This past week’s top ten post was about reducing your dog’s stress level during vet visits. Does your dog stress out over check-ups?
Continue reading Saturday Survey: How does your dog like the vet?
Category Archives: Health
Are Mutts Healthier than Purebreds?
Veterinarian Patty Khuly recently posted an article on VetStreet concerning the health of purebreds vs. that of mutts. What she came up with might surprise you.
Tuesday Top Ten: Tricks to Make Your Dog’s Vet Visit Less Stressful
Does your dog somehow know when you’re taking him or her to the vet? It seems like my dogs dig their feet in and sit down before we even leave the house. Here are some ideas to make that long trip to the vet a little less stressful for both of you.
Continue reading Tuesday Top Ten: Tricks to Make Your Dog’s Vet Visit Less Stressful
Real Men are Nice to Animals
If you live or travel in Baltimore, you may have seen the billboards and other ads for the new Show Your Soft Side animal care campaign. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake started an Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission in July, 2009, headed by Executive Assistant Elizabeth Koontz, with the goal eradicating animal abuse in the city of Baltimore.
Pictured here is Qadry Ismail, one of several professional athletes from the Ravens, Orioles, and Harlem Globetrotters who have agreed to be photographed with their animals to show young men that a compassionate heart is the hallmark of a true man.
Leo Howard Lubow took the pictures for the ads, which are also displayed on the group’s Facebook page. Members of the public are also requested to post photos of their “soft side.”
What a great idea!
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
Tuesday Top Ten: Winter Tips for Raising a “Green” Dog
Written from the viewpoint of canine Johann, the Raise A Green Dog site offers the following advice for keeping your dog safe and happy during the winter months.
Continue reading Tuesday Top Ten: Winter Tips for Raising a “Green” Dog
Are “spot-on” flea and tick medications safe?
From NewsNet 5’s On Your Side Investigation: The safety of products like K9 Advantix and Frontline is being questioned, as pet owners have reported spending thousands of dollars to treat their pets after applying the products.
Veterinarian David Koncal, vice president of the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA), believes spot-on products are safe.
“I’d be willing to bet that 99 percent of the adverse reactions that are reported, there is something else going on in that animal that created that demise. It’s just a coincidence the flea product was used on them,” Koncal said.
He points out that billions of pets are treated with the products, yet only 34,000 have experienced problems.
You can read the whole story here, and a follow-up here.
Talk to your vet before treating your dog with spot-on products, as even the experts can’t agree on whether or not they’re dangerous.
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
Maggie and her ongoing health saga
As you might remember, we went through a scare with our Golden Retriever, Maggie, a few years ago when she developed thyroid cancer. The vet was able to remove her thyroid, and the tumor appeared not to have spread. However, now it is clear it did metastasize to her brain.
Do I do right by my dogs?
I certainly am one of the most loving of all dog owners. I have two dogs, both from the local Humane Society, your basic mutts. I pay more attention to them then just about anything in my house.
I pet them, play with them, talk, sing to, treat, and look after them as best I can. Yes, my dogs are happy dogs. When I come home, even from a short trip to the store, it’s a huge delight for them. Their tails wag like crazy and I get the warmest, happiest welcomes.
But here’s where I fail them.
I don’t walk them often enough. Most of us have careers, long work hours, duties at home, etc., sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day. I don’t think once or twice a week cuts it. I have to be more diligent and more responsible to THEM.
Today it was enough of excuses, I got out the leads and off we went. They sure were happy to go, and when we got back, both of them curled up for a snooze. I’m promising myself and my dogs, to get out there with them more often!!!!!
Dangers of Flying with Your Dog
NewsNet5 out of Cleveland recently did a story about injuries dogs are experiencing when flying on major airlines. From 2009 to 2010, the number of injured pets grew by 90% on US-operated airlines. Although the 55 animals injured in 2010 is still a small number, it is alarming that the number is growing so quickly. I apologize that I don’t have comparative numbers to see if the total number of animals carried on airlines has also risen, so I don’t know if the percentage is better or worse, but I do know that at least 55 pet families were distraught after they arrived at their destinations. Many of the dogs that are injured or die in flight are those with short noses such as Pugs and Bulldogs.
Living with Aging Pets
Nice article in yesterday’s paper by Connie Schulz. She talks about the painful and joyful emotions of living with pets who are past their prime. Check it out in Parade Magazine.
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!