Update on Courage, the Starved Dog: Vet Tech — “Black Sheep of my Family” — Arrested
An arrest has been made in the case of the German Shepherd left with no food or water for five weeks. The suspect? A 26-year-old…
Day: April 16, 2010
Study Shows Antibiotics Used in Livestock May be Making Their Way Into Our Food in an Unexpected Fashion
In college I briefly toyed with majoring in chemical engineering. Before I came to my senses (sort of — in the end, I majored in…
What are some home remedies for helping a dog stop itching?
My dog has outdoor and food allergies.
My dog has really bad breath, how can I clean her teeth?
My dog is great but her breath is disgusting. How do I fix this?
When is it OK to start taking my puppy for walks?
He is 8 weeks old and has had his first two shots. Should I wait until after he receives the third shot, or is it safe to take him out now?
Training Your Puppy to Sleep Through the Night
My trainer told me that puppies can usually hold it longer during the night, when they are sleeping. If your pup is waking up and crying to go out at night, you might try pushing her potty breaks back a little. If she normally wakes up at 12, wait an hour, then take her out …
Tips on Housebreaking a Puppy
The best thing I found was crate-training at night, and when you’re away from home. I didn’t keep my dog crated when I was home with him, I locked him in the kitchen the first week, staying in there to play with him. On the second week we slowly let him have more freedom in …
Transitioning Your Puppy to Adult Dog Food
Most dogs, as long as they are gaining enough weight, can transition over to adult dog food when they turn 1 year old. It is easier on their digestive system to start mixing the adult food with their puppy food to get them used to it. I transitioned my pup over about 7 – 10 …
At what age do you stop feeding puppy food to your dog?
And is it different for large-breed puppies?
Tips for Exercising a Large-Breed Puppy
For big breeds, it’s especially important to avoid excessive running/exercise before the growth plates are closed. Swimming is fine and a great way to tone. Walks are fine too. The challenge with exercising pups is that so many are breeds that live to please their people. This means that they may push themselves past their …
Dealing with a Puppy That Chews Everything in Sight
Try offering your puppy a variety of chew toys. Notice the texture and softness of what he usually chooses to chew on (that he’s not supposed to chew on) and try to pick a toy with that texture and softness. But don’t get any toys shaped like any of the inappropriate items he chews. Dogs …
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Start Training Your Puppy Right Away
Even though the old saying goes, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” in reality you can start training a dog at any age – if the dog is nine weeks, nine months, or nine years old. Even if you bring home a very young puppy, training and working on wanted behaviors starts immediately …
What is the Best Age to Train a Puppy?
What’s the ideal time to start training – can a puppy be too young to start?
Tips for Introducing Your New Puppy to Your Cat
We bought a baby gate before bringing our new puppy home and we put it up in the doorway to our rec room. Before bringing him in we made sure the cat was on the other side of the gate, a safe barrier to ensure both were separated but could still see each other. Of …
Alternatives to Getting Yearly Vaccinations
By law, the only vaccine that you are required to give to your dog is the rabies vaccine. It is also the only vaccine that MUST be administered by a licensed veterinarian. The laws vary by region, some places require rabies annually, some will let you get the shot every three years. If you have …
Cleaning a Dog’s Anal Glands
When my dog was in need of anal gland expressing once a month my vet recommended to add fiber to her diet (she was 20-25 lbs). I added two of the regular OTC fiber capsule a day for 1 month, then 1 a day for about 3 months and then down to 1 every other …
Cleaning a Dog’s Teeth at Home
First, never use human toothpaste as it’s dangerous for dogs. You have a couple of options when it comes to cleaning at home. First, you can buy a toothbrush and dog toothpaste at most pet supply stores. Toothbrushes usually have heads at each end for different sized dogs. Begin by allowing the dog to inspect …