Pet Health

Spend even a little time with dogs and you’ll probably catch them doing something that makes you wonder: Why the heck are they doing that? Dogs are amusing creatures that certainly know how to make us laugh. But, their quirky behaviors are often way more than entertainment. Read on to discover the motives behind 12 common dog behaviors. 1. Chasing Their Tail Round and round they go. How funny is it to watch a dog run in tight circles, on a mission to capture their own tail?! This amusing behavior is usually a fun way for your pup to bust-boredom and expend his excess energy. If you often sit nearby laughing at the behavior, your dog may start to like the extra attention and begin chasing his tail when seeking attention.  While tail-chasing is normally nothing to worry about, if it’s constant and paired with other odd behaviors, it may be a sign of flea allergy dermatitis or anal gland problems. Dogs can also develop obsessive-compulsive disorder behaviors. If you suspect somet...

Banzai has always been a happy boy! Of all the activities he does, his favorite two things are Dock Diving and Earthdog. It’s the perfect way to turn his high energy into passion. Tags:  smiling dogs from The Bark https://ift.tt/3gIBDSV

Harper was found wandering in Northern Georgia with a rope around her neck and heavily pregnant. She’s made huge strides in trust and is now the sweetest dog anyone could ask for. Tags:  smiling dogs from The Bark https://ift.tt/2DeKVbF

Precision medicine treatment saves family pet. Ruby had always been an active dog. So when Kristen Constable and her family returned home from vacation and discovered their beloved greyhound limping, they assumed Ruby had simply injured herself while playing. Nothing too serious. But a trip to the family veterinarian led to a referral to the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine , which resulted in a devastating diagnosis — Ruby had osteosarcoma, a common type of bone cancer in dogs . The prognosis was grim, probably less than a year to live after amputation of the cancerous limb and several rounds of chemotherapy, not to mention all the side effects that go with it. The Constables were crestfallen. Tags:  news wellness health care from The Bark https://ift.tt/3jrWlYX

Canine distemper is a very contagious – and potentially deadly – viral disease that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. The scariest part about canine distemper: There’s  no  cure. How Canine Distemper Spreads Puppies and dogs can get canine distemper a few ways: Direct contact with an infected animal.  Distemper-infected dogs can shed the virus for several months, putting other dogs around them at risk. It’s important to note that canines aren’t the only animals that can contract distemper. Wildlife – such as wolves, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, skunks, and mink – can also contract distemper.  Airborne.  If an infected dog or animal coughs, sneezes, or barks, aerosol droplets are spread into the air. This puts nearby dogs at risk.  Infected objects.  The virus can spread through infected surfaces and objects.  (For example, sharing food and water bowls with an infected animal.) Placenta.  Pregnant mother dogs...

What’s the first thing that pops into your head when you think of a rabid animal? For me, it’s a wild raccoon wandering the streets midday. While a slightly different image may come to your mind, one thing is certain: Rabies is scary. It’s a devastating viral disease that affects the central nervous system of all mammals, including dogs, cats, and people. It often results in death.  The good news: Rabies in our pets is preventable.  How Rabies Spreads Since rabid animals secrete the virus through their saliva, rabies is primarily passed to dogs through an infected animal’s bite. Transmission can also occur through a scratch or when infected saliva comes into contact with an open flesh wound. In North America, the raccoon, skunk, fox, coyote, and bat are all top sources of infection.  What Happens After a Bite?  After a bite occurs, the rabies virus travels through the nerves and spinal cord to the brain. Once the brain is infected, the virus multiplies and sp...

Raising two dogs vs one dog. Should you raise one dog or two dogs? That’s a question I asked myself for years -- until I decided to try owning multiple dogs (usually 2, but sometimes 3) at the same time. Because multi-dog household aggression is real! It’s one of the signs of Littermate Syndrome when you’re raising two puppies. I’ve been at this for decades now! Here’s how to introduce 2 dogs. Signs one dog doesn't like the other. Pros & Cons of having more than one dog. Ways to simplify life when you have multiple dogs. How to get dogs to get along. All my best tips for how to raise two dogs in the house together! from First Time Dog Owner Guide https://ift.tt/34KcMvB

I love my dogs’ wet, sloppy kisses … especially after they’ve enjoyed one of these homemade treats. I call them Fresh Breath Dog Biscuits because these bark-worthy bites feature breath-freshening herbs. Mixed with gluten-free flours and other wholesome ingredients, these dog treats are healthy, easy-to-make, and bound to make your pup’s tail wag! Watch Recipe Tutorial A Look At The Ingredients Oat Flour  –  Oat flour is simply oats ground up into a fine powder. As such, it provides all the natural goodness of oatmeal: fiber, protein, various vitamins, and key minerals. They’re great for both heart and digestive health, just to name a few benefits. While oats are considered gluten-free they are sometimes grown in fields along with gluten products so there could be cross-contamination. If you want your dog eating completely gluten-free then look for oats that have the “gluten-free” label.  HERE is the oat flour that I use! Coconut Flour  – Coconut flour is natur...

