Shelter Dog Meal Donation Count:
iHeartDogs is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Have you ever come home to find your trashcan turned over and bits of garbage all over the kitchen? You are not alone. Maybe you try to train your dog to stay away from the trash, but he just never seems to completely learn. He might avoid it while you are there, but you still come home to a … Read more
Allergies are very common. Lots of people are allergic to lots of things. Unfortunately, dogs are among those things. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, almost 3 out of 10 people have animal allergies. There are proteins (allergens) present in dogs’ saliva, urine, and dander (dead skin cells) that stimulate an allergic person’s immune system, just like a real threat might. It is important to understand a little bit about how allergies work. Every day, one’s immune … Read more
There is some buzz about joint care supplements. People are intrigued by an opportunity to circumvent or augment the usual recommendations and drawn by the lure of alternative (non-traditional) options. In the past, veterinarians have been skeptical of complementary medicine, but joint supplements containing ingredients like glucosamine, chondroitin and others have science backing their effectiveness. Good Things Come to Those Who… Supplement? Studies have indicated that ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin (and others) can reduce the inflammation in canine patients … Read more
There is some buzz about joint care supplements. People are intrigued by an opportunity to circumvent or augment the usual recommendations and drawn by the lure of alternative (non-traditional) options. In the past, veterinarians have been skeptical of complementary medicine, but joint supplements containing ingredients like glucosamine, chondroitin and others have science backing their effectiveness. Good Things Come to Those Who… Supplement? Studies have indicated that ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin (and others) can reduce the inflammation in canine patients … Read more
Boxers are beautiful, expressive and friendly. Their nubby tails seem to always be wagging. Unfortunately, they do seem to be predisposed to certain issues, of which all owners should be aware. Certain diseases seem to crop up more often in certain types of dogs. These are known as breed associated disorders. Each type of dog has its own list, but many of the issues are shared by multiple breeds, and very few of these types of issues are exclusive to … Read more
Great Danes are gorgeous and remarkable. They are stoic and kind. However, they do seem to be predisposed to certain issues, of which owners should be aware. Certain diseases seem to crop up more often in certain types of dogs. These are known as breed associated disorders. Each type of dog has its own list, but many of the issues are shared by multiple breeds and very few of these types of issues are exclusive to a single breed. Great … Read more
We know that many creatures are certainly attuned to their surroundings and other subtle cues that humans might miss. It’s been suggested that dogs can detect a lot of things, like hidden cancers and impending seizures in patients with epilepsy. People also report that they notice changes in their dogs when a storm rolls in, but can dogs tell when there’s going to be a storm? We would love to have our dogs help us anticipate and plan for severe … Read more
Some dogs seem to love to chew and the object of their chewing destruction can sometimes be our shoes. Let’s face it… we play our part in their shoe fetish because it is so easy to leave shoes lying around where dogs can get them. But why do dogs do this? Chewing is normal behavior for dogs. Since dogs have evolved as scavengers, dogs have learned never to waste resources. This is the reason dogs will eat and chew items … Read more
Every dog lover knows the smell. If you blindfolded us and tested us, we could all pick out the smell of “wet dog”. It is a fairly distinctive scent, even for our noses which are really quite feeble among the noses of the animal world. So why do dogs stink when they are wet? The answer lies partly in the way noses work. In a nutshell, mammalian olfaction (the ability to smell) is a complex interaction between scent molecules and receptors … Read more
Our dogs’ noses are visible to us (and often in our faces). We can easily note any changes in something that is so apparent to us and vets often get asked about warm and dry noses. In the past, people have said that a dry and warm nose means that a dog is ill. Dogs are not like humans in the way their bodies manage heat and moisture. Your dog cannot sweat in the way that you think of perspiration. … Read more
Mounting behavior in our dogs is embarrassing to us because we automatically feel uncomfortable with the sexual connotations. But to animals, this is just another behavior in a long list of behaviors, like barking, staring, or laying back ears. These motions are an expression, like our words. There are words that we choose not to use because they carry embarrassing or emotional stigmas, but your dog does not have the same cultural norms or expectations in the way he expresses … Read more
Many of us love chocolate, and our dogs may seem interested in the tasty treat they see us eating. Our dogs can smell it (even better than we can) and they see us indulge. But they do not know that chocolate can make them very ill, or could even be fatal. There are two ingredients toxic to dogs in chocolate, theobromine and caffeine. Caffeine can cause tremors, increased heart rate, and other cardiovascular side effects. Theobromine is actually the more … Read more
We hear a lot of press about supplements. Some people think that they are a useless waste of money and some people think that they are a miracle panacea. Certainly wise and discretionary use of supplements has been shown to assist in many disease processes. Fatty acids are thought to improve inflammation and even slow the progression of joint disease in dogs. There is likely even a benefit to using them as a preventive agent or to slow the onset … Read more
Anyone who spends time with dogs knows that they can act jealous. Dogs can act jealous or protective over items or people. It can become a big problem when the object of the jealousy is a spouse. This type of jealousy is damaging to the bonds between both people and dogs. For human beings, jealousy is thought to be a complex emotional and cognitive response. Some have said that jealousy is too intricate for dogs to feel, but most dog … Read more
Dog owners make lots of decisions for their dogs, from what they eat to how much they sleep. We all have the same joys and the same concerns. We are also all human and we love to find out the “easy way” to do things. We want to know secrets and tips and that is how the term “hack” was born. There are a few easy hacks that you can do to make your dog’s life easier and better… maybe even … Read more
