Cathy Rosenthal

When I adopted Buster, I was told he was a boxer-St. Bernard mix. The story goes that his mother, a boxer, had been hit and killed by a car, and at 2 weeks old, he and his brother were orphans who needed to be bottle-fed every few hours. A colleague fostered them, and I adopted them at 4 months old. More Animals Matter: Is it safe to use floor products if my dog licks the floor? Buster had a short coat, brown-and-white markings, and the underbite common with boxer breeds, but he had more of a ta…

Americans love to scare each other, especially on Halloween. The night, however, can be a real fright for our pets. What if a mummy or monster jumps out from the bushes and delivers a blood-curdling scream just a few feet from your normally well-behaved dog? Your dog might think you’re being attacked. Instead of sitting calmly, as you have trained him, he may bark and lunge at the Halloween demon to protect you. More Animals Matter: What to do if your dog swallows socks Pets and little kids don’…

Dear Cathy, We live in Bexar County on 3½ acres. One day, out of the blue, we had a mama cat and four kittens living under our shed. The kittens are getting big, and we’re feeding them. I want to find out if a TNR program is available, as we don’t want dozens of cats on the property someday. Our neighbors can help catch them, and we can get them fixed one by one; I’m hoping we can coax them with food. I’ve never owned a cat in my life. They are skittish and all run away except for one brave gra…

Dear Cathy, My dog (a pit bull mix) and I enjoy a long morning walk several days each week. Lately, with temperatures in the 40s, he has been giving me the stink eye about going out. I grew up with Labradors, who love the cold, but I don’t know when it is too cold for a shorthaired dog to be outside or for how long. Thanks for your advice. Gale Dear Gale, Dogs, even those with short coats, should generally be comfortable walking when temperatures are in the 40s. But just like with people, it de…

Dear Cathy, I recently lost my 14-year-old cat, which I adored, to cancer. It ripped my heart out. He had to have special food and medications, of which I now have an excess on hand. I called the local city shelter, and they can’t use it. It is a shame to have to throw it out. The last bag of cat food, which is for cats with cancer, cost $65 and has hardly been used. Also, I had just gotten his prescription of prednisolone and Cobalequin refilled. If you know of anyone who can use this food and…

When it comes to our feline friends, they are often less seen and heard than dogs. But cats have much to say and are eager to communicate with their families. If you have multiple cats, you already may be an expert in speaking feline. But cats are creatures of subtlety, and most of us don’t always understand what they saying. Here are a few ways to become more fluent in speaking “cat.” MYSTERY CANINE ILLNESS: Here’s what we know First, listen. Cats are very vocal, but we don’t always hear them b…

During COVID, more people opened their doors to adopting pets than ever before. Animal shelters rejoiced. But COVID — and all these new adoptions — laid bare a problem that had slowly been brewing for over a decade. There are not enough veterinarians to treat all the dogs and cats in the U.S. “COVID put more pressure on an already tight labor shortage for vets,” said Dr. Whitney Miller, Petco’s chief veterinarian who is based out of its San Antonio corporate office. “COVID burst the dam, and the…

San Antonio is getting a new service aimed at helping elderly, financially challenged pet owners, and pet owners with transportation issues. Spay Neuter Network, in collaboration with Petco Love and the San Antonio Area Foundation, is set to launch a transport program in early March. This innovative initiative will pick up pets at “bus-stop-like” locations and transport them to SNN for their scheduled spay-neuter surgeries. These stops will be strategically located in low-income neighborhoods wi…

As spring emerges, the allure of flowers and plants can enchant both gardeners and pet owners alike. However, amid the season’s beauty lies a potential danger for our furry companions. Many flowers and plants, if ingested, could jeopardize the health and well-being of our dogs and cats. BARKING DOGS? Neighbor looks for low-conflict resolutions Daffodils and hyacinths, for example, contain poisonous alkaloids that can trigger symptoms like vomiting, low blood pressure, diarrhea and convulsions in…

Dear Cathy, Recently, we had out-of-town friends visit. They brought two large, well-behaved dogs and stayed in a nearby rental house. When they left, they said the dogs got excited and badly damaged the inside of the front door. They told the homeowner, who was gracious about it. But is there anything she can do to make sure something like this doesn’t happen again? She wants to travel more with her dogs but doesn’t know how to handle this issue. Gwen DOG TRAINING? Here are some tips. Dear Gwen…