As the weather turns cold, many of us forget about these pesky pests because we assume they die off. And they do, outside. But if you have a flea infestation in your home, the cold weather does not necessarily kill them off, since you keep your house warm. Denise Petryk, DVM, Trupanion’s Director of Veterinary Services provided the following insight on flea management in winter. Is it true fleas can be alive in a house in winter due to the warm … Read more

The holidays are a time of year when we get together with family and friends. We have parties involving lots of food and drinks, and little kids run around on sugar-highs.  In the middle of it all is the dog. We expect him to behave himself, even if no one else is. Celebrity Dog Trainer and behaviorist Joel Silverman answered our questions on how to make sure you dog be on his best behavior this holiday season. What are some … Read more

Many children (and some adults) will get their ultimate holiday wish fulfilled this Christmas or Hanukkah, and receive a puppy as their present. It seems great – the recipient gets a new best friend and the dog gets a home just in time for the holidays. But what happens to that puppy when the cuteness wears off come January? Do the parents still think that gift is cute when it’s chewing their Prada purse or Italian leather shoes? What about … Read more

As the Baby Boomer generation ages, the Millennials are starting to take over and making waves as they do so. While their parents or grandparents most likely lived in a single-family house with a white picket fence, 2.5 kids, a stay-at-home mom, and a dog that never set foot in the house, Millennials are living in condos with roommates or significant others, everyone works at least one job, and instead of having kids, we have dogs. That’s right, we. I am … Read more

While the holidays are typically a joyful time, they can be stressful for pets. According to Veterinary Pet Insurance Company’s 2013 data, upset stomach and diarrhea rank among the top 10 reasons owners go to the vet with their pets. Dr. Laura Pletz is a former part-owner of a vet clinic and now works as a veterinarian consultant on staff at Royal Canin, where she collaborates with other vets and nutritionists on their special diets. She answered our questions about … Read more

One of the classic dog tricks along with “shake” and “play dead,” “roll over” is a fun trick that also uses muscles your dog may not otherwise, so it’s a good workout too. Although it’s one of the oldest tricks, a lot of people are unsure how to train it, especially if you have a dog that does not naturally roll over. Trust Rolling over is a very vulnerable position and therefore requires some trust on the part of the … Read more

Boredom in dogs is a lot like boredom in kids. Remember those boring summer days when your parents were busy or gone, and you had no friends to play with – which gave you two choices. If your parents were home, you may have pestered them relentlessly. I remember following my mom around, begging to have a friend over. I would lie on the floor in her path, grab her leg as she walked by, or would try to get … Read more