Dr. Karen Becker

Fish make truly wonderful pets for people who don't have the time or physical space to devote to a higher-maintenance companion animal. And under the right circumstances, fish can also be good "starter pets" to teach children the responsibility of caring for a pet.

10 Reasons...

According to the folks at Pet Poison Helpline, they talk frequently to terrified pet owners whose dog or cat found an enticing "treat" in a purse or backpack and gobbled it up.

A handbag or similar item lying open with contents exposed can prove an irresistible temptation to...

Recently I discussed the problem of hard-to-adopt shelter pets. At the top of the list of dogs and cats languishing in shelters across the U.S. are older animals.

It makes me terribly sad to know these poor animals are frightened, disoriented, and waiting anxiously in their kennels for...

Your chances of having a long-lasting, wonderful relationship with a pet increase dramatically when you give serious thought to the type of animal that best suits you.

Dr. Karen Becker is a proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian. You can visit her site at: MercolaHealthyPets.com.

Acupuncture comes from the Latin words acus (needle) and puncture (to prick). Simply, acupuncture means pricking the skin with a needle.

This ancient Chinese healing art has been around 5,000 years for use in people. The earliest animal acupuncture charts -- for horses -- were from 136 A.D....

If you're among the millions of Americans who wants to cut costs and increase your savings, taking a back-to-basics approach to life can offer a number of advantages -- among them, saving money.

If you're looking for ways to slash pet-related expenses, there are smart and not-so-smart strategies available to...

Careerbuilder.com sponsored an online survey, conducted by Harris Interactive, to determine trends in pet ownership as it relates to certain professions, annual salaries and level of job satisfaction. The survey polled a limited sampling of 2,300 full-time employees in the U.S. who are also pet owners.

Survey results...

In a recent paper submitted to the Journal of Archaeological Science, paleontologists at Predmostí announced the discovery of the remains of three dogs from the Paleolithic era.

For you non-archaeologists, Predmostí is a fossil site located in the Moravian region of what is today known as the Czech...

In early December, three pet food recalls were initiated due to aflatoxin levels above the "acceptable" limit.

• On Dec. 6, 2011, Cargill Animal Nutrition announced a voluntary recall of two brands of dry dog food: River Run and Marksman.
• You can find more specifics about this recall at...

The canine influenza virus (CIV) is a relatively new virus and is part of the canine infectious respiratory disease complex, also known as "kennel cough."

Although the H3N8 label might make you think of the human H1N1 swine flu virus, there's no relationship between the two.

H3N8 was...

I talk a lot about feline stress because kitties are at special risk for illness and emotional and behavioral difficulties as a result of living a stressful existence.

The Stress Response

Stressful situations provoke a fight-or-flight response in all animals, including felines.

When ongoing, chronic stress is present,...

Many dog owners one day realize their pet no longer seems interested in being with other canines. Their formerly social dog has grown standoffish when other dogs are around.

What happened?

Socialization Is a Lifelong Pursuit

J.C. Burcham, a DVM with a special interest in animal behavior, thinks...

Nonprofessional dental scaling (NPDS), also known as anesthesia-free dentistry, is gaining popularity with an increasing number of dog and cat owners.

These are well-meaning pet guardians who may be fearful of anesthesia or may not be able to afford professional veterinary dental care. They want to provide...

Today I want to give you my skunk rinse recipe, and here's hoping you never have to use it!

If, heaven forbid, your dog or cat is ever sprayed by a skunk, you should have this recipe on hand. The sooner you apply the solution to your pet's fur, the...

A significant number of dogs and cats with seizure disorders don't do well on traditional drugs for epilepsy like phenobarbital and bromide.

Some pets' seizures can't be well-controlled on these drugs. And then there are the side effects.

Side Effects of Traditional Anticonvulsant Drugs

Phenobarbital...

Dr. Dennis Turner, a leading expert on the feline-human bond, explains why he likes cats:

"I appreciate the fact that they're very sensitive. They are very independent thinkers and independent actors and they're very elegant and beautiful to watch. I could watch cats for hours."

Do Humans and Cats Communicate...

According to the CDC, 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year. One in five bites requires medical attention. And in 2006, more than 30,000 people required reconstructive surgery to repair damage done by a dog bite.

The three groups most likely to...

Results of a survey found that for animal lovers who would choose a pet over a partner, their pets are part of who they are. They can't imagine life without at least one furry or feathered critter in residence.

For animal lovers who are active in organizations that...

Because dogs and cats are the two most common companion animals, and because both species walk on all fours and are covered with fur (most of them, anyway), there's a tendency among humans to think they are more similar than they really are.

10 Interesting Differences Between Cats and Dogs

You might be wondering how the presence of a cat or dog in a counseling office can speed the progress of therapy for some patients.

I mean, it seems obvious animal lovers who are therapy patients would probably be comforted having a dog or cat to...