Dogs

It’s hard to walk past a puppy at the shelter and not scoop them up immediately (because, well, those faces), but they’re not the only ones deserving of forever homes.   Senior dogs are just as adorable and lovable as puppies—and a lot less likely to shred your favorite shoes while you’re at work.  

Originally developed as a hunting dog that was large enough and had the stamina to hunt and retrieve a large number of game birds at once, Golden Retrievers are now among the most popular family pets, service animals and search and rescue dogs. Loving and eager to please, Golden Retrievers enjoy playing games and socializing with people, children and other animals and can be calm at home with appropriate daily exercise and activity. While these breeds can all be relaxed by nature, many dogs can go from “mellow to intense in 6 seconds,” Frei said. If you know your dog is easily stimulated by dog toys, dog treats, phrase (like “go out”) or activity, prepare for it to become much more active the moment you pull out the doggy cookie jar or make a move for the leash.,With busy work days and packed weekend schedules, sometimes we all need to take a cue from our pups and do one thing – relax. While it may seem impossible to calm down and chill out for some people (and dogs!), others can hit the “relax” button fairly quickly. Here’s a list of breeds that, if raised and socialized properly, are generally calm around the home, courtesy of David Frei, the co-host of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and expert analyst for The National Dog Show Presented by Purina.

Americana Vineyards is located on 75-acres in the Finger Lakes wine country where leashed dogs are free to roam. “A lot of people travel with their furry family members, and we’ve always welcomed them” says Joseph Gober Jr., owner of the winery. Expect a pet-friendly lawn where you and your dog can watch concerts, a pond where your dog can swim and a dog-friendly winery and tasting room. Owners can nosh on food from the on-site café on the patio with their dogs by their sides. Americana also sometimes includes dogs on its Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts. After your visit, check those social media feeds to see if your pooch appears. Americana Vineyards is open seven days a week and is closed on Christmas and Thanksgiving.,Wineries make for great day trips or places to relax if you’re on vacation. Fortunately, many winery owners love their pets just as much as you do and have created inclusive and welcome environments for dogs. Even better, a number of wineries across the country also have winery dogs on property so your dog will have a buddy while you taste test. From New York to California, check out these pet-friendly wineries:

One of the most common diseases I see in aging pets is degenerative joint disease, otherwise known as osteoarthritis. I would guess that about 85% of my clients’ aging pets develop some form of osteoarthritis as they become older. Patients come to me with symptoms such as difficulty standing, no longer jumping up on furniture, wanting to go on shorter walks, avoiding stairs, and restlessness. Many arthritis symptoms in our pets go unnoticed, and it is difficult for my clients to see that their pets are in pain. I cannot count the number of times that I have placed a dog in pain with arthritis symptoms on pain medication or supplements for their joints, and clients call me later, excited about the noticeable improvements. Today I would like to discuss degenerative joint disease and all the best treatment options for our pets.

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.

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Easter baskets Assortment of small treat packages (Rachael Ray Nutrish Burger Bites, Blue Buffalo Bits Tasty Chicken Recipe, Fruitables Skinny Minis) Several Small KONG Wobblers (at least 2 per dog) 1 Large KONG Wobbler Large space with plenty of hiding places Breakable or small dog treats with a strong odor (try The Honest Kitchen Wishes Dehydrated White Fish Filets, Stella & Chewy’s Carnivore Crunch Grass-Fed Freeze-Dried Treats or True Chews Chicken Bacon Recipe Dog Treats) Grand prize for the best sniffer, like the ZippyPaws Burrow Squeaky Hide and Seek Plush Dog Toy or the Grain-Free Goody Box for Dogs,Games for Dogs: How to Make an Easter Egg Hunt

There’s nothing quite like using dog treats for positive reinforcement, which is why you probably have a cupboard full of dog training treats for your pup. There seems to be real power behind a tasty goody—but what if your dog is not food-motivated or you don’t have any treats handy? Dog treats are not the only types of rewards that our furry best friends appreciate. In fact, the best dog handlers use a variety of “creative rewards” that tap into their dogs’ drives to help keep them motivated, responsive and ready to work. Why Use Nonfood Dog Rewards? Dog training treats are an important tool, but the fact is that you can’t always have a pocket full of them (although your dog would be very happy if you did!).  While it’s critical to use food rewards during the foundation stages of dog training, pet parents should gradually wean their treat usage as their dog starts to understand the basic lessons. That means that you should end up only occasionally using treats to mark good behavior.   That said, it’s always important to recognize your dog when he makes good choices, and creative, nonfood rewards are an easy way to do it. This is especially true in the case of dogs who are not food-motivated. Rewarding your dog with a creative alternative can help to keep your dog motivated during training sessions.

