Fear-Free Pets
The mission of this website started by America’s Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets by inspiring and educating the people who care for them. The goal is for pets to be fear-free whether at the vet’s office or in their own homes.
HOW TO RELIEVE THE PAIN AND STRESS OF OSTEOARTHRITIS IN CATS
Osteoarthritis is a painful condition that isn’t exclusive to senior cats; younger cats can be affected, too.
TOYS,TRAVEL,TECH: 11 WINNERS FROM GLOBAL PET EXPO
The Global Pet Expo trade show is a window on the pet world, showcasing new products for pet parents looking to offer their fur kids the latest in pet toys, travel, tech, treats, and more to enrich their lifestyles and enhance that wonderful human-animal bond. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the best in show.
STRESS-LESS PETWEAR COMBINES STYLE, FUNCTION
Lots of us love fashion, but while some of them are into strutting their stuff, our pets aren’t always fans of clothing or accessories for themselves. But sometimes pet fashion has a function: to provide additional warmth, to protect a sensitive area, or to promote healing post-surgery.
STUDY AIMS TO HELP CATS LIVE THEIR BEST 9 LIVES WITHOUT STRESS
A new study looks at five feline personality traits and two common behaviors with the goal of understanding what cats need to thrive.
CAT TALK 101: HOW TO UNDERSTAND WHAT FELINES ARE SAYING
Every cat has its own ‘secret’ language, known only to its trusted human – and even then, only if that human listens closely enough.
WINTER IS COMING: HOW TO CARE FOR COMMUNITY CATS
Life is hard for cats on their own, but winter months are especially harsh on feline denizens of society’s underbelly, whether in cities and towns or sparsely populated areas. They suffer the cold and can experience hypothermia leading to illness and death just like humans.
Community cat caregivers say providing shelter for cats living rough is more important than providing food. Cold, wet weather can have adverse and potentially serious effects on them. If they become wet, they need a shelter where they can dry off to prevent hypothermia or freezing.
ADOPTING A SENIOR CATS:HELP THEM FEEL AT HOME
When senior cats end up in shelters, it’s often because their elderly owners have passed away and there’s no one to care for them. The good news is that they are ideal housemates for everyone: millennial singles, empty nesters, and of course, human seniors. November is Adopt a Senior Pet month. Give a senior cat a second chance at love; you’ll be so glad you did!
A COMFORTABLE VACCINE EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR PETS
Vaccinations have been in the news a lot lately. An up-to-date vaccine program is essential for your pet’s general good health, too. It’s possible to make pokes at the veterinarian’s office a happy and stress-free event for both you and your pet–even if you are the one with a fear of needles.
Cats know how to preen and flaunt their fabulous fur. To add to feline glamour and mystery, their coats come in a variety of colors and patterns with names that sound more like shades on an artist’s palette, such as lavender cream, cinnamon, and blue smoke.
But a cat’s color is more than a pretty description and it doesn’t just apply to pedigreed cats. Knowing a cat’s true color and pattern is valuable for a couple of reasons. It can help shelter employees “sell” a cat to potential adopters. Being able to give a name to a particular color or pattern raises the status of a cat. Being knowledgeable about a cat’s color or pattern can also help cat lovers accurately describe lost pets. Saying that a cat is a shorthaired gray mackerel tabby with a white belly is a more meaningful description than “She’s sort of gray with stripes.”
DOGGIE ORTHODONTICS: FIXING CANINE CANINES
We all know how much dogs enjoy food and yummy treats. So it’s a real problem when a dog struggles to eat, bites into a lip, and drools consistently. It can be painful, limiting fun and enjoyment. Luckily, these are issues that state-of-the-art veterinary orthodontic dentistry can correct, as the techniques and instruments used by board-certified veterinary dentists mirror what is available for people.
