Rat Bite Disease

As we've written about before in this column, more people than ever adopted or bought dogs during the pandemic, a trend that is still continuing. There's been a huge uptick in the acquisition of puppies in particular, evidenced by the parade of mini Australian shepherd, bernadoodle, French bulldog and the ever-popular golden retriever puppies and their guardians coming to Marin Humane for behavior and training classes. On par with vaccinations and spay/neuter, training is key to a happy, healthy pup and a harmonious home life for all. While adorable and silly, puppies can also chew up shoes, soil the rug, slip out of leashes and generally wreak havoc on a previously calm household. Their energy is boundless and pesky behaviors that at first seem cute can soon become tiresome. "It's really important dogs don't pick up bad habits as puppies," says Dawn Kovell, director of behavior and training at Marin Humane. "It's much harder to unwind bad behaviors...

It's not uncommon to get an occasional scratch when you play with your cat. However, it's important to take care of your wound and monitor it carefully for complications. Not all cat scratches are dangerous, but certain circumstances may increase your risk of developing certain diseases and other health risks. Read on to learn more about some of the possible dangers associated with cat scratches, and whether you need to seek medical attention. Even during seemingly harmless play with your feline companion, occasional cat scratches are inevitable. Johns Hopkins Medicine says that kittens under 1 year old are even more prone to scratching — you may notice more incidents during play and laptime snuggles as your younger cat is getting used to their movements. Regardless of age, cat scratches can mean more than just pain and temporary red or discolored marks. These wounds can sometimes sting, bleed, and even become infected. Both feral and domesticated cats may also transmit certain...

DETROIT – A Detroit woman said she was walking her Goldendoodle puppy on the city's east side when three dogs attacked her after their owner released them from his yard. Dana Dixon said she had to be treated for bites and several sprains. Dixon recalled the details of the Saturday night attack on her dog Dexter. "To have to fight off three Pit Bulls and then hold your dog -- and we're just playing tug-of-war with my dog. On top of it I'm being bit. It was the scariest thing," Dixon said. "It was very frightening. I thought we were both going to die. I'm just holding onto my dog, trying to protect him." Read: Michigan health officials say rabies detected in dog from Detroit; first in state since 2011 Dixon said she was walking by her neighbor's home on Peerless Street when he yelled at her and then intentionally let his dogs out. "Total shock. I didn't understand why this man, first of all let the dogs out, and then for him to just stand...

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It's not uncommon to get an occasional scratch when you play with your cat. However, it's important to take care of your wound and monitor it carefully for complications. Not all cat scratches are dangerous, but certain circumstances may increase your risk of developing certain diseases and other health risks. Read on to learn more about some of the possible dangers associated with cat scratches, and whether you need to seek medical attention. Even during seemingly harmless play with your feline companion, occasional cat scratches are inevitable. Johns Hopkins Medicine says that kittens under 1 year old are even more prone to scratching — you may notice more incidents during play and laptime snuggles as your younger cat is getting used to their movements. Regardless of age, cat scratches can mean more than just pain and temporary red or discolored marks. These wounds can sometimes sting, bleed, and even become infected. Both feral and domesticated cats may also transmit certain...

Welcoming home a new pup and wondering if the SmartPetLove Snuggle Puppy works? We've got answers! Bringing a new puppy home can be unbelievably challenging, but it's so worth it! One of the biggest battles is getting our new puppy to sleep without crying all night. Let's just say it can feel a lot like having a newborn baby. We already have to take our new pup out every 2-3 hours to potty train, but we can't even enjoy a small nap in between with all the whining. I can say from experience, that these annoying and sleepless nights can last weeks! Recently, my family and I welcomed an F1 standard Goldendoodle, Sunny. Before her arrival, we decided to plan as best as we could and focused on how to make sure she had a comfortable first night. After doing some research, we learned about the SmartPetLove Snuggle Puppy Behavioral Aid Toy. But it's priced at $40, and we felt we had enough toys and supplies, getting a new pup is not cheap! Still, we decide...

Professional dog trainer Emilee Mahar recently went viral after posting a TikTok video asking pet owners to "do better." She claims that the reason most dog owners specifically are having difficulty finding trainers and groomers is due to the simple fact that the animal industry is "drowning" and, as a result, are no longer accepting new clients. She says the main issue for this is the actions and attitudes of pet owners, who she argues are causing their pets to suffer and in turn, causing the professionals to suffer as well. "There's a really big issue going on in the animal industry right now and no one's talking about it," Mahar says at the beginning of her video. The issue in question is that pet owners are not properly caring for their animals, and are blaming the professionals for their pets' problems versus taking responsibility. To illustrate her point, she begins by describing her own experiences as a dog trainer. "My training f...