Author: Jennifer Coates, DVM

Farting is simply the body’s way of releasing gasses that have accumulated in the digestive system. Essentially, the bacteria that normally live there break down nutrients that your dog’s body can use. Though this is a necessity for your pup’s health, the downside is that it can cause your dog to fart a lot. Blech! Every dog’s situation is unique, so it’s impossible to say just how much farting is normal across the board. However, if you’ve noticed any of the following them it’s time to call your vet: Your dog is farting a lot more than is typical The farts have become super smelly Their farting is associated with other gastrointestinal issues, like diarrhea, constipation, or a tender tummy,Jump to section Why Do Dogs Fart? Why Does My Dog Fart So Much? How To Reduce Excessive Dog Farting

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Yes, your dog has a fur coat—but when winter temperatures dip, it may not be enough to keep them warm outdoors. Find out how cold is too cold for dogs, how to tell when your dog is cold, and what you can do to help keep them warm. 

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A common question that dog owners have is whether or not our pups can tell the difference between dogs and other animals. When you’re out on a walk and another dog approaches, can your dog sense exactly what kind of animal it is? An initial assumption might be that dogs rely on their incredible sense of smell to differentiate between fellow dogs and other animals. But if you removed that option, can dogs accurately rely on their sight alone to reach an accurate conclusion? As research into dog cognition becomes more and more popular, an increasing number of studies are being done. As a result, we continue to gain valuable insight to better answer these kinds of questions. Here’s some insight on whether dogs can use their senses to discern their own species from other animals. Can Dogs Recognize Faces in General?   To begin with, let’s look at how the dog brain processes and reacts to information. In a paper published in 2015 that investigated visual facial recognition in dogs, researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI scans) to see which parts of a dog’s brain react to different stimuli. The dogs were shown images of human faces, dog faces, objects, scenes and scrambled faces on a projection screen as their brain activity was monitored. According to the study’s findings, dogs appear to be able to distinguish between faces (human and dog) and everyday objects. In addition, the scans showed that the area of a dog’s brain that processes faces is similar to that of humans. Can Dogs Pick Out Other Dogs From a Lineup of Various Animals?   So now we know that dogs can visually distinguish faces from objects. But can they tell the difference between images of dog faces and those of humans and other animals? The power of canine vision is on full display in a paper published in 2013 that looked into dog recognition—more specifically, whether or not dogs could “discriminate any type of dog from other species and can group all dogs whatever their phenotypes [observable characteristics] within the same category.” In this experiment, researchers placed dogs in front of a computer screen and presented them with different animal and human faces. All of the nine canine participants showed an ability to group the dog images within the same category, separate from the other animals. In other words, “dogs have the capacity of species discrimination despite their great phenotypic variability, based only on visual images of heads,” the study states. When you add this apparent visual ability to discern dogs from other species to other powerful dog senses, it becomes clear that dogs can tell the difference between fellow dogs and other animals. If you already suspected that your dog possessed this ability, you now have the data to support your conclusions. By: Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM Featured Image: iStock.com/Natasha Cottrell

How to Keep a Dog’s Weight Healthy Does your dog have a body condition score of 4 or 5 out of 9? Congratulations! Keep up your good work and monitor for weight gain or loss by checking their BCS once a month. If your dog is just a little underweight (BCS 3/9) or a tad overweight (BCS 6/9) and you know that they’re otherwise healthy, you may be able to manage the problem at home. Start by figuring out how many calories your dog takes in every day, including any treats or other extras. Manufacturers should provide the caloric content of a food or treat on its label. Try increasing your dog’s caloric intake by 10% if they need to gain weight and decreasing it by 10% if they need to lose weight and reassess their body condition score in a month. If your dog’s BCS isn’t improving, make an appointment with your veterinarian. Of course, dogs who are severely underweight (a BCS of 1 or 2) or significantly overweight (a BCS of 7, 8, or 9) should be seen by a veterinarian. The doctor can rule out health problems as an underlying cause of your dog’s poor body condition score and recommend an appropriate diet. Featured Image: iStock.com/andresr,WRITTEN BYJennifer Coates, DVM Veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Coates is an accomplished veterinarian, writer, editor, and consultant with years of experience in the fields of veterinary…,What Is a Body Condition Score? Stepping on a scale is an easy way for people to monitor their weight, but routinely weighing your dog can be a hassle. What if there was a simpler method for determining if your dog is too skinny, too overweight, or just right? There is…it’s called a body condition score (BCS). The only tools you need to determine your dog’s body condition score are your hands and your eyes. A 1997 study first described a body condition score system for dogs that is the basis for the ones that are in common use today.