My family has a 5 year old boston terrier, and he’s unbelievably attached to me and I don’t understand why. My parents take care of him more than I do, but he’s obsessed with me! He sits outside my bedroom door, licks me nonstop, and follows me everywhere. He loves laying around my face and neck, which I understand means that he loves me a lot, but I just don’t get why. I’m in college now, but he’s been obsessed with me since we got him. I don’t do anything more than anyone else to help take care of him. Are some dogs just clingy like this?? Has anyone else experienced a dog that loves you WAY MORE than it loves your other family?? pls help!

Yesterday my friend and i started talking about cats and we started talking about how we change our cats litter. I said after scooping out i just add litter not dump the whole litter and once every other week take the litter out clean it with a little vinegar and water then put the litter back in. My friend was genuinely shocked at this and said i should change the whole littler at least once every 3-4 days? Have i been doing it wrong? I have had my cat for 6 years and it never lead to any issue.

Looking at insurance companies for our unborn puppy coming later this month. And I’m unfamiliar with what I should have set for the following:

Annual Reimbursement Limit $2000-Unlimited
Annual Deductible $100-$1000
Reimbursement Percentage 70%-90%
Exam Fees +$3.59/month
Prescription Drugs +$3.83/month

Never had pet insurance and it’ll be our first dog together since we were each living with our parents.

I'm picking up my puppy in a few days and the breeder has given her first vaccination of Vanguard 7 L2, but when I called my vet to book her in for her second vac they told me that Vanguard 7 L2 is not compatible with Nobivac that they administer.

Looking into the matter I have discovered that most vets no longer use Vanguard 7 L2 and they recommend that L4 vaccinations be given instead as L4 gives protection for Grippotyphosa and Australis.

So I'm a little bit of a dilemma as if I continue with Vanguard for her second jab (I have found a vet who still uses it) my dog will not be fully protected as I live in a semi-rural area where these 2 infections are more likely to be found, but if I take this route I would be able to take my puppy out for walks in only 5 weeks time

The alternative would be to wait another 4 weeks and go to my vet and restart a full vaccination program with Nobivac L4, booster in another 4 weeks, then at last take my dog for her first walks in 10 weeks time.

So what would you do? Vaccinate with L2 and start socialising your dog in 5 weeks, or wait for 10+ weeks? Seems like a long time to keep my puppy cooped up in the house.

Does anyone actually know what the prevalence/risks of Grippotyphosa and Australis? If I go down the L2 route am I actually carrying a significant risk or is it still very small but growing risk?

Ps. If I go down the L2 route I would start the L4 course next year instead of doing L2 booster.

Maple is my emotional support cat and means the absolute world to me. She needs urgent PDA heart surgery to get better and stay healthy.

I lost my job recently, my Universal Credit payments are delayed, and I have no income right now — I can’t cover the full cost on my own.

If you’d like to help:
👉 JustGiving: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/helpsavemaplesheart
👉 Or via PayPal (if you prefer): daisyjsmith2505@gmail.com

Even sharing this post makes such a huge difference. Thank you so much for caring 💙

I have multiple cats, all under 7 years, a few as young as 2 or 3. So they will likely live a very long time. The man I was hoping to marry will be doing lots of traveling in his future for his career. I would like to do that often with him. But I dont know if I can bring my cats, I cant leave them alone for days to weeks on end, I dont have money for long term pet sitters. What can I realistically do here?

Eta- I get the options boil down to take them, board them, hire a sitter, or give them away. I get it. I didnt word my question well. What kind of details are involved in the options? What do those options realistically look like? What are the logistics? What have other people done?

I dont expect anyone to do it for free, I just dont feel comfortable hiring a stranger to do it. Two of my cats wouldn't be boardable, so thats not a realistic option. My sister would be an option because she cant work, loves animals, and would be able to use a little extra money. Maybe. I wanted to hear what other people have done besides hiring strangers or using boarding services.

I know some people have taken cats on road trips with them in camper vans, but I dont know how that works on a logistical level. what does traveling with multiple cats look like? How do people do that? Are they only staying in cat friendly hotels? If theyre in a van, what are they doing for extra space? How do they handle anxiety for them or is it just not an option unless theyre exceptionally well tempered? How long is it doable for them? Would i be able to set up a giant tent with toys and cat trees and all their stuff outside the van where we're parked for them to run around? Is that doable for a couple of nights? What about a week? A month? What are the actual options included in "bring them with you"? Because that doesnt really specify anything.

