Dog Safety

How To Avoid Dog Bites

Most dog bites occur in the home. More than likely, your four-legged best friend doesn’t mean to hurt you, but might get carried away during playtime and accidentally nip you. Other dogs, especially small ones, will nip at you for attention, and puppies may use you for teething. Here are some tips for reducing the chances of getting bitten. If you start a wrestling match, a tug-of-war, or even a particularly energetic game of fetch with your dog, you may be accidentally bitten. Remember, your dog uses his mouth to grip things. If you’re wrestling, this could mean your arm

June 18, 2015 No Comments

dog alone on road | what to do if dog goes missing

All About Dogs

Lost! What To Do If Your Dog Goes Missing

It’s one of the worst feelings imaginable: the panic that sets in when you realize your dog is missing. It happens to someone every two seconds, often when the dog is in someone else’s care, or in an unfamiliar area. Most pets are back with their family in the first few hours, but the odds of a reunion drop dramatically after that first day. You may not want to even think about it, but the good news is that there are quick, easy, and very effective things you can do right now — when your pet is safe and right

June 18, 2015 No Comments

Choosing/Working With a Vet

How To Care For Your Dog On A Budget

Owning or adopting a dog can be expensive under any circumstances. Between the price of food, medical expenses, pet paraphernalia, training, and boarding, monthly budgets can shoot skyward with the addition of a four-legged friend to the household. But even in times of economic uncertainty, you can find ways to care for your loyal companion without breaking the bank! Let these 11 tips serve as a checklist for ways to save. Medical Expenses If money becomes scarce, unexpected medical issues can present quite a problem. But just as you might take out an insurance plan for yourself or other family

June 17, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Intestinal Parasites

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 dirty objects in

June 17, 2015 No Comments

a puppy plays in the snow without the right protection

Basics

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

dogs are at risk for heat stroke if prevention isn't taken

All About Dogs

Ask The Vet: Preventing 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

Dear Dr. Weaver, 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

June 17, 2015 No Comments

Allergies

What to Do If Your Dog Has Trouble Breathing

Dear Dr. Weaver, 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,

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