Nancy Kerns shares her experiences with dogs and crates during last year’s California Camp Fire. She further underscores the importance of crate training for all dogs. If for no other reason, teach your dog to be comfortable in a crate for emergencies. Source: Whole Dog Journal, January 2019. Link. . . . the dogs who obviously had experience in crates were far less … [Read more...]
9 top-rated orthopedic dog beds
The biggest waste of money when it comes to dog beds is being cheap, writes Cynthia Foley. There’s a lot to consider when searching for the right bed for an individual dog. She discusses weight, sleeping style, bedding materials, washability and sizing. Pet beds are a frequent last-minute purchase around the holidays. A dog bed that is properly matched to the dog’s size and … [Read more...]
Must-have chew toys
Animal health pros are frequently asked about the best toys for pets. Keep this article handy as a guide for helping dog owners ‘chews’ a toy or four for their dog(s). Consider posting it on social media or including it in an e-newsletter ahead of the Christmas holiday. Source: Whole Dog Journal, December 10, 2018. Link. Here are some tips on selecting the best chew toys … [Read more...]
Let the sleeping dog lie
Catherine Ashe, DVM, discusses sleep in dogs. She notes the various influences on how much they sleep, as well as sleep patterns. She quotes one source who estimates that dogs sleep anywhere from 48 percent to 58 percent of the time. Her perspectives make good social media, e-newsletter and website content. The truth is, sleep varies dramatically between individual canines … [Read more...]
Why dogs slobber
Catherine Ashe, DVM, explains what drool is and why dogs do it. She also discusses normal and abnormal drool in a format that can be used on social media, in e-newsletters and with clients whose dogs slobber. Source: Whole Dog Journal, November 28, 2018. Link. Unfortunately, if you’ve adopted a large or giant breed dog with floppy lips, slobber is going to be a regular part … [Read more...]
Install an off switch to dogs’ playtime
Pat Miller shares her experiences with an overly energetic dog and the benefits of teaching the off switch. She explains how to install a cue like “all done” to indicate its time to stop or change focus. Training humans to ignore your dog’s attempts to get them to play fetch might be the hardest part of this! Source: Whole Dog Journal, August 2017. Link. . . . All done!” … [Read more...]
Some vegetables are good for dogs
Vegetables can be a great addition to your dog’s diet if you stick to those that are safe and hand out an appropriate amount writes Wendy Newell. As omnivores, dogs can digest plants as well as meat. Source: Whole Dog Journal, August 13, 2018. Link. Newell discusses which vegetables are good and not good for dogs: Good: Leafy greens Root vegetables Stalks … [Read more...]
Canine flu risks affected by lifestyle
Southwest Airlines’ tagline, “You’re now free to move about the country,” may represent the reality of canine influenza risks. Catherine Ashe, DVM, shares her perspectives on diagnosing, testing, treatment, transmission and vaccine decisions. She reinforces the AVMA’s lifestyle vaccination designations. Source: Whole Dog Journal, July 2018. Link. Overall, while canine … [Read more...]
Manage the environment to reduce dog-on-dog household aggression
Pat Miller reminds us that not all dogs get along, even though they are a social species. He reviews potential stressors and offers counter measures to reduce the tensions in a household. Source: Whole Dog Journal, January 3, 2018. Link. When you have identified your dogs’ triggers, you can manage their environment to reduce trigger incidents and minimize outright conflict. … [Read more...]
Best freeze-dried raw dog foods of 2018
Many people who feed home-prepared or commercial raw diets to their dogs replace this diet with a freeze-dried raw food when they travel, or when the dog is left with a sitter who doesn’t want to deal with a fresh or frozen raw diet. This article includes a review of various brands that will be valuable when discussing raw dog foods with dog owners. Source: Whole Dog … [Read more...]
5 steps to safely remove ticks from dogs
Kate Eldredge, LVT, shares five steps to remove ticks from an animal. Note her reference about saving the tick for identification or testing. Remove the tick Clean the bite area Check for more ticks Review your preventatives Schedule blood work to check for tick-borne diseases Source: Whole Dog Journal, March 2018. It’s hard to say which is worse: running … [Read more...]
Best dog harnesses of 2018
Whether it is to reduce pulling, avoid trachea injuries or gain a mechanical advantage, dog harnesses are beneficial.Pat Miller updates the dog harness information from the April 2017 article we posted in AHD, March 29, 2017. Miller uses a 0 to 4 paw rating when identifying the best harnesses. Pet owners will appreciate this information. Consider using it on websites, social … [Read more...]
Pet insurance getting better
Writer Cynthia Foley noticed improvements in what the various insurance companies cover since Whole Dog Journal looked at pet insurance in September 2015. She notes rate competitiveness, outlines each plan and provides a list of things to pay attention to when comparing pet insurance plans. For animal health pros, this article can help save time and help animal owners make … [Read more...]
Look for third-party certifications of pet food
Nancy Kerns speaks to the growing source verification and ethical source standards that are now part of pet food decisions. Suspicious of claims, she recommends looking for certification by a legitimate third-party auditor and references the number of companies that provide verification and certification of organic, socially, environmentally, and/or humanely responsible … [Read more...]
Canine fecal transplants; phut, sputter, gag.
Coprophagic dogs are bad enough. Still, there may be some benefit to fecal microbial transplantation to aid in adjusting the microbiome of our canine friends. And we thought veterinary nurses had it bad enough doing stool floats! This area of microbiome science is advancing, so we share the information with you for your consideration before a dog owner comes to you with a … [Read more...]
