Jackie Brown shares a few situations that require a vet’s immediate attention. She also gives general guidelines outlining how fast to respond and to ease transport of the injured pet. BleedingBloatBreathing issuesDifficulty walking or standing PoisoningSevere vomiting and/or diarrheaTrauma: broken bones, bite wounds, falls, hit by car Source: Dogster, December 27, 2018. … [Read more...]
What is it like to be a dog? What do dogs think?
Melissa L. Kauffman provides an interview from the October 2018 Royal Canin Future of Animal Companionship Conference. Alexandra Horowitz and Sarah Heath spoke about the dog’s and cat’s point of view on the world and us. They were also part of the panel discussing the benefits of living with pets. Source: Dogster, December 21, 2018. Link. Speaking to our tendency to … [Read more...]
Dog food under the spotlight
The canine obesity situation and new dog food trends have animal health pros scrambling to keep up with new products, recalls, special packaging and meeting the needs of pet owners concerned about the right food. We compiled several articles that relate to overweight dogs. Sources: as below What and how to feed your overweight dog, Dogster, December 26, 2018. Link. Ernie … [Read more...]
Dog food: guidelines for how much and when
There is no universal dog feeding guide calculator, writes Melvin Peña. With more than half of U.S. dogs overweight or obese, it is important for dog owners to better understand some guidelines for how much to feed their four-legged friends. People have trouble making the distinction between need and desire for food . . . Source: Dogster, October 12, 2018. Link. Suggested … [Read more...]
Be choosy about dog chews
Dog owners are constantly searching for safe chew items that satisfy their dogs’ instincts, keep their homes and possessions safe, and last longer than five minutes. That can be a tough order, especially with big dogs. The number of chew choices today are mind boggling—and not all of them are safe Source: Dogster, June 6, 2018. Link. There are no 100 percent totally safe dog … [Read more...]
Read what fall vegetables are good for dogs
Melvin Peña reviews common fall vegetables and discusses their value and potential side effects when dogs eat them. Consider using this article in social media posts and seasonal e-newsletters. Source: Dogster, October 3, 2018. Link. … [Read more...]
Talking about dogs and dreams
Like humans, dogs dream. Dog dreams likely summarize the day’s events and allow dogs the opportunity to process what they learn. I don’t think anyone can say for sure what dogs dream about but we can be fairly certain that they do dream,” says Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM. Source: Dogster, September 18, 2018. Link. What we’ve basically found is that dogs dream doggy things,” … [Read more...]
9 things to know about dogs in heat
Writer Jackie Brown presents some facts about dogs in heat and the importance of spaying female dogs. Her article helps answer some questions new owners of female dogs may have about heat and reproduction. A dog heat cycle only happens once or twice a year. A puppy can go into heat sooner than you think. Dogs in heat should stay away from intact male dogs for 3 to … [Read more...]
ARH-WOOOOOOO! Why do dogs howl?
Beyond ancestry, communication seems to be the primary reason dogs howl, writes Melvin Peña. He discusses some common reasons and situations when dogs howl. Source: Dogster, July 12, 2018. Link. INSIGHTS: Peña’s list of howling-prone dog breeds might help with a dog owner’s choices for a new animal. … [Read more...]
Prevent heat stroke in dogs (includes infographic)
Heat stroke in dogs can occur for a variety of reasons. They are especially susceptible since they might push themselves or stay in the heat to please owners. Jennifer Lesser shares how to recognize the symptoms of heat stroke in dogs and how to prevent it. Source: Dogster, July 9, 2018. Link. “Heat stroke is a rapidly progressive and dangerous disorder in which the dog’s … [Read more...]
Hot pavement burns paws (includes video)
Hot pavement can have gruesome and painful consequences for dogs’ paws. Sarah Schweig offers burnt paw information worth sharing with pet owners in social media, blogs and on websites. Source: the dodo, June 11, 2018. Link. Put the back of your hand on the pavement, and if you can't keep it there for five seconds, it's too hot for your pup's feet. Also see: 9 tips on how … [Read more...]
Update, anaplasmosis in dogs
Prompted by the Dogster article linked below, we reviewed recent information about anaplasmosis in dogs, in addition to ruminants, horses, people and wildlife species. White-tailed deer and small rodents are considered the primary reservoir hosts. Canine anaplasmosis is caused by one of two gram-negative, obligate, intracellular bacterial agents, Anaplasma phagocytophilum or … [Read more...]
Dealing with dog lipstick, or not
Dr. Eric Barchas shares perspective on the often embarrassing, happy dog attribute in male dogs, the dog penis. His approach quickly moves away from nicknames to anatomy in an article that makes it easier to answer a dog owner’s question. This will make a good resource when supporting telemedicine calls or during sensitive conversations with a pet owner. Source: Dogster, … [Read more...]
Help dogs get through their fear of thunderstorms
Marybeth Bittel shares six tips to deal with a dog's fear of thunder. They include: Watch your own behavior during a thunderstorm Use a Thundershirt Switch environments when it starts to thunder Increase exercise before a thunderstorm starts Use counterconditioning during a thunderstorm Try desensitization if your dog is scared of thunder Bittel … [Read more...]
Bad dog breath; Szabo’s home remedies
Julia Szabo is a frequent contributor of content to Dogster. Bad dog breath is a sign of an unhealthy mouth, she states and offers eight home remedies for it. We’re sharing her list and explanations for consideration by animal health pros when discussing dog halitosis with pet owners. Because this list includes some spices, we added spices and neem oil references. Source: … [Read more...]
