(hla) Dogs have been discovered to be useful for another type of service to man; they can warn diabetic patients when their blood sugar levels are becoming low.

The powerful sense of smell of canines is no new story. Alexandra Horowitz, dog-cognition researcher at Barnard College, claims in her book 'Inside of a Dog' that dogs can even detect a teaspoon of sugar in a million gallons of water.

Every being needs a trim at some point whether it is us humans, animals or even plants. Trimming helps keep an organism look neat and clean. Giving your pet a haircut (or more accurately known as 'furcut') can be a challenging task. Things can get messy if it is done correctly and your pet may even get hurt along the process. In this article, I will be guiding you how to give your pet a haircut - the best way I know possible.

If you are looking to start cutting pet care costs, there are some fairly simple and easy ways you can do so! I do not know what I would do without my pets and as much as I love them, taking care of them can get pretty expensive. From vaccinations to de-worming treatments, pet care can be quite costly. Let’s take a look at cutting pet care costs so both you and your pet are healthy and happy!

Does my pet have a skin condition?
Your pet's skin should be smooth and soft with no flaking, redness or signs of irritation. It should be neither too dry nor too oily and have no areas of hair loss. For an accurate diagnosis and treatment options, always consult your veterinarian.

If you notice your pet's skin is rough, flaky or irritated and it is scratching, biting or licking it more than usual, then it might be suffering from a skin condition and your veterinarian may recommend tests to identify the exact reason. Common causes include:

If one cannot afford to help strays battle through bitter weather, here are some alternatives. Get some help from the community or friends-alike to raise funds, or build a temporary shelter for these strays. Here are some tips on what you can do to make it a better (if not tolerant place) for these animals if you really cannot take them in:

In my previous article "Don't Buy Pets, ADOPT!", I discussed about adopting shelter animals to save lives and simple steps to reduce the number of unwanted animals. Not everyone may agree to adopt shelter animals as home pets, but even if one chooses not to; all of us CAN still make a difference to these animals’ lives:

Just a normal day at the shelter. Because you think it's your right to buy a dog from a breeder while thousands of dogs are dying every day, go ahead. But don't you dare call yourself a dog lover!

Dogs are the owner's pride. People do stop and admire a dog whose coat looks and shiny. After all, who can resist a cute looking canine? It is therefore every owner's wish that their dogs have a healthy-looking coat.

A dog whose coat looks dry and matted usually signals that it is poorly fed and is lacking certain nutrients and vitamins. Such dogs are more vulnerable to suffer from skin allergies. Dogs who are not fed a proper diet are also more likely to have a dull coat and even experience hair loss. Therefore, it is important to carefully monitor your dog's diet.

Maggot infestation is a problem that often haunts pet or livestock owners. It is otherwise known as Myiasis. Vulnerable to this condition are pets that are kept outdoors, which causes their skin to be moist. Prolonged skin moisture can cause inflammation and infection, making it a favourable spot for flies to lay eggs. Fly larva can hatch as fast as within 24 hours. This especially applies to weak and debilitated pets.