Pet Health

Liberty is a retired greyhound from the race track and for the past ten years, she has had a new career as a therapy dog bringing joy to everyone she meets. Tags:  smiling dogs from The Bark https://ift.tt/2BNnntz

Treats are an excellent tool when one is training dogs. However, it is important to use them carefully to reap the true benefits of the training. Many owners can’t resist providing treats to their dogs just because they look so cute. And honestly, that is okay; as long as you know what the limit is. Dogs don’t know when to stop eating , especially if they’re eating something delicious. If you keep doling out treats to your pup, it’ll end up obese. So how much is too much? Read on to find out. Counting Calories Counting calories is the key to understanding how many treats you can safely give to your dog . Most vets recommend that calories from dog treats should not exceed 10 percent of a dog’s daily intake. But how does one find out how many calories a dog should ideally have every day? No One Number Fits All An adult human male requires 2500 calories a day on average. Unfortunately, there’s no single number to associate with dogs because of the massive variation in their size...

People seem to either love or hate Brussels sprouts. As a lover of this cruciferous veggie, they’re a dinnertime staple in my house. But I rarely think to feed them to my pups. Have you ever wondered: Can dogs eat Brussels sprouts?  Short answer: Yes!  What Are Brussels Sprouts?  Brussels sprouts  are a cruciferous vegetable that resembles mini cabbages. They’re a member of the Brassicaceae family of vegetables, meaning they’re closely related to other powerful superfoods, like kale and broccoli . Like their close relatives, they offer up a variety of key vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that benefit both us and our canine companions.  Of course, before you simply toss Brussels sprouts to your pup, it’s important to know the proper feeding tips  (which I share below) ! Nutritional Facts When feeding Brussels sprouts to your dog, moderation is key. So, let’s take a look at the nutritional facts for just 1 sprout! According to the  U.S. Depa...

Ceilidh and her two surviving puppies were rescued from a situation of starvation and neglect. Now, she gets to spend her days doing puzzles, agility and trick training and loves every minute. Tags:  smiling dogs from The Bark https://ift.tt/2DquCba

If you open up your pantry right now, will you find a box of baking soda sitting on the shelf? I always have a couple of boxes on hand — one for baking, one for eating up unpleasant odors, and one for the dogs. Yup, you read that right. I have a box for the dogs! Read on for 7 ways baking soda may help in your canine-filled home. Some of these may surprise you! 1. Accidents Happen: Clean Up Dog Urine If you’re a dog mom, at some point you are going to have to deal with a little pee on the floor. The important thing is finding the urine spot and knowing how to properly clean it up. If you aren’t properly cleaning up the urine, your dog will be able to smell it and may continue to have accidents in that same spot. Another issue — urine odor will begin to fill the room. No one wants to take a big whiff of urine!  Soak it up – Place a paper towel, or another absorbent material, on top of the urine and blot up as much as possible. I used to even put a shoe on and step on the spot....

My dogs LOVE going to the beach! They get so excited to run around, dig in the sand, watch the waves crash, dip their paws in the water, and people-watch. While summer trips are always nice, I also take my two canine kids to the beach during the off-season. That’s when there aren’t as many restrictions, and I don’t have to worry about them overheating or getting a sunburn.  No matter what time of year you plan to take your pooch to the sandy wonderland, here are some tips that can help make your trip to the beach a breeze.  1) Visit a Dog-Friendly Beach Not all beaches allow dogs so it’s important to do your homework before you slip into your flip flops and drive to the shore. A few years ago, I went to a San Diego beach with a good friend of mine and her dog. While San Diego is a dog-friendly city, the beach we went to that day was not. The beach police drove over to us and gave us a warning, asking us to leave. While it wasn’t a big deal, since she lived about 10 minute...

