Orphaned Young Penguin Couldn’t Return Home Due to Her Fear of Water
Young animals separated from their mothers can often develop trauma from their experiences in the wild alone. There is no assurance of survival, especially when they still have no hunting skills. The orphaned animal might die out of starvation and dehydration. Most times, they could get into an accident or encounter a predator. The developing trauma is also a huge factor in decreasing the animal’s chance of survival. Photo: Youtube/The Dodo An orphaned young penguin almost did not survive the ocean because she developed a fear of water...
Heartbroken Dog Who Lost Her Puppies In Barn Fire Cares For Orphaned Litter Like Her Own
A heartbreaking situation had a positive ending when a mama dog was able to foster and care for a litter of orphaned puppies. It all started when Jessica Woodruff’s barn caught fire in Roseburg, Oregon. Tragically, the animals inside the barn (four goats, a pig, and a little of seven three-week-old puppies) didn’t survive the incident. Photo: PXHERE Speaking with Inside Edition, Woodruff said, “It all happened within minutes. It’s horrible.” She believes the fire was started by a heat lamp that was keeping the...
Why Do Cats Rub Their Heads Against Things?
Have you ever wondered why cats rub their heads on things? The phenomenon is known as head butting, head bunting, or head bonking. It’s something most cat owners have probably noticed their felines doing, but many may not understand why. Photo: Pexels/Cleomar Mattos Renowned cat expert Jackson Galaxy dives into the topic on YouTube, writing: “Why do cats rub their face against things including you? What do we make of cats head-butting you and other cats? Expression of true love? Passive-aggressive cat display of dissatisfaction?...
Dog Won’t Stop Barking At Pregnant Mom And Ends Up Saving Her Life
Alhanna Butler was 18 weeks pregnant when she nearly died from a terrible infection that would’ve taken her life and the life of her unborn child. Thankfully, she was able to get medical attention just in the nick of time and she credits that all to her dog, an 18-month-old Akita named Keola. Photo: Alhanna Burdis On Facebook, Alhanna explained that when she became pregnant, friends told her she should “get rid of” Keola. Perhaps they were worried the large dog would pose a safety threat to a little baby, or simply require...
Eastern Food Therapy: the benefits of balance
Your dog doesn’t have to be limping to be out of balance. There’s such a thing as your dog having internal imbalances, which can be the result of a poor diet and an unhealthy lifestyle. Eastern food therapy (EFT) aims to fix internal imbalances, so your dog can become its healthiest and happiest self. What is Eastern Food Therapy (EFT)? EFT has been used for thousands of years stemming from the belief that food is medicine. It is based upon the understanding that when an illness occurs it means that there is an imbalance somewhere...
Chihuahua
Weighing less than 6 pounds, a Chihuahua fits easily in the arms of his family. But don’t be fooled: He’s small only in stature, not personality. Chihuahuas are feisty, loyal, opinionated and (let’s just call it what it is!) rather full of themselves. Perhaps their pride today comes from their esteemed heritage. The Chihuahua’s predecessors, after all, were considered sacred. Where did the Chihuahua come from Although the stories of the breed’s beginning are cloudy, historians generally agree that the Chihuahua...
Watch the Touching Story of How a Deaf and Blind Dog Met His Genuinely Loving Human Dad
It’s truly heartwarming to see a special needs dog get adopted. Providing them with a safe space where they are accepted is their most important duty to be their human parents. Your adopted dog might be lame, missing a leg, only has one ear, deaf, or blind, but they are more than those physical conditions. Photo: Youtube/GeoBeats Animals Like any other dog, the one with special needs also has a personality. They are even bright — you can train them at home for their convenience. Those dogs can certainly make you feel loved as...
Safe and Stress-Free Ways to Gain a Shy Dog’s Trust
Adopting a dog has got to be one of the most exciting moments in life. You can’t wait to bring the puppy home and create memories with them. Although it’s exciting, you better check on your dog first. Your first interaction should have their consent. Do not touch them, especially when you notice that they cower away or are barring their teeth to you. Dogs tend to shy away or get defensive due to anxiety, fear, or when their trauma is triggered. Photo: Unsplash/T.R Photography It would be best if you understood that it’s...
Elderly Dachshund Races Against Youngsters And Refuses To Give Up
They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. That may or may not be true, but one thing is certain: a dog is never too old to work toward his dreams! A senior pooch at Picnic Day at U.C. Davis in California recently demonstrated this when he attempted to compete in a race against other, younger Dachsunds. Photo: Twitter/@tinysnekcomments The “Doxie Derby” was set up in a gymnasium that was surrounded by packed bleachers. The crowd eagerly watched as the stubby dogs raced across the floor to the finish line – all of...
Man Spots Stray Dogs In War-Torn Ukrainian City Lining Up For A Meal
The war in Ukraine disrupted millions of people across the country, and many people were forced to flee. In the chaos, it wasn’t just humans that were impacted in a big way, but animals as well. Wild animals, stray animals, pets, and farm animals couldn’t escape the effects of the war. In the aftermath of war-torn towns, many people are attempting to help the animals that were left behind. Photo: Pexels/Ayaan Sulaiman One such person, Nate Mook, has been actively working to support Ukrainian pets that no longer have homes or...
