what to expect when your pet is getting spayed or neutered 🐱🐶

 

“YOU’LL still be a guy,” Gabe assured the cocker-terrier mix as he prepared for surgery. “Balls don’t make the man.”

He imagined if his current patient could talk, the response would be: Yeah? Hand me that scalpel, doc, and let’s try that theory out on you.

“Might seem a little barbaric from your standpoint, but believe me, it’s all for the best.”

 

 Wolf Moon

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U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eric C. Tretter, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

It can be scary to think about your pet undergoing surgery, but spay and neuter procedures are common and generally low risk. A veterinarian with the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine demystifies the process and lays out what to expect.

News VIRGINIA TECH

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"Me? Of course not. I just finished neutering a dachshund. Another day in paradise."

"Oh. What exactly do you—no, never mind, I don't think I want to know. How's my baby?"

 

 

Carolina Moon

World Animal Day 2024

 

He was waiting for her, pacing, watching, calling. At her approach,  the cat rubbed its body against the fencing, then stood, bracing his forepaws against it. And purred.

Six months since he’d seen her—scented her, Lil thought. But he hadn’t forgotten her. “Hello, Baby.”

She reached through to stroke the tawny fur, and he bumped his head affectionately to hers.

“I missed you, too.”

Black Hills

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MathKnight, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

World Animal Day: History, significance, theme, quotes and more

World Animal Day is observed every year on October 4 to highlight the importance of animals and spread awareness for their welfare to maintain ecological balance

Business Standard

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Connor slipped through the employees’ gate for the falconry school. 

As always,  he felt a little flutter—a bit like beating wings—in his heart, along his skin. 

It had always been the hawk for him. That connection, like his power, came down through the blood.

Shadow Spell

Do You Talk to Your Pet?

The big dog sat on the covered front porch of the two-story cabin. Body alert, eyes bright. When she got out of the car, she signaled release. 

He bounded to her, all hundred and thirty pounds of him wriggling in joy. 

“There’s my good boy. Best dog in the world. So smart. Just so smart.” 

She gave him a brisk rub before retrieving her market bag. 

“You wouldn’t believe the morning I had.” 

She took out her keys as they walked to the house together on the narrow stone path. 

“Minding my own business, buying supplies, and the chief of police comes into the market to interrogate me. What do you think of that?”

The Witness 

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PhotKing ♛ from Cambridge , UK, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Why We Should Talk to Our Dogs More

... and why many would rather confide in dogs than people.

Psychology Today

The heart of a dog's veterinary experience

 

She slammed the door and stalked into the living room, where both her brother and his dog were sprawled out like the dead.

"I need to talk to you, Casanova."

"Don't yell." Flynn remained on the sofa. On the floor beside him Moe whimpered. "Moe needed his shots. We've both been traumatized. Go away. Come back tomorrow."

 

Key of Light

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U.S. Air Force photo by SrA Veronica Pierce, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Heart rate responses in dogs vary across a standard physical examination

The results suggest that undergoing a simulated physical examination, even in a mock veterinary setting, can be a stressful experience for dogs.

Science Direct

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“You know,” Fiona panted, using her own body to hold Newman’s down, “this dog would walk through fire for me. Through fire over broken glass while meteors rained out of the sky. But I can’t get him to just hold the hell still for a routine exam. And he knew. The minute I called them to get in the car, he knew. How many times do I put them in the car for work, for play, for whatever? How does he know? I had to get the others in first -  they’re more easily fooled. Then drag him. It’s humiliating,” she said to Newman. “For both of us.”

The Search

Words Dogs Love to Hear the Most

 

"Hey, Moe!" Dana shouted. "Cookie!"

That did the trick.

Key of Light

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MichaelMcPhee, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Hint: you already say them all the time.

 

Oh, the things dog parents do to elicit a tail wag!  

Southern Living

Do You Own a Cat or Does a Cat Own You?

 

Switching off lights as she went, Shelby climbed the stairs to the second floor.

The cat leapt nimbly from his perch on the windowsill, stretched and padded toward her.

