Author: Chewy Editors

Contributed by Dr. Diana Drogan, DVM. You’re not the only one who wants a strong, bathing suit-ready body. Your pets need to maintain a healthy weight and body condition for their age, gender, and breed, too. Unfortunately, though, as obesity trends in the United States increase for us, the same is occurring in our furry companions. Studies have shown that for every pound your pet is overweight, that’s equivalent to 10 pounds on a person. This can be significant, especially if your pet is overweight by five or more pounds, because just as with people, overweight pets are prone to joint disease, and extra pounds can exacerbate arthritis and make other age-related disease conditions more painful and difficult to live with.

A “Cat” singing a love song about a dog—oh, the irony! Cat Stevens knows how special dogs are—just look at these lyrics: “All he asks from me is the food to give him strength/All he ever needs is love and that he knows he’ll get.”,Dogs have been the muses for musicians for ages. We’ve rounded up 22 of the best dog-titled and dog-inspired tunes and made a doggie playlist of our favorites. From country to pop, and punk to R&B, there’s something for every dog lover—and music lover!—here.

Those nasty stains on his beard could be caused by the oxidation of his saliva, artificial coloration within his food and dog treats, or a yeast infection called Ptyrosporin or “red yeast,” the very same culprit that causes unsightly tear stains in many breeds. Dog food that is heavy in grains and cereals also contributes to this problem, so feeding a diet with low or no grains or cereals may help, as will using stainless steel or crockery dog dishes instead of plastic and keeping them scrupulously clean. That said, the best solution I have found for facial stains in dogs is a product called Angels’ Eyes. I am not a chemist, but somehow it ties up the circulating compounds in the pet’s system that react with light to produce those ugly stains. In other words, it changes his chemistry. Administered in powdered form, it is sprinkled on your dog’s food with every meal, a teaspoon each time for a dog the size of your Bichon. If dogs balk at the taste, you may add it to their water instead. You will see a difference within a few weeks. As the stains diminish, you can cut back to using it about four times a week. In the meantime, have your groomer trim out the stained hair so the clean white hair can grow in. The company also makes a cleaning kit called Eye Envy that contains liquid, powder, and pads for follow-up care, but in my own dog’s case, just the Angels’ Eyes itself and a daily wash with witch hazel did the trick for his staining problem. Some of my clients also swear by Pampers fragrance-free baby wipes to clean the under-eye and beard areas, and there are pet wipes on the market as well for such daily cleanups. I would also recommend using a whitening dog shampoo to wash his face — and his whole body while you’re at it! Just be careful not to get the lather in his eyes or you might end up with another problem on your hands. The show dog folks have all sorts of secret remedies to combat eye and beard stains on their bright white beauties, but many contain bleach or dyes so I would not advise using them on your little guy. Good luck getting him back to his snow-white splendor! Posted by: Chewy Editorial Featured Image: DusanManic/iStock/Thinkstock,Q.

The holidays can be a confusing time for your pets. You may have guests visiting or travel plans that take your dog far from the comforts of his home, which can be understandably overwhelming for your pet. It’s not uncommon for holiday festivities to cause pet anxiety, which can lead to behavioral issues that can be disruptive to your celebrations at best. But you can prepare your pup beforehand by teaching good dog etiquette to help avoid bad dog behavior. When preparing your family for the festivities this year, use these dog etiquette tips to make holidays with dogs more enjoyable for everyone.

Pet parents and their pooches are greeted with open arms in the sprawling, art-centric and cosmopolitan City by the Bay. “San Francisco is famous for its openness and diversity,” says Laurie Armstrong Gossy, senior director of global public relations and media relations for the San Francisco Travel Association. “All living things are cherished—and that includes pets. “Dogs are considered part of the family and are welcomed, just like the 25.5 million two-legged visitors who come to the city each year,” she continues. “Together, they can explore the city’s 49 square miles of fascinating neighborhoods and iconic vistas.” What makes San Francisco so dog-friendly? For starters, the city has 32 dog parks—the eighth highest on the Trust for Public Land’s list of dog park rankings. Some of the stand-out dog-friendly green spaces include a designated off-leash area in Golden Gate Park and Baker Beach, known for its views of the city’s most famous site, the Golden Gate Bridge. When you need to grab a bite after all that strolling, the Bay also houses 171 dog-friendly restaurants to choose from. Dogs can take San Francisco’s Muni public transportation system of buses, trolley coaches, light rails, streetcars and cable cars, provided pets are muzzled, leashed, sitting on the owner’s lap and not on the system during peak hours. One pet is allowed per vehicle.,It’s estimated that Americans share their homes with 89.7 million dogs, according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA). So, it’s no surprise that many U.S. cities increasingly cater to furry friends and their dog parents. Thinking about getting away with your pup? Pack your suitcase and bring along a dog carrier bag. From places with more than 300 sunny days annually to those teeming with pet-friendly hotels, here are seven dog-friendly cities with plenty to offer pooches and their parents.

