Pet Health

The month of April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month, sponsored by the American Red Cross. It was created to teach pet parents the lifesaving skills they need in the event of an emergency with their dog or cat. Learning first aid is important for all pet parents, but for those of us with disabled pets knowing skills like how to perform pet CPR or how to safely move an injured pet are crucial. If you live with a special needs dog or cat there is a strong possibility you could have to put some of these first aid techniques to use. The Red Cross understands that our fur kids are part of the family so they’ve developed two ways for pet owners to learn first aid skills. One way is through their free Pet First Aid App that gives you step-by-step instructions for specific emergencies. And the second method is through their Pet First Aid course . This hands-on class includes instructions on how to administer pet CPR and how to safely handle common emergency situations. Do you t...

I was sitting at my computer typing away for a work project when all of a sudden it hit me – a new dog treat idea that’s meant to benefit joint health. If you’re a regular reader here at Proud Dog Mom then you may already know my Chihuahua, Diego, was diagnosed with early arthritis back in November, 2018. Sure, his CBD Hemp Oil has been working wonders for the pain. So much so that he’s back to playing fetch and his attitude is much better. But, after spending a few years writing for health blogs, I started thinking about gelatin for dogs. A Glance at Gelatin In case you didn’t know, plain, unflavored, and unsweetened gelatin isn’t only safe for our canine companions, it actually offers big benefits for their joints, bones, gut health, digestion, skin, nails, and the list goes on. High in amino acids (the building blocks of protein) , gelatin is a form of hydrolyzed collagen (AKA broken-down collagen) that’s taken from animal parts. I’m not talking about a plain chicken breast, ...

Dog's name and age: Simba, 6 years Adoption Story: Simba and his sister were left in a ditch on the side of a road as young puppies. Thankfully, they were both rescued! I had recently lost a dog, so my friend sent me a picture of Simba's adorable face. I wasn't sure I was ready for another dog yet, but once I met him, I changed my mind. It turns out that he was the perfect cure for my broken heart. He shares his home with my two other dogs, Mikey and Ellie. How was he named? Simba was named after a character in my favorite Disney movie, The Lion King . Tags:  smiling dogs from The Bark https://ift.tt/2TDcFbX

Dog's name and age: Luna, 2 years Adoption Story: In Southern Missouri there is a huge backyard breeder problem. I followed (on Facebook) every rescue/shelter in the area I could find, watching the work they do to try to find homes for the many dogs in need. I saw Luna's picture just after the rescue posted it and I immediately applied, then met and adopted Luna that same weekend. Unfortunately, not long after taking her home, she showed signs of a severe sickness and it turns out she had aspiration pneumonia. She almost died but with proper care and time to heal she overcame it. She is the best dog I could have ever hoped for!  Luna Loves: Tearing the fuzz off tennis balls, playing tug, playing with cat wands, snuffle mats, and going to the dog park or dog daycare to play with her friends!  Best Trick: Luna's absolute favorite trick is 'Sit Pretty' Tags:  smiling dogs from The Bark https://ift.tt/2YA4st0

Written By: John Woods, senior editor at All Things Dogs Love running? If so, you’ve probably thought about taking Fido out to pound the pavement. Not only is running great for you, but it can also be a beneficial addition to your dog’s exercise routine. Before you lace up your running shoes and grab his leash, though, there are a few things to consider. Read on for some top tips to help you and Fido through those miles.  Be Realistic While the thought of running through the woods, in a nearby park, or even on the beach with your canine companion may make you smile, you have to be realistic. Is Fido suitable for running? What breed is he and how old is he?  Let’s Talk Breed Brachycephalic breeds — like Pugs, French Bulldogs, and Shih Tzus — aren’t particularly suited for running (especially long distances) . That’s because they over-heat easily. They aren’t great at regulating their body temperature due to their short muzzles, and they often suffer from brachycephalic ob...

He slept outside the shelter because he had hope The reunion looks like so many happy endings. There’s a relieved human and a dog so filled with joyful exuberance that the entire body wags along with the tail. There’s a lot more to the story of this particular reunion, though. This man is a homeless fellow who spent the very last of his money to take the bus to the shelter with the hope that his lost dog had been taken there. When an employee of the Dekalb County Animal Services came to work, the man was lying in front of the building after spending the night on the sidewalk. He was eager for the shelter to open so that he could learn whether or not they had his dog. The dog had indeed been brought to the shelter as a presumed stray, but she had then been taken across town to a different facility. The shelter worker kindly paid for the man’s train ticket over there so that the two could be reunited. The shelter waived the usual fees so that the man could have his dog back des...

A young dog imported from South Korea into Western Canada last fall brought along a dangerous hitchhiker: the Asia-1 strain of canine distemper virus (CDV), which had never before been reported in North America. Scientists at Cornell’s  Animal Health Diagnostic Center  (AHDC) identified the virus in samples from the dog, which they suspect was part of a shipment of animals rescued from a Korean meat market by an animal welfare organization. Dogs that are already immunized against CDV likely are not at risk from the Asian strain. But if the virus comes into contact with wildlife, it may take a serious toll on wild carnivore populations. Tags:  international blog news health care from The Bark https://ift.tt/2YsqFZH

Matt Thompson of Thompson Woodworking is a mighty handy guy. A craftsman and inventor of the Michigan Beer and Michigan Wine chairs, he recently turned his talents to creating a gizmo for his dogs, Bonnie and Clyde. Bonnie, a five-year-old Shepherd, is one of those head-butting-pet-me-now kind of pups, and while charming, it can also get in the way of a guy doing his job. To satisfy Bonnie’s needs (and his own), Matt decided to build her a petting machine inspired by Rube Goldberg’s contraptions. He set to work cutting the wooden cogs with a band saw, then assembled them on a frame; an old corded drill serves as the low rpm motor, providing the speed he wanted and one he thought Bonnie would tolerate. He tells us that it took a lot of treats to entice Bonnie under the wooden hand, and she’d still rather be petted by her humans. Little Clyde really likes it, but needs some help to get within petting range. Tags:  art dog culture humor crafts from The Bark ht...

