Routine Care for your Dog | Page 5 of 6

All About Dogs

Adapting To Autumn

Many of us love this time of year — the changing color of the leaves, brisk fall breezes, and finally a respite from the hot weather of Summer. For your dog, however, fall may be more work than fun. The change in the season can mean a decrease in exercise, and an increase in baths, allergens, and other unpleasantness for your dog. The following tips should help make the transition into the new season enjoyable for both you and your dog. Health Concerns Pet lovers may forget about such things as allergens, keeping your dog warm, medical issues, etc., that

June 18, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Ask The Vet: Itchy Terrier

I have a border terrier cross, who is virtually bald under his belly and back legs. His skin is black and leathery, and he itches a lot, and chews on top of his paws. His ears tend to swell and we have been given ‘canaural’ to use. We have been told he has an allergy to house dust, and we control his environment as much as possible, but his skin is no better. Is there anything else we could try? Corinna Waters Standish, Wigan UK Read Dr. Kristy Conn’s Advice Canine atopy is a common disease of dogs where they

June 18, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

How To Bathe Your Dog

If you watch people bathing dogs in movies and TV shows, most of the time it seems like a joyous, fun-filled time for all involved. Unfortunately, bathing your dog in real life isn’t always such a positive experience. Dogs don’t mind being dirty and stinky — in fact, they like it quite a bit — and many aren’t afraid to put up a fight if they think that it will help them get out of bath time. And while watching a favorite actor run after a dog covered in soap suds may seem hilarious, it’s a lot less fun when

June 18, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

An Oven On Wheels

It’s simple physics: a car with its windows rolled up on a hot day can quickly become an oven. Sunlight — and therefore heat — can get in, but they can’t get out. Even if it seems cool out, that car can get really hot very quickly. At 72° F (22° C), it only takes an hour for a car to hit 116° F (47° C). Raise the outside temperature to just 80° F (27° C) and it can hit 100° F (38° C) in just ten minutes. Put a dog in that car and not only will it contribute

June 18, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Bone Cancer

Hi! Would you help shed some light on bone cancer in dogs? We have a thirteen-year-old Rottweiler who was just diagnosed with bone cancer in her two left legs. She is having a challenge getting up and around but still has an appetite. How do I tell if she is in too much pain? She is on Tramadol for pain, but it doesn’t appear from my end that it is helping much. Any suggestions on how to help her with her pain? We don’t want her to suffer. She appears bright-eyed and not grumpy, just not very happy. Her nub

June 17, 2015 No Comments

Winter Proofing Your Dog’s Paws

Winter can be brutal on our dog’s paw pads. Exposed to the elements and toxic chemicals, the paw pads are at risk for drying, cracking, trauma, frostbite and chemical burns. Luckily, there are some tips and products out there that can help keep your dog’s paws happy and healthy this winter. Many protective balms are available to help protect your dog’s paws, and even some human products can do the trick. Do your research. Once you find the balm that you like, take these steps: Prep the paws Before using the balm, make sure the paw is ready. Good grooming

June 17, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Fear Of Nail Cutting

Dear Cesar, My dog Honey will NOT let us cut her toe nails. She is petrified. How can we do this? She is a therapy dog for elderly people and needs her nails cut on a regular basis. She has some anxiety issues. They arose after her brother Bear passed away this summer. She saw it. Could this have caused her anxiety? Please help us. We need to be able to cut her nails and don’t know what to do. Our vet suggested drugging her. We tried this and she was sooo out of it. Help!!! Sincerely, Janine Thomas –

June 17, 2015 No Comments

Dog Care

Treating Blisters On Paws

I recently saw an episode that said dogs need about a 45 minute walk per day. Well, I started walking my miniature dachshund this week, but we have only walked about 20 minutes each day so far. I noticed today after our walk that she was licking her paws a lot. I was concerned. I just looked at them again, and she now has a couple blister-looking sores on her pads. What should I do to help her with the pain and to make sure her paws heal properly? Thanks, Tamara Richardson Boiling Springs, SC Dear Tamara, We see this

June 17, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Annual Shots Follow-Ups

I am excited that our last article elicited such response. Vaccination is a very controversial subject, and I appreciate all of the opinions expressed. With all of the opinions in our community, I knew that there would be a heated response no matter what I said. I would like to take this chance to respond to some of the readers who sent emails. “I was wondering why you did not mention the Bordetella vaccine. If she brings her dogs to a groomer, dog day care, dog park or boarding facility, they should have this vaccine, especially if they are older

June 17, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Scratching Yorkie

I have a three year-old Yorkie. For the last year, he’s been scratching and scratching like crazy. I’ve tried switching his food, changing his shampoo, vitamin sprays, everything. I don’t know what to do! Please can you help my poor Yorkie? He’s losing hair in a few areas on his legs. Thank you so much! Sincerely, Camila Ponce Boca Raton, FL Dear Camila, I would love to be able to just give you a quick answer to your problem. Unfortunately, itching is one of the most complex problems that vets face. The three big categories of itch are food allergies,

June 17, 2015 No Comments