Posts from March, 2014

For many parents, watching the bond that our children share with our family pets is priceless. But for many parents, pet ownership creates an unparalleled learning opportunity, too. Involving kids in pet care can teach children of all ages the lessons of responsibility, compassion, health care, and decision-making.

Whether you’re a parent that is just starting to test the waters of involving your kids in pet care, or the parent of an older child looking to increase his or her pet care responsibilities, the following tasks are worthy of your consideration as you plan for your child’s responsibilities in caring for your family pet.

Daily Pet Care

While not every task is appropriate for every age, there are daily activities that all children can be a part of, even if it’s just talking to them about Continue…

Atopy, or a genetic predisposition to developing allergic reactions to things in the environment such as dust, mold, and pollen, is one of the most common causes for seasonal skin problems in pets. Other than flea allergies, it is the most common cause of allergies in dogs.

Any breed can have atopy, but certain breeds seem to be at a higher risk. These include Golden Retrievers, most terriers, Bulldogs, Lhasa Apsos, and Bichon Frises. Atopic pets often show the first symptoms of the disease between 6 months and 3 years of age.

Symptoms

Often symptoms of atopy and environmental or seasonal allergies include: