Dogs

If there’s one destination synonymous with leaf peeping, it just might be Vermont. This dog-friendly state puts on its show of colors every fall—but Vermont is also filled with many great dog attractions. Top dog among those diversions is Dog Chapel, located at Dog Mountain in St. Johnsbury, Vt.,Love the feel of a cool autumn breeze and the sound of leaves crackling beneath your feet—and your dog’s paws? Fall is packed with fun activities: exploring small town harvest festivals, staying at dog-friendly bed and breakfasts, taking in the best fall foliage. Visit any of these dog-friendly destinations to make the most of this colorful, cozy season.

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The lyrics are true: it’s a small world. Unless you live in a deeply rural area with no other homes for miles around, the chances that you will meet other, “strange” dogs are pretty high. You want your encounters to be civil and controlled, so the early walks, while your dog is still a puppy, will be important for setting the ground rules for walking and meeting behavior. A proactive approach is the best approach, so that you can guide your dog through the proper responses and behaviors in a controlled setting. Dos and Don’ts Both verbal and physical (body language) cues are important when meeting new dogs and their people. Try not to allow your body to tense up, and do not suddenly tighten your grip on your dog’s leash. Your dog will get the message that something is wrong and will respond accordingly. If you respond in a hesitant or fearful way at the approach of another dog, your dog may also react fearfully, or even aggressively, toward the new arrival. There are some justified circumstances for not wanting to interact with another dog, and this is why it is so important to keep your dog on a leash at all times. Whether your concern is due to the other dog’s appearance or to its owner’s appearance (they appear threatening), because you know from previous experience that your dog gets skittish around strange dogs, or any other reason you have for not wanting an interaction, just calmly change your direction to one that is opposite to the path of the other dog. Continue to walk at a normal, steady pace, keeping your dog on a short leash, and your dog should follow. If there is no other option but to pass the other dog, try to keep some space between your dog and the other dog so your dog does not feel threatened or crowded. You may even try distracting your dog with some direct commands while passing by the other dog. Once your dog has successfully passed the other dog without responding in a fearful or aggressive way, verbally praise him and give him a training treat.  

You may be under the assumption that because dogs can hear better than us, they can probably see better than us, too. But that’s not necessarily the case. Let’s take a look at the anatomy of a dogs eye and how a dog’s eyesight compares to ours—from seeing colors to side vision and seeing in the dark. Dog Eye Anatomy The anatomy of a dog’s eye is very similar to that of a human eye. Dogs have an upper and lower eyelid, the same as people. There are many other similarities, including: Sclera: Tough, fibrous layer that’s often referred to as the “white” of the eye Cornea: Thin, clear layer at the front of the eye that can be injured easily Conjunctiva: Lining of the eyelids that can become inflamed and pink in color when dogs get excited, have allergies, or have an eye infection Iris: Colored part of the eye that contains smooth muscle and controls the size of pupil, regulating how much light enters the eye Pupil: Black area in the center of the iris; It contracts (gets smaller) in bright light or dilates (gets bigger) in dim light Lens: Located behind the iris; it changes shape to focus light on the retina Retina: Located in the back of the eye; it contains photoreceptors called rods, which sense light and movement, and other photoreceptors called cones, which sense colors Dogs also have eye structures that people lack: Tapetum lucidum: Located behind the retina, the tapetum lucidum reflects light through the retina, increasing the light available to the photoreceptors. This why animals see better at night, and it makes an animal’s eyes appear to glow at night when lights reflect from the animal’s eye. Third eyelid: Known as the nictitating membrane, the third eyelid is whitish in color and is located at the corner of the eye, near the nose. It helps protect the eye from scratches and also moves across the eye when a dog blinks to help produce tears.

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Jump to section 20 Plants That Are Toxic to Dogs Complete List of Extremely Poisonous Plants for Dogs What To Do If Your Dog Eats Toxic Plants Pet-Proofing Your Home FAQs About Poisonous Plants for Dogs

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WRITTEN BYSandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP Veterinarian Sandra Mitchell is a 1995 graduate of the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine. Since graduation, she has worked in many fields…,You know the look—and before you can react, you see your dog do a mad dash to the only piece of carpet in the house. Or it could be that your dog always seems to get motion sickness and nausea every time they take a car trip. If you think your dog is feeling queasy, learn why and what you can do about it. Symptoms of Nausea in Dogs Each dog may react a little differently to an upset stomach, and with time, you will learn which signs are common for your dog. Since dogs tend to get into things they shouldn’t, nausea is a pretty common thing. Here are some symptoms to watch for: Restlessness Panting Drooling Shaking/trembling Repeated swallowing or gulping air Lip licking Retching Vomiting Signs of stress or nervousness Vocalization Nausea is the sensation of an upset stomach that occurs before anything is actually vomited up. Sometimes a dog has nausea and will then vomit, but other times, the nausea may resolve without vomiting.

When summer temperatures soar, pet parents must pay closer attention to their pet’s needs. In addition to ensuring they stay hydrated and are kept cool, it’s essential to look out for paw pad burns on your dog or cat whenever your pet goes outside. While your dog still needs his daily walk in the summertime, these trips should be kept short, particularly when it is hot, not only to ensure that he doesn’t get overheated, but to avoid painful burns to his paw pads. What Are Paw Pads? Paw pads are specialized skin on the bottom of the foot. They allow adequate pressure distribution for walking, jumping, and running while creating a strong protective barrier against the ground. Footpads are susceptible to wear and tear, especially in extreme weather and new or different terrain conditions.

Who ranks as the best cuddlers, our partners or our pets? You guessed it, more than half of pet parents (53%) say their pet is a better cuddler than their partner. That’s from a recent survey by Chewy of hundreds of pet parents just like you. The findings shows pets are much more than pets—from expert cuddlers, closest confidants and biggest cheerleaders to family members, best friends and even soulmates. The results comes as no surprise to many of us. In a world with so much change and uncertainty, our pets are emotional anchors who center us and ground us during happy and sad times. Considering that 89% of respondents agree that their pets understand their emotions feeling a connection to them that’s sometimes even stronger than the ones we feel with other people makes perfect sense. The findings demonstrates the complexity and depth of the pet-pet parent bond. According to respondents: 84% consider pets family 50% view their pet as their child 42% say their pet is their best friend 14% consider their pet their soulmate What’s more, we depend on them for support and they’re there for us through it all. And while the jury it out about whether they understand our actual words, clearly that does not stop us from having deep communications with our pets: 86% regularly talk to their pet each day 96% say their pet is there for them through good and bad times 89% believe pets understand their emotions If you make important life decisions with the health and happiness of their animal family members in mind, you are in good company. Read on for more.