Does your pet have a bad shoulder, knee or elbow? If this is the case your vet may refer you to an Arthroscopic Surgeon. Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive way to diagnose and treat a variety of joint conditions.  It involves making very tiny incisions into your pets joint. One incision allows a surgeon to insert surgical instruments and another will allow an arthroscope to be inserted. This is a tiny telescope with a light. Dr. John Payne of the Pittsburgh Veterinary and Emergency Center says that the arthroscope  allows the surgeon to view the joint and see everything that’s going on.  He also says that the incisions are so small that infections after surgery are very rare.  After surgery,you should see an improvement in your pets condition.  Your vet will prescribe any pet medication that may be necessary.

Here’s a story that was taken from today’s Bergen Record. It’s an all too common practice abandoning a dog or a cat along a highway, in a parking lot or in the woods. Would you do it to your child??  I’m convinced that in order to perform such a cruel act, these people were born without a spirit. That has to be it! There’s no other reason. I believe that really cruel, spiritless people exist in this world along with mostly good, honest and kind people.  Now, back to the story. The Bergen Record reported that  Yavuz Atalay of Caldwell left his bulldog and  nine puppies to fend for themselves in Garret Mountain Park. Atalay stated that he wanted to get rid of the dog because it had bitten someone. He pleaded guilty and agreed to pay $5,390 and do five days of community service. This is not enough as far as this author is concerned! Here is the humane thing to do. Take the dog to the animal shelter and explain to the staff that the dog has bitten someone. They will take the dog and try to give it a home.  Dogs, Cats and other pets are not objects to collect and throw out. I am really serious when I say that some people have NO right owning a pet. These are cruel, insensitive people who should be prosecuted for committing such a crime.

According to the Bergen Record, last week Gilligan, a Labrador Retriever was rescued from Arkansas. Gilligan’s neck was slashed nearly 360 degrees during an alleged cult ritual. Gilligan is now ok and living in Ridgewood, New Jersey.  As far as I’m concerned, these offenders should pay the same price as if it was done to a human. I may be extreme but I have zero tollerance for anyone that abuses an animal.

If caught, some people will even go as far as to deny any charges and say that the dog must have gotten out of is dog carrier and jumped out of the car.

I know, in these hard times feeding your pet could become expensive but you have to do it! If cannot afford to feed your pet, some shelters would be happy to give you donated food. One such shelter is Paterson Animal Control in New Jersey.

Law enforcement and judges take animal cruelty seriously. People who abandon or mistreat animals will be prosecuted!

As soon as you get your new kitten. Show her the litter box. After all, you just spent a fortune on a self cleaning litter box because you hate cleaning it, so make sure that you get your money’s worth.  The first time that your kitten goes in her litter box, you should gently show her how to dig with her paws.  For the next several days, put her in the box after she eats, wakes up or plays. You’ll see how quickly she catches on.  To get her to keep using the litter box, you’ll have to keep it clean. After all you just spent a fortune on this new self cleaning litter box!  If you don’t have a self cleaning box, you should scoop after every use. Some cats are ok for a couple of days. Always change the box regularly about once or twice a week if possible.  If you need to move the litter box for any reason, just move it a few feet each day.  If your cat has accidents, never hit or punish her. Just clean the spot and go through the steps with her again.

If you’re like me, your pets have to go with you everywhere.  If I am flying and have to take my cat, I will never have her put in the luggage compartment. This can be dangerous. Sometimes pets are left on a hot runway waiting to be boarded for an hour or more.  You also run the risk of the airline losing your pet. I don’t trust them. I don’t even trust them with my luggage and prefer to carry it on with me!  Your cat can travel with you in the passenger cabin if you follow certain rules.  Cats must be kept in a sturdy cat carrier which is placed under the seat. Make sure that the carrier is not too large. The  maximum dimensions for any carrier are 21 inches long, about 13 inches wide and 9 inches high. Make your reservations as early as possible because the airlines restrict the number of animals allowed in the passenger cabin.  You also need to be assigned a seat that has room enough for you and your cat.  Zippered cat carriers work well on planes but make sure your cat cannot claw is way out and make sure that the zipper is secure.  Cat carriers must be ventalated on at least two sides.  Make sure that your cat is wearing a collar with an id tag and that the carrier is labeled with your name, address and telephone number.  Add about $50 to your ticket for a one way trip with your cat. Have a good flight!

Where do we begin when it comes to feeding your dog. First of all, let me say that you should never feed poor quality food. It’s usually more expensive because the quantities are increased in order to fulfill the dogs nutritional requirements. In addition to this, it is very likely that poor quality food will cause digestive problems.  So get a high quality food and make sure to look at the label for recommendations. If you have a puppy, it is recommended that you feed him three times a day until is is between five and six months old on average. Then cut the feeding down to twice a day but increase the food so they are getting the same amount. Some people choose to feed their dog once per day but I would recommend twice. Once in the morning and once at night. Factor in his treats.  Check with your vet as far as feeding requirements for your type of dog.  Read the labels and do not overfeed. Watch the amount of treats that you give him. Too many treats can make him overweight. Make sure that he has plenty of exercise. One last thought, don’t change the number of times that you feed him. If you’re feeding your dog twice a day, stick to it. Always remember not to overfill his dog dish.

Does your dog always go for the dumpster when he sees one? Dogs that eat trash are living dangerously!  Not only are bone parts and other pieces of garbage hazardous to your dog’s digestive system but moist food can become toxic quickly.  Did you know that disgarded food scraps grow fungus in a couple of days? This poses a great risk to your dog. Moldy cheese product like old pizza are exceptionally dangerous because they contain toxins that can give your dog muscle tremors and seizures. Keep you dog on his dog leash and away from the trash while walking him. If he does manage to get into the garbage, watch him very closely. If he has a loss of appetite, shivering or yellow eyes or lips, there’s  a major problem. Make sure that you call your vet immediately.