Dogs are naturally very curious, which can lead to eating things they are not supposed to eat. Non-food objects like rocks, socks, and underwear can all cause an intestinal blockage (obstruction) that could result in emergency surgery. Common food items that are dangerous for dogs include grapes, gum or candy containing xylitol, chocolate, and foods that contain garlic or onions.  Dogs can also get into their own prescriptions or human medications, such as Tylenol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), birth control, benzodiazepines, cold and flu medication, antidepressant medications, and marijuana. Ingestion of chemical poisons such as rat poison, fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, and antifreeze is also a major concern.  When dogs eat something they’re not supposed to, one of the mainstays of treatment at the emergency clinic is often to induce vomiting. So you may think that you can just skip the trip and expense and try to make your dog throw up at home. Here’s some useful information on the pros and cons of making dogs vomit, and what to do if you suspect your pet may have eaten something dangerous.  Should You Make Your Dog Throw Up? When dogs eat something they’re not supposed to, your first instinct might be to make them throw it up. Often, this is correct and exactly what your veterinarian will recommend. However, inducing vomiting has some potentially serious risks and should not be done in every situation. If you think your pet has ingested a foreign object or potentially toxic substance, contact your veterinarian immediately.  Your vet can help you determine if making your dog throw up is the right thing to do, then monitor for any side effects.  However, in some cases, inducing vomiting may cause more damage than ingesting the toxin did. Situations where your vet may caution against inducing vomiting include: Certain caustic chemicals, such as toilet bowel cleaners or drain cleaners, may cause ulceration and lesions if your pet vomits. Other toxins, such as zinc or aluminum phosphides found in mole and gopher baits, can create a deadly phosine gas when they mix with stomach acid. In this case, making your pet vomit can cause damage to the lungs of people and pets who breathe in the gas. Sharp objects, like glass or pointed plastic, may damage your pet’s esophagus if they are made to vomit. Smooshed-faced dogs such as Pugs, Bulldogs, Boxers, and Boston Terriers are at higher risk for aspiration pneumonia due to their short noses and high incidence for brachycephalic airway syndrome. Aspiration pneumonia can be deadly in dogs. Some toxins are also more likely to cause aspiration pneumonia if the dog vomits, whether they have a flat face or not. For example, when dogs ingest Tide pods, the liquid detergent can become very foamy and more easily travel into the lungs. Your vet will need to determine on a case-to-case basis if the risks of inducing vomiting outweigh the benefits. It may also be too late to induce vomiting. If your pet ingests a foreign object or toxic substance, timing is important. A general recommendation is to induce vomiting within 2 hours of ingestion. If a foreign object has already moved from the stomach into the intestines, vomiting is no longer effective. Likewise, if a toxin has already been absorbed or your pet is showing clinical signs (especially neurologic signs like seizures), vomiting is no longer an effective or safe option. There are exceptions, but time is of the essence in the case of ingestions.  Can You Use Hydrogen Peroxide to Make a Dog Throw Up? Ultimately, it’s safer to skip the hydrogen peroxide and contact your veterinarian. Hydrogen peroxide has been used for many years to induce vomiting at home. However, hydrogen peroxide causes severe ulcers in the stomach when administered orally to dogs. And recent studies have shown that it may be more dangerous than people used to believe, especially at higher concentrations or if you administer too much. Aside from hydrogen peroxide, also avoid these dangerous methods: Salt: Salt should never be used to induce vomiting, as ingestion of large amounts of salt can lead to life-threatening sodium levels in your dog’s blood (hypernatremia), resulting in tremors, seizures, and even coma.  Gagging pets: Sticking your finger down your dog’s throat will NOT make them vomit. Dogs do not have the same gag reflex as humans. This is traumatic for the dog and can result in injury to their throat as well as them reflexively biting you.  Olive oil: Olive oil is not good for pets and may lead to pancreatitis, diarrhea, and increased risk for aspiration pneumonia if the pet does vomit.   Ipecac: This old method of inducing vomiting is very unsafe. Ipecac ingestion can cause potentially deadly heart issues such as slow heartbeat and abnormal heart rhythm.  What to Do if Your Dog Ate Something They Shouldn’t Have If your pet eats something they should not have, don’t panic! The best thing to do is to immediately call your veterinarian. Quickly gather information on the product your pet ate, if known, how much they ate, and approximately when they ate it. Then call your veterinarian and share everything you’ve learned. They will advise you if vomiting is the best option and the best way to go about that. Most likely, your vet will recommend an immediate visit to their office or the local emergency hospital so they can handle the situation properly. If you cannot reach your veterinarian, call the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 for more help determining if your pet needs to go to the emergency room. In life-threatening situations, the animal control center may be able to make recommendations to induce vomiting at home under specific guidance.  Inducing vomiting should always be done under the guidance of a veterinary professional. Making a dog vomit is a veterinary procedure that comes with potentially life-threatening risks if done incorrectly.  However, in cases of toxicity and foreign body ingestion, safely inducing vomiting under the supervision of your veterinarian can be lifesaving.  How Vets Make Dogs Throw Up The vet clinic will be able to administer medication to more safely induce vomiting in your dog. The most common drugs used in the veterinary clinic for this are: Apomorphine: This medication is typically given as an injection in a clinic and is effective in inducing vomiting in 94% of cases, typically within 15 minutes.  Clevor (ropinirole ophthalmic solution): This medication is FDA-approved in dogs and is administered as an eyedrop. It is effective in inducing vomiting in 95% of dogs within 30 minutes. Featured Image: iStockPhoto.com/Sonja Rachbauer