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What are 5 ways to "vet" your veterinarian?
A: Number one is to go online and visit myveterinarian.com. Here you can discover veterinarians in your area, the type of animals they treat, their hours, if they offer emergency services, and information on their staff. For the remaining four
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What are some behaviors that Feliway® brand pheromone products may help reduce or eliminate in cats?
A: Feliway can be used to help comfort and reassure cats while they cope with a challenging situation and help prevent or reduce the stress caused by a change in their environment. Some of these behaviors include:
Urine marking
Anxiety related aggression
Stre
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What is the season for flea & tick control in the U.S.?
A: Year-round. According to Michael Dryden, DVM, MS, PhD - Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, href="http://www.vet.k-state.edu/">Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas in his article: "T
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Q. How does the Westminster Dog Show determine if a breed is eligible to compete?
A: Generally, the AKC will consider a breed for recognition if the breed shows sufficient numbers and geographic distribution in this country, and a growing interest is demonstrated by an active parent club.
Click here to r
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Q: According to the newly released AVMA Sourcebook, which state has the most dog owners?
A. Arkansas.
The Sourcebook reveals that the states with the most dog owners in 2011 were: Arkansas where 47.9 percent of households owned a dog, New Mexico with 46 percent, Kentucky with 45.9 percent, Missouri with 45.9 percent, West Virginia with 45.8 percent, Mississippi with 45.2
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Q: How many pet dogs and cats are there in the United States?
A. There were about 70 million pet dogs and 74.1 million pet cats in the United States at the end of 2011, according to the AVMA's recently released 2012 U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook. The Sourcebook contains the results of a national survey of more than 50,000 households th
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What is the major source of private support for urgently need programs and equipment for the Los Angeles Police Department including its K-9 Unit?
A. The Los Angeles Police Foundation is dedicated to preventing crime, saving lives and making the Los Angeles community a better and safer place to live and work. The Foundation was formed in 1998. For more information visit www.lapolicefoundat
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What Atlanta legend is helping spread the word about behavior and helping Atlanta's homeless pets outside Turner Field?
A. Atlanta legend Bobby Cox, joined by his lovely wife Pam Cox. will join the Keep the L.O.V.E. Alive Behavior Express tour bus on behalf of the Homeless Pets Foundation Friday, September 14 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. right outside the front gate of Turner Field. He will be joined by Dr. Debr
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What pet organizations are participating in the Atlanta Keep the L.O.V.E. Alive Behavior Express Fair?
A. The Georgia Veterinary Medical Association, PAWS Atlanta, Atlanta Lab Rescue, the Homeless Pets Foundation and the Atlanta Humane Society are joining sponsors Ceva Animal Health and the American College of Veterinary Behavior to help solve behavior problems and save Atlanta's pets by pa
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How Many Animals Are Rescued Each Year by Animal Care & Control of New York City?
A. Animal Care & Control of New York City (AC&C) is the largest animal organization in the Northeast, rescuing nearly 34,000 animals each year. As a non-profit organization since 1995, AC&C rescues, cares for and finds loving homes for homeless and abandoned animals in New York City. AC&C
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How many litter boxes should you have for each cat in your household?
* Adapted from Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Canine and Feline Behavior, co-authored by Dr. Debra Horwitz and Dr. Jacqui Neilson.
Litter Box Tips
One thing that endears cats to their families is their use of an indoor toileting a
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When is the best time of the year to start putting a Flea & Tick collar on my dog?
Because substantial geographic differences occur in tick prevalence and seasonality, the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) supports year-round use of topical tick-control products on pets. Furthermore, in certain geographic regions, reactive or seasonal applications of tick-control product
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What kind of dogs are trained to be leader dogs for the blind or visually impaired?
A: Leader Dogs for the Blind primarily trains Labradors, Golden Retrievers and German Shepherd dogs to become leader or guide dogs. These breeds are most likely to have the right tempe
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How long has Lyme disease been around?
A: Lyme disease was first reported as a dermatologic lesion in humans in the late 1800s in a Scandinavian medical journal. The Lyme arthritis outbreak in Old Lyme, Connecticut that put Lyme disease on the cover of Time Magazine occurred in 1975. The first cases of canine Lyme were recogni
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What state is the future home of the new National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF)?
A. Kansas. This $650 million research facility with a state-of-the-art lab will ultimately replace the href="http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=19-40-00-00">Plum Island Animal Disease Center and help o
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When Was Formalized Veterinary Medicine Founded?
