Rattlesnake season has started early here in San Diego and that means it is time to be extra vigilant when walking your dogs. If you are walking trails with deep grass and lots of rocks where snakes can hide, keep your dog on a leash and make sure you know where he is at all times. Dogs are curious and you don't want him putting his nose or paws in the hiding place of a rattler.

When hiking, be sure to have a first aid kit handy in a backpack and your cell phone with you in case your dog gets bitten.

In San Diego we have leash laws and if you are caught on a public street or park etc. with your dog off leash you can end up paying a hefty fine. Although it may appear that the purpose of the leash laws is to create additional revenue for the local government, which is probably true, that is not the most important reason we have these laws.

The laws were created to protect people and other animals, as well as the pooch off leash. You may have an extremely well-behaved dog who never leaves your side, however, there are dogs out there that react very aggressively when approached by a dog not on a leash.

The March issue of San Diego Pets Magazine has a wonderful article in it written by Heidi Jeter of the Morris Animal Foundation. She lists the Subtle Signs of Feline Illnesses in an article titled,"The Science Behind Keeping Kitties Healthy".This is so important for cat owners I want to share it with you.

Jeter states: If your cat shows any of the following signs, contact your veterinarian:

Dr. Gregory Berns, a neuroscientist and professor at Emory University in Atlanta, decided to research the emotional intelligence of dogs. In order to do this, he needed to perform MRI scans on dogs while they were conscious.

 Any of you who have ever had an MRI scan know the equipment is very loud, the space is very confined, and you have to remain completely still during the scan. Prior to Dr. Berns' work with his rescued black terrier Callie, a dog would have to be anesthetized to perform an MRI, but that would not permit the scientist to get the data he wanted.