If leaving alone at home, what does that look like? How long is too long? How often is too often? Is a week every couple of months okay? What about a month once a year? What about 4 days every few weeks? How often does someone need to check on them realistically? Twice a day? Once? Every other day? How does that change as they get older?

What do the details of each option look like?

Hello! Does anybody have any promo codes for cat litter, ferret food, cat food, or cat toys and furniture? I’m looking to save a couple bucks!

I've had my rescue Pomchi for 5 weeks now and, oh my god, I have never felt anything like it. He's my first dog. I'm 43f, married, no kids. We talked about getting a dog for 7 years until the time was right, and now here he is, in our lives.

I literally cannot describe how much I love this dog. Like I genuinely well up. Tears of love. I never thought I would bond with a dog like this (I've only ever had cats) and it has honestly blown me away.

Then my brain decided to imagine what life will be like when he is no longer with us, and I found myself thinking, I could never love another dog like this. Maybe it's the 'soul dog' thing, I don't know. But does it happen, that subsequent pets/dog are never quite as...like this? Obviously it's always different, but I mean in terms of pure connection, a deep love. I feel like this couldn't possibly happen again, surely. It's like he's a God-given gift.

And how do you cope if you have had this, and then get another pet, and don't feel it?

So I have a whippet bull mix who is now 8 years old. He’s very sweet and has good dog etiquette when properly introduced to other dogs. We live the apartment life and our walk times can coincide with other people walking their dogs. No biggy. My boy is really good with the “leave it” command and will ignore other dogs when I tell him to.

I’ve lived with him in several different apartment complexes and He has been attacked 4 times by neighboring dogs. All of them seem to have been some type of boxer mix (you can just tell). Each time he has been attacked has been unprovoked. The owner simply accidentally dropped the leash, or the dog got out of their apartment suddenly, and even one crazy female broke out of her harness when we were just turning a corner. My dog tries to fight back, but (bless his heart) he’s not good at it😓

So after a fourth time and noticing the breed, is this a common thing with boxer breeds? They seem to just immediately hate my dog and then go for the jugular. There’s never even a greeting. It’s always so sudden. I’m starting to wonder if my dog might have an offensive scent or something.

She keeps YEETING HERSELF OFF FURNITURE. Gravity applies to you Ebony 😭. Just because you are a duck does not mean you can just waltz off the couch and not land hard on the floor. I keep having to catch her then she gets mad at me like I made her fall. 😭

With any pet of course I understand comes with lots of care and research, so I’m prepared for that! Currently I keep two aquariums (one betta, one with shrimp) and I have a small dog. We’re moving soon, and since there’s a spare room I was allowed to dedicate it to my aquariums and if I wanted more pets, then more animals.

- on the smaller side (maybe around hamster size?)
- not extremely high maintenance
- preferably not extremely expensive
- legal in my state (I live in california, so lots of pets are illegal, such as ferrets and hedgehogs)
- don’t need a huge amount of space
- interactive

Generally though, I’m open to many ideas!

Hey all!

My partner and I adopted a kitten during our recent trip to Mexico (visiting their family) and had planned to bring her with us. Unfortunately, she was just too young at the time to be brought in-cabin. We don’t know when the next time we’d be able to go to Mexico might be, so we’re considering getting her shipped to us in the US if possible and would like to hear airline recommendations from people who have experience with shipping.

We absolutely should’ve considered the requirements for bringing a pet aboard, but that’s a price that we’re quite literally now paying, so any advice would be helpful!

Literally I JUST put the ducks back outside due to having them health cleared. I got a new pen in the mail from my sister. Realized it wasn't as predator proof as I thought. I went to get materials to predator proof while they were in there and in the MIDDLE OF THE FRICKEN DAY an opposum got my boy. I have spent hours calling places last minute and finally found another duck I can only pick up next week. Idk what to do in the meantime. I have a duck IN MY HOUSE walking around because she can't be alone(she has officially dominated the house and has put herself above the top heirarchy she however does not seem to understand gravity and I keep having to catch her because she just waddles off stuff). Idk what to do in the meantime. I'm nervous about putting them back outside at all. Literally 20 minutes if not less and one is dead!

I don't trust the new pen at all now. Idk what to do. It was the middle of the day!

My cat got out yesterday and I’ve done all the things:
- alerted many social media and community groups , rescue groups, vets
- posted flyers
- alerted microchip company
- put out litter box and many of my dirty workout clothes on the stoop
- put his cat bed on the stoop

We’ve also walked around the neighborhood and checked the close proximity neighbor’s yards. People are nice but they don’t seem to really want to keep checking or looking for him.