When Shelby came in, dinner wasn't far behind. The bird fluffed her wings and began to

gnaw on her cuttle-bone.

"How's it going?" She gave Moshe an absent scratch behind the ears where he liked it

best. With a sound of approval, he looked up at her with his one eye, tilting his head so

that the patch he wore looked raffish and right. "Yeah, I'll feed you."

All the Possibilities

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EDG 543, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

One could argue whether a cat ever has an owner—having had a few, I rather felt owned.

 

 Treehugger

Cats are thought to have a more profound mind than is thought.” They know where you are, they know what you are doing, and they know they will get what they want.”

Does Your Dog Put His Paw on You?

 

Eli studied the dog; the dog studied Eli. Then she lifted a paw in invitation. Only a heartless man would have refused to take the offered paw in his for a shake. “It looks like I’ve got a dog named Barbie. For a couple days.”

When he started out, Barbie fell in at his heel, tail wagging enthusiastically. “I guess you’re coming with me.”

She followed him up, into his office. When he sat she moved up to sniff at his keyboard. Then she wandered off, her toenails clicking lightly on the hardwood.

Whiskey Beach

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Bruce from San Francisco, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Most dog owners have likely experienced your dog pawing at your legs. While you may brush off this act as a mere annoyance, it’s actually your pup’s way of trying to communicate with you. And it can mean something really sweet.

 

If your dog puts his paw on you, it can be his way of saying “I love you.”

SOUTHERN LIVING

How to Train a Puppy

Entertained, Pandora crouched down and was rewarded when the puppy

 sprang onto her lap and licked her face.

"Where’d  you come from?" Laughing, and defending herself as best she could, 

Pandora found the card attached to the red bow around the puppy’s neck. It read:

My name is Bruno. I’m a mean, ugly dog looking for a lady to defend.

"Bruno, huh?" Laughing again, Pandora stroked his 

unfortunately long ears. "How mean are

you?" she asked as he contented himself with licking her chin.

A WIll  and a Way

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By ManuelFD - Own work fuente propia, CC BY 3.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11368669

The First 8 Things You Need to Do

Take a break from those cute puppy cuddles to make sure your new pooch learns these essential life skills.

Family Handyman

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“You should try crate-training him.”

“I got a crate. He ate the crate. Or enough of it to get out. 

I think he must be able to flatten himself like

a snake. I can’t get any work done. I think 

maybe he’s brain-damaged, or just psychotic.”

“What he is, is a baby who needs a lot of playtime, 

love, patience and discipline,” she corrected

The Search

Naming Your Dog or Puppy

“Oh, Beckett.” She gave in, nuzzled dogs. “What are their names?”

“Chauncy and Aristotle.”

“You have to be kidding.”

“Afraid not. They really want new names.”

“Who could blame them?”

The Next Always

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By Wagadoooga - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49362608

Finding just the right name for your dog or puppy can be tough. If you have reached the naming step, that probably means you have a new dog. Congratulations! Choosing the right dog is not always easy, but here you are. Now it's time to pick the perfect name for your new canine companion.

There are thousands of potential dog names out there. Take some time to narrow down your choices.

The Spruce Pets

Why do we use 'baby talk' with puppies?

“Oh, it’s a little puppy! She’s like a little toy.”

“He. This is Earl Grey. I hope you don’t mind, but I didn’t want to leave him home alone.”

“Oh, oh, he’s precious. Just precious.”

“Would you like to hold him?”

“I’d love it.” Miranda gathered the dog in her hands, immediately lapsed into lisping baby talk.

Lila just slanted a look toward Ash, and smiled. “Is there anywhere I could take him for a little walk outside?”

“Oh, of course! I’ll show you. Want to go for a walkie?” Miranda cooed, rubbing noses with Earl Grey, then giggling when he lapped his tiny tongue on her face.

The Collector

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By maxintosh / Max Talbot-Minkin - 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/maxtm/311263959/, CC BY 2.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5724965

You can't help it. You see that sweet little face and immediately begin to blabber in a sing-song voice, "Hello, sweetie pie! Who's a good boy?!"

