How to protect yourself from ticks year-round

WASHINGTON — Ticks can be active in any season and it’s important to check for and remove the bloodsuckers as quickly as possible — especially after you’ve been outside hiking, gardening or enjoying nature. “Humans are outside more in summer so we hear about more tick infections,” said Sam Telford, an infectious diseases expert at […]
Pet allergies: How to help treat scratching, licking and biting

About five years ago, Gail Friedman noticed her Parson Russell Terrier was constantly licking his paws and seemed super uncomfortable. “The poor dog. I would put baby socks on his feet so that he wouldn’t lick them or bite at them,” said Friedman, of Oak Brook, Illinois. “I was constantly changing the socks, washing his […]
How to deal with the grief of losing a pet

PARIS (AP) — Even months later, the pain of losing a pet can still hit without warning. The trigger might be noticing — again, for the umpteenth time — how empty the house feels since your cat died, without the pitter-patter of padded paws. Or stumbling across the leash of the dog you lost and […]
How to garden when you love both dogs and plants

If you’ve ever had a dog, you know they don’t exactly tiptoe through the tulips. I’m fortunate that none of mine ever had a penchant for digging holes, but my late pit bull, Maddie, used to run through my perennial beds like a weed whacker, leaving horizontal coneflowers and black-eyes Susans in her destructive path. […]
How to survive snow and bitter cold that’s reached all the way to the Gulf Coast

ATLANTA (AP) — Protecting homes, cars, people and pets from snow, ice and bitterly cold temperatures just isn’t something many people are accustomed to in the Deep South. But northerners build certain tips into their everyday lives, from dressing in layers to trying not to panic if your car begins to slide. When approaching a […]
How to keep pets safe in winter weather

BOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) – With snow and colder temperatures in the forecast, there are some ways to make sure your pets stay safe and warm as they’re out enjoying the change in weather. Debbie Diamond with the Boyd County Animal Shelter said companion animals should not be left outside when the temperature hits freezing. […]
How to evacuate a wildfire: What to pack and safety tips

Evacuating a wildfire area can be scary, but experts say people can significantly improve their own safety with a little preparation and common sense. Creating a wildfire action plan, packing a “go bag” and maintaining basic situational awareness during evacuations can make a big difference when escaping a disaster, Jesse Torres, a battalion chief for […]
How To Protect Your Cat From Bird Flu

The death of an Oregon house cat and a pet food recall are raising questions about the ongoing outbreak of bird flu and how people can protect their pets. Bird flu has been spreading for years in wild birds, chickens, turkeys and many other animals. It was first confirmed in U.S. dairy cattle in March. […]
Bird flu is a growing threat to pets — here’s how to protect your furry friends

The death of an Oregon house cat and a pet food recall are raising questions about the ongoing outbreak of bird flu and how people can protect their pets. Bird flu has been spreading for years in wild birds, chickens, turkeys and many other animals. It was first confirmed in U.S. dairy cattle in March. The virus has been […]
Cats can get sick with bird flu. Here’s how to protect them

The death of an Oregon house cat and a pet food recall are raising questions about the ongoing outbreak of bird flu and how people can protect their pets. Bird flu has been spreading for years in wild birds, chickens, turkeys and many other animals. It was first confirmed in U.S. dairy cattle in March. […]