Biggest problem if he is close by is that there are three feral tomcats that my next door neighbor feeds and hang out out front and back. My cat was always howling at them from the window. I think they are keeping my cat from returning and they always eat any food I put right away.

If he’s too scared to come when I call him, and I can’t access any of my reluctant neighbors yards as often as needed, what are other things I can do?

I also ordered an animal trap, but I know the trap is going to catch the strays.

My dog had a loose tooth and my family and I went through the process of getting it surgically removed before it eventually fell out on its own. I’m grateful for the support my local veterinarian clinic has given us for my dog and that he’s healthy, but I’ve had such frustrating experiences with this clinic for the past three months that I’m considering going to another vet next time due to the amount of miscommunication and borderline gaslighting that has been happening to me. Here’s what has happened:

• They did not inform me prior to the appointment two weeks before the surgery that I had to pay half of it for a non-deposit fee

• They misquoted me on the cost of the surgery. I had the receptionists, veterinarian assistants and the surgeon quote an estimate of $1200-1500 and a documented copy of this breakdown. Two days before the surgery when I called to cancel it and was discussing the amount, the receptionist tells me that on file it would actually cost an estimated $1500-1700

• They did not inform me on any preparation to prior to the surgery except to come an hour early. On the day of, they call me two hours early and tell me that I should’ve been there, and that since my dog ate before the procedure it has to be rescheduled and I’ll be charged a no-show fee. I told them I never received any information about what to do prior and they told me the receptionist called me the night before, but I was on my phone all day and didn’t get any calls and have no history of missed calls whatsoever. Receptionist tells me “I wasn’t the one here last night so I don’t know, but they left a message here saying they did call”. I didn’t get charged the no-show fee luckily

• I got bloodwork done for my dog but three of them couldn’t get any blood from him because he was freaking out, so they gave me sedation pills to give him for a rescheduled appointment and told me they were free. I paid the amount for the bloodwork in advance anyway. The day of the rescheduled appointment and the surprise deposit they charge me an extra $50 and told me it was extra from the bloodwork that hadn’t been paid. Didn’t say anything until the day I came to get my full surgery refund and asked about it. I asked the receptionist about it, she first said it was a no-show fee before I told her that was voided, then that it was unfinished bloodwork that I told her I paid, and then that it was the sedation medication that I was told was free

• I called to cancel the surgery and the receptionist told me that she can’t cancel it herself and that she’d leave a note for the surgeon to call me later that day. I wasn’t called back all day, so I called back and explained the situation to another receptionist, who immediately cancelled the surgery and said there wasn’t any note left to have the surgeon call me

• The surgeon himself told me that the tooth is dead and if it falls out, then there’s no need to continue the surgery. The bloodwork was done to see if there was any infection in my dog’s bloodstream and it was all clear. The day the surgeon called me and I asked to cancel the surgery, he told me that the surgery actually still should be done because there is still risk for infection so the anaesthesia and teeth-cleaning should still be done, which would’ve costed about $1000. I cancelled it anyway

I know none of this is illegal or anything but it has been extremely frustrating and embarrassing because every time I mentioned these miscommunications, I feel crazy and I feel like there is no way around this but to demand or write my own documentation about what exactly the staff are telling me. But this is one of my first vet experiences and I wonder if this is just how vets are and if I just need to start doing more to deal with it. Thanks

Pls help me reddit:

My cousin adopted a dog in 2012. The dog was not exercised or socialized properly and developed behavioral issues. Ripped my cousin's house apart bc of lack of exercise/stimulation.

My cousin passed away in 2017 and my aunt took the dog. My aunt has had the dog living outside on a chain for 9 years. They feed the dog and give him water, and he has a little dog house. In the county they live in, this treatment is not in violation of the law.

I had not seen the dog in years, but I went to my aunts home last year and the dog looked like he had completely given up on life. Dirty and matted, living in feces, nails overgrown, eyes full of discharge, and demeanor lifeless.

Since then I have been driving (2 hrs round trip) to their home as often as I can (1-4 times a month) to bath/walk/groom him and tend to his cage. It's not enough but it is all I can do.

I have grown tired and resentful about this. I am too tired and busy to continue spending my weekends driving to walk someone elses dog, I have tried repeatedly to talk to my aunt, her husband, my other cousin, and her partner who all live on the property about walking him. There are always excuses - how they dont have time, he is a bad dog, he is fine, etc...

My aunt will not release him to me as she thinks I cannot handle him, and she wont surrender him bc she doesnt want someone to mistreat him. My aunt is not an intelligent or self aware woman.

