Dogs

Pet lovers, you really stepped up this year. You brought over 1 million pets out of shelters and rescues and into your homes in 2022, giving them the love they need and deserve—and removing them from the risks of homelessness. “It was a banner year for life-saving,” says Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society, a nonprofit animal welfare organization with a network of shelters and rescues across the U.S. Adoptions dropped in 2020, Castle says (thanks, pandemic), but began to rebound in 2021—and this year, they’ve continued to rise. That’s not the only good news: Adoptions of adult dogs and adult cats, who are traditionally overlooked in favor of puppies and kittens, are also on the rise. “When I first started in this field, [finding homes for older pets] was a big hurdle,” Castle says. “Now, people are really welcoming those types of animals into their homes.” That might be because people are waking up to the benefits of older pets, she says, many of whom are already well-behaved and potty trained prior to their adoption. “Having a puppy or a kitten can be a lot like having a human baby—and that’s really hard!” she points out. “To me, adopting an older pet just makes sense.”

Cushing’s disease in dogs (also called Cushing’s syndrome) occurs when there is too much cortisol in the body.  Cortisol is a natural steroid hormone involved in regulating many normal processes in the dog. A tumor on the pituitary or adrenal gland can make the body produce much more cortisol than needed.  When there is too much cortisol, affected dogs can experience changes in their appearance and behavior. Cushing’s is a chronic disease and is generally not considered a medical emergency. 

WRITTEN BYKatie Grzyb, DVM Veterinarian Dr. Katie Grzyb received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University in 2009. She continued her clinical training at…,Any abrupt change or illness can be very concerning, especially with a puppy. Puppies are prone to gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea and vomiting. Sometimes the stool is just soft, but it can also be pure liquid with blood. Causes of puppy diarrhea can range from mild belly upset to more severe viruses that can be fatal. That’s why it’s good to know whether your puppy’s symptoms require an emergency veterinarian visit or if you can wait to see your regular veterinarian in a few days.  Here’s some insight on what the stool might look like, when to see a vet, and possible causes for diarrhea in puppies. What to Do if Your Puppy Has Diarrhea It can be difficult to know when puppy diarrhea is a true emergency. If any of these signs are noted, take your dog to a veterinarian immediately for evaluation: Large amounts of bright red blood or black stool Liquid diarrhea Vomiting more than once Lethargy Not eating Not drinking Weakness/collapse Coughing/sneezing/eye or nasal discharge Tremors or seizures If your puppy has no other signs besides diarrhea and is still active and eating and drinking normally, then it is probably okay to wait one or two days to see your veterinarian. Do not bring your puppy into contact with any other dogs during this time, in case they have an infectious condition. It is best to contact your veterinarian before you make any diet changes or give over-the-counter medications, as puppies can be very sensitive to these. Your veterinarian may recommend a bland diet of boiled chicken (no skin or spices) and rice, plus sweet potato or pumpkin to ease digestion and increase fiber to re-form the stool. They may also recommend picking up a probiotic supplement while you wait for your appointment. This holistic supplement helps reintroduce good, healthy bacteria into the gut, which is very important in puppies whose gastrointestinal tracts are still growing and forming.

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

By Heather Larson If you’re looking for a minimally invasive alternative to a traditional spay procedure, a laparoscopic spay might be a good fit for your female dog or cat. With a traditional spay procedure, both ovaries and the uterus are usually removed, which is considered an ovariohysterectomy. In contrast, a laparoscopic spay normally only removes the ovaries (ovariectomy), which means a surgeon can make a smaller incision or set of incisions in the patient. Both surgical procedures achieve the same end result: sterilization, says Dr. Marc Hirshenson, a board-certified veterinary surgeon. Laparoscopic surgeries are gaining popularity in veterinary medicine. We asked the experts to explain how the procedure works and whether it’s safer than a traditional spay. Laparoscopic Spay Technique “Some minimal variation occurs in the procedure among surgeons, but it involves between one to three small incisions along the abdominal body wall,” says Hirshenson, who performs surgery at Triangle Veterinary Referral Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. “Through these small incision(s), the surgeon places ports allowing the entrance of the camera and instrumentation.” The patient’s abdomen is filled with CO2 gas for better visualization, adds Dr. John Adam, owner and president of Imperial Highway Animal Clinic in Southern California. The camera transmits a digital image to a screen in the operating room, allowing full view of the entire abdomen and all organs, Hirshenson describes. After the blood vessels are sealed, the ovaries are transected (cut across) and removed. The surgeon’s hands never enter the abdomen.

When the weather heats up, dogs can’t just shed layers or crank up the AC like we do. Instead, they rely mostly on panting and a little bit of sweating through their paw pads and noses. But on hot, humid days, that might not be enough, and overheating becomes a serious risk.   We spoke to two veterinarians to learn the key signs of overheating in dogs, what to do if your dog gets too hot, and how to keep them safe and comfortable when temperatures rise. 

With a name that means “badger dog” in German, the Dachshund is a lively, friendly breed with a keen sense of smell. Recognized by their long, low bodies, Dachshunds were first bred in the early 1600s in Germany to hunt both above and below ground. According to AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson, the goal of early Dachshund breeders was to create a fearless dog with an elongated body that could dig into a badger burrow and fight with the vicious badgers. The breed comes in three coat varieties—smooth, wirehaired or longhaired—and can be miniature or standard in size. The breed is most commonly seen in red, black and tan, blue and fawn.,Most dog lovers can’t get enough of pups with teeny tiny paws and short, stubby legs, but have you ever stopped to wonder why these breeds have such small legs? We’ve asked the American Kennel Club to share some popular short-legged dogs and the history of their tiny (but mighty!) statures.

In This Article How Hill’s Prescription Diet Dog Food Works View 5 More +

WRITTEN BY Victoria Lynn Arnold Freelance Writer,NOTE: Always check with your veterinarian first before giving your dog any new foods, especially “people foods.” What might be OK for one dog might not be good for your dog, depending on multiple factors, such as their age, health history, health conditions, and diet. Dogs on prescription diets should not be fed any food or treats outside the diet. Are nuts safe for dogs to eat? It depends on exactly which nut you’re talking about. Some, like macadamia nuts, are toxic to pups. Others, like peanuts, are perfectly fine when properly prepped and fed in moderation. But can dogs eat cashews?  Cashews are not toxic to dogs, but there are some things to consider before you give them to your dog as a treat. Are Cashews Bad for Dogs? Although cashews are nontoxic for dogs, they should only be eaten in moderation. Cashews contain a high amount of fat, and eating fatty foods repeatedly over time can cause obesity or pancreatitis in dogs. As with any other food—especially nuts—there’s always a potential concern for them to be a choking hazard or cause an intestinal blockage. Thankfully, cashews are softer and more rounded than other types of nuts, such as almonds, and they are not sold inside shells (like pistachios). This can help reduce the chances of your dog choking on cashews, but pet parents should always supervise their pup while they snack. And remember that all nuts are not the same. For example, because macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs, it’s important to avoid feeding your dog mixed nuts. 

Whether you’re headed to the airport for a weekend getaway or taking your pup on their first road trip, puppy travel requires thoughtful planning. From packing the essentials to keeping your dog comfortable and calm on the go, we’vegot you covered.   Use these 20 tips to make traveling with your puppy a safe, drama-free experience for both of you.