I can only recall three months in my entire life when I did not own a dog. As I grew up, my parents raised German shepherds. From every litter, I would find a favorite puppy and secretly make it my own. When people came over to look at the new puppies, I’d quickly grab my […]
Author Archives: Tracie Hoffman, VT
21
Apr
Apr
It’s been a long couple of years of staying home and not traveling. But now that summer is right around the corner, we’re all thinking about vacation again. The beach? A golf outing? Disneyland with the kids? There are so many great places to visit. However, a successful vacation takes planning—and planning includes what to […]
15
Feb
Feb
When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, many of us think about how we can improve our own health. But what about a resolution to optimize the health of our dogs and cats? Where would we begin? Well, I recommend focusing on five key areas. Whether you set goals for one or two of them […]
20
Oct
Oct
It can be difficult to know when our pets aren’t feeling well. Sure, we might notice some obvious symptoms such as shaking, panting, crying, loss of appetite, lameness, stiffness after rest, a change in posture, aggression or a grumpy temperament, excessive licking and scratching a specific area, a difference in how they play, or a […]
07
Jul
Jul
It’s Sunday morning, and Fluffy jumps up on your lap. As you kick back to enjoy your coffee and stroke Fluffy’s back, you notice she feels warm, and she isn’t she purring like normal. You discover a bump on her backend, and she flinches when you touch it. Not another cat bite abscess! If you […]
21
Apr
Apr
Because our pets are such an important part of the family, sometimes we tend to forget they’re not human. While we may think they enjoy some of the things we do with them—and to them—the truth of the matter is that they don’t appreciate many of the situations we put them in. For example, have […]
13
Jan
Jan
As our pets age, it’s common to start finding some lumps and bumps. Although they can be genuinely concerning, most lumps and bumps are often benign. But how can you tell if you should be concerned or not? The first thing I’d recommend is setting up an appointment with your veterinarian. Never try to identify […]
29
Oct
Oct
Starting a new family is one of the most amazing and exciting experiences of a lifetime. But if you’re already a pet parent, there are a few things you can do to prepare both you and your four-legged “baby” for this new transition. Keep in mind that though this is a thrilling time for you, […]
30
Sep
Sep
At lunch the other day, one of my friends said she’d heard that dogs have ten times better eyesight and 100 percent better hearing then we humans. I had to chuckle to myself. Though the senses of our canine and feline companions are amazing when compared to our own, there are still quite a few […]
26
Aug
Aug
Is moving to a new home in your future? This could be an exciting time. But if you have pets, there are some additional challenges to consider. After all, dogs, much like kids, love routine, and nothing disrupts routine quite like a big move. Let’s talk about some things you can do to make this […]
15
Jul
Jul
Although I’m a huge proponent of adopting dogs and cats from shelters or animal rescues, I still find that watching the birth of a litter of puppies is an amazing experience. When I was a little girl, my parents raised German shepherd puppies. I can still remember the smell of their puppy breath, the sounds […]
24
Jun
Jun
I’m a firm believer in offering fresh foods to our pets, yet a number of things we humans eat can be harmful, toxic, or even deadly to our dogs and cats. Unfortunately, the modern American diet is full of unhealthy, processed, and refined foods. And it only makes sense that what is unhealthy for us […]
08
Apr
Apr
When you think of good hygiene for your dog, what comes to mind? The ever so dreaded doggie bath! While an essential part of caring for our dogs includes regularly trimming their nails, cleaning their teeth and ears, and brushing their coats, most dogs don’t require hygiene and grooming every day (unlike their human counterparts). […]
13
Mar
Mar
Regular exercise is essential in keeping our dogs healthy and happy. It’s generally recommended that dogs get anywhere from thirty minutes to two hours of activity every day. Weekend walks are great, but they’re not enough. Larger breeds such as retrievers, Dobermans, and shepherds need more daily physical activity, while smaller dogs and toy breeds […]
03
Jan
Jan
This must be one of the most common questions I get from cat owners. Lions, tigers, and other big cats, just like the modern house cat, are all true carnivores. It therefore follows that we may better understand certain behavioral traits of household cats today by discussing how they mimic their ancestors in other ways […]
12
Sep
Sep
Well-behaved dogs make outings much more pleasurable. It’s extremely frustrating to walk a dog that continuously pulls on the leash, barks at other dogs or passersby, or has a tendency to run off. But our four-legged family members don’t instinctively know what we want them to do or how to behave, so it’s our job […]
11
Jul
Jul
We can call agree that our dogs do some pretty funny—and maybe even weird—things at times. Although they live in our homes and we consider them part of our families, they also belong to a species of their own. This means they can exhibit actions and behaviors that occasionally make us shake our heads or […]
24
May
May
If you’ve been around dogs, you know they have personalities and emotions just like people. Their personalities are unique to them and influence their feelings and emotions. To understand these emotions, it’s important to understand your dog’s body language. In addition to the sounds they make, they also send us signals through their body language—specifically […]
29
Mar
Mar
When should you arrange a dental checkup for your dog or cat? Some things to watch out for are bad breath, not eating, drooling, licking, just not feeling good. However, not all bad breath stems from dirty teeth. If your dog’s teeth don’t look dirty, we need to consider digestion. Your veterinarian will be able […]
01
Mar
Mar
Companionship is something we all value, which is a big reason why so many of us decide to bring a pet into our lives. Pets bring us laughter, happiness, and friendship. Nevertheless, it’s important to find the right pet for you. Whether you like tiny teacups, mighty Mastiffs, subtle chinchillas, chirpy birds, bearded dragons, colorful […]
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