Shelter Dog Meal Donation Count:
There is something in your kitchen and maybe many other rooms of your home that can seriously hurt your dog. We add it to many of our food items and we use it in utilitarian jobs around our houses. It even crops up in recreational gear. It is salt and it can be a danger to your dog. Sodium ion toxicosis is a clinical syndrome that occurs when an animal ingests salt out of balance with the amount of water … Read more
Most commercially available pet foods are balanced for all stages of life for pets and do not require supplementation, at least not for survival. Premium pet foods are often even more than balanced. Make sure that you know what is in the food you feed before you add anything more. For more on this see 6 Questions You Need To Ask About Your Dog’s Food. Too much of a good thing can be worse than not enough. There is so … Read more
The holidays are a festive time full of family, festivities and fun. Nothing can put a damper on fun like a visit to the animal ER. There are always rumors of dangers and there are real dangers, so here are some things to know about: Mistletoe Real mistletoe is very toxic to animals (as well as humans). If you hang it, make sure it stays out of reach. Symptoms of ingestion can include some very bad signs, like GI upset, … Read more
Sometimes pets get sick and then they get better all on their own without any intervention from you or your veterinarian. But lots of times when they’re sick, if you wait to see if they’re going to get better on their own, whatever is wrong gets worse and makes your dog’s likelihood of recovery less. So how do you decide? Obviously the best way to decide is to take your dog to the vet and let the veterinary professionals tell … Read more
As Thanksgiving approaches, we should all think about where this country began. We all enjoy the benefits of the struggles of the early pioneers who helped this country begin. No matter where your family originated, you cannot help but be awed by the revolutionary spirit and tenacity of these founding citizens. But have you ever wondered what role animals played? Dogs are undoubtedly an important part of today’s American life. Certainly livestock played their part in the early days, but … Read more
Did you know that there are things that you do that can reduce your dog’s lifespan? You can kill your dog with kindness. See if you are guilty of any of them and make an effort to fix them for your dog’s best life. Getting Happy-Fat Obesity shortens lives and impacts overall health. Look at your dog with a critical eye. When you press on his sides, can you feel his ribs? You should be able to. Look at him from … Read more
The role of emotions in animals is a source of controversy and discussion. Emotions that are attributed to dogs include any emotion that we humans experience. For a long time, we have assumed that dogs were not capable of thought complex enough to be defined as emotion, until now. The only scientific way we can quantify emotion is by defining and measuring the changes in the brain when an emotion is felt. Scientists have developed studies to define and measure … Read more
Dogs have gas. Almost all dogs have flatulence (pass wind) at one time or another. It is embarrassing and gross. Some dogs have an ongoing and frequent problem that impacts the quality of life for the whole family. Have you ever thought about why this disgusting occurrence happens? The way a dog eats and digests his food plays a role in how it is processed (and what byproducts are produced during the processing). Bacteria in the gut act upon the … Read more
Everyone who knows a dog has seen him or her engaging in movements that appear to be dreaming while asleep. Their eyes dart and roll. Their limbs twitch like they are running. People say they are “chasing rabbits”. Some dogs whine or vocalize, but they seem to be fast asleep. Dreaming for humans has been associated with Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. There are numerous studies about the nature of sleep for us and theories about what dreams might signify. … Read more
You love your dog and you notice when he is not feeling well. He can get into all kinds of things with his curious nose in many places. The signs of infectious illness can be very similar to the signs that humans experience. Dogs of any age, gender and lifestyle can contract an infectious disease. Infectious disease can affect almost any body system, but the most common ones are gastrointestinal “stomach bugs” and respiratory “colds”. GI signs include vomiting and … Read more
You may have read the horrific headlines about the Colombian man who was infected by tapeworms that caused a cancer-like syndrome in his body. What you may not have read though is that the man was HIV positive and immune suppressed. The cells that acted just like cancer cells, proliferating and causing similar life-threatening consequences were not the cells of the man himself (like other forms of human cancer), but instead the cells actually originated inside the parasite. This is … Read more
Everywhere you look are scary stories and threats. The threat of the Kissing Bug and the disease it carries is no different. Here is what you should know: Chagas Disease is a parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. The parasite lives inside an insect vector called “kissing bug”. These insects are biting bugs, so named because they like to bite people around the mouth and eyes. The parasite can infect people and dogs. Chagas Disease is much more prevalent in … Read more
When we domesticated dogs we assumed the responsibility of giving them an environment in which they can flourish. Dogs have been modified from wild animals to living in a more limited existence in which we humans are sometimes the only entertainment. Your dog wants to be a part of everything you do because you are his family group. He is built to function in a group. If you think of a day in the life of wild canids, you can … Read more
It is that time of year again and from now until after New Year’s, there will be goodies galore. Our dogs see us eat them and smell them. Many dogs have a sweet tooth and the fat content in chocolate is enticing to boot! Chocolate contains two compounds that are dangerous for dogs, theobromine and caffeine. The caffeine can cause tremors, increased heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms, and other potentially lethal cardiovascular side effects, but theobromine is the more toxic … Read more
Halloween is a fun and festive occasion, but there are parts of any holiday that cause stress and even risk to your dog. Some of the Halloween traditions include parties and door traffic. We often have music or scary noises with candles or spooky decorations. So much is going on that a dog can become frightened or could easily be overlooked or just get into trouble from being nosy. Halloween decorations and candy may pose a hazard to a curious … Read more
