I wanted to take a moment and share some exciting news with you. I have been accepted as the new Long Island Pets Examiner for Examiner.com. You’re likely aware of my passion on this subject, and now I have a forum to share that passion with the hundreds of thousands of people who are perusing Examiner.com’s content on a daily basis. I would like to invite you to subscribe to my articles...

Something to Chew On Here are some things to think about while you’re brushing your teeth: More than 8 out of 10 dogs and 7 out of 10 cats show signs of poor dental health by the age of three. Dental problems in pets – as in people – can lead to pain, tooth loss, periodontal disease, and increased bacteria in the bloodstream. Pets’ oral disease invariably progresses with time, as does...

Pet Health Insurance: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly The Good: Many options now exist that make the cost of insuring your pet’s health quite affordable.  Policies range from less than $300 to over $600 per year. The Bad: You usually get what you pay for!  Policies that promise the world for peanuts and seem too good to be true almost certainly are.  Insurance companies are in business to make...

Dogproofing Your House Just as parents with young children must childproof their homes, people with dogs, especially young ones, need to dog-proof the premises. A child will eventually learn reasons to leave certain things alone, but the dog will never understand the value of property or the risk of getting hurt. Training Whenever you’re supervising your dog for housetraining, you can use the opportunity...

For a Happier Holiday: A Note to Santa’s Helpers Are you a parent or doting grandparent, aunt or uncle considering giving a child that pet she or he has been begging you for? Do you know someone considering buying a pet for their child or niece or nephew, godchild, grandchild or cousin? Encourage them to talk to the parents first…and to encourage the parent to do some research into the...

Common household hazards for your pets: Antifreeze that contains ethylene glycol has a sweet taste that attracts animals but is deadly if consumed in even small quantities; one teaspoon can kill a seven-pound cat. I recommend pet owners use a safe antifreeze in their vehicles. Look for antifreeze that contains propylene glycol, which is safe for animals if ingested in small...