It’s not quite the new year, and as I was posting about Scooter’s breed analysis results, I realized that many breeds are mistaken for pit bulls. The general public does not understand or even see the differences in these dogs. Sometimes, the dissimilarity is so wide, a dog lover such as myself (or, probably, as you are reading this, yourself) cannot believe people can’t tell the difference.
You wouldn’t believe the dogs people mistake for pit bulls!
from → American Bulldog, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Black Labrador Retriever, Boxer, Bullmastiff, Cane Brasiliero, Chocolate Labrador Retriever, Chow Chow, Dogs, Dogue de Bordeaux, English Bull Terrier, English Bulldog, French Bulldog, German Shepherd, Neopolitan Mastiff, Pug, Rottweiler, Top Ten Lists, Yellow Labrador Retriever
“Doctor, I know you don’t see humans….but…”
from → People Stuff, Top Ten Lists
My nurse ran to the treatment room,
“We have an emergency in room one; the puppy is white.”
He meant the gums, nose, pads, and even her little toenails were snow white with anemia. The 8 week old little American Bulldog had almost no red blood cells to carry life-sustaining oxygen. She needed an emergency blood transfusion.
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I thought Lyme disease in dogs was complicated! Then I read that Lyme disease goes undiagnosed, denied, or poorly treated in humans.
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Sometimes cats need emergency tooth extraction. In Simon’s case, his left lower canine tooth avulsed so it stuck out of his lower lip at almost a ninety degree angle. Talk about painful!
To top it off, Simon was 18 years old. Anesthesia carried inherent risk for him, but there was no way he could go on with that tooth like that! read more…
Doc Truli heard a cough in the kennel. A guilty-looking miniature dachshund’s big brown eyes stared back.
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View e-Book Here: HappyHalloweenWithPetsByDocTruli
In this book Doc Truli reveals:
- Six hazards of pet costumes
- What to do if your pet eats chocolate
- Secret deadly poison in chewing gum
- Home remedies for anxiety and noise phobia
- Which pet needs the most protection on Halloween?
(Control Click or Right Click)To Download Here: HappyHalloweenWithPetsByDocTruli
Pets Find Nooks and Crannies You’d Never Imagine
Even a genuinely careful, experienced pet owner can be surprised by where a determined pet will end up. Cats especially are remarkably good at squeezing through small gaps, pushing open cabinet doors that swing shut behind them, or finding a hole in a wall you didn’t even know existed — sometimes disappearing for hours or days as a result. It happens to the most attentive pet parents.
Get Down to Your Pet’s Eye Level
Temple Grandin, the world-renowned animal behavior expert, teaches that understanding an animal’s environment means literally seeing it from their eye level and point of view. She found that livestock will balk at loading onto a truck if they can’t see around a corner, if a wet spot on the floor reflects oddly, or if an unexplained shadow crosses their path — and that panicking animals in stressful conditions can be genuinely dangerous to their own health. The same principle applies at home: get down on the floor (literally crawl, if you’re able, or have a family member do it) and look around your kitchen, bathrooms, and any room your pet has access to, from their perspective. You’ll often spot hazards — a dangling cord, a gap under a cabinet, a previous tenant’s forgotten item — that are invisible from standing height.
Look Up, Not Just Down
Cats in particular are three-dimensional thinkers. Check above eye level too — the space above dropped ceilings, behind loose panels, or on top of tall furniture. Cats can and do get themselves into surprisingly high or enclosed spaces, especially when anxious or adjusting to a new home.
Electrical Cord Safety
Cords and outlets are a real hazard for curious pets — televisions can be pulled down, pets can get tangled in cords, and chewing on a live cord can cause electrocution. Bundle cords with a cord-management sleeve from a hardware store, have an electrician properly conceal wiring, or simply keep electronics-heavy rooms off-limits to pets who haven’t earned your trust yet.
A Note on Birds
If you share your home with a pet bird, pet-proofing takes on a whole different dimension — birds can do remarkable (and remarkably fast) damage to window trim, molding, and furniture just by chewing. If you’re renting, it’s worth discussing bird-specific concerns with your landlord up front, since this kind of damage isn’t always obvious until it’s already happened.
How Ancient Law Pet Wellness Can Help
A safe home environment is foundational to overall wellness — it’s often the first thing worth addressing before diet, mobility, or any other wellness plan. If you’d like help thinking through your specific home setup, especially for a pet recovering from injury or surgery, reach out at JLaw@VetVmd.com or call/text (813) 816-1759.
Be sure your animal hospital follows these practices to help your pet be as stress free as possible. (Were you looking for things to do at home to keep your pet safe?)
1. Clean, quiet hospital environment
2. No waiting in view of other pets; staff takes your pet in right away
from → Cats, Dogs, Top Ten Lists
A tiny black domestic short hair kitten was left in a box on the animal hospital doorstep.
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