COMPULSIVE BEHAVIORS IN CATS: HOW TO RECOGNISE AND MANAGE THEM
It’s not only people highlighted in reality TV shows who suffer from obsessive compulsive disorders; cats do, too. Repetitive and exaggerated behaviors such as sucking on fabrics and chewing plastics, excessive grooming, or bolt-out-of-the-blue aggression are signs of typical compulsive issues in cats. How a pet parent reacts to and understands these issues can go a long way toward controlling and even eradicating them.
OPENING THE DOOR TO MORE PET-FRIENDLY HOUSING
News flash! A recent survey shows that pet owners make excellent, responsible tenants. They stay longer, get along well with their neighbors, and take the responsibility of their pets seriously, resulting in far less property damage than is purported to occur. Plus, most pet parents pay for such damage out of their own pockets! So why are landlords still slow to embrace this awesome economic opportunity, resulting in a shortage of pet-friendly living places in all price brackets?
A “nose job” or a “boob job” and “tummy tuck” for your cat?
Yes! But not for cosmetic reasons to get her thousands of Instagram followers. Such reconstructive surgeries in pets are done strictly for medical reasons to improve quality of life.
PET PARAPHERNALIA: WHAT’S NEW FOR CAT AND DOGS
Global Pet Expo is the industry’s annual showcase, highlighting new and innovative products for pet parents to both spoil their pets and improve their general wellbeing. With more than 300 new products featured this year, here are our favorites. Some are already available; others will roll out in the next few weeks.
CATS ON HIGH: MAXIMIZE VERTICAL SPACE
No matter the size of your living space, by going vertical, you can greatly increase your cat’s lifestyle real estate.
RESEARCH SHOWS NEW TREATMENTS FOR PAINFUL CANINE STOMATITIS
Canine stomatitis is a painful condition characterized by inflamed lesions and ulcers in a dog’s mouth, making it difficult for affected dogs to eat and function normally. A veterinary dentist says new therapeutic treatments along with proper dental hygiene may effectively control and sometimes cure this debilitating disease.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU AND YOUR PETS ARE IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT
Road traffic accidents happen. Whether it’s a minor fender bender or something more serious, if your pet is in the vehicle, you will have to assist them and keep them calm until other help arrives. Ensuring pets are restrained will help to minimize injuries and possibly reduce the severity of the situation. Here’s what you need to know.
STEM CELL SCIENCE – CAN IT HELP PETS?
Stem cell therapy, often referred to as regenerative medicine, has grown in popularity in veterinary circles as a way to treat many painful issues that affect the wellbeing of dogs, cats, and horses.
THE PANDEMIC IS TRANSFORMING LIVES – FOR PETS AND PEOPLE
While the Age of Isolation brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic has not been kind to people, conversely, it has had many wonderful positive benefits for pets.
BREAKTHROUGH : NEW CAT FOOD CHANGES HOW PEOPLE MANAGE CAT ALLERGIES
Approximately one in five adults worldwide suffer from cat allergies. They must limit their interactions with felines, take anti-allergy medications, and in worst-case scenarios, relinquish beloved cats. A breakthrough cat food called Pro Plan LiveClear, now available on pet food shelves nationwide, may transform how people manage their cat allergies, allowing them to keep their beloved fur kids in the home.
WHAT’S NEW IN PET PLAY, CARE, GLOBAL PET EXPO REPORT
The Global Pet Expo, the largest pet trade show in the USA, sets the stage for all the fun, functional and innovative products debuting that promote the wellbeing of our pets and help enhance that wonderful human-animal bond. Here is our pick of the top new cat and dog stuff that you will be seeing soon.
SENIOR PET NUTRITION: WHAT TO KNOW
A nutritionally balanced diet is one of the keys to good health and longevity for our pets. A good diet is important at every stage of life, including the senior years. Issues plaguing aging senior pets mirror the https://fearfreehappyhomes.com/senior-pet-nutrition-what-to-know/same issues that plague humans: both physically and mentally, things just don’t work like they used to!
