Dog Safety

How To Keep Your Dog From Becoming A Holiday Runaway

One of the biggest nightmares of every dog lover is to suddenly find their pet gone missing, and the busiest week of the year for missing dogs is around the Fourth of July holiday. Fortunately, there are steps you can take now to improve your chances of recovering your dog should it ever become lost, as well as things you can do to keep the unthinkable from happening. Before your dog is lost The key word is “identification.” Your dog cannot tell humans her name or address, so it is up to you to make sure she can be identified

June 18, 2015 No Comments

Can Your Dog Get Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs were a common problem in the ‘60s but seemed to dwindle down for a while. Recent reports of bed bug infestations have shown that these pesky parasitic creatures that feed on human hosts are back and are becoming a serious issue. Bed bugs have popped up everywhere from five star hotels to senior centers and family homes. With increased bed bug cases reported, a number of questions have risen about these infestations. Dog owners are beginning to wonder whether or not bed bugs can affect their four legged companions. Can a dog get bed bugs? “Technically it can

June 18, 2015 No Comments

Are You And Your Dogs Prepared For Disaster?

If a natural or human-triggered disaster strikes, what will you do with your pets? When faced with an emergency situation, pet owners need to intervene on behalf of their dogs and cats to ensure their safety. How four-legged family members fare will depend on their preparedness, says Janell Matthies, emergency services manager for the United Animal Nations, a Sacramento, California based organization that brings animals out of crisis through a variety of programs, including emergency sheltering and disaster relief services. “Animals can be affected by natural disasters in a number of ways,” Matthies says. “When they are left behind, they

June 18, 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

Cesar’s Dog Park Tips

While Cesar encourages everyone to exercise their dog on a regular basis, he also reminds you to keep in mind that a good pack leader maintains leadership even at the dog park. Here are 5 tips Cesar has for dog owners who want to demonstrate good pack leadership. 1. Make sure your dog is spayed or neutered, has all her shots, and is in good health. Under no circumstances should you bring a sick dog to a dog park! 2. Do not use the dog park as a substitute for the walk! If you drive to the park, leave your

June 17, 2015 No Comments

Ask The Vet: Heat Stroke In Dogs

During the dog days of summer one thing to be wary of as the temperatures climb is heat stroke. Heat stroke in dogs is a dangerous rise in body temperature greater than 104 degrees Fahrenheit caused by prolonged exposure to high ambient temperatures. This is typically the result of being confined in a car or left outside on a hot and humid day with inadequate shelter. Another form of heat stoke is exertional which occurs when dogs are exercised for too long on hot humid days. A body temperature of greater than 109 results in multiple organ dysfunctions and if

June 17, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Best Age To Neuter Or Spay A Dog

I was writing to ask about the right time to neuter a Lab male. When he got his annual exam and shots, the vet said to leave him unneutered until he was two years old as “large-boned dogs get cancer if they are neutered before then.” I had never heard of this before and have always been a proponent of early neutering, but since this has come up, I am now unsure what to do. Is there any truth to this? What is the best time to neuter/spay a dog? Thanks, Eileen Read Dr. Sherry Weaver’s advice. Dear Eileen, I

June 17, 2015 No Comments

Dog Care

Trouble Breathing

We have a cocker spaniel, and he has huge allergies. He has trouble breathing all of the time. We tried inhalers and breathing treatments. It seems to help for a few minutes but, after that, it is down hill again. He is allergic to a lot of things, but we keep that under direct supervision. Is there anything we can try to help his breathing problems? Thank you so much, Tasha Dear Tasha, Dogs with severe bronchitis or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) are a constant battle. The goal is to maintain a good quality of life, realizing that a

June 17, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Tear Staining: Causes And Treatment

By Cesar Millan Question: I have a two year old Mal-shi-poo and he has terrible red staining from the inside corners of his eyes. It seems to bother (itch??) him as he rubs at it quite a bit. Do you have any suggestions for a “home remedy” or prescription solution? Thank You. – Beverly Peterson, Gilbert, MN Cesar’s answer: The condition that you are describing is called epiphora which occurs whenever there is an overflow of tears onto the face. It can be caused by either excessive tear production, insufficient tear drainage, or a combination of both. Epiphora can be

June 17, 2015 No Comments