On This National Cook for Your Pets Day, Which Human Foods Can Cats and Dogs Eat?
November 1 is National Cook for Your Pets Day. The annual occasion encourages pet parents to whip something up for their pup or their favorite feline. Our dogs and cats have plenty of food options that are more catered to their specific nutritional needs than your typical human food. However, there are many human foods that they can eat. If you’re armed with that knowledge, you can prepare a treat or two for them. Which Human Foods Can Dogs Eat? Proteins PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK / BIT24 When it comes to protein, dogs are more than happy to...
How You and Your Dog or Other Pets Can Become a Pet Therapy Team
You may have seen them in airports surrounded by harried travelers or in hospitals visiting patients. They make the rounds at nursing homes, crisis centers, schools, and any number of places people need a lift in spirit. We’re talking about dogs and their owners teaming up to bring smiles to the faces of those who are stressed or lonely. They’re generally referred to as pet therapy teams, and there’s no shortage of need for them across the country. Pet Therapy Programs If you are the owner of a dog who is gentle and...
6 Great Ways to Help Animal Shelters, Rescues, and Sanctuaries Year-Round
Many people are under the common misconception that the only way to help animal shelters and rescues is by donating money to support their efforts, but that’s not true. There are plenty of great ways to show your support in earnest that don’t include writing a check. With that in mind, we wanted to share with readers some of the many ways their good intentions can be realized beyond a once-a-year cash influx. Volunteer at Your Local Rescue One way you can help is by donating your time, not necessarily your money. In many ways,...
Black Cats and the Many Myths that Surround Them, Including Adoption
National Black Cat Day falls on October 27th. Every year around Halloween, rumors start to swirl, dredging up myths that black cats are bad luck and harbingers of dark things to come. One of the most common myths is that black cats are evil and difficult to find homes for. They opine that these felines are at risk of being “irresponsibly adopted” and that once the spooky season is over, they’ll be right back to where they came from: shelters and rescues. Photo: Pixabay/Virvoreanu-Laurentiu The Curse of the...
Ask Dr. Aziza: Why Your Dog Can’t Stop Itching and How to Relieve it
An itchy dog is a common occurrence in the vet clinic, but several things could be causing this discomfort. Let’s take a closer look at the top causes of itching and how we treat it to provide your dog with some itch relief. Reason #1: Fleas Fleas are a type of parasite that can cause severe itchiness and it’s the most common cause of non-stop itching. Some dogs are more sensitive to fleas than others, but all are affected to some degree. Flea preventatives are the best way to protect your pup from fleas and avoid the need for dog...
Puppy Attempts Her First “Quack Walk” On Family Farm
A little puppy got to experience his very first Quack Walk on her family’s farm and it’s too cute! The puppy lives on the Scofflaw Farm in Cedar Hill, Tennessee, a cruelty-free, no-kill family farm. Photo: YouTube/Scofflaw Farm Every morning, the family enjoys a Quack Walk, a leisurely stroll around the farm. The animals follow their human and the dogs who lead the pack as they walk around grassy fields and take in the morning air. When introducing a new animal to the mix, that animal has to learn the ropes. When a little Great...
Feisty Guard Dog Protects His Family And Home From Curious Black Bear
Small dogs have a reputation for being “yappy” and occasionally nippy. It’s not because they’re aggressive, but they may just be protective of their home and loved ones. A Schnauzer named Liebs is one such dog. Liebs may be small but he takes his duty as a guard dog very seriously. Photo: YouTube/USA Today The 12-year-old pooch lives with his owners in Duluth, Minnesota. Duluth, Minnesota is home to plenty of wildlife, including black bears. On one particular occasion, a curious black bear decided to pay Liebs’...
Student Rescues Senior Chihuahua with Alopecia, Takes Her from Scaredy Cat to Social Butterfly
When Charisma, a college student and rescue org volunteer, first met Hazel, the dog was in rough shape. She was missing lots of teeth and fur, she had scratch and bite marks all over her, and her skin was covered in itchy pustules. All the same, it was love at first sight. Charisma didn’t care a lick about what the tiny animal looked like or about what her medical needs might entail. She believed that all rescue dogs, no matter their age or health, “deserve the world.” Photo: Instagram/lil.witch.hazel Hazel was brought to OC...
Dog Friendly Apple Picking Do’s and Don’ts
Kristina Lotz Kristina Lotz has been a writer on all-things animal for over a decade. A former CPDT-KA dog trainer, she has competed in agility, herding and rally with her dogs. Now, she clicker trains her horse! Follow life on her farm @MeridaTheBitless. Source:...
Helping People by Helping Pets
Submission Guidelines Thank you for your interest in writing for Animal Wellness. As the #1 natural health magazine for pets in North America, we take pride in providing our readers with the information they need to make wise health care choices for their animal companions. Our publication embraces the entire holistic spectrum, from physical health issues to the emotional and spiritual well being of our animals. We welcome unsolicited articles and story outlines as long as they focus on holistic healing, whether physical, emotional or...
