Europe has long been known for its pet friendly countries, as cities like Paris have welcomed dogs everywhere from restaurant tables to city shops. However, Tuscany, Italy has had a long-standing ban on pets in public – a ban that is soon to be lifted.

A new law was recently passed that will allow the family dog (or cat, rabbit or goldfish, for that matter) into theatres, museums, restaurants, post offices, and pretty much anywhere else their human companions choose to go. Pets in Italy must be well behaved and have a pet health certificate from a veterinarian in order to comply with the law’s provisions. Sounds like Italy just became the ideal dog vacation spot!

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Cats are certainly not known for being creatures of the water, but many have had to find their sea legs in the Netherlands. Nearly 100 neglected or abandoned cats are cared for on a houseboat docked by the Singel Canal in Amsterdam.

Called De Poezenboot, this sanctuary for stray cats has become something of a tourist attraction, as visitors are allowed on board to mingle with the kitties. Having been in operation since 1968, when its founder acquired an old Dutch sailing barge to house the rescued cats that were overflowing her home, De Poezenboot operates as a no-kill animal shelter seeking homes for its cats. Volunteers work hard to keep the boat clean and hygienic for its feline inhabitants, all of which are spayed or neutered upon admission to the floating cat shelter. With June being the ASPCA’s “Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat” month, what better time to take a look at one of the most unusual animal shelters in the world?

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Exercise is a great way to have fun with your dog while keeping pet obesity under control. Those tired of playing the same old game of fetch, however, may be interested in checking out competitive dog sports as an exciting way to bond with your dog and keep his weight under control. There are courses all over the world that specialize in dog training for these events, and there are many sports that are open to all breeds, including the following:

Flyball: These races involve teams of four dogs competing in relay fashion to complete a 51-foot long course. The course consists of a series of jumps, which lead to an automatic tennis ball launcher that the dogs must trigger and then retrieve the ball. There are over 375 active flyball clubs registered in North America, so there is likely to be a local team that your dog can compete with.

Agility: A good way to promote both dog health and obedience, agility is a sport that involves completing a timed obstacle course. Dog agility courses are commonly made up of hurdles, ramps, tunnels, see-saws, and tire jumps.

Canine Freestyle: Does your dog have a flair for musical interpretation? If so, canine freestyle might be right for your dancing dogs. In this competition, training and teamwork are emphasized as dog and handler work together in a choreographed performance set to music.

Disc Dog: If your dog enjoys playing frisbee, disc dog is likely to be an enjoyable event for him. Events include distance catching, which is your basic game of toss and fetch, as well as freestyle catching, where dogs are rewarded for canine athleticism and showmanship.

Rally: In this sport, dogs and their handlers complete a 10-20 station course. Instructions are placed at each station explaining the skill that must be performed. Although similar to obedience courses, canine rally is a good choice for beginners, as it is not scored as strictly as traditional obedience competition.

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Now you can get expert pet advice delivered straight to your iPod! In an effort to continually bring you the best information on pet health and natural pet care, Halo is introducing a podcast. Upcoming episodes will focus on topics that are important to those interested in the growing world of holistic pet care.

Download the first episode: Improving Your Pet’s Health: How to Eliminate Pet Obesity

Q: My dog is a 10 year old English Bulldog. He was diagnosed with Cushing’s Disease. Currently he is taking Lysodren and we are changing his diet. Can you recommend anything we should do to help him get better?

A: Cushing’s Disease is a complex hormonal disorder that affects many body systems. Often these dogs are obese and this complicates their condition. Have your veterinarian tell you how many calories your dog requires each day in order to lose excess weight. Then choose a natural dog food with high quality proteins that will help promote a lean body. Exercise is also important for dogs with Cushing’s Disease, and as they are often overweight or intolerant to warm temperatures, swimming is an excellent form of exercise to promote weight loss and good health.

Dogs with Cushing’s Disease frequently have problems regulating their blood sugar (what we call insulin resistance). It is best to feed them a natural dog food that has limited grains (carbohydrates) in order to keep blood sugar levels lower. Exercise also helps keep their blood sugar levels in check.

If your dog with Cushing’s Disease has high blood pressure (hypertension), you should minimize the amount of salt (sodium) he eats by feeding a high quality natural dog food as well as avoiding high sodium treats (packaged treats, lunch meat, cheese and dairy products, etc).

With proper medication and appropriate diet changes, your dog with Cushing’s Disease can live a healthier and happier life.

Do you need vet advice? Post a comment with your veterinary questions and we will send them to Dr. Donna Spector to be answered in a future column.

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