Mounting is a brain pattern that is normal for dogs. Dogs do not have any emotional feeling about it nor do they feel any embarrassment, but people do. When it is driven by hormones, as in an intact male, it is more likely to be intended as a mating behavior, but neutered males and females can engage in this conduct as well, and almost all puppies do. There can be many reasons for mounting. It can be a play behavior … Read more
Hearing loss is reported often by dog owners, especially as dogs age. Even older humans experience Age Related Hearing Loss (ARHL). Dr. Elizabeth Shull, DVM, DACVIM – Neurology, DACVB says that the most common cause is called Otosclerosis. Otosclerosis (literally “ear hardening”) is when the tiny components of the inner ear become less pliable. They become less able to transmit sound because the suppleness of the inner structures is critical to this function. Dogs are even more likely to … Read more
Heartworm testing has become very routine in a veterinary clinic. There are in-house test kits and we can have results quickly. The American Heartworm Society (AHS) is a group that helps veterinarians make unified recommendations to promote eradication of this damaging parasite. AHS recommends at least once yearly testing. But when the veterinary staff member says there will be blood drawn for a heartworm test, do you really know what he/she means? What does a heartworm test really test for? … Read more
We are all used to running to the drug store to buy over the counter medications for ourselves before we call our doctor. Is the same tendency wise for your dog? Don’t forget that most dogs are not human size and animals have a very different way of metabolizing things. Medications that are tested safe for humans may not have been tested at all for other species. There are quirks about them that your vet will know. If you are … Read more
Dog ownership is fun, but not always easy. Make sure that you have these simple things taken care of so that your dog is happy and healthy…and so are you. #1 – Leashes All dog owners should have several leashes of different lengths. Forget retractable leashes. They are confusing for dogs. Dogs cannot fathom why the leash is long one minute and short the next. They have no chance of adjusting their behavior when the rules constantly change. Have a long … Read more
Nutrition is vitally important to the health, happiness and longevity of your pet. The old adage “You are what you eat” still applies whether human, dog, or cat. The impact of proper nutrition at all stages of life both in health and sickness has been proven by many studies. When choosing a pet food, be sure that you read the label. Any product that is not labeled “complete and balanced” for your pet’s life stage should surely be avoided. Labels … Read more
Dogs can get a lot of types of cancer, but we typically think of breast cancer as only for female humans. There are breast cancers for dogs too and we do have effective methods to diagnose and treat them. There are even ways to reduce your dog’s risk for breast cancer. Canines and other litter bearing mothers have multiple nipples (or teats) with which to nourish groups of offspring, so when you examine your dog for the possibility of breast … Read more
Nosebleeds (epistaxis) are not extremely common among our pet dogs. When you do notice a nosebleed in your dog, it is wise to be alert. The following list includes some of the things that I consider when I see a canine patient for a bloody nose. Epistaxis can range from blood tinged fluid coming from the nose to outright drops of blood actively bleeding from the nostrils. Foreign bodies Foreign bodies can become lodged in the nasal cavity. Pieces of … Read more
Dog breath is fodder for jokes, but not really… especially if you have a dog who likes to be in your face, like I do. When our dog friends have bad breath, it damages our bonding time and after all, that is what we enjoy most about having a dog. These 6 tips might make a difference for you and your dog. Assess what you are up against. If there is visible brown calculus on the teeth anywhere in the … Read more
Have you ever wondered why animals, dogs especially, like to sniff other animals’ butts? Or even seem to like to sniff people’s crotches? We all know that some dogs really like certain smells, sometimes rolling in feces or smelly mud. You might be surprised to know that there is a different reason for this invasion of personal space behavior. The answer lies in your dog’s anatomy and his ability to gain information from olfactory (scent based) clues. There are glands … Read more
We all know how much we love our dogs, and having a pet is a choice (and a luxury), but have you ever considered that once you have a pet, you cannot live as well without one? I know I love my dog. She makes me happy. I feel good when I see her face. Even a photo of her makes me smile. Love is one of the most desired human experiences. Love manifests itself in a variety of forms, … Read more
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in humans is characterized by repetitive thoughts and behaviors that cause stress. The thoughts are the obsessions and the behaviors are the compulsions. The thoughts are often unreasonable and the compulsions interfere with one’s normal life. The cause for people is believed to be multi-factorial and new advances are being made. Because dogs’ thoughts are difficult to define, the canine version of this disorder is simply referred to as Canine Compulsive Disorder (CCD). CCD has been … Read more
The truth is that heartworm disease is a very serious disease that is better prevented than treated. There is only one drug that is approved to kill adult heartworms and it is called Immiticide™ (melarsomine). Immiticide™ is a patented medication. It is expensive and difficult to manufacture. There are frequently shortages. It stands to reason that a drug that is patented, difficult to manufacture and in short supply will be expensive no matter who you are. There is nothing that … Read more
Dogs do some truly amusing things. Most of their antics are harmless and fun, but there are a few that we, as humans, perceive as laughable that can actually signify a health related issue. Here are some that might raise red flags: #1 – Scooting People laugh at a dog dragging his rear on the floor and there is even a carpet cleaner commercial that highlights it, but actually scooting is not normal if it happens more than occasionally. … Read more
A pet’s weight is about BALANCE. It is worth the trouble to make sure that your dog is not overweight. Purina’s Life Span Study showed that normal-weight dogs lived an extra 1.8 years longer than their overweight counterparts. Think of your pet’s weight as a balancing act between input and output. When she takes in more, she has to burn off more. Summertime is great for this juggling act because her output is higher and you are so busy that … Read more
We rely on ads to keep creating quality content for you to enjoy for free.
Please support our site by disabling your ad blocker.
Continue without supporting us
If the prompt is still appearing, please disable any tools or services you are using that block internet ads (e.g. DNS Servers).
Toledo, United States.
