Calling around to comparison-shop is never a bad idea. The vet I used to go to was drastically more expensive than our current vet, but I never realized it until I changed vets. The other vet was in a more ritzy section of town, and that might have had something to do with their higher …
My vet recommend vaccinations every three years for adult dogs. Three-year vaccinations are exactly the same as annual ones (in regards to what’s in them.) In my not-so-professional opinion (though I have done tons of research on this issue), I believe that once immunity to a disease is formed, that immunity exists for life. Unfortunately, …
Some dogs have reactions to certain vaccinations, and swelling is probably the most typical. I would take your dog to the vet just so he can take a look at it, and make note of it next time when your dog is vaccinated. Don’t freak out because it happens, but do go and see your …
Almost all of my puppies get their first shots between 9 and 10 weeks of age. Prior to that the mother’s immunity is still present and the shot does no good, in fact there is some evidence that given too early it will actually interfere with the mother’s immunity. Mine get the full series of …
Heartworm preventative isn’t really a preventative, it kills the larvae ALREADY in your dog, so you give it 4 – 6 weeks AFTER mosquitoes show up. Doesn’t matter if it’s Spring or Fall, wait 4 – 6 weeks after the first (or last in the case of Fall) mosquitoes. It does not stay in their …
We find fleas and ticks on dogs we groom all Winter long and we live in New Hampshire with snow and freezing weather. As soon as the snow melts off the ground the ticks start to show up on my own dogs. Around here it seems like everyone goes crazy with preventatives and collars as …
It is normal for there to be a lump, usually quite red, after a tick is removed. If there are any parts left, i.e .mouth, head etc., the body seals them off and they are rejected with the scab. Any tick bite, however, no matter how the tick is removed, will need to be watched …
My dog had a 6 month long battle with Girardia and explosive poops. It is HIGHLY contagious to other animals and people. Original infection is usually spread through contaminated water or eating fecal matter. BUT, once they have it, everything needs to be disinfected. You need to clean up his poop right away and disinfect …
There are many laws pertaining to dogs, however they will vary depending on where you live. Many places have laws such as – Dogs must be leashed Fines for not cleaning up after your dog Fines for excessive barking Breed Specific Laws Bite Laws City or Town License requirements You also may not allowed to …
BSL is short for Breed-Specific Legislation. It is the banning of certain breeds because of their being perceived as a threat. BSL is impractical, for several reasons. (1) It is how a dog is raised, trained, and socialized that shapes the greater part of it’s temperament, not it’s breed. To say that a dog is …
Depending on what you want covered, the plans range from $13-$30 a month. I took the $20 plan because it included a lot of tests, dental cleaning, etc. The only time I really have to pay for anything is when my dog has a health problem which would then require me to buy the dog’s …
How can you teach a puppy to leave a human alone when the person is eating?
My dog has had two allergic reactions to vaccinations. Are yearly vaccinations really necessary? Can I apply for immunity? Is there anything else that can be given to avoid an allergic reaction?
I would suggest you do a Google search for pet insurance complaints… Recently on Dogster Answers there was a bunch of questions about one of the pet insurance companies; I Googled it and I was amazed at the number of complaints against one major company!
I signed up with VPI when we first got my dog. This was my first experience with pet insurance and its been quite positive. Much easier than human health insurance! The plan I have is about $30 a month, but they pretty much pay for every visit, medication (including flea and tick meds, if needed) …
Yes, this is something you can expect with a senior dog. My dog had the same problem. First, you should take the dog to the vet to make sure it isn’t a medical problem. My dog had a problem with leaking urine and the vet gave her a pill to take to improve that. I …
I would take the dog to the vet to make sure something isn’t going on that has a medical reason, first. It is true that older dogs have a harder time holding it. I would request a physical, including blood work to make sure that he’s okay. If the vet doesn’t find any explanation for …
My dog had an Avid chip that migrated into his shoulder. We found it after he got a ResQ chip at our shelter. My other dogs alsp have a ResQ Chip because it is what our shelter and animal control uses. I wanted to make sure that they would be able to easily read the …
I have five dogs and I cook for all of them. I know what goes into the food that I make for them. I go to a local butcher who gives me a GREAT deal on chicken and I only purchase organic veggies from local venders. I also really enjoy cooking for them. They are …
For all dogs, but for older dogs especially, good food is absolutely necessary. Look at the ingredients in your dog food; if corn is anywhere in the top 5 (and really, it shouldn’t be present at all), you are not buying a quality dog food. If you have a feed store in your area, check …
I am a groomer and I only use OSTER TURBO 2 speed clippers. You will need multiple blades specific to your dog’s fur. Purchase a grooming book or buy a video. You must be very careful in the hind leg area. You must pull the skin back lightly so no to catch it. Rule number …
Ask local groomers about a de-shedding treatment. Petsmart’s Furminator treatment works great. It uses a de-shed shampoo, Furminator brand solution/conditioner that loosens up the undercoat and a good blow out with a velocity dryer (no heat, just air) and more brushing time. I use it on my Golden mix, who is shedding pretty bad right …
My dog used to have really dry skin and clog up the bathtub every time he got a bath because of the shedding. I switched him to a food with 3.5% Linoleic acid – a fancy word for omega 6 – that is proven to guarantee improved skin & coat. It takes about 8 weeks …
Up and down stairs at a controlled rate is a terrific muscle strengthener and strong muscles really help seniors stay active. Make sure each leg is used. If you have stairs at home I would seriously consider gates at the top and bottom so she was supervised on them. You might try using something as …
You can buy shampoo that will help slow down shedding … but right after a bath your dog will shed a lot so brush him really good.
Just last week we put a dog under anesthesia who was 19 years old. He did great. With the proper testing and monitoring, our newer anesthetics have become much safer than before. I would request that pre-anesthetic bloodwork is done. I would make sure to include a urine sample with the lab work performed. Many …
I know there is a rescue in my state that alters elderly rescued dogs on a regular basis and they haven’t had a whole lot of problems with it. If the blood work came back good and he has been under for other things around this age with no problems, I say go for it.
I had an older dog neutered once to shrink an enlarged prostate, at the advice of the vet. He recovered fine and didn’t seem to notice that anything was missing. His behavior didn’t change at all. He occasionally got into humping fits with his toys before he got neutered, and he continued to do so …