A: 1761 marks the founding of the first veterinary school in Lyon, France, formalizing veterinary education. The international veterinary community is marking this historic event this year with "Vet2011" and the theme "Vet for health, Vet for food,
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What is a Veterinary Specialist? How are they different from a family veterinarian?
A: In addition to completing undergraduate training and four years of veterinary school, Board-certified Veterinary Specialists are similar to their human medical counterparts in that they have completed an internship and residency in their specialized field (an additional 3-5 years traini
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What retailer has introduced its own line of Earth-conscious Pet Products?
A: PETCO has introduced "Planet Petco," a full line of earth-conscious products that encourage sustainability. Read more about them in What's New.
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What is the new human animal bond initiative sponsored by AAPA, Petco and Pfizer Animal Health?
A: HABRI, or the Human Animal Bond Research Initiative Foundation. The first project will be to establish a database of resource material. For more information, visit www.habri.org.
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How Many Special Sections Does the Pet Industry's Largest Trade Show Have?
A: With 2,366 booths sold, the most in the Show's history, and 822 exhibiting companies, Global Pet Expo 2011 is the largest pet trade show ever. The four special sections include: Natural Pet, Boutique, Everything Aquatic, International Pavilion, and What's New!. The Boutique, Everythin
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What is I Love NYC Pets Month?
A: February is a big month for animals in New York City. All the action is going down on Saturday, February 19, at Sara D. Roosevelt Park in Manhattan. The all-day event will include free spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations a
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What is the most unusual pet featured in the 10th Anniversary Contest?
A. The current winner, Tanja Berkhouse has not one but three Chinchillas. Learn how she got them in her column.
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What is Jack the dog in this week's featured 10th Anniversary favorite activity?
A. His favorite activity is going to see Chance Harris' parents' dogs and swimming in their pool! For more on the interview visit his guest column.
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What is the average lifespan of a horse?
A Horses and ponies can be wonderful, loving, long-time companions. They have average lifespans of 25-30 years — some even live to be forty years old or older! They may also be willing riding partners for exercise, recreation, and competition. For additional information
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What is a pet called in Spanish?
A pet in Spanish can be referred to as una mascota (the same word is used for a mascot, such as an animal symbolizing a team), un animal doméstico (the adjective doméstico can also be used to mean "pet" as an adjective, as in un perro doméstico, a pet dog) or
Which city has the largest concentration of animal health industry assets in the world?
A: Kansas City, Missouri. More than 220 animal health companies call the region home, representing more than one third of the global industry assets. Called the KC Animal Health Corridor, the region is anchored by top veterinary schools at th
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Where was the first AVMA Convention held?
A: New York City. Correspondence among practitioners along the East Coast led to a national convention of veterinary surgeons in 1863 in New York City. The first meeting was attended by 40 delegates representing seven states: New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maine, Ohio
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What Are the 2010 Global Pet Expo Best in Show Cat & Dog Pet Products?
Taking top honors are the JW Pet Dog Toys by the JW Pet Company, Inc. and for cats, Earthly Elements by Ware Manufacturing.
Source: The American Pet Products Association (APPA) and the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA).
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What causes arthritis in pets and what are some of the symptoms?
A: Arthritis is a condition in which an animal's joints become inflamed, often accompanied by pain, heat and swelling in the joints, and it usually results in increasing stiffness and immobility. (Source: www.healthypet.com )
If your pet is s
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Did a Dog or a Cat Win the "Share Your Pet Love" Contest?
Both! Grant Smucker of Columbus, Ohio with Annie, his dog, a six-year-old Australian Shepherd/Border Collie Mix; Joe Canning of Greenville, Indiana won with his three cats, one-year-old Charm, one-year-old Marshmellow, and 3-year-old Cookie, and Alyssa Rouse of Niagara, Wisconsin won with her dog
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What are four health problems that owning a pet can decrease?
A: 1. Blood pressure 2. Cholesterol levels 3. Triglyceride levels 4. Feelings of loneliness (Source: cdc.gov)
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How many pet dogs and cats are there in the U.S.?
A: There are more than 72 million pet dogs in the U.S. and nearly 82 million pet cats.
(2007 U.S Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook)
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What popular Long Island, NY bakery is named after a cat?
A. Tom Cat Bakery, www.tomcatbakery.com. Many New Yorkers recognize their delicious baked goods by their logo — each of their 25 silver trucks has the Tom Cat mascot emblazoned on
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What is the average number of litters a fertile dog produces in one year and what is the average number of puppies per litter?
