The Bow! Why?

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Have you ever asked why does my dog bow? There are a couple of answers to that age old question. Dog bows serve as building blocks of dog communication and also have a physiological function in a stretch called pandiculation. The purpose of the bow depends on when the dog engages in the behavior. One function of the dog bow is called the ‘play bow’. This common posture, a building block of dog communication, can mean ‘Let’s play!” or it can also be a sign of an apology. It can be a dog’s way of saying: “I didn’t mean to bite so hard. Let’s keep playing. I wasn’t trying to… Read More Continue Reading

Doggy Diet – Are Dog’s Carnivore’s?

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Myth 1 “A dog is a carnivore. Look at his teeth!” Truth: There is much confusion out there in there in the pet world about what is the best diet to feed a dog. Many dog lovers insist on feeding their dog a pure meat diet because they think their dog is designed to be a pure carnivore. I thought we should start with some basics before we tackle this hotly debated myth. Definitions CARNIVORE – An animal subsisting primarily on animal tissue. HERBIVORE – An animal subsisting entirely on plant tissue. OMNIVORE – An animal subsisting on both animal and plant tissue. Cats and dogs are both members of… Read More Continue Reading

Halloween with your Pet

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With Halloween right around the corner, it is almost time to trick or treat. Don’t forget that Halloween can be scary for companion animals. Here are a few simple tips to keep your pet safe on the spookiest night of the year. Don’t forget to keep all human candy out of reach of your pets. Candy can make a pet sick and can even be lethal. Chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine, which can make pets very ill and could even cause death if consumed in enough quantity. Xylitol, an ingredient found in many artificially sweetened products is harmful even in small amounts. Don’t think wrappers will thwart your pet – be… Read More Continue Reading

Flue Shot for your Dog?

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  Many concerned dog lovers ask their veterinarian whether or not their dog should get a flu shot. Your veterinarian will usually answer that it depends on your pet’s risk of exposure to the disease. In order to make an informed decision, it helps to have background information on the disease. Canine influenza was discovered about 8 years ago in racing greyhounds in Florida and is documented in 40 states. States with the highest exposure to the virus include the Midwest, the Carolina’s, and Colorado. The risk is also increasing in Kansas. The virus causes flu-like symptoms: coughing, fever, malaise, loss of appetite, nasal discharge, and pneumonia. The kicker is… Read More Continue Reading

Dogs Pawing and Scratching

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Pawing and scratching is a tactic dogs use to ask for something they want, or as part of play. Pawing is also used to get a person’s immediate attention, like when kids say “mom!” over and over. Humans, however, lack the protective fur covering that dogs have, and claws can cause severe skin injuries. Not only that, a large pawing dog can actually trip someone or knock them over. If your dog has a pawing problem, here are 5 tips to get help your dog learn some polite paw manners. More Exercise Sometimes dogs paw simply because they need more exercise. All dogs are different, but in general, 2-3 vigorous… Read More Continue Reading

Old Age is not Disease

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She’s been your loving companion for a long time. She’s still by your side, but she’s not as frolicsome or attentive as she once was. It’s inevitable – your beloved pet is growing old. Her needs are changing, and while old age is not a disease, she will depend on you more than ever to keep her healthy and comfortable. Just like in elderly people, older dogs need proper nutrition, regular checkups, strength training, and fitness to maintain muscles critical to metabolism. Overweight patients have a much higher risk of arthritis and muscle loss, so maintaining a proper weight in your pet is a huge priority. If your pet is… Read More Continue Reading

OK – here is a fun idea: Stand up Paddleboarding with your Dog

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Stand-up paddleboarding, SUP for short, is a relatively old sport enjoying new popularity. Thanks to the fact that SUP is easy to learn, the sport has exploded in the past couple of years. It’s not overly technical, can be done on lakes, rivers or the ocean, doesn’t require a high fitness level, and since a stand-up paddleboard just happens to perfectly fit one person and one dog AND dogs just seem to inherently know what to do on a paddleboard, it is becoming a favorite sport for canines as well. Paddle boarding is like walking on water: and anywhere boats are allowed, paddle boards are allowed. Paddle boards are considered… Read More Continue Reading

Stress in Dogs

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In humans, we now know that certain medical conditions, such as heart disease, are exacerbated by chronic stress. Researchers have also determined that long-term stress can contribute to medical and compulsive disorders in pets. Diseases such as obsessive behaviors, irritable bowel syndrome, eating disorders such as obesity and anorexia, gastric dilatation volvulus (bloat), noise phobias, destructive behaviors,and separation anxiety have all been found to have a chronic stress component in dogs. Other than studies done on unwanted behaviors that endanger the human-animal bond, there has been relatively little research published regarding stress and its effects on companion animals. While the assumption has been that the effect of stress on dogs and… Read More Continue Reading

Dog Safety in Swimming

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The term ‘doggy paddle’ wasn’t created because dogs like to stay on the shore. Many dogs love to swim, and the fun cool downs in the local watering hole are unforgettable experiences for your water-loving canine. In this video I will go over some safety guidelines, as even the most enthusiastic and strong swimmers can get into trouble. What breeds of dogs make good swimmers? Well, most dogs except dogs with large chests and small hindquarters – they have a harder time staying afloat. Short muzzled dogs, like bulldogs, pugs, and boxers have a harder time due to the structure of their nose and throat. Dogs with very short legs,… Read More Continue Reading

Dangers when Hiking with our Dogs

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What do you think are the biggest dangers we face when hiking with our dogs? Bears? Mountain lions?Alligators? Snakes? The answer might surprise you. In the past one hundred years, only 43 black bear mauling deaths have been recorded in all of North America. Mountain lions are extremely rare and reclusive – you could hike several lifetimes and never see one. Alligators can sprint for short distances but do not chase prey on land,so just keep your dog out of the murky swamp water. Snakes are not particularly aggressive animals; unless cornered or teased by your dog, a rattlesnake will crawl away and avoid striking. A general rule for any of these animals on the… Read More Continue Reading