1.	Why does my dog eat grass?
2.	Why do dogs lift their legs when they go to the bathroom?
3.	How great is the sense of smell in dogs?
4.	At what age should housetraining begin?
5.	I just found out that my cat has tapeworms. Can this be harmful to myself or my children?
6.	My cat has very matted fur that I've been unable to comb out. What can I do for her?
7.	Do cats need to get vaccinated every year?
8.	I'm having some trouble getting my cat to use his litter box. He keeps going to the bathroom all over the house. Can you give me some advice?
1.	Eating grass is basically a normal behavior for dogs, one which experts have given varying theories as to why they do this. Some believe that since dogs commonly vomit after eating grass, they eat grass in order to vomit. They may have an upset stomach or have eaten something bad and thus feel compelled to induce vomiting. Those who believe this think then that it's important that you not discourage your dog from eating grass when he feels so inclined. Another theory is that, in the wild, the normal diet of canines like wolves and foxes includes grass, whether they're actively seeking it out or eating herbivores. Because of this then, grass can also be considered a normal part of a dog's diet. And yet another theory is a rather simple one. Dogs eat grass simply because they like it. In fact, there may be certain species of plants and grasses that are particularly appealing to dogs. Unless your dog is eating grass excessively, it's really not a concern and you needn't be worried about it.
2.	Dogs use their urine as a scent marker. You can think of it as a calling card, a signal letting other dogs know that they've been there. Many male dogs and some female dogs will “mark their territory” by urinating in many places. This establishes their scent on their territory, something that other dogs will readily pick up on. It's not exactly certain why a male dog lifts his leg. By lifting his leg, the male dog is getting his urine on a vertical surface. One theory is that these vertical surfaces allow the scent of urine to last longer than horizontal surfaces do. Another theory is that this is more noticeable to other dogs because it's closer to nose level and thus less likely to be missed. I've also heard of a third theory which seems quite plausible. You may or may not have noticed that some male dogs seem to struggle a bit while lifting their leg, giving the appearance that they're actually trying to get the urine as high as possible. Some believe that this suggests that the higher the scent of the urine, the better. One reason for this might simply be that larger dogs can clearly get the scent of their urine higher than smaller dogs, thus the higher up the scent of the urine, the larger or perhaps more imposing the owner of that scent would appear to other dogs.
3.	A dog's sense of smell is, indeed, very great. In fact, their sense of smell is about 50 to 100 times more powerful than a human's. Puppies are born with their eyes closed and greatly rely on their sense of smell to survive. Many dogs, particularly as they get older, have poor eyesight and rely on smell, as well as hearing, to get around. Some breeds of dogs, especially hounds, have a greater sense of smell than other breeds. Most owners of hound dogs know the power of scent when it comes to their dog as it's difficult, once they've focused on a scent, to distract them.
4.	Most people take home puppies around the age of 8 weeks and, given that, it's really never too early to start housetraining. One of the best ways to get started is to pick up your puppy if you notice him starting to go the bathroom and carry him outside where you want him to go. Be sure to reward him well, and he'll no doubt begin to learn simply by association. Just keep in mind that housetraining can take a great deal of patience and understanding.
5.	Cats will lose a few whiskers from time to time. However, if they're losing a lot of whiskers or if the condition seems to be prolonged, it can be an early sign of illness. In that case, you'd want to have your cat examined by your veterinarian, particularly if the whisker loss is accompanied by other symptoms like bad breath, other hair loss, or discharge from the eyes, ears or anus.
6.	There are some shampoos specifically designed to detangle which can help, though they may require several repeat washes. If, however, the fur is so badly matted that your cat is in pain or her movement is restricted, you'll likely need to have her clipped or shaved. In that case, a trip to the groomer is in order.
7.	Most veterinarians will typically recommend that you have your cat's vaccinations repeated yearly, and this usually includes boosters for distemper and rabies.
8.	If this is a new behavior for your cat, take him to your vet to rule out the possibility that he may have a urinary tract infection. Otherwise, take a step-by-step approach to get him to use the litter box. You can start by keeping him in a small area, such as a bathroom, where he has food and water as well as his litter box. Once he's successfully using his litter box, slowly increase the amount of space he's allowed, but be sure to go back a step and repeat the process if any accidents occur.