Author: PetGd

In This Article Can Dogs Get Embarrassed? View 4 More +

Image via iStock.com/Groomee By Kate Hughes Dog training is a critical component of responsible dog ownership. Beyond simple cues like sit, stay and roll over, a well-trained dog knows how to behave around unfamiliar people, pets and environments. Positive reinforcement is key during the dog training process, and many pet owners use dog treats to reinforce desired behaviors and responses in their pups. But with a seemingly endless variety of dog treats available, how can you narrow down your options to find the best dog training treats for your dog? How Do Treats Impact Training? In the most basic terms, in positive reinforcement training, dog treats act as the reward for good behavior. “When training a dog, this reward can be anything that the learner deems valuable. We trainers like food because most dogs find food extremely valuable, and it fits right in our pockets,” says Molly Sumridge, a certified professional dog trainer and behavior consultant. Sumridge owns Kindred Companions LLC, a dog training company in Frenchtown, New Jersey. Some dogs are highly food-motivated and will respond to basic dog food kibble, but as behaviors become more complex and training becomes more demanding, it may be necessary to up the quality of the dog training treat. Dr. Carlo Siracusa, DVM, PhD, MS, a clinical assistant professor of behavior medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia, says that as a dog’s environment become more stimulating, the value of the dog training treats must increase to maintain his or her attention. “As a general rule, the more hectic the environment, the better the value of the treat has to be. You need a treat that will hold the dog’s attention and keep him focused on the training exercise,” Dr. Siracusa explains. So, dog treats seem to be a must for positive dog training, but how do you find the best ones?

Dealing with the death of a beloved animal companion is the hardest thing pet parents ever have to do. And although grieving is a natural process, that certainly doesn’t mean it’s easy. One way to attend to grief is to memorialize the life of the pet that has passed. Pet memorials come in many forms, from rituals and funerals to volunteering or donating in your pet’s memory or creating a keepsake out of your pet’s ashes or fur. Here are some ways in which you can pay your last respects and honor your pet’s memory. Hold a Pet Funeral or Memorial Service Funerals and memorials are powerful tools for processing grief. A memorial is more than talking or thinking about your pet—it is an intentional action that can help start the healing process. Gathering friends and family who knew a loved one and laying them to rest is a traditional way to say goodbye, and it’s perfectly valid for pets, too. A memorial service can be a great reminder that you’re not going through this pain alone. Everyone can share stories from your pet’s life and mourn the loss together. If you don’t want it to be a public event, it doesn’t have to be. You can perform your own private service or ceremony. Spread Your Pet’s Ashes After losing a pet, cremation is one aftercare option. This can be done as a communal cremation, where your pet’s body is cremated along with other pets that have passed away, but you will not receive ashes. If you want the ashes returned, you can choose private cremation, which usually costs slightly more than communal cremation. Many pet parents keep their pet’s ashes in an urn or decorative box. You can also spread the ashes in a memorial flower garden or a place that is significant to you and your pet. Create Jewelry With Your Pet’s Ashes Any piece of jewelry may be a token of remembrance of your pet’s life, but some keepsake pieces can be made to specifically memorialize your pet. Some Etsy sellers will have you send a small amount of your pet’s ashes so they can incorporate them into the jewelry. Another option is to purchase a pendant or ring that can be filled with a small amount of your pet’s ashes. Create a Pet Memorial Site With a Marker This option is one that can work with any aftercare that you choose. You may want to mark the site of a home burial by planting a tree or grave marker to remember your pet.  You could also mix your pet’s ashes in with the soil if you chose private cremation. Even if you don’t elect to have the ashes returned, you can place a pet memorial stone somewhere that you can see or visit to remember your pet. There are many unique options for incorporating ashes into a physical marker, such as services that allow you to mix your pet’s ashes with concrete, which is then memorialized in the ocean to become part of a living reef. Create a Scholarship or Pet Memorial Fund Some pet parents choose to honor their pets through a scholarship fund that is created in the pet’s name. Many veterinary students have been able to fund their education through these generous pet memorial gifts, which remember and honor the pet and help aspiring veterinarians follow their dreams. You can also set up a fund for pet parents who can’t afford their pet’s care. Many local veterinary offices have “angel funds” where you can donate to honor the loss of your pet. You can also donate to funds that are already set up to help people with pet care. Donate to a Cause or Organization Perhaps the simplest but most eloquent way to memorialize a pet is to make a donation in their honor to a cause or animal organization. Pet shelters are almost always in need of pet supplies and cash. Donating to a shelter in your pet’s name to honor your pet is a wonderful way to help more pets. You’ll be preserving your pet’s memory and helping other would-be pets at the same time. Charities that help animals in need are also a good fit, but there’s no reason you shouldn’t think outside the box. For example, many organizations will plant trees in your pet’s name for a small donation. You can also donate to service dog organizations in your pet’s name. Find a cause you care about and check out the options. Volunteer Your Time If you rescued your pet from a local animal shelter, rescue, or Humane Society, why not volunteer there after your pet passes on? It was thanks to volunteers who initially rescued your pet and took care of them that they came to be a loving part of your family. Think of volunteering as passing on the favor. Make a Keepsake Box Some pet parents remember their pets by collecting special items that have memories attached to them in a beautiful keepsake or hanging shadow box. Whenever you look at the items, you can remember the bond you shared with your pet. Be creative—keep some pictures, a paw print, a lock of hair, a toy, or a collar to remember your beloved pet. Create a Picture Book or Scrapbook You’re sure to have many special pictures of your pet, so why not create a scrapbook or even have a picture book made. This way, you always have something to look back on when you’re remembering your pet, and you can order several copies for friends and family members. Join Online Pet Loss Groups or Forums Sometimes friends and family members may find it hard to grasp what you’re feeling after the loss of your pet. If that’s true for you, there are many online pet bereavement sites and social media groups where pet owners come together to remember their lost pets and comfort one another. Make Paw Prints Being able to look at your pet’s paw print after they’ve passed can be very meaningful. Paw prints can be made while a pet is still alive or after they have passed. Many veterinarians will offer to make a paw print for you as a part of their euthanasia service. Paw prints are often made in clay, but ink on paper is another option. Commission a Work of Art You may wish to display a custom work of art that celebrates your pet. This could be a watercolor, sketch, or even a sculpture that contains some of your pet’s fur or ashes. Many artists specialize in making one-of-a-kind remembrance pieces like this. Get a Tattoo of Your Pet You can also honor your pet in a more permanent way, with a custom portrait, caricature, paw print, or nose print tattoo. Other tattoo remembrance ideas include your pet’s name or their silhouette. However you choose to remember them, a tattoo is one way to keep their memory close. Adopt Again When the time is right and you feel ready, consider adopting again and giving another pet in need a chance at a happy life. Featured image: iStock.com/Nataba

