My cat brother Kyle has started peeing outside the box At first they thought it was me doing it but then they caught him in the act. Nothing has really changed around here so we don't think it's stress of any kind. Today they're taking him to the vet to get tested for a urinary tract infection. If it's a UTI will he go back to using the box after it's cleared up? If it's not a UTI then what could it be and how hard will it be to train him back? I sure hope Kyle's okay and that we can get things back to normal around here. Any ideas, insights or words of encouragement are welcome.

Keep your pets safe this holiday season by following these tips:

1. If you have a live tree, make sure that you cover the water in the base so that your pets can't drink it. The pine sap and chemical additives used to extend tree life are dangerous if ingested.  Clean up fallen pine needles frequently as these can be toxic if swallowed.
2. Secure your tree so that it won’t fall if curious cats climb the branches.
3. Clean up all ribbons, and tinsel, and keep these decorations high enough that they are out of reach as they can block intestines if they are eaten by your pets. (more...)

One of The Ruby Scoop's favourite blogs is about the life of a sweet 9 year old Boston Terrier named Buddy. Buddy was diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma and is being cared for naturally under the guidance of an alternative veterinarian here in Ontario. We check in regularly to see how this sweet pooch is doing. If you have a dog recently diagnosed or living with cancer, you'll get a lot of good tips on natural treatment and proper diet. If you love dogs, you'll fall in love with this brave Boston and his compassionate and devoted mama Joanne. Ruby and I hope to meet him in real life one day!

Check out Animal Planet's dog breed video series. Is your breed there?

Just like their human counterparts, pets show various signs of aging when they enter the senior years. The only problem is their owners are not always aware of what to look for and may miss those signs—which is very crucial—since detection and prevention are the keys to both longevity and a quality life for your pet. The following are five common health conditions in aging pets as outlined in The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health.
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