by Helen Stroud, Proprietress of OLIVINE in Uptown Park
 A dog’s sense of smell is by far their most highly developed sense. The average dog can sense odors at concentrations nearly 100 million times lower than humans. For instance, a dog is able to smell one drop of blood in five quarts of water! This is because dogs have more than 100 million olfactory receptors in their noses compared to humans having only 5 million.
 Dogs have long made significant contributions to public health as police dogs, assistance dogs, therapy dogs and …

By Marilyn Orillion
Most potential raw feeders ask, “How much will this diet cost?” The answer isn’t simple. If raw feeders buy only prepared, prepackaged raw foods, it is more expensive than preparing it at home. Buying in bulk is considerably cheaper.   
 The amount of raw meaty bones needed is determined by a dog’s weight and activity level. As a rule of thumb, multiply a dog’s weight by 16. Multiply the result by 2% to get the average amount of raw food needed per day. Of this amount, the majority should …

Do you get lost in some of the terms related to vaccination for pets? Here are a few of the common terms you need to know:
Vaccine Protocols – Recommended series and frequency of vaccinations by Veterinary Associations
Required by law – a vaccine required by state; varies from state to state; Rabies is the only vaccine required by the State of Texas; every three years with a 3-yr vaccine
Titer – measurable level of immunity
Recombinant Vaccine – Contains a bacterial or fungal protein used to mount immune response (virtually no chance of …

Houston Humane Society and Bark Busters Home Dog Training are teaming up to promote the adoption of the HHS’ larger more “mature” four-legged friends.

Recently the Montgomery County Animal Shelter on SH 242 at the north end of The Woodlands began a major upgrade and expansion of its facility. Included in this project is a revamping of the shelter’s Low-cost Spay/Neuter Clinic.
Local non-profit, The Woodlands Dog Park Club, a long time supporter of the shelter’s no-kill initiatives, held a fundraiser to raise money to assist with improvements at the clinic. Hometown Hounds & Cool Cats offered the public a chance to have their pets’ likeness painted on a large dog park mural in the clinic’s new lobby. Nationally renowned, New Orleans artist, Jim Tweedy, painted the animals’ likenesses and noted Conroe artist, Joe Kolb, painted the backdrop.

 by Dr. Mark Silberman, Southwest Animal Clinic, 4570 Bissonnet
Bladder stones (uroliths) are rock-like structures that form in the urinary bladder.  Comprised of minerals, they can take many shapes from a single large stone to multiple lobulated stones to sand-like grit. 
 Cats with bladder stones show the typical signs of a urinary tract infection.  They strain to urinate, produce small amounts of urine and experience an increase in frequency of urination (perhaps outside of the litter box).
 There are several different types of uroliths.  It is important to determine the mineral type when …

There is a health epidemic in our dogs due to the poor quality of commercial dog food as well as environmental stresses.

Education is a key element in making the human-animal bond a mutually satisfying experience. Parents of children have an important

This article is #3 in a 3-part series of articles on natural canine health. Topics included diet, vaccines, and now, alternative therapies/homeopathy. The book, Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog by Wendy Volhard and Kerry Brown, D.V.M. provided the information for the article.
Canine health, as in human health, has many components. In the previous two issues of Houston PetTalk, we examined natural elements of canine needs including diet and the controversy surrounding vaccinations. Another compelling area of natural canine well-being is homeopathic remedies. Homeopathy is an extensive subject that requires …

Canine Health Series – Article 2 by Michelle Mantor
This article is #2 in a series of 3 that highlight natural canine health including topics such as diet, covered in article 1; in this article, we focus on vaccines and the controversy surrounding them. Stay tuned for alternative therapies in article #3. The book, Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog by Wendy Volhard and Kerry Brown, D.V.M. provided the information for the article.
For most pet owners, pet vaccinations are routine. We follow the protocol advised by our veterinarian and don’t give …