Darwin’s Natural Pet Products is making the news yet again. This time, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning for pet parents to stop feeding 3 lots of their raw dog food. This comes after the FDA collected and analyzed unopened samples in response to a consumer complaint. The test results came back positive for Salmonella . What’s Recalled The following list of recalled products and lot numbers were provided by the FDA : Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe with Organic Vegetables for Dogs Package: 5309(11)181019 Manufactured on October 19, 2018 Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe with Organic Vegetables for Dogs Package: 5375(11)181106 Manufactured on November 11, 2018 Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Turkey Recipe with Organic Vegetables for Dogs 5339(11)181026 Manufactured on October 26, 2018 About Salmonella Salmonella is a bacterial disease that can affect animals who...

Times have changed regarding canine value Denise Swank paid $6000 to a man to train her German Shepherd Gunnar, but it all went terribly wrong. A little over two weeks after the man took Gunnar to his training facility, the dog was dead. According to an autopsy, the cause of death was heat stress or hyperthermia. An investigation into the conditions where police believe that Gunnar had been living revealed inhumane conditions. The dogs there were treated cruelly and, according to the official criminal complaint, deprived of food, water and proper shelter. Sadly, Gunnar apparently died a painful death that was completely avoidable. Tags:  training blog law & politics from The Bark https://ift.tt/2CBwCdw

The trees have fallen down on our old stomping ground. I can't see the light of the shade your paw prints used to leave... Your eye lashes glimmered In dusty light against a furrowed brow that winced in my delight... My eyes rested on your lingering soul as you tarnished my heart aglow... The trail is steep and rocks do flow at waters' edge where your paws did grow... My mind is set on still memories pondering the autumn moles that danced about and you chased in the twinkling twilight... I hold still in thought your beauty... Curly locks grey with age... The box now neatly arrayed on the shelf... Rose atop white and pure.... It is my last lure  To my lost and empty self.... The ashes wisp the trail's bend and alas the mud you so spiritually dived in... Cleansed and pure ... I think... And I cry... As I say my last goodbye... Tags:  tributes blog poems from The Bark https://ift.tt/2CDzcQf

From your kitchen to their doggy dish, it’s time to celebrate man’s best friend. In honor of National Puppy Day, why not spoil your canine companion with a fresh and tasty dog treat? I stopped by Fox26 Houston’s Morning Show to help viewers whip up an easy and nutritious dog treat. The best part? This simple snack calls for 5 all-natural ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen. Now, I’m sharing the news segment and recipe with you! The Dog Treat Recipe Featured On Fox26 Want The Printable Recipe? The grain-free dog treat recipe that I shared with Fox26 is called Fish Paws. If you’re a regular reader here at Proud Dog Mom then you may recognize it from my blog and YouTube channel . You can get the full written and printable recipe HERE . Launched in 2006, National Puppy Day (March 23) is a special day to celebrate the unconditional love that puppies bring to our lives. It’s also a day to help save orphaned puppies and educate people about the horrors of puppy m...

Engineering students, doggie day care owner team up to build the better pooper scooper Daniel Spangler's  A Dog’s Dream , doggie day care and boarding business, found itself in some deep … trouble last year. An inspector cited the New Bern, N.C., entrepreneur and dog lover for having a rusty pooper scooper, a violation under state Department of Agriculture guidelines. It frustrated Spangler, who spent countless hours maintaining the metal scoopers and hundreds of dollars replacing them year after year. He started thinking about everything else that bugged him about available dog waste removers. The way the springy tines on the rake bounced stray bits back onto his shoes. The way any blast of water hard enough to clean the equipment also soaked everything around it. The way his wrist hurt after picking up and dumping easily 30-50 pounds of poop every day. Tags:  dogpatch news blog from The Bark https://ift.tt/2JxiJ5X

One dog is always on the brain In an exchange about our own dogs, Susan Tasaki—an editor and writer for The Bark —and I periodically used dog names from long deceased pets instead of the names belonging to the dogs currently in our lives. We both have a tendency to revert to our “default” dogs. In my case, I regularly refer to other dogs as “Bugsy”, a dog of mine who died in 2004, and she automatically pulls up the name “Emma” from time to time, even though Emma died about 6 years ago at the age of 15. (Miraculously, we still managed to understand each other perfectly, which may help explain the successful nature of our long-term collaboration as writer and editor.) Tags:  life with dogs blog from The Bark https://ift.tt/2TRhJhW

Hill’s Pet Nutrition is expanding its voluntary recall of canned dog foods due to potentially elevated vitamin D levels. Earlier this year, Proud Dog Mom reported that Hill’s found out about the potential for elevated vitamin D levels after receiving a complaint in the United States. That’s when they heard about a dog experiencing symptoms. An investigation confirmed elevated levels of vitamin D due to a supplier error. Now, Hill’s released a statement saying: “Following that recall, we conducted a detailed review of all canned dog foods potentially impacted by the vitamin premix with elevated levels of vitamin D. This review included: analyzing consumer complaints; reviewing veterinarian medical consultations; auditing our supplier ; and reviewing our own manufacturing and quality procedures. We then did additional product testing to ensure we had taken all appropriate action. Our review determined that there were additional products affected by that vitamin premix, and it is for...