We tend to talk to puppies as we do to babies, speaking slowly in a high-pitched voice. An international team of researchers recently looked at the science behind what they call "dog-directed speech" to find out why we do it and if our canine friends truly respond to it.

Mother Nature Network

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She cradled the pup, who immediately bathed her face as if they were reunited lovers. She caught the

faintest whiff of leather on his warm puppy breath.

“Aren’t you cute? Are you a pretty boy?”

“He’s a monster.” Simon snarled it. “An escape artist who doesn’t sleep. If I take my eye off him for two minutes, he eats something or breaks something or finds the most inappropriate place to relieve himself. I haven’t had a minute’s peace in three weeks.”

“Um-hmm.” She snuggled the pup.

The Search

Guide to a Dog-Friendly Backyard

Mia arrived with a bouquet of freshly clipped daffodils, 
and helped herself relax by sitting on the floor playing 
tug-the-rope with Mulder.

“I think of getting a dog now and then.” 
She laughed as Mulder lost his toothy grip on the rope 
and went tumbling ears over tail. “Then I think about my gardens.” 
She snatched the puppy up, holding him high. 
“You’d just love digging up all my flowers, wouldn’t you?”

Face the Fire

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Dogs are your best buds, honorary members of the family and protectors of the pack. But as they rambunctiously romp around the backyard, they may be wreaking havoc on your outdoor space. Live peacefully with your beloved doggos by following these simple tips for a delightfully dog-friendly backyard.

Birds & Blooms

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In the spill of light from the windows, she noted 
that a bed of petunias had been recently and ruthlessly dug up.

"I think Ivan has been to work," Mikhail commented, 
noting the direction of Sydney's gaze. "If he is smart, he hides 
until it's time to go home again."

Luring a Lady

Hero Dog Awards

The dog wasn’t even there. Some guard dog, he thought with a snort, and pulled on thin latex gloves to check if the doors were locked.

The dog—bigger than he’d remembered— flew at the glass, barking, snarling, even snapping. Shocked panic had him stumbling back, throwing up his hands as if to protect his face. His heart banged in his throat, his mouth went dry. Infuriated him even as he trembled.

“Fucker. Fucker.” Breathless, he tried the big smile again, though his eyes transmitted

pure hate even as he showed the dog the biscuit.

“Yeah, asshole,” he said in a friendly singsong. “See what I got. Should’ve poisoned it, you ugly fuck.”

But no matter the tone, no matter the bribe, the dog’s relentless barking increased.

When he made a testing move toward the door, the dog peeled back those canine lips

and showed his fangs.

“Maybe I’ll stick this down your throat instead.” He pulled the knife, stabbed out with it.

Rather than cowering back, the dog leaped at the glass and stood on his hind legs, barking madly with eyes creepy blue and feral.

The Obsession

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By Sue Zieman - See more Home Design Photos

These Pets Saved the Day, or Save Every Day, at Home

HOUZZ

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“And I’m going to fix this amazing dog something special. No kibble for you today, my brave boy.”

Tag sent him a look of adoration, laid a head on Harry’s leg. “Some beef. We’ll call it Beef à la Tag.”

When Harry went in, Tag limped after him.

The Obsession

Birds are wicked smart, despite their small brains

Seconds later, a shrill wolf whistle sounded from inside, followed by a muffled scream. 

He was grinning by the time Bird squawked out his invitation: “Hey, sugar, buy you a drink? Here's looking at you, kid.” When Bird began to sing a chorus of “There Is Nothing like a Dame,” the children collapsed into fits of laughter.

A few minutes later, Megan carried out a tray of drinks. Bird's voice followed her. “'Give me a kiss, and to that kiss a score!'“

She arched a brow as she set the tray on the deck. “Bogart, show tunes and poetry. That's quite a bird.” 

