“Please! I promise I’ll take care of it and walk it and love it and hug it and feed it and …” Those saucer-shaped eyes and muted whimpering tug at the heartstrings, each and every time—whether it’s your child begging for a new best friend, or the pet staring back at you from a […]
The voters have spoken! Thousands of readers took the time to tell us what they find best about the North Shore and Chicago. This year, over 90,000 verified votes were cast in over 11 categories in our annual Best of 2014 awards, and we couldn’t be prouder you responded in such numbers. Here are our […]
With recent national disasters—tornadoes, tropical storms and blizzards—it’s important to review your emergency plan and make sure it includes your pets. Living in the Midwest, winter storms may confine us to our homes, and confinement during adverse weather requires preparation. Protect your pets with these simple steps: 1. All pets should have a collar […]
The smells of Holiday treats fill your home and everyone’s mouth begins to water … including your pets! This time of year brings out the counter surfing talents of dogs and cats. Here are some food items to be aware of: High fat foods Meat, gravy, butter, and desserts may cause pancreatitis (inflammation […]
As we move into fall and cooler weather, do not forget to continue to protect your pets against fleas, ticks and heartworm disease. Fleas and ticks can be most active in September and October, because they are laying eggs and seeking hosts to carry them through the winter. Fleas carry diseases such as Cat […]
What to do when your dog hates your husband? Soon after my husband Dan and I got married nine years ago, we took the next logical step—we adopted a Maltese-Shiatsu who had been left tied to a fire hydrant in the city for days. The vet estimated his age to be between 6 and […]
As the weather heats up, make sure your pets can withstand the heat! Dogs and cats cannot sweat like humans do and therefore can overheat quickly. Pets most at risk for overheating are young or elderly animals, overweight animals, those with short muzzles and those with thick or dark-colored coats. Never leave your pet […]
While some homeless dogs and cats eventually find caring families, there are many who do not get adopted right away. To help solve this problem, you can volunteer as a pet foster parent. As a foster parent, you may care for an animal for one day or one month, depending on the time it takes […]
Of the cats she sees at Riser Animal Hospital in Skokie, Illinois, Dr. Ingrid Baksys estimates 50 to 60 percent are declawed. Many cat owners do this because they are concerned about their household getting scratched up. “They don’t want the animal scratching furniture, and because it’s normal behavior for a cat to want to […]
Diane Sparks of Park Ridge admits that her golden retriever Wrigley is about 15 pounds overweight. But her 8-year-old dog has suffered from hip dysplasia two times, which makes physical activity difficult. “You can’t really exercise her,” Sparks says. Overweight Dogs and Cats Wrigley is not alone in her weight loss battle. A recent […]