As a pet parent, you are probably familiar with the struggle of leaving your pet at home while you go out to do your human duties. There are plenty of pet-friendly places where you can bring your beloved fur baby that go beyond your routine trips to the dog groomer. Next time you want to hang out with your furry friend in public, skip the dog park and consider taking him to a dog-friendly restaurant. But before you drag your pup to the nearest diner or coffee shop, be mindful of how this may affect other restaurant-goers. Bringing your pet with you while you dine is a privilege, so it is best to treat it as such. For the best etiquette tips regarding dog-friendly restaurant visits with your pup, here are some helpful insights. Get him restaurant ready. Before you go, make sure your dog is comfortable and well-behaved in busy or crowded environments. Just in case, it may be worth it to go during off-peak hours to avoid the stress of large crowds. If the restaurant gets busy unexpectedly, and your dog is obviously troubled, you might want to have a ThunderCap Calming Cap nearby. This cap acts as a behavior management aid to lessen your dog’s anxiety, fearfulness or aggression in high-stress situations, like crowded restaurants. It is made with a single-panel sheer fabric to reduce visual stimulation while still allowing him to confidently navigate through his environment. Ensure that your dog understands basic dog commands (sit, stay, leave it, down and come) before you introduce him to new situations that may be out of his comfort zone. You can practice these dog commands at a dog park to simulate what it would be like at a congested restaurant. When you arrive at the dog-friendly restaurant, ask the waiter for corner seating, or an area that is out of the way from foot traffic; you don’t want to inconvenience the staff or patrons by obstructing pathways, or risk stressing your pup out with all the commotion. Secure your dog. A valuable tip for dog-friendly restaurant etiquette is to make sure you have your dog secured on a leash from the moment you get there to when you leave. Whether you are ordering food or eating it, you most likely won’t be able to give your dog full, undivided attention while at a restaurant, so it is important that he is on a reliable leash to prevent him from running amuck. The ThunderLeash provides a simple solution with a design that converts from a standard leash to a no-pull leash in seconds. The straightforward design applies safe, gentle pressure on the dog’s torso to provide consistent feedback, which eliminates any undesirable pulling. The harness option is perfect for small or aggressive dogs who can suffer from neck injuries from tugging too hard on a standard dog leash. While at the restaurant, attach your new ThunderLeash to your chair, rather than the table, because no one wants their food to go flying when your dog decides he wants to run after a squirrel. Keep him calm. Dogs who feel anxious may resort to barking, which can be a nuisance for patrons and staff to endure. It may be wise to expend your dog’s extra energy before you even get to the restaurant by having him run around or play fetch in the park beforehand. This will keep him be relaxed (and quiet!) when it comes time to sit down and eat. If your dog is especially anxious, the ThunderShirt for dogs is a convenient solution to keep him calm in stressful situations. Proven effective in over 80% of dogs, the ThunderShirt “hugs” your dog with constant, gentle pressure for a dramatic soothing effect. For extra support during those anxiety-inducing moments, spritz some ThunderSpray into the air or on the ThunderShirt. ThunderSpray mimics a mother dog’s natural pheromones for an instant wave of relaxation. Try in combination with the ThunderShirt to allow the calming pheromones and fragrances to continue to be released for an extended period of time. Some other things you should keep in mind when you visit a dog-friendly restaurant include tipping your waiter extra if he goes out of his way to accommodate your dog, cleaning up any messes your dog leaves behind, and keeping your pet to yourself unless a patron verbally welcomes him. Consider these tips next time you want to bring your pup to a dog-friendly restaurant, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a respectful patron and dog owner.