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From turtles and tortoises to snakes, geckos and iguanas, reptiles can be great pets, even for kids. Unfortunately, many children are squeamish around reptiles or even afraid of them. With patience and understanding, however, you can teach your child to be comfortable around all types of popular pet reptiles. Why Kids Can Be Uncomfortable Understanding why a child doesn't like pet reptiles is the first step toward helping them feel better about these animals. Unfortunately, many reptiles that young children are first exposed to are often portrayed as monsters, such as vicious dinosaurs, dragons or supervillains. The size, speed and...

Hurricanes can be dangerous, damaging storms, but there are steps you can take to protect your home and loved ones when a storm approaches. If your loved ones include pets, however, it is important to take added precautions to keep pets safe in a hurricane so your entire family is protected. Before Hurricane Season Good preparation begins long before hurricane season. Understanding a pet’s needs and knowing how to care for the animal in an emergency is essential for hurricane season safety, and includes… Keeping a pet’s vaccinations and medical care updated. If it becomes necessary to evacuate to a...

Swimming can be a fun way to keep cool and exercise with your pets, but before you plan an outing to a local pond, river, or lake, it is important to recognize the dangers of fresh water swimming, particularly the effects of blue-green algae. By understanding the risks of fresh water swimming, you can easily take steps to keep yourself and your pets safe with every swim. About Blue-Green Algae Algal blooms can be very dangerous for pets. Blue-green algae, sometimes called blue algae, is particularly toxic, and is caused by cyanobacteria. Pets can be contaminated by swimming in or...

A sudden thunderstorm can be terrifying for any pet, and cats and dogs can become very stressed during storms. There are easy ways to help your pet feel more comfortable, however, and keep them from getting too excited or anxious when storms pass by. Provide a Safe PlaceYour pet will feel more secure if they have a safe, comfortable place to retreat when a storm strikes. A small, interior room without windows works best, such as a laundry room, walk-in closet, pantry or bathroom. Make sure there is a comfortable, familiar blanket, some water and other comforting objects in the...

Walking your dog is ideal exercise, reinforces training, and helps you bond with your pet, and summer is a great time for long, rambling walks. If you are walking on hot asphalt and pavement, however, your dog may be getting something you didn’t bargain for – painful burns and blisters. Fortunately, it is easy to protect your dog’s paws from hot pavement without giving up summer walks. How Hot is Hot? Quirky demonstrations of frying eggs, baking cookies, or grilling steaks on a sidewalk can be a dramatic way to understand how hot surfaces can get in the summer, but...