So why do we need to walk our dogs? And how much is enough? Why do dogs need to be walked? Some people assume that a big backyard gives dogs enough exercise to keep them happy and healthy. But dogs need to be walked for several reasons. As well as exercise, being walked lets them socialize with other dogs, explore the tantalizing smells beyond their home and play with their preferred playmates. Dogs are opportunists and optimists, which is why so many turn themselves inside out with joy at the prospect of a romp around the park. Walks also allow…
Author: kaitech
Choosing dog names can be a source of conflict for couples. It’s not so bad if you like Jack and your partner wants to go with Jake, or if one of you likes Wren and the other likes Robin. Common ground may even exist when the choices are between Bogey and Divot or perhaps Inverse and Vector. But what if one person’s top choice is Killer or Gamora and the other has their heart set on Baby or Zoe? Those differences can be harder to resolve. Enter Dogname, a new app that helps people choose (with minimal wrangling) the perfect…
It’s a rare person who can lie in bed and listen to a dog scratch, scratch, scratch in the night and not think, or maybe even say, “Will you please stop!” Remedy your dog’s dry skin and dandruff from the inside out by adding one of two kitchen staples—olive oil or coconut oil—to her meals. It may even help both of you sleep better. (Fish oil is another excellent option.) Dogs have lots of reasons to scratch, but if your dog’s doing it more than occasionally—all dogs scratch themselves once in a while—your first call should be to your vet,…
It’s a nightmare scenario: You and your dog are having a great time in the outdoors when suddenly, something happens to her—a fall, a twist, a snake bite—and she’s out of commission. If she’s too big for you to comfortably and safely carry in your arms back to your vehicle, what do you do? A new product from Mountain Dogware, a family-owned business, has the answer to that question: their Pack-a-Paw emergency rescue harness. It’s one of those things that when you see it, you think, “Well, yeah! What a good idea!” This particular good idea originated with Stefan, an…
We’re not the only ones who notice when gardens start to grow—dogs are also well aware of blooming flowers, vegetables and herbs. Like enthusiastic but inept gardeners, they’ll sniff the new growth, walk all over it, paw at it or even dig it up. Not only is it frustrating to deal with the damage, it can also be dangerous for the dog. Here are a few ways to make it easier to protect both your garden and your four-legged helper. Dogs rarely treat gardens with the tender care they require, and—more significantly—some flowers and other plants are toxic to them.…
The evolution of pathogens to resist drugs designed to kill them is widely understood to be one of the biggest public health challenges of our time. One key to curbing antimicrobial resistance is more judicious use of antibiotics in medicine. But a glaring deficiency hampers the effort for companion animal veterinarians: No one knows how much of the drugs are used in cats and dogs nationally. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration began to address this lack last year by awarding $200,000 grants to each of two projects that will collect antibiotic-use data from companion animal practices countrywide. Researchers at the…
Takeaways What do you do if your dog is bitten by a rattlesnake? •Recognize it immediately as a life-threatening emergency that requires professional help. •Keep your dog calm to slow the venom’s spread through the blood and organs. •Don’t touch the wound, apply a tourniquet or (for god’s sake) try to suck it out. •Call the closest emergency vet, tell them you’re coming in with a rattlesnake bite, and confirm they have enough antivenin in stock for your dog’s weight. •Get there as quickly as you safely can; minutes matter. It happens in an instant. We stop the van on…
Does CBD work for dogs? It’s thought to help with a mind-boggling range of conditions, but much of the data related to veterinary use is anecdotal. However, scientists in both the public and private sector are forging ahead with research they hope will provide some answers. (FYI: Conflicting federal and state laws can make it tricky for universities to do CBD-related research, so private companies often pick up the slack.) As part of our ongoing coverage of this topic, we take a look at the second published study to date to evaluate the capacity of a product combining CBD and…
When I see a dog, no matter where I am, I am drawn to her. I have to get close; I want to pet her. When I hear a dog whining, my muscles tense; all my thoughts are channeled toward the dog—what could be wrong; what can I do to help? Yet some seem immune to the magnetism of dogs. I’ve been with people who can easily ignore a “crying” dog. I’m mystified by this. Why do some of us have deep reactions to dogs, while others show no response? Is it nature or nurture that makes us dog lovers?…
When the humans decide to have a baby, the family dog’s world dramatically changes. Following is a translation of a letter that Tipsy, the cat who lives with the soon-to-be grandma, wrote to Emi, the 12-year-old dog who’s the best pal of the soon-to-be mom. Dear Emi … I hear there’s a new little one coming to your house. Before the arrival of “the blessed event,” I thought I’d give you some advice. FOOD Our first love is food. The good news: All food that falls on the floor is fair game. The bad news: You cannot take food from…