Dog Safety

Choosing/Working With a Vet

How Pet Health Insurance Works

No matter how careful you are with your dog, accidents happen — and sometimes they’re costly ones. Just ask Les Kaciban of Ashburn, Virginia, whose Komondor puppy Charlie swallowed a corn cob and required emergency surgery to remove it. The bill came to a whopping $3,600. It was a good thing that Kaciban had pet health insurance. His out-of-pocket expenses came to an easier-to-swallow $1,000, while his insurance policy covered the difference. Pet owners today face higher veterinary costs than ever. The American Pet Product Association, a trade organization based in Greenwich, Connecticut, reports that because technological advances in procedures

June 18, 2015 No Comments

When Your Dog Gets Bullied

Just like a “wimpy kid” in middle school, you’ll know if your dog is getting bullied if, in social settings like the dog park, it gets frequently mounted, has food, water, toys, or spots stolen, gets ganged up on, or even gets badly injured. Its response to other dogs will often seem intimidated and defensive — even before any other dogs “act out.” For instance, as soon as they are approached by another dog, they may cower or immediately roll on their back, exposing their belly and showing submission. Dogs that get picked on “in public” may otherwise be happy

June 18, 2015 No Comments

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

Cali’s Tale: Once Bitten…

Like the majority of our dogs, Cali, the lovable chocolate Labrador owned by Connie and Mike Schmitt, loves playing outside in the backyard. This just happened to be the Schmitt family pup’s favorite pastime, until recently that is. In July of last year, a typical trip to the backyard brought Cali face-to-face with a venomous snake. It was an experience that would change both her life and the lives of her owners forever. “Cali loves to frolic around our property and chase lizards and squirrels,” says her owner, Connie Schmitt, who spoke to Cesar’s Way about the day of her

June 18, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Intestinal Parasites

Roundworms and hookworms Most pet owners do not know their pets may carry worms capable of infecting people.1 Infected dogs contaminate their surroundings by passing eggs in feces. People can acquire roundworm and hookworm infections by coming into contact with an environment contaminated with eggs or larvae. That means it’s important to clean up pet feces on a regular basis to remove potentially infectious eggs before they spread through the environment. Eggs in the environment can remain infectious for years.1 Children are more likely to become infected in part because they are more apt to play in contaminated areas or put

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

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