One year in a cat’s life is roughly equivalent to seven human years. When your cat reaches age 9, your vet should request a senior wellness exam. You can’t stop your dear cat from growing older, of course, but there are things you can do to help support your aging kitty.
Author Archive | Vanessa
Summer Getaways With Your Pets
For most people in the Northwest, the coast is a powerful magnet, calling us to play for a day, or an extended stay. For pet lovers, the getting away just keeps getting better, as ever more destinations, shops and lodgings declare themselves pet-friendly. Nearly every coastal town is pet-friendly to a degree, but some towns […]
Eugene’s Firedogs
There’s nothing like a dog—or two—to remind a person of what is important in life. In Amy Linder’s case, her two dogs, Cody and Casey, keep her focused in both life and work. Cody and Casey are each gorgeous Dalmations, and Amy is Eugene’s Deputy Fire Marshall.
Downward Dog – Doing Yoga With Your Pet
Suman Barkhas puts a twist on the traditional yoga practice. For him, downward-facing dog is not just for humans anymore. Suman has taught yoga and tai chi in Eugene for 10 years, so when he noticed his dog, Jaya, doing what looked like yoga poses, he encouraged it.
Itchy Dogs and Cats Can Be Helped
Allergies in pets usually develop between ages two to five. In his practice Dr. Plant sees about 90 percent dogs and 10 percent cats with skin issues, many with chronic problems. “What I see runs the gamut of the same kinds of skin problems that people can get,” he says. “I think it’s underestimated by […]
Animal Services’ Budget Stressed
An article in the Register-Guard caused a shudder among animal lovers, reporting that Lane County Animal Services (LCAS) stands to lose even more money in its budget. LCAS provides numerous animal services in Eugene, including enforcing the city’s animal control code, and providing services such as shelter, adoption, spay/neuter, and licensing dogs and cats. Last […]
Ollie’s Last Act Steals the Show
John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” is full of tragic characters, but one four-legged actor in particular has stolen both the show and the audience’s hearts. Ollie is a well-known dog in Hillsboro. Ollie’s also 14 years old. She was diagnosed with cancer and given three months to live, but her performances in the play […]
Pet Allergies
Is itching your dog’s favorite activity? We all know people who suffer from allergies and their symptoms: red, watery eyes; scratchy throat; itchy or runny nose; medicine that makes you feel like a zombie. Dogs and cats can have allergies too, but their symptoms don’t look the same as ours do, so pinpointing their problems […]
Make Your Own Corned Beef-It’s Easy!
Come March, winter’s been gnawing at our bones for too long. We’re ready for spring’s warmth, and St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 offers the promise of just one more wintry holiday before the sun starts to strengthen. The signature dish of St. Patrick’s Day, corned beef, offers one last chance to steam up the […]
Straw Bale Building Works – Even in Oregon
By Vanessa on March 26, 2014 in Home Walkthroughs, Register-Guard, Salvage and Design, Science and Technology
Thanks to that old story “The Three Little Pigs,” conventional wisdom holds that only a glutton for punishment would build a house of straw. But it’s time to take a match to that old cliché, particularly when the building material is bales of rye grass. A 1 1/2-story home was Eugene’s first straw bale dwelling […]