Old Age is not Disease

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She’s been your loving companion for a long time. She’s still by your side, but she’s not as frolicsome or attentive as she once was. It’s inevitable – your beloved pet is growing old. Her needs are changing, and while old age is not a disease, she will depend on you more than ever to keep her healthy and comfortable. Just like in elderly people, older dogs need proper nutrition, regular checkups, strength training, and fitness to maintain muscles critical to metabolism. Overweight patients have a much higher risk of arthritis and muscle loss, so maintaining a proper weight in your pet is a huge priority. If your pet is… Read More Continue Reading

OK – here is a fun idea: Stand up Paddleboarding with your Dog

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Stand-up paddleboarding, SUP for short, is a relatively old sport enjoying new popularity. Thanks to the fact that SUP is easy to learn, the sport has exploded in the past couple of years. It’s not overly technical, can be done on lakes, rivers or the ocean, doesn’t require a high fitness level, and since a stand-up paddleboard just happens to perfectly fit one person and one dog AND dogs just seem to inherently know what to do on a paddleboard, it is becoming a favorite sport for canines as well. Paddle boarding is like walking on water: and anywhere boats are allowed, paddle boards are allowed. Paddle boards are considered… Read More Continue Reading

Stress in Dogs

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In humans, we now know that certain medical conditions, such as heart disease, are exacerbated by chronic stress. Researchers have also determined that long-term stress can contribute to medical and compulsive disorders in pets. Diseases such as obsessive behaviors, irritable bowel syndrome, eating disorders such as obesity and anorexia, gastric dilatation volvulus (bloat), noise phobias, destructive behaviors,and separation anxiety have all been found to have a chronic stress component in dogs. Other than studies done on unwanted behaviors that endanger the human-animal bond, there has been relatively little research published regarding stress and its effects on companion animals. While the assumption has been that the effect of stress on dogs and… Read More Continue Reading

Dog Safety in Swimming

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The term ‘doggy paddle’ wasn’t created because dogs like to stay on the shore. Many dogs love to swim, and the fun cool downs in the local watering hole are unforgettable experiences for your water-loving canine. In this video I will go over some safety guidelines, as even the most enthusiastic and strong swimmers can get into trouble. What breeds of dogs make good swimmers? Well, most dogs except dogs with large chests and small hindquarters – they have a harder time staying afloat. Short muzzled dogs, like bulldogs, pugs, and boxers have a harder time due to the structure of their nose and throat. Dogs with very short legs,… Read More Continue Reading

Congratulations on deciding to add a new puppy to your family!

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Before the big day, there are some important pre-puppy tasks that will set you up for success with your new friend It is best to go shopping and have important puppy items in place before you bring puppy home – you will feel better prepared and more focused on your new family member. These items include food and water bowl, food, chew toys, brush, bed, crate, collar and leash, ID tag, gate if applicable, and an odor neutralizing spray. Having a puppy is like having a human toddler in your home – you need to puppy proof to keep puppy safe and keep items you care about intact!  Store household… Read More Continue Reading

Maintaining Mobility in Senior Pets

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For people and pets, it is incredibly important to start maintaining fitness early in the aging process. Lifelong endurance training in pets and people ensures improved oxidative capacity of skeletal muscle and metabolism in elderly individuals. First off – good nutrition is essential, and in order to maintain optimum health, senior pets need a highly digestible diet.  In order to build muscle, senior pets also have greater demands for vitamins, minerals and nutrients, which is why giving senior pets a wellness supplement in addition to their regular diet is critical to help maintain overall health. Our furry senior citizens need their vitamins too! Overweight patients have a higher risk of… Read More Continue Reading

Is your dog getting ants in his pants?

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Is your dog getting ants in his pants? If you are like most dog owners, the plunge of winter temperatures has dampened your enthusiasm for outdoor activity, causing angst for your cooped-up canine. Many animal behavioral specialists reported that dogs that didn’t receive regular exercise during the winter became antsy and reactive in the spring and some developed unwanted behavioral patterns. Additionally, it is not good for a dog’s health to be active in the summer and a couch-potato in the winter. For optimum mental and physical health, many veterinarians recommend that dogs receive 45 minutes to an hour of daily, consistent exercise and enrichment, broken up into shorter intervals.… Read More Continue Reading

Facts about BARF and Homemade Diets

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Feeding raw and homemade diets has become an increasingly popular trend among pet parents.  In 2004, it was estimated that the majority of dogs and cats in the United States received 90% or more of their nutrition from complete and balanced commercially prepared foods. However, 8 years and several recalls later, have fueled pet parents with a desire to provide the very best for their companion animals. You are asking good questions about the best nutritional choices for your pets and looking for safe alternatives.  As in any free market economy, there are many more alternative diets available today from which pet parents may choose, but how safe are these… Read More Continue Reading

Winter Puppy Care

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With temperatures dipping and much of the nation locked in Winter Storm Cleon, the next few days may be a challenge for people parenting new puppies.  Puppy owners will need to be aware that their puppy will need a little special attention to stay warm, happy, healthy and safe this winter. Follow these helpful tips to keep your puppy at her best during the cold months ahead. No matter how bad the weather is, puppies have lots of energy and need exercise.  The challenge is that warm weather breeds, such as chihuahuas, yorkies and Italian Miniature Greyhounds, are intolerant to cold temperatures. Arctic breeds, such as Malamutes, Huskies and Saint… Read More Continue Reading

Pooch Etiquette at the Park

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As America’s love of dogs continue to grow, so does the popularity of leash free dog parks. These parks provide open spaces for dogs to run canine company to socialize with, as well as offering a great venue for pet parents to meet and socialize with fellow dog lovers. As with any communal space, each of us has a responsibility to keep these parks safe and fun. Dogs that do best in a leash free environment generally have fairly confident and reasonably social personalities. You should never bring a dog that is in heat – this can lead to unplanned pregnancies as well as aggressive behavior even among normally well-behaved females. Do… Read More Continue Reading