Tips to stop loose dogs from approaching you
Stephanie Colman discusses the challenge of meeting up with a loose dog while out and about with pets. Being approached by loose dogs, especially when their dogs are on leash, is a least-favorite experience for most dog owners. This information is good for social media posts, newsletters and to include in puppy class materials. Coleman offers five non-assertive strategy … [Read more...]
Pick the right dog collar for safety and specialty
“Punishment gets compliance; reinforcement gets cooperation.” Animal health pros are frequently asked about dog collars. Each situation is different. Pat Miller offers collar advice from her force-free perspective. She says, “There are some types of collars we wholeheartedly endorse, some we support with caution and some that we regard as unnecessary and risky.” Source: … [Read more...]
Oral flea control: DVM vs. OTC
Nancy Kerns with Whole Dog Journal discusses oral flea control in a two-article series. The first describes five oral medications that veterinarians may prescribe to stop or prevent a dog’s flea infestation. The second describes the four oral medications that kill fleas on dogs and are available to owners as over-the-counter (OTC) products – no prescription … [Read more...]
Soft-sided dog crates: best and worst of 2017
Animal health pros are frequently asked for their opinions on products. Stephanie Colman discusses soft crates and compares different crates sold today. This article would be valuable as a social media post, in a new pet information packet or as website content. Source: Whole Dog Journal, October 2017. Coleman looks for supreme ease of use, both in terms of how quickly I … [Read more...]
Feeding puppies for the best health possible
How much to feed new puppies is a common question of dog owners regardless of how many they have raised. Denise Flaim reminds owners to feed for slow, steady growth. Studies show that slow, steady growth – with no dramatic growth spurts – is ideal for puppy health, especially his developing skeletal system. Source: Whole Dog Journal, September 2017. Pet-nutrition consultant … [Read more...]
Environmentally friendly ways to dispose of dog poop
Stephanie Colman investigates the best ways to dispose of our dogs’ feces. She reviews bags, composting and multiple alternatives. Despite desires to contribute less overall product to landfills, the most realistic method for safe pet waste disposal is still putting it in the trash. Source: Whole Dog Journal, July 2017. For the health and safety of my family, my friends, … [Read more...]
Don’t punish a growling dog
This excerpt from a book being promoted has value for website content, newsletters, blogs or social media. Once again, we learn to control ourselves instead of the animal. Source: Whole Dog Journal, June 20, 2017. It's very common for dog owners to punish their dogs for growling. Unfortunately, this often suppresses the growl, eliminating his ability to warn us that he's … [Read more...]
Hypoallergenic shampoo a misnomer
Cynthia Foley provides a thorough discussion of the hypoallergenic description, its history, lack of regulatory basis and suggests it is the best word we have for less-likely-to-cause-allergic-reactions. She opines the products that are marketed as particularly gentle or for dogs with particularly sensitive skin should be held to a higher standard than regular … [Read more...]
Fitness dos and don’ts for senior dogs
C. J. Puotinen shares a comprehensive list of dos and don’ts when helping an aging dog resume a more active lifestyle. He reminds us that reasonable diet and exercise management balanced with time and effort is worth learning for the dog and owner. Source: Whole Dog Journal, December 2016. Exercise is essential for dogs of all ages. It helps maintain muscle tone, a healthy … [Read more...]
Foxtail: high risks for dogs
Nancy Kerns expresses the dangers of this prevalent grass to our canine friends. She writes, every single strand is lined with gnarly microscopic barbs that catch on anything they touch, from fur to collars, clothing to bare skin. When the barbs come in contact with anything, they propel the strand forward, pushing the sharp-tipped seed at the end forward. As the plants dry out … [Read more...]
Pet owner offers perspective on errant pet deaths
Our team at AHD found this article refreshing, mature and honoring of the veterinary profession. Stephanie Colman shares her pet loss, the professionalism of her veterinarian and notes the suicide trends among veterinarians. Source: Whole Dog Journal, May 2017. We may not always be happy with the services rendered by our veterinarians, but only rarely is this caused because … [Read more...]
4 puppy biting survival strategies
Behavioral problems are a significant factor in pets not being retained. Biting and nipping complaints are among the more common ones. There are things you can do to manage a nippy puppy until your it outgrows this important developmental stage. Animal health pros can share these tips in blog posts, new pet kits, newsletters and social media. If you sell chew toys, consider … [Read more...]
Top priority, keep dogs’ nails short and sweet
It seems like nobody likes to trim dog nails. Not pet owners, not the dog, nor anyone else, including vet techs and groomers). But for the health of all dogs, it must be done frequently enough to keep dogs’ nails short. Consider this article for websites, blogs, social media posts or a spring newsletter. Source: Whole Dog Journal, April 2, 2017. When nails are so long … [Read more...]
Dog harness review is helpful
Using a harness for a dog instead of a collar has huge benefits. Finding the best adult dog or puppy harness can be a daunting task. This review of harnesses does all of the work of finding a quality harness. Source: Whole Dog Journal, April 2017. For dogs who pull on leash, WDJ strongly prefers harnesses over choke chains, prong collars, shock collars, and even flat … [Read more...]
Expanding training spaces for Fido
Denise Fenzi shares thoughts and ideas for expanding dog training into new environments. The excerpt from her book reminds readers of the value and additional distractions from simply by changing locations. She says to create controlled distractions for the dog to hold his attention longer than stuff in the environment might. You can order the book if you want. The information … [Read more...]