Watch Tip for week of Feb. 27, 2011:

Watch for poorly-sited dog or cat houses—those without shade or shelter from winds, or those set in low-lying areas, or those set too far from household entrances. To maintain health, outside pets need protection from extreme weather, lingering dampness, and insect pests. They need social interaction too. Seasonal moves of the pet’s house might make the most sense.

Savvy outside dog or cat owners could move pet houses seasonally if needed

Be thoughtful about placement of dog and cat houses, especially if the pet lives outdoors continuously. Climate, seasonal weathers, landscape and home features, and neighbors should all be considered. Don’t shy away from moving the house seasonally to optimize features of the yard; the turf will have an opportunity to heal too.

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Watch Tip for week of Feb. 20:

Watch for overweight and obese cats and dogs; obesity in pets is common in developed countries. Pets can develop arthritis and heart disease in addition to frequent digestive and intestinal upsets. For extremely obese animals, owners can even be prosecuted for animal cruelty.

Pets often “train” their owners to overfeed

Cats and dogs can become excellent manipulators of their people! By pleading for more food and treats, they can train their unwitting owners to overfeed, just to quiet them. Over time, the pets can become overweight and even obese. Sometimes pets will become “picky” about food, encouraging the owner to provide more and tastier food choices. In some households, one person might secretly feed an overweight pet, to earn more affection and attention from the pet. In any of these situations, the cat or dog looks so very cute in the act of charming their people to produce food. Who can resist?

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Watch Tip for week of Feb. 13:

Listen and watch for dogs and cats accidentally trapped in sheds, garages, and even homes, when families leave for winter vacations. Preparing for travel is distracting and mistakes happen. If you know that a petsitter is scheduled, keep an eye out to make sure visits are occurring. Be a good neighbor to the pets!