Dogs that don’t shed – much – are all different
It’s a biological fact that there are NO non-shedding dog breeds, writes Melvin Pe͂na. Short hair doesn’t necessarily indicate no-shed dogs, and long or thick hair doesn’t mean a dog is prone to shedding. Low shedding is not necessarily hypo-allergenic, either Source: Dogster, April 12, 2018. (Link) Pe͂na provides lists of non-shedding dog breeds, or dogs who don’t shed … [Read more...]
Cushing’s disease in dogs; let’s review
Jackie Brown reviews the basics of Cushing disease signs, diagnosis and treatment. She says it is caused by one of three things: A tumor on the pituitary gland at the base of the brain (this gland is responsible for telling the adrenal glands to secrete cortisol). This type of Cushing’s disease is pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH). The most common cause of … [Read more...]
Home tooth infection care ill-advised
Jackie Brown’s article, “Dog tooth infection signs and treatments,” includes information about home remedies. He engages the expertise of John Huff, DVM, FAVD, Dipl. AVDC, to discuss dental challenges. Huff explains, “If you think your dog might have a tooth infection, don’t try to treat it at home. All the brushing in the world doesn’t correct the infection. Instead, make … [Read more...]
Beware the whites of K-9 eyes
Wide, bulging eyes that show the whites of dogs’ eyes is a behavior referred to as whale eyes. Jill Breitner explains whale eyes are a sign of fear that shouldn't be ignored. Source: Dogster, January 23, 2018. If you even think you see whale eyes, err on the side of caution. Stop what you’re doing, assess the situation and proceed to redirect the dog to something else to … [Read more...]
“Leave it,” an important K9 training basic
One of our objectives for curating content for animal health pros is to support behavior training. Annie Phenix is a force-free trainer who addresses the “leave it” training dog owners find challenging. This article is suitable for printing for puppy classes or as social media content. Source: Dogster, January 10, 2018. There are some cues we must teach our dogs that could … [Read more...]
Donating a pet’s body is alternative to burial, cremation
The passing of a cherished pet is something every pet owner dreads. Yet, it is something most of eventually face. In addition to burial or cremation, educational memorial programs or willed body programs are offered at several veterinary universities in the United States. Modeled similar to human cadaver donation programs, pet owners can donate the body of their beloved dog … [Read more...]
Not all dogs need cute winter coats
Winter coats for dogs are cute, but they likely aren’t needed? Carol Bryant discusses which dog breeds should wear coats in the winter and how to choose one. This is good information for pet owners that can be deliver via social media, newsletters and have available in-house. Source: Dogster, December 5, 2017. Bryant shares the following on canine couture: Fiction: All … [Read more...]
Prevent holiday diarrhea in dogs
The last thing you need is a dog with explosive diarrhea when friends and family are gathered for the holidays. Unfortunately, many dogs experience gastric upsets around the holidays. Jackie Brown outlines some causes and some home remedies that will treat mild cases of dog diarrhea. Source: Dogster, November 29, 2017. The bottom line about holiday diarrhea in dogs: … [Read more...]
Vaper Wake dogs, canine detectives
Vapor Wake dogs are a new breed of dog that is scientifically bred for superior scenting ability, intelligence, physical soundness and a high desire or drive to search and hunt. Auburn University’s Canine Performance Sciences has developed a proprietary training regime for Vapor Wake dogs, including a patented name and process for training dogs to detect and to identify the … [Read more...]
The right and wrong ways to pet a dog
Yes, there is a right and wrong way to pet a dog, shares Jessica Pineda. Unfortunately, many of us just dive right into petting dogs we just met or don’t even know. Or, we fail to read our own dogs’ body language when they’re telling us, “please stop.” With holiday gatherings and guests eminent, share this article with animal owners to help avoid pet stress or potential … [Read more...]
Behind the scenes of socializing neglected, abused dogs
Severely neglected or mistreated dogs may have suffered any number of abuses: constant physical restraint or confinement, lack of appropriate nourishment, endless environmental stressors, even outright physical punishment. Marybeth Bittel shares some of the challenges of preparing these animals for their new lives. Source: Dogster, November 9, 2017. Potential adopters may … [Read more...]
Whew! Dog gas; normal or a problem?
Fido can sometimes run you out of the room with his flatulence. Jackie Brown covers what’s normal and what’s not when it comes to dog gas. This article is a good resource for websites, newsletters and social media posts as holiday table scraps become available to pets. Source: Dogster, November 6, 2017. Excessive gas may be caused by a less-than-ideal diet. If the … [Read more...]
7 things to know about Giardia in dogs
“Giardia is found in a lot of different locations,” says Tracey Jensen, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, founding partner of Wellington Veterinary Hospital in Wellington, Colorado. “Certainly, places where there is wildlife, particularly water fowl, or other dogs, so dog parks and places where there is standing water, can be areas where you can find quite a bit of giardia.” Giardia is not … [Read more...]
Stop dogs from pulling on their leashes
There are never enough tips to help with common canine behavior problems. Pulling on leashes when using a neck collar can be damaging to the dog. Annie Phenix, CPDT-K, offers some force-free advice to the issues. Source: Dogster, September 21, 2017. I see walking the dog as an excellent way to get your dog (and you) moving, but a dog cares more about “pee-mails” and other … [Read more...]
Household cleaning products that are not safe for dogs
As the human-animal bond strengthens, our homes can become risky, especially with cleaning products . Furniture wax, cleaning wipes, even disinfecting sprays are part of the products reviewed in this article. Consider using the information on websites, blogs or in social media posts. New pet owners need this information, as well. Source: Dogster, August 23, 2017. Several … [Read more...]