A: According to the ASPCA Web site (www.aspca.org), a fertile dog averages one litter per year with the average number of puppies ranging between 4 and 6.
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In what year did Swarovski launch "The Gang of Dogs" line for the Lovlots City?
A: The year was 2008. This group of canines includes, "Violetta" the stylish poodle, "Peppino" the romantic basset, "Salvatore" the scholarly great dane, "Tomaso" the laid-back bulldog, and his little brother, "Tomasino." For more information, visit www
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What famous author wrote about his Labrador's antics?
A: John Grogan. He based his best-selling book Marley & Me off of his own life and his dog Marley. He will also be a special guest speaker at the KC Animal Health Corridor Homecoming Event in August. Click here to rea
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What are some of the most common canine surgeries?
A: Some of the most common surgeries include: ACL surgery, dislocated knee caps, fracture repair, slipped disks in the back or neck, belly surgery, skin masses and more.
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What star of a popular television drama adopted both her dog and cat from a shelter?
A: Kyra Sedgwick adopted her 10 year old Labrador, Polly and her 11 year old cat, Laura from a California animal shelter.
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What is an ACVIM Diplomate?
A: An ACVIM Diplomate is a Board Certified, highly skilled veterinarian who focuses on the education and advancement of internal medicine. Dr. Arnold Plotnick, who is featured in this issue, is a diplomate of the AVCIM, with a specialty in internal medicine. Click
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When was National Pet Week created?
A: National Pet Week was created 28 years ago to promote responsible pet ownership, awareness of veterinary medicine and to celebrate the human-animal bond.
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True or false? The number of dogs owned outnumbers that of cats owned in American households.
False. The 2007 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook revealed an owned cat population of 81.7 million, almost 10 million more than domesticated dogs (72 million).
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Can pets suffer from allergies year-round?
A: Yes. Pets can suffer from allergies year-round even in cooler climate conditions. Just like people, pets can suffer from outdoor allergies like pollen and ragweed as well as indoor allergies like house dust mites.
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What disease in cats correlates with a disease in women?
A: Interstitial cystitis (IC). Dr. Tony Buffington, recipient of the 2009 Mark L. Morris, Sr. Lifetime Achievement Award, was the first to identify the commonalities between feline urological syndrome (FUS) in cats and interstitial cystitis in women. Dr. Buffington has done several studi
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What does the acronym HARD stand for and what common disease does it relate to?
A: The term "HARD," stands for Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease. It is the acronym for this clinical presentation of feline heartworm disease. For more information about HARD and feline heartworm disease visit the KNOW Heartworms Web site.
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Can a non-pedigreed cat compete at a prestigious CFA-Iams Championship?
A. Yes! In The Cat Agility Competition. As a matter of fact they could come away from Madison Square Garden declared a champion! You may enter your household’s non-pedigreed kitty to compete right alongside pedigree contestants at the Show!
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Approximately what percentage of pets are actually given the full dose of heartworm preventives recommended by a veterinarian?
Surveys show only about 75 percent of pets are given the full dosage of heartworm preventives recommended. This is part of the reason the American Heartworm Society recommends year-round prevention. Read more in Mosquito Season Approac
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Dogs spend about 45 hours a week with their owners. About how much time each week do cats spend with their owners?
According to a Special Report appearing in the Feb. 15, 2008, edition of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the strength of the owner-pet bond relates in part to the amount of time a pet spends with its owners. While dogs spent about 45 hours a week with their owners,
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Do dogs or cats visit the veterinarian more often?
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, cats are twice as likely as dogs to not visit the veterinarian. Learn more about the AVMA's 2007 U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook.
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What famous writer was also a cat lover, particularly the six-toed variety?
According to stories, Ernest Hemmingway was once given a six-toed cat by a sea captain. He kept the cat at his home, and today approximately 30 descendents can be found at the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum in Key West, Florida, identifiable by their six toes.
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How can you test your pet for fleas?
A: To test for fleas, the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends combing your pet on a white piece of paper and letting the loose dirt fall on to the paper. Then, transfer the dirt onto a wet piece of paper. If the “dirt”
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How many dogs make up the New York Police Department's K-9 Unit?
From the Archive: 2002
A: The New York Police Department K-9 Unit is comprised of 33 dogs, including
30 German Shepherds and 3 Bloodhounds. The NYPD K-9 Unit has been tirelessly
working to help recover victims at the site of the World Trade Cen
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