By Paula Fitzsimmons Clinical trials provide veterinary researchers with the data they need to develop drugs, procedures and other treatments for our companion animals. Participants may receive access to cutting-edge veterinary care at little or no cost, while contributing to work that can also benefit other animals. Many of these veterinary research studies are non-invasive, and researchers typically enroll animals already afflicted with the disease being studied. What does a clinical trial entail, and what are the drawbacks and risks? Read on for a deep dive into veterinary clinical trials to determine if they’re right for your furred family member.   What Are Clinical Trials? Most clinical trials are run at veterinary teaching hospitals where veterinarians and researchers investigate promising treatments or try to improve upon established ones, says Dr. Felix Duerr, an assistant professor of Orthopedics and Small Animal Sports Medicine/Rehabilitation at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Fort Collins. “We want to find out if a treatment is successful and safe.” The animals are usually client-owned, and most already have the disease being studied. “For some clinical trials, healthy animals are also needed in order to provide a comparison to animals with a particular disease,” says Dr. Eleanor Hawkins, a professor of Internal Medicine at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Raleigh. Clinical trials run the gamut of veterinary disciplines, from cardiology and neurology to dermatology and nutrition. One of Dr. Duerr’s studies seeks to determine if injecting stem cells into dogs with osteoarthritis is more effective than hyaluronic acid.  “The study will answer whether it’s worthwhile for a pet parent to spend more than 10 times as much on stem cells rather than hyaluronic acid, an off-the-shelf product,” says Dr. Duerr. Researchers run randomized and blinded studies to keep the results unbiased and error-free. “Clinical trials may have a control (comparison) group that is receiving a placebo. The investigator is usually blinded (unaware) of which animal is getting the experimental treatment and which is getting the placebo,” says Dr. Hawkins.

WRITTEN BY Nicole Zittritsch, LVT, BSc, MPH Veterinarian Technician,It’s no secret that dogs love to eat anything and everything, including things that are not necessarily good for them. If your dog has ingested something they shouldn’t have, it’s natural to reach for the medicine cabinet. But while Pepto-Bismol is a go-to aid for human stomachaches, is it safe to give to your dog? What Is Pepto-Bismol? Pepto-Bismol is an over-the-counter medication used to treat upset stomach, diarrhea, indigestion, heartburn, and nausea in humans. This medicine also coats the lining of the stomach and intestines to help protect against irritation caused by acid buildup. While it’s not recommended as a daily supplement, people have found success using this medication on occasion to relieve digestive issues. The active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol is bismuth subsalicylate, which can also be effective in treating some of the same digestive issues in dogs. But before you give your dog any medication—even one considered relatively safe—it’s important to talk with your veterinarian first.

By Cheryl Lock Dog poop might not be the most glamorous of topics, but believe it not, there’s actually quite a lot that pet parents should be aware of when it comes to this, let’s say messy, topic. “There are a list of diseases that can be transmitted from dogs to humans via the fecal/oral route,” says Dr. Oscar Chavez, DVM. “For this reason, some care should be taken in the handling, or picking up, of dog feces.” Diseases aside, as a pet owner you’re probably also interested in learning how to get those pesky accident marks out of your carpet or other fabrics, as well. Fear not—we’ve got the full poop scoop right here. Why Dog Poop Can Be Dangerous As Dr. Chavez mentioned, there are some inherent dangers when it comes to handling dog poop, so it’s important to always be vigilant and careful when doing so. “Diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans are called zoonotic diseases,” he said. “Zoonotic diseases that we can get from contaminated dog feces include Salmonella, Campylobacter, Giardia, roundworms and potentially hookworms.” Complicating matters is the fact that sometimes our pets can be carrying these diseases — like Salmonella — without actually becoming ill themselves, so it’s important to treat every one of your dog’s bowel movements as carefully as possible.

WRITTEN BYDesireé Broach, DVM, Dipl. ACVB Veterinarian,By Desireé Broach, DVM, Dipl. ACVB Military working dogs (MWDs) have served officially in the U.S. military since 1942, although their history of service dates back before then. Training originally ranged from scouting, messenger, and tactical-type tasks, to the present-day installation law enforcement, detection, and combat-operations tasks. Each of the specializations that a military working dog can obtain has its own set of skills for the dogs to learn before becoming a certified MWD. Bred for a specific set of skills, dogs selected to serve as MWDs are resilient, highly intelligent, and have a robust capability. Skills that have saved countless lives—neither man nor machine have been able to replicate them. Despite their genetics and training, due to the nature of the combat environments in which they perform their jobs, military working dog can be susceptible to canine post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD).