail. This person was upset that, without having even seen the dog, I said its problems were genetic in... Full story

GOOD DOG: Beware the unscrupulous dog seller; they're everywhere

JIM BEINLICH

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The following is a truly disturbing case that occurred just a few days ago: A woman with a 3½ year-old son wanted to replace a dog that recently died. As she was browsing Craigslist (a free online classified service), she came across a... Full story

ASK THE VET: Breeding pups isn't for faint-of-heart

BY ANNE PIERCE

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So you just got a puppy from the pet store, an adorable ball of fluff. But the price tag after all the food and collars and such came to $800. You do have a purebred, the store clerk emphasizes, and he says you might think about recovering some of... Full story

GOOD DOG: Introduce new dog to the pack slowly, methodically

JIM BEINLICH

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The successful introduction of a new dog into your home and existing pack will go much smoother if you understand the way dogs think — and follow a few basic guidelines. Simply tossing a new dog into the pack is almost guaranteed to cause... Full story

ASK THE VET: 'Natural' treatments don't mean 'better'

ANNE PIERCE

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Mr. Green came in with Itchy, a dog who had developed a large red rash and was licking and chewing at it constantly. The rash was caused by a superficial skin infection that normally disappears in a day or two when the dog is given antibiotics.... Full story

GOOD DOG: Hop to it to keep pups from jumping on people

JIM BEINLICH

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Perhaps the most common behavioral problem I hear about from clients is that their dog jumps up on people. This behavior, which can be cute when the dog is a puppy, loses its charm when the dog weighs 80 pounds. Therefore, jumping should be... Full story

ASK THE VET: Treat chinchillas right, and they'll last for years

ANNE PIERCE

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In my column last week, I wrote about basic chinchilla husbandry. This time, I’ll go over some of the reasons that veterinarians end up seeing chinchillas at their hospitals. Traumatic accidents and attacks are one reason chinchillas make... Full story

ASK THE VET: Get dogs flu vaccine, but keep them away from mushrooms

Anne Pierce

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It’s August, and a couple of things are going on in the veterinary world in Colorado Springs at the moment. First, we finally have a vaccine for canine influenza, a highly contagious respiratory disease that affects only dogs and causes a... Full story

'Pets' Archives