People approach riding horses and training horses as though they were separate subjects or skill sets.

Every mealtime gives you the chance to provide nutrition and to nurture that special bond you have with your dog.

Many people know someone who has diabetes, but did you know that this someone could be your cat?

Virginia-based emergency veterinarian Katy Nelson has seen the havoc that a poor diet can wreak on a dog.

Steps to determining which reptile species is right for you.

In the not-so-distant past, there were basically two dog food options: puppy chow and everything else.

As you’re writing down your new year’s resolutions, take a minute to jot down some resolutions for your cat.

Cat foods are currently available in a variety of specialized formulas. There are foods for sensitive stomachs, hairball issues and overweight cats; for adult cats and kittens; and for "multi-cat" households. This means that pet owners can now easily find foods that meet the nutritional needs of most cats.

Brooklyn-based marketing manager Lori Townsend adopted her long-haired dachshund, Daisy, when the pup was weaned at 10 weeks old. Daisy had no health problems to speak of until soon after her seventh birthday: Suddenly she emptied her water dish more frequently and soaked the bathroom rug regularly with urine.

Anyone who has ridden for any length of time would be dishonest if they told you they have never felt fear.

Developing an independent seat is absolutely essential if a rider aspires to the upper levels of any equestrian sport. An independent seat is wonderful to have, beautiful to see, but difficult to describe in words.

Leaving a pill bottle opened on a low countertop, packing your medication in a plastic baggie or accidentally dropping a pill on the floor could harm your dog more than you realize.

Reptile equipment can be expensive, but a simple setup for a ball python doesn’t have to break the bank.

These snakes are a good choice for a "first pet" snake. They are generally docile, hardy, and easy to care for.

We communicate with a horse by using a corridor of pressures that suggest the shape, the pace, and the direction we want the horse to take. Removing a pressure is the horse’s "reward." It is the way we communicate to the horse, "Yes! That’s right." If your timing is off when you either apply a pressure or remove it, your communication becomes garbled. The horse will not make a clear connection between a particular pressure or corridor of pressures and the response you expect from him.

Finding the right instructor is essential if a rider wants positive, satisfying, and safe equestrian experiences. The "best" riding instructor may be a very different person for different riders. It is an adult student’s responsibility to choose an instructor that suits her current level of ability and her goals.

In the three years that Allie’s been working at Bryan Middle School in Bryan, Ohio, she’s been diagnosed with cancer four times. But hearing the "C" word doesn’t get her down. In fact, each time she’s diagnosed, she takes only a few days off for treatment.

Dr. Amber Andersen, a Los Angeles veterinarian pursuing a master’s in public health, makes mealtime special for her cats by singing and talking to them while opening their food.

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, an estimated 45 percent of all dogs in the U.S. are overweight or obese. Luckily, there are food choices, based on good science, that can help treat the problem of an overweight or underweight dog.

As Dr. Nancy R. Powel drives her mobile veterinary clinic around Baltimore and its environs these days, she makes house calls to dogs and cats – great and small – like a modern-day James Herriot.