Megan's Mate

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By pionetes - Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 3.0, 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3454725

Crows and ravens are really smart. Parrots and cockatoos are very intelligent. Magpies, macaws, jays and parakeets ... all brilliant birds. But how is it that these avian animals are so clever when their brains are relatively small? After all, isn't it our big brains relative to our body size that makes us humans so amazingly smart? Turns out, not necessarily.

mother nature network

Signs Your Cat Is Secretly Mad at You

"I wonder just what he'd do if he were really crossed. He doesn't appear to have a temper. 
Cats usually don't until they're pushed too far just that one time, and then they're deadly." 

All the Possibilities

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By Paulo rsmenezes - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10599332

15 Signs Your Cat Is Secretly Mad at You

MSN

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Nijinsky growled.

"Since I'm the first up," she said, casting the cat a rueful glance, "I'll have the shower first." 
She arched her brows at Nick. "You can make the coffee." As she darted into the bath, 
she called over her shoulder, 
"Don't forget to feed the cat."

Dance of Dreams

Sometimes, a cat just walks into your life and asks to be saved

She started to crouch, then stopped, angling her head.
“You have a cat with three legs.”
“Triad. He was hit by a car.”
“Oh, poor baby!” Instantly, she was down on the floor,
stroking and scratching the delighted cat.
“It had to be awful for both of you. Thank God you were home.”
“No, actually I was driving home from school. They—the car in front of me hit him, and just kept going. I don’t understand how anybody could do that.
When I pulled over, I thought he’d be dead, but he was lying there, in shock, I guess. The vet couldn’t save the leg, but he does okay.”
Mac continued to stroke the cat down his length as she stared at Carter. “I bet he does.”


Vision in White 

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By No machine-readable author provided. Maxo assumed (based on copyright claims). - 

No machine-readable source provided. 

Own work assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=296512

Bonds between humans and animals often begin with a need and a desire to help. 

mother nature network

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“So the three-legged cat could be a metaphor for his wounded soul, 
and his determination to live with the scars.”
“That’s good. You’d get an A.”


Vision in White

The vet will STILL see you now!

A trip to the vet invariably included comedy and drama, and required persistence, stamina 
and a flexible sense of humor.

The Search

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By Rennett Stowe from USA - Dog Peeper, CC BY 2.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26303332

Pet owners share hilarious photos of their beloved animals trying to hide from surgery staff

DAILYMAIL

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She talked, rubbed, smiled, as Mai pinched some skin and slid the needle in.

Peck moaned like a dying man.

“There. All done.” Mai walked back to Peck’s head, held up her hands to show them empty of all tools of torture. Then she laid a treat on the table. He refused it.

“Could be poisoned,” Fiona pointed out. “Anything in this room is suspect.” 

She signaled the dog down, and he couldn’t jump off the table fast enough. 

Then he stood, facing the wall, ignoring both women.

The Search

Hilariously Accurate Representation of Pups

He sniffed enthusiastically—a dog who knew his job. He glanced up at her, sniffed again, then looked deep into her eyes, body quivering as if to say, Okay, I’ve got it! Let’s move! 

The Search

_____________________

Choosing a canine companion can be a challenge. Different dog breeds each have their own personalities that might mesh perfectly with yours, or the two of you might drive each other crazy.

MY MODERN MET

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Newman, a yellow Lab and the oldest, at six, and the most dignified, led the pack. 

But then Bogart, the black Lab and the baby, at three, had to stop long enough to grab up his rope. Surely someone wanted to play tug. 

The Search

Doggy Sleeping

They both glanced over to where Snickers lay, snoring on his back, feet in the air.

The Liar 

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By BrokenSphere (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 

(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or 

GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

Sleeping Positions That Will Tell You A Lot About Your Beloved Pup

Because our pets can’t directly tell us things about them, sometimes we as pet owners have to take it upon ourselves to do some digging, while paying attention to key clues. And those clues can sometimes come from some pretty unlikely places.

Take, for instance, the position that your dog sleeps in. 

LITTLE THINGS

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She glanced back to the dog who’d snored lightly the entire time they’d talked.

“See you later, Lump. Don’t work so hard.”

Blood Brothers