We all know how amazing a dog's nose is. Their ability to distinguish a particular scent in an ocean of smells allows them to have jobs like sniffing out drugs, bomb residue, illness or even tracking down a missing person. But did you know that cats also have an amazing sense of smell? It turns out that smells can play a huge part in increasing or decreasing stress and anxiety in a cat's environment.

Cats rely on their noses to detect prey, distinguish if a food is edible or toxic, and help find their way home. Through scent they are aware of other cats or predators in their territory. This can save their life! Not only do cats have a much better sense of smell than humans, but their ability to smell is linked to stimulating appetite. This is the reason many cats with respiratory issues or blockages won't eat. If they cannot smell their food then their appetite is not stimulated and they do not eat.

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Springtime means warm weather, long days, and more opportunities to get out in the woods or in our yards. Unfortunately, spring also means more opportunities for humans and their pets to encounter snakes. The most common poisonous snake in Western North Carolina is the copperhead, although rattlesnakes, water moccasins and coral snakes are also seen in the area.

Copperheads spend most of their time in cover, including wood piles, rock piles, tall grass, piles of leaves, or thickets. According to the Ohio Public Library Information Network, copperheads are usually out and about during the day in the spring and fall, but during the summer they become nocturnal.

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By: Dr. Kasandra Garner

The weather is warming up, even in the high country. You and your dog are tired of the same route around the neighborhood, even if the turkeys and rabbits do make it more interesting now that it's Spring. Time to head to the trails!

Many trails in the immediate Asheville vicinity are dog friendly, as long as your dog is on a leash. Even on trails where there is no "leash law", it is advisable to keep your dog on a leash unless he or she stays within a few feet of you and has a reliable recall. Other hikers may not want to be approached by your dog, even if your dog is friendly. Also, other hikers may have their dog on a leash because THEIR dog isn't friendly. Another important reason to keep your dog on a leash is the popularity of mountain biking in this region. Your dog may startle when a cyclist rapidly overtakes you on a downhill, resulting in tragedy for your dog and the cyclist if a collision occurs. Yet another reason to keep your dog on a leash in the woods is the presence of wildlife. Even the best behaved pooch sometimes forgets their recall when on the scent of a deer or other critter.

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