GOLDEN YEARS: ADOPTING AND LOVING A SENIOR DOG
Senior dogs are often overlooked in shelters and can remain there for months. To give them the attention they deserve, November is labeled National Adopt A Senior Pet Month to highlight that the inimitable human-animal bond is not governed by age. Welcoming an older dog into the household and giving them love and care for
ARE YOU THE CAUSE OF YOUR PET’S STRESS?
It’s not only people who suffer from stress; our pets most certainly do, too. The question is, could you unknowingly be the cause of some of your pet’s anxiety?
WHAT CAN A DNA TEST REVEAL ABOUT YOUR DOG
Canine DNA tests can be a fun and interesting tool for learning more about your favorite pooch but they’re not useful for making medical diagnoses or decisions about treatment. Here’s what to know about them.
WHAT’S IN YOUR CAT’S DNA? Tests Are Fun but not Definitive
Cats are enigmatic and mysterious, but DNA testing kits are helping us to learn more about them. Here’s what you can find out about your fine feline, from ancestry to health.
7 WAYS TO CREATE HARMONY IN A MILLENNIAL PET HOUSEHOLD
Lots of factors set millennials apart from previous generations. For starters, they like to share things like houses and apartments. They are also adopting pets as family members before considering marriage and human children. This means that several pets can find themselves co-habiting too. Here’s what to consider to ensure that individual pets get along under one roof and are not stressed by this co-sharing living arrangement.
DENTAL CARE DO’S FR YOUR PET’S GOOD ORAL HEALTH
Keeping a dog or cat’s mouth healthy is a key part of overall good health; after all, the mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body. Here are some ways to keep teeth clean without feeling as if it’s a chore for you and your pet.
TAKING THE BLUES OUT OF BATH TIME
Lots of dogs don’t like bathtime because they are uncomfortable in the bathtub or shower stall. Fortunately, if you follow the Boy Scout credo of being prepared, it’s easy to turn bathtime into a fun time and get a dirty dog clean again.
MAKING YOUR GARDEN FRIENDLY FOR A SENIOR PETS
No matter the size of your garden, it’s an area for the whole family to enjoy, and that includes the family dog. By adding a few dog-friendly features to create special canine areas, you can make it more enjoyable for your dog, especially if he is a senior, to be outside and spend quality time with you.
How to design a safe and pleasant outdoor space for your cat.
MAKING YOUR GARDEN FRIENDLY FOR SENIOR PETS
No matter the size of your garden, it’s an area for the whole family to enjoy, and that includes the family dog. By adding a few dog-friendly features to create special canine areas, you can make it more enjoyable for your dog, especially if he is a senior, to be outside and spend quality time with you.
5 PUZZLES AND GAMES TO KEEP DOGS MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED
Pet behaviorists say that 10 minutes of mental stimulation is the equivalent of 45 minutes of active play. Fortunately, there are a slew of new puzzles and electronic games offering different levels of difficulty and different challenges to keep dogs engaged and promote their well being.
And, of course, if you participate too, you are spending quality time together and enhancing that wonderful human-animal bond. Let’s play!
5 PUZZLES AND GAMES TO KEEP CATS MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED
Play is an important part of a kitten’s development, and it remains important for a cat’s mental and physical health throughout life. Just a few minutes of exercise and enrichment each day is enough to help cats maintain interest in life and keep boredom at bay.
Most important, playing with your kitten or cat builds and strengthens the human-feline bond. Here are some fun ways to enhance his brainpower and keep him occupied both with and without you.
PLANNING A PARTY? HOW TO KEEP ANXIETY (YOURS AND YOUR PET’S) AT BAY
When you have pets, party planning takes on a whole new meaning, and not necessarily in a good way. Many dogs and cats are spooked by the presence of strangers noisily enjoying themselves in the living room. Similarly, they don’t share any enthusiasm for backyard barbecuing or raucous swimming parties with children shrieking and splashing about.