Chihuahuas are extremely popular. They are all the fun of a bigger dog rolled up into a portable package! When our ancestors were breeding to get these tiny canines, some problems came along for the ride. Every breed has its issues. These are known as breed associated disorders. Chihuahuas are no different. Like many distinctive breeds, many of their problems came along with their specific characteristics. Very few of these types of issues are exclusive to a single breed. Three … Read more
[IHD_Article-Above] We know the scenario. You have a snack and your dog is watching you expectantly, even though you know she just ate. It makes you wonder if you are feeding her enough or maybe it was someone else’s job to feed her today and they have forgotten. The sound of candy wrappers will summon your dog like nothing else. Someone who did not know would swear he was starving, but you know he is not. Why does your dog … Read more
Siberian Huskies are energetic, fun, and sociable dogs. They are typically very healthy and interested in anything that you are. Certain diseases and disorders seem to crop up more frequently in particular breeds of dogs, known as breed associated disorders. Each type of dog has its own list, but many of the issues are shared by multiple breeds, and very few are exclusive to a single breed. Here are a few things that Husky owners should know about. 1. Skin … Read more
We all love our dogs from the tip of their nose to the tip of their tails, but dogs’ butts are not usually the topic of dinnertime conversation. A dog’s anus and the surrounding area (called the perineum) are not what we think of first when we think of our dog, but there are some important things that all dog owners need to know about their dog’s butt. Butt It’s About Multitasking A dog’s butt is more than just a … Read more
There are two camps of people in the world, dog people and… everyone else! I am only kidding, but there are people that think dogs are “only animals” and do not need all that we provide them with. For those people I have a thought: our dogs are not wolves and not even wild animals at all. We have taken them into human society and they have adapted to it. This process is domestication. Domestic pets, especially indoor dwelling ones … Read more
Some dogs really hate the mail man. We humans know that the mail must be delivered and that there must be someone to do it. We are grateful for the delivery and often wish that our dogs would feel the same. Some delivery people carry dog treats for the dogs along their route and not all dogs seem to hate them, but many do. The ones that do hate delivery people seem to really hate them fervently. To get to … Read more
Fortunately dogs do not crave salty fattening snacks like some of us (specifically me) do. They tend to be more opportunistic eaters and are grateful to get a taste of whatever we offer. If you indulge in salty, greasy snacks, it is not great to share those, but you can choose from the better alternatives and be healthy for you both. Read on for some of our favorite snacks to share with our dogs! Blueberries Blueberries are tiny powerhouses. They … Read more
Most people know a German Shepherd when they see one. These classic beauties are historically our soldiers and protectors. They are police dogs, guide dogs, and friends. Certain diseases seem to crop up more often in certain types of dogs. These are known as breed associated disorders. Each type of dog has its own list, but many of the issues are shared by multiple breeds. Very few of these types of issues are exclusive to a single breed. For Shepherds, … Read more
Have you ever walked up on your dog wearing a hat and she seemed to panic like she did not recognize you? Frightened dogs can start to bark furiously and seem like they cannot be reasoned with. It can be a scary experience for you both. We humans surmise that our dogs are not able to recognize us when we have head gear on, but have you thought about why? It seems crazy. Our dogs know us. They know our … Read more
Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular breeds of dog in the country. I see at least one every single day in my practice. They are very often kind, friendly and playful. They are comical and fun favorites in my office. It is important to know that certain diseases and disorders seem to crop up more often in particular breeds of dogs. These are known as breed associated disorders. Each type of dog has its own list, but many … Read more
Dachshunds are popular and sociable dogs. The most common is the miniature Dachshund. They all have a distinctive appearance with their long backs and it is the feature that puts them at greater risk for one of the things on this list. Certain diseases and disorders seem to crop up more frequently in particular breeds of dogs. These are known as breed associated disorders. Each type of dog has its own list, but many of the issues are shared by … Read more
No one understands your dog quite like you, but since we don’t speak the same language, there are still a few behaviors that remain a mystery to us humans. Below are 5 things that dogs do that may mean more than meets the eye. A Tail Wag Is Not Always Friendly. When we think of a dog wagging its tail, we always think about our own happy dogs that are pleased to see us or excited about a treat or … Read more
My practice cares for a large number of pit bull and pit bull type dogs. They are stoic and kind. They do seem to be predisposed to certain issues everyone should be aware of. Certain diseases seem to crop up more often in certain types of dogs. These are known as breed associated disorders. Each type of dog has its own list, but many of the issues are shared by multiple breeds. Very few of these types of issues are … Read more
Does your dog love to bury himself under your covers to sleep? Many dogs do. It is fun to think about why they might do this seemingly very human thing. If we consider the way a dog sees life, it is easy to imagine why he tucks himself in at night. Animals depend on the concept of resources. Resources are things like food, water, and shelter. Your bed represents a shelter or den to your dog. Since the bed is … Read more
Ear infections are one of the most common presenting complaints for dogs in the United States. Veterinarians across the nation regularly see patients with ear disorders. The most common is called Otitis Externa or more simply “inflamed outer ear”. Ear infections can also be in the middle and inner ear, but these are less common than otitis externa. Although otitis can be caused by a bacterial infection, there are many causes and complicating factors, like fungal infection, parasites and allergic … Read more
Every dog needs medications at some point in his life. Funny thing is… we are supposed to be the smart ones, right? Then why is it that our dogs completely have our number when it comes to taking medications? There are lots of reasons that your dog knows what you are up to and we have to consider each one to win this battle. We know that the way to a dog’s heart is through his stomach, but we also … Read more
Toledo, United States.