Our Expert: Dr. Tony Buffington
"Eufloria": Catnip Isn’t the Only Plant Scent Cats May Love
By Dr. Tony Buffington | April 28, 2017Cats seem to rely on their noses to understand the world more than we humans do. Cats detect smells and sense pheromones (chemicals produced and released by other cats) through their olfactory…View Full Post ›
Trouble with Food Puzzles? Here are Six Tips
By Dr. Tony Buffington | March 8, 2017Some veterinarians recommend using puzzles to deliver a portion of a pet's daily food to confined cats and dogs. But what if you are not sure if food puzzles are such a good idea for your pet? Or…View Full Post ›
4 Ways Environmental Enrichment Can Help De-Stress Your Dog
By Dr. Tony Buffington | June 30, 2016I grew up on a 1,200-acre Angus cattle ranch in California during the 1950s and 1960s. We always had dogs; mostly Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Dachshunds. The big dogs never came into…View Full Post ›
There’s More to Pet Nutrition Than Pet Food
By Dr. Tony Buffington | May 11, 2015While many pet owners believe that good nutrition for their pet is all about diet, the topic is actually much broader than that. As a veterinary nutritionist, I know that optimal nutrition…View Full Post ›
Letter From Your Cat: Do You Really Love Me?
By Dr. Tony Buffington | February 3, 2015Editor’s note: In this tongue-in-cheek letter from your favorite feline, Cat Mastery author Dr. Tony Buffington envisions some of the ways we can help make our feline companions feel truly at…View Full Post ›
Strange Eating Habits in Cats — Why Do They Do That?
By Dr. Tony Buffington | January 5, 2015Cats most commonly eat multiple small meals throughout the day, but some owners notice differences in the way their cats eat their meals. For example, some cats wolf down their food like hungry…View Full Post ›
Are We “Treating” Our Pets to Death?
By Dr. Tony Buffington | April 15, 2014Food treats for pets are popular. I found nearly 1,000 food treats and chews for dogs, and more than 100 for cats for sale during a recent search of a few popular pet product websites. Pet food…View Full Post ›
Is Feeding ‘People' Food to Pets Ethical?
By Dr. Tony Buffington | December 23, 2013As savvy consumers, we are aware that pet food marketers try to manipulate our emotions for their financial gain and that these marketing messages have little to do with the nutritional quality…View Full Post ›
What Should I Feed My Pet? Don't Let Marketing Confuse You
By Dr. Tony Buffington | November 1, 2013Many of our clients and some veterinarians report great confusion when buying or recommending pet foods for healthy pets. The bewildering number of foods and the claims made for them can cause…View Full Post ›
How Are We Doing With Cat Care?
By Dr. Tony Buffington | June 19, 2013In a series of recent articles ("How to Make Your Home a Cat-Friendly Place," "'Why Claw Care Keeps Cats Happy," and "Can't We All Just Get Along? Recognizing and…View Full Post ›
Can't We All Just Get Along? Recognizing and Resolving Cat Conflict
By Dr. Tony Buffington | April 11, 2013The average cat-owning household has at least two cats, some many more. And while most cats seem to get along fine, they can react quickly when they feel threatened. A more assertive cat might chase…View Full Post ›
Raw Diets: Good or Bad?
By Dr. Tony Buffington | February 4, 2013A small but enthusiastic group of people have come to believe that feeding raw food to their pets is a good idea — for everyone. They argue in favor of “feeding raw” and reject “junk food”…View Full Post ›
