(Originally published in 2010; Updated in 2024) Many common foods, plants, and other things abundant in the home during the holidays are there because we delight in them. But what’s good for the goose is not always good for the gander. Here are some of the more common culprits to watch out for this season, […]

It was the incessant itching that really got to Jessie* and had her running regularly for the Monistat or a homemade yogurt remedy to relieve the maddening symptoms. “Maddening doesn’t even begin to describe it, actually,” says the 27-year-old restaurant manager/owner. At the time her symptoms began appearing, she was only 13 years old. Later, […]

The paws of our four-legged pals are hardy, yet incredibly vulnerable. Whether your pets are indoor or outdoor rompers, they’re regularly exposed to all manner of threats, be it stepping into deadly toxins or humans stepping on their tootsies. Oftentimes, behavior and symptoms based in the animal’s foot area, such as limping, licking, chewing, lesions, […]

If your cat suddenly turns into a zombie, staring vacantly at nothing at all and acting unresponsive, you might be inclined to think that aliens have finally landed and possessed wee Ginger. But don’t panic – this behavior may be a symptom of feline diabetes. It is estimated that one in every 50 pets (U.S. […]

Such a little thing really – a flea. But when we find them among us, a common reaction is to call in the big guns and blast those bloodsuckers to kingdom-come. But do you really want masked men touting toxic-laden apparatus to be your perennial pals, along with a bunch of wee nasty nippers? The […]

If you like indulging your furry pals at holiday time but don’t have time to even think about shopping, no need to fret. I made a list and checked it twice for the most fun, safe, eco-friendly gifts – based on what cats and dogs love to do most. Here are 8 ideas to make […]

Many of us grew up believing that big swollen knuckles, a stiff achy body, pain “before the rain” and general malaise – typical symptoms of arthritis – are all part of the inevitable aging process. It doesn’t have to be so, though, for humans or for pets. While older animals tend to get arthritis rather […]

It was supposed to be a carefree day - a day of leisure and the start of a much-needed holiday. As a full-time midwife and mother of two, Annabel had had a particularly busy summer and was really looking forward to her upcoming camping trip with her kids and friends. It was the first day […]

Just as May’s flowers begin to spring up from the ground once again, so do our pets’ desires to spring forth into nature with renewed vigour. And now that the snow is gone, all that grows will be in need of a special kind of care – including our four-legged friends. One area that requires […]

Many fortunate individuals, who’ve never experienced ringworm, logically assume it has to do with those wiggly critters taking up habitat in our pets’ innards. The name, though, has nothing to do with worms. Ringworm, or Tinea, is a highly contagious fungus that can pass from pet to pet, human to pet and vice versa. If […]

Natural Healing Tips for a Shelter Cat On June 6, 2009, a slip of a cat with not much life left in her was brought into an Ontario high-kill shelter. Since shelters assign cats with temporary names, this little girl was named River. Being both a black cat and sickly, she was likely to be […]