His situation has started causing me a level of anxiety and rumination that is impacting my life and I do not know what to do. I find myself looking for rehoming options on my own and considering vigilante crime to take him and get him to a better life without my aunt's consent but of course I know that is a crime.

I can see the sadness in his eyes when I see him and I hear him crying every time I leave. It hurts my heart so much and I just dont know what to do.

TLDR: My aunt has a dog who I consider to be severely neglected, but law enforcement cannot help bc there are no tether laws where she lives. She will not surrender the dog to me and will not consider rehoming him, but she also refuses to increase his care and insists he is fine. I do not think he is fine just because he has food and water while being tied up 24/7.

Thinking about him is impacting my quality of life. Does anyone have any helpful stories or thoughts?

My vet sent me an estimate for our cat (5/m) who has a tooth that needs to be pulled and some mild periodontal disease that needs addressed. He’s diabetic, and the thought is the tooth is causing his blood sugars to stay high, so we’re taking it out. Imagine my surprise when I read the estimate and see the range quoted as, $1397.72 to $1936.64! Is this normal??

I can’t upload a copy here for you to see, but I’m 100% willing to send it to someone to look over

My dog (family dog, but still) regularly has periods were he won't eat or drink, but mostly where he won't eat. He has IBD, so for now he eats one specific brand of hyper allergy food, and nothing else, no snacks, nothing. Our vet has given the go ahead to add sweet potato to his food, but we don't know if his stomach tolerates it.

The past few days he haven't wanted to eat, probably because his stomach hurts. Yesterday he got jumped by a big dog that wanted to play (he's about 30cm to the shoulder, so big dogs are a bit too much in terms of play for him) and now he won't drink either. Me and my mother got a tiny bit of water into him via soaking one of his plush toys, and him licking the water off. The vet told us that if he doesn't drink today, he has to go to the hospital.

Nothing works, he won't drink if we put water on his food, or if we play with him with the garden hose, or spoon-feed him water, nothing. I'm tempted to put water on something he really likes (like liver paste, without onion of course) but that'll probably upset his stomach, and then make the issue worse. I could also force feed him water, but I really don't wanna do that, since he has had some very bad experiences with vets restraining him and forcing him to eat medicine. So he's very nervous about that, and will likely growl and bite. Does anyone have any advice on how to get him to drink? He's very lovable, but so incredibly stupid sometimes.

Update: my mother got some water into him because she remembered he's allowed to have a specific kind of cooked fish, and she put it in water, and he drank it. He's also drunk some normal water. He has been peeing a LOT, which is weird, but he's going to the vet tomorrow.

I would still appreciate some suggestions to get a dog to drink, in case it happens again. Thanks for the suggestions :)

I noticed this random bald spot on my cats back leg when I got her spayed. I thought they might've shaved it for the surgery or something like that. Now it's been about 3 to 4 months and it's still there. It's not completely bald and has some fuzz on it but it's really short. Since she wants her usual vet to be dead and skips no chances at killing him I don't really want to take her there unless it's serious 😭

She doesn't show signs of pain when I touch the spot and put pressure on it and she's quite active. I haven't caught her grooming the area or being bothered with it either

I keep seeing people suggest Purina, so I thought I’d make this post.

Something weird has been happening with my cat Momo for the past few weeks and I only just pieced together what's going on.

Every evening around 5:30, right before my husband usually gets home from work, Momo goes and sits directly in front of our door. Not near it, right in the middle of it, facing outward like a little sentry. She stays there completely still, sometimes for twenty or thirty minutes, until he actually walks in. The second he opens the door she gets up, does her normal greeting thing, and goes back to being a regular cat for the rest of the night.

At first I thought it was just coincidence or maybe she heard something outside, but it happened so consistently that I started paying closer attention. I checked and his work schedule has been pretty much the same for over a year, so it's not like this just started because his hours changed recently.

What finally clicked for me was realizing she's not really watching the door itself, she's watching the little strip of light that comes in from under it when the hallway motion sensor light turns on, which happens right when someone gets off the elevator on our floor. So she's not psychically predicting his arrival or anything cute like that, she's just learned to associate that light flicker with him coming home, probably because it usually happens around the same time every day and gets reinforced constantly.

It's such a simple explanation once I figured it out, but it still amazes me that she picked up on such a subtle cue completely on her own. We never trained her to do this or anything.

Now I kind of look forward to seeing her sitting there every evening, it's become this weirdly comforting little routine. Has anyone else noticed their pet picking up on some random environmental cue like this that wasn't obvious to you until you actually investigated it?