Is Littermate Syndrome real? YES! Most experts strongly advise against raising sibling puppies — because they may become difficult to handle as they mature due to Littermate Syndrome. What Is Littermate Syndrome? Littermate Syndrome (sometimes called Sibling Puppy Syndrome) refers to issues that are more likely to arise when puppies from the same litter (or […] from First Time Dog Owner Guide https://ift.tt/3hCDtpy

It’s almost Fall, yall! A visit to Starbucks, a walk through any home goods or home improvement store, or a scroll through Instagram blogger accounts and you’ll probably spot some pumpkins already. This popular squash is an autumn staple! While we may love indulging in festive flavored goodies, can dogs eat pumpkin?  Short answer: Yes, when served correctly, pumpkin is extremely healthy for dogs! Pumpkins for Dogs While I’ll dive deeper into this topic in the Feeding Tips section below, it’s important to note: While pumpkins are considered a healthy food for dogs, that doesn’t mean they can eat all pumpkin dishes. No licks of your pumpkin spice latte or bites of your delicious pumpkin pie. The sugar, nutmeg, and cloves in many pumpkin pie-flavored dishes aren’t good for dogs.  When it comes to feeding this orange fruit  (yup, pumpkin technically isn’t a vegetable)  to dogs, we usually opt for cooked and pureed pumpkin (either homecooked or canned storebought) . ...

A new study confirms the influence in Labrador Retrievers Cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR) is a leading cause of pelvic limb lameness in dogs. About 6% of Labs suffer from this orthopedic problem and since this breed is one of the most popular in the U.S.,  Michael Conzemius, DVM, PhD, DACVS , and  Molly McCue, DVM, MS, PhD , DACVIM,  with the University of Minnesota  College of Veterinary Medicine  decided to collaborate on a study to determine the disease’s heritability in Labrador Retrievers and they wanted to measure the extent to which CCLR is associated with genetics in this breed. Tags:  DNA/Genes research health care from The Bark https://ift.tt/2EAVq9A

Sunshine Mills, Inc. is voluntarily recalling some of its Nature’s Menu® Super Premium Dog Food due to possible Salmonella contamination. If you feed Nature’s Menu Super Premium Dog Food then be on the lookout for their Blend of Real Chicken and Quail, as it may potentially be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. The Backstory This recall comes after the Georgia Department of Agriculture tested samples and a single 3-pound bag tested positive for salmonella . Sunshine Mills conducted further testing, checking multiple samples of the same lot. All of their tests came back negative. The official recall notice states salmonella may not have been evenly distributed throughout a lot, which is why it could have been detected in one sample and not others. No illnesses have been reported at this time, but, out of caution, Sunshine Mills, Inc. decided to issue the recall anyway.  What’s Recalled This food is distributed to retail stores nationwide. You can identify recalled bag...

Shopping is fun! Who doesn’t love buying new and cute stuff? Online shopping is ever better because you don’t even have to take off your comfy clothes to browse. And when you’re shopping feeds hungry cats and kittens, it’s a win all the way around! Rescue kitties are sure happy you enjoy shopping with a purpose too. Because without you to buy the adorable merchandise found iHeartCats.com , cats and kittens in shelters across the nation would be worrying over empty food bowls. Saving Cats & Kittens in Michigan Thanks to a partnership between iHeartCats.com and GreaterGood.org , every purchase made helps rescue facilities and shelters continue to save cats and kittens. The Rescue Bank , a pet food distribution initiative in the GreaterGood family, has been keeping hungry bellies full for over a decade. To date, the Rescue Bank has delivered over 275 million meals to shelters and rescues across the country . You’re an important part of this work thanks to your purchases! S...

Every year on August 26, pet parents across the US celebrate National Dog Day! It’s a special day to celebrate and appreciate our four-legged fur kids. I always think these events are funny because, if we’re being honest, isn’t every day a dog day? As caring dog parents, we’re constantly tending to our pups’ needs and looking for ways to live our best lives with our dogs by our side. But, a dedicated day like this is still a fun excuse to love our little fluffy ones a little extra! What Is National Dog Day?  Founded in 2004 by Pet Lifestyle Expert Colleen Paige, National Dog Day celebrates all dogs, regardless of breed (mixed or pure) . This day honors family dogs, service dogs, and other working dogs that put their lives on the line for us every day. When you think about it, it’s pretty amazing what dogs can be trained to do. It’s also a day to raise awareness for the number of shelter dogs that need a forever home. Ways You Can Celebrate Adopt or Foster a Rescue Dog This f...