DogsAlabai Aziat Dogs: What the Breed Actually Is
Alabai Aziat dogs are Central Asian livestock guardians. FCI size minimums, temperament, and a yes-or-no owner checklist before you buy.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
12 min read·
The guide shelf
Blog
Published guides across dogs, cats, food, health, horses, and small pets, written by Dr. Janet Greenfield, BVMS, CVA, CERP. Search, open a category, or scroll the lot.
Categories
Photos open a category page
DogsBreeds, pregnancy, and the dog at the door.5 guides
CatsSleep, purring, and night vision.6 guides
FoodChocolate, onions, raisins. Call first.6 guides
HealthSenses, grass eating, and what is normal.4 guides
HorsesLifespan and the real cost of a horse.2 guides
Other petsRabbits and guinea pigs, in years not months.3 guides
Published guides
- Dogs
CatsAre Cats Nocturnal? Why Dawn and Dusk Come First
Cats are crepuscular, not nocturnal. Why they peak at dawn and dusk, why 5 a.m. wakeups happen, and when night yowling needs a veterinarian.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
11 min read·
Food safetyCan Dogs Eat Chocolate? No. Call a Veterinarian
Dogs cannot safely eat chocolate. Theobromine risk rises with dark and baker’s chocolate. What to tell a veterinarian or poison hotline now.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
11 min read·
HealthAre Dogs Color Blind? Blue, Yellow, and the Myth
Dogs are not fully color blind. They see blue and yellow well and struggle with red and green. What that means for toys, grass, and night vision.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
11 min read·
HorsesHow Long Do Horses Live? The Range Owners Should Plan For
Most domestic horses live about 25 to 30 years with dental and hoof care. What equine sources publish, and what shortens or stretches that range.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
11 min read·
Other petsHow Long Do Rabbits Live? Indoor Life vs the Hutch Myth
House rabbits often live 8 to 12 years indoors. Outdoor hutch and wild numbers are much shorter. What House Rabbit Society publishes and what changes it.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
11 min read·
DogsHow Long Are Dogs Pregnant? About 63 Days From Ovulation
Most dogs are pregnant about 63 days from ovulation, not the first mating. How veterinarians date a litter, and when owners should call.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
11 min read·
DogsHow Long Do Chihuahuas Live? The 14-16 Year Range
AKC and PetMD publish 14 to 16 years for Chihuahuas. Size the club actually lists, teacup marketing, and what to plan for a long toy-dog life.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
10 min read·
CatsWhy Do Cats Purr? Not Only Because They Are Happy
Cats purr when they are content, and also when they are stressed or in pain. VCA, CFA, and what the 25-150 Hz healing idea actually claims.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
11 min read·
CatsCan Cats See in the Dark? Dim Light, Not Total Dark
Cats cannot see in total darkness. They see far better than people in dim light. Tapetum lucidum, PetMD’s 5.5-7 times figure, and night-light myths.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
10 min read·
Food safetyCan Dogs Eat Raisins? No. Call a Veterinarian
Dogs cannot eat raisins or grapes. Cornell and poison hotlines treat any amount as a kidney emergency. What to tell a veterinarian now.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
11 min read·
Food safetyCan Dogs Eat Onions? No. Garlic Counts Too
Onions, garlic, leeks, and chives can damage a dog’s red cells. Merck’s published examples, why signs lag days, and why this page has no leftover chart.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
11 min read·
HealthWhy Do Dogs Eat Poop? Rule Out Medical Causes First
Coprophagia is common. VCA says rule out parasites and malabsorption first. Why puppies do it, adult new onset, and what actually helps.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
11 min read·
HealthWhy Is My Dog Eating Grass? Usually Normal, Not a Crisis
Most dogs eat grass without being sick first. VCA and AKC on the vomit myth, fiber, lawn chemicals, and when grazing needs a veterinarian.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
10 min read·
HorsesHow Much Does a Horse Cost? The Yearly Bill Is the Real One
The purchase price is usually the smaller check. UT Extension’s 2023 board example, The Horse and UK vet-farrier lines, and 25-30 years of keep.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
11 min read·
Other petsHow Long Do Guinea Pigs Live? Merck’s 5-8 Year Range
Merck publishes 5 to 8 years. VCA and RSPCA often say 5 to 6, with some living longer. Hay, teeth, vitamin C, and why a classroom year is too short.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
10 min read·
DogsHow Many Teeth Do Dogs Have? 28 Puppy Teeth, 42 Adult Teeth
Adult dogs have 42 teeth. Puppies have 28. VCA, PetMD, and AKC on the count, teething timing, and leftover baby teeth.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
10 min read·
DogsWhy Do Dogs Howl? Communication First, Then the Exceptions
Howling is a normal dog voice. AKC on sirens, breed tendency, and when new howling needs the veterinarian who sees that dog.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
10 min read·
CatsWhy Do Cats Knead? The Paws Push Because Nursing Started It
Kneading is leftover kitten nursing. Why cats push with their paws on laps and blankets, and when one swollen paw is a call.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
10 min read·
CatsWhy Do Cats Lick You? Social Grooming, Not a Lab Test
Cats lick people as social grooming. Why the lick-then-bite happens, and when bald patches or raw skin need a veterinarian.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
10 min read·
CatsAre Roses Toxic to Cats? ASPCA Says Garden Roses Are Not
ASPCA lists common garden roses as non-toxic to cats. Thorns, sprays, and true lilies in the same vase are the real emergencies.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
10 min read·
Food safetyCan Dogs Eat Avocado? Do Not Treat It as a Snack
ASPCA lists avocado as toxic and names persin. The pit is a blockage risk. Why this page has no leftover-flesh chart.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
10 min read·
Food safetyCan Dogs Eat Watermelon? AKC Says Flesh, Not Rind
AKC allows seedless watermelon flesh as an occasional treat. Skip the rind and seeds. This is not the grape rule.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
9 min read·
Food safetyCan Cats Eat Chocolate? No. Call a Veterinarian
Cats should not eat chocolate. Pet Poison Helpline and ASPCA on theobromine. Cats steal less than dogs. That is luck, not a dose chart.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
10 min read·
HealthWhy Do Dogs Lick Their Paws? Rule Out Itch and Pain First
A little paw licking is grooming. PetMD on allergies, infection, and the swelling or limp that means go in soon.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
10 min read·
Other petsHow Long Do Bearded Dragons Live? VCA’s 7-12 Year Captive Range
VCA publishes about 7 to 12 captive years. PetMD often says 8 to 10. UVB, heat, and a 48-hour reptile exam, not a desk-lamp myth.
Dr. Janet Greenfield
10 min read·