“Do you wanna go for a walk?”  In my house, these few simple words are immediately followed up with chaos. My relaxed pups quickly jump up on all fours, let out a few barks, spin around in circles, and then run over to our harness/leash basket as their tails wag a mile a minute. Sound familiar?  As natural athletes and curious creatures who enjoy exploring the world around them, dogs love going for walks! Not only does the physical exercise benefit their overall health  (weight, muscles, joints, heart, lungs, etc.) , but walks can also provide necessary mental stimulation. As you lace up your sneakers and reach for your pup’s leash, it’s good to set out with a purpose. Below, I share the four different types of walks all dogs need.  Potty Walks For a lot of people, when they ask their dog if they want to go outside, they’re really asking,  “Do you need to go to the bathroom?”  Potty walks are typically short and to the point — a quick walk down the bl...

“I can’t believe she bit me! She was wagging her tail!” Dear Bark: I was bitten by a friend’s dog, which shocked us all because the dog was wagging her tail. What’s up with a friendly dog who bites? This is a great question, and one that I hear frequently in one form or another from clients. Just like you, many people have been bitten by a dog they thought was friendly because the dog was wagging her tail. This common misconception—that a tail wag is a sure sign of friendliness—creates risky situations in which people believe they are safe when they actually might not be. The confusion arises because, while friendly dogs do tend to wag their tails, they are not the only ones doing the wagging. Lots of dogs wag their tails when their intentions are anything but friendly. Tail wags are far more complicated than you might think. Tags:  ask the expert dog behavior from The Bark https://ift.tt/3hJZnXG

From slight pain to life-threatening illness: learn the causes and treatment of canine pancreatitis. Throughout the year, I see many dogs in the ER because of stomach problems. Birthday parties, summer barbeques and winter holiday dinners are prime times for dogs to not only score more food than usual, but often, food that doesn’t agree with them. This indulgence can set them up for the development of pancreatitis, a potentially life-threatening disease. What Is Pancreatitis? Let’s start with the pancreas. The pancreas sits just under the stomach and along the first part of the small intestine. The pancreas has two main jobs. The first is the secretion of digestive enzymes to help break down food in the small intestine, and the second is the secretion of insulin and glucagon to regulate the body’s blood glucose (sugar) levels. When a dog develops pancreatitis, the digestive enzymes are the problem. Tags:  wellness health care from The Bark https://ift.tt...

Greetings, my pawsome human minions. Your favorite crabby tabby of wisdom here, coming to you with a topic that deeply divides many homes. Scratching on things. Cat parents say no, but felines say yes! And, when a feline puts down a paw, then we know who wins. But even in the great scratching furniture debate, the humans keep trying to win, always yelling about claws ripping into stuff. My parents and I finally get along on the matter, but it took a whole couch arm and two door frames before my mom finally filled the house with scratching posts and those neat little flats of cardboard you can stand on and tear into. @haru_happy_nacho/ Instagram Though peace has been found in my home, the issue is still raging and right here in my own neighborhood. Scratching: Destroying Peace and Furniture I happened to be on my porch the other day, in the usual nap position when a fuss from the house next door woke me. The house’s windows were open and soon my calico friend living there leape...

Valentino had a home, but the family he lived with moved away, leaving him behind. Alone, he wandered the neighborhood, his days of security gone as he searched for food and a warm place to sleep. The fluffy boy eventually found his way to a neighbor’s porch, where the neighbor recognized the abandoned Ragdoll. Though her husband suffered from severe cat allergies, the kind woman took Valentino in and tucked him into a safe spot in her garage, far from her husband. The cat couldn’t stay long with the allergy risk, but the kind woman already had an idea of who could help Valentino. Thankfully, she worked with Debbie Harris, cat foster extraordinaire, and knew the feline foster mom would know just what to do for the abandoned darling. @fosterkittys/ Instagram Homeless to New Home Having fostered cats and kittens since 2004 , Debbie was smitten when she saw a photo of Valentino and took him right away. @fosterkittys/ Instagram Debbie took Valentino to the vet where she learned...