Dogs

Most dogs love to chew, but when it comes to smaller dogs, you need to watch what you give them. “I don’t recommend hard chew toys that can break teeth,” Shojai says. Instead, she recommends a soft chew toy, such as Planet Dog’s Orbee-Tuff bone. Nicknamed the “doggie pacifier,” this bone toy is designed to be durable, yet flexible for soft chewers. “The Orbee-Tuff products tend to be softer with more give, so this offers something the small dog can really bite down hard [on] without a danger of breaking teeth,” Shojai says. The Orbee-Tuff bone toy is made out of recyclable, non-toxic material and is available in three colors: blue, green and red. Plus, it’s buoyant, which means you can take your game of fetch to the pool.,For small dogs, playtime is more than just a game. It’s a calling. In fact, for some small dog breeds, their ancestors were bred to chase or even dig for small animals. Most of these petite pups are no longer needed to perform the jobs they were bred for, but you can’t remove what’s in their DNA. Appeal to those instincts with dog toys! “Many toy breed dogs are scaled down versions of full-size breeds or types of dog,” explains Amy Shojai, a certified animal behavior consultant (CABC) in Dallas, Texas. “For instance, the Chihuahua and Pug are Mastiff-types that may, as a result, enjoy toys they can wrestle and tug, [while] Toy Poodles are still retrievers at heart and often love fetch toys.” To get the most out of your dog’s playtime, here are some of the best dog toys for small breeds.

Vaccines guard against disease by exposing pets to disease-causing microorganisms (in whole or in part) that have been inactivated or otherwise modified so they don’t produce the disease in question. By introducing the dog to this controlled stimulus, the immune system can build a defense against future exposure.,Jump to section How Do Vaccines Work? What Vaccines Do Dogs Need? Dog Vaccination Schedule: When Should Dogs Get Vaccinated? FAQs About Dog Vaccinations

Abused pets often end up in animal shelters after they have been surrendered by their former parent or  seized by authorities due to evidence of abuse or neglect. These pets may never have known love, security, or safety and are at the shelter through no fault of their own. It is important that people who  love animals and have the necessary resources adopt from their local shelter. When they do, they are rescuing and saving a life. What Does History of Abuse in a Pet Mean? The word “abuse” is associated with cruel, harsh, and harmful treatment. This may include physical abuse and/or mental and emotional abuse, such as frequent yelling and threatening actions. Some people may scare their pets to the point where the animal develops an exaggerated startle response such as jumping, running quickly on a slick floor without traction, or hiding under furniture. Another form of abuse is neglect, where a pet’s basic needs—such as food, water, comfortable bedding, a litterbox, or access to the outdoors for elimination—are not provided for. Neglect can also include pain or discomfort when the pet is not given needed medical care. In cases of abuse, suffering is present. But sometimes it’s difficult to know for certain that a pet has been abused if no history is known.

The first secret to setting up a successful play date is understanding your dog’s likes and dislikes. That means you should already know how your dog reacts to other dogs (and if it’s anything other than positive and welcoming, abandon ship), and you should have an idea as to how he likes to interact with canine companions.,Whether you’ve got a puppy in need of socialization or an adult dog that you’re dying to introduce to your best friend’s new rescue, setting up a successful play date takes some planning. Being a good canine matchmaker requires that you consider the temperaments of both players, the logistics of the meeting area and how things will unfold once the dogs are in the same space. The good news is, if you do it right, a successful get together is fun for everyone! Here’s how to make sure your next puppy play date is a purely positive party.

It’s a pretty strange sight—your dog is peacefully sleeping on the bed, but their eyes are partly open, unfocused, and looking out into space. As creepy as this may seem, it is common and usually normal. Why Do Dogs Sleep With Their Eyes Open? We really don’t know why dogs sleep with their eyes partially open, but there are quite a few theories. Your dog is not fully asleep. The most likely scenario is that your dog may only be partly asleep. In the early stages of sleep, dogs relax deeply but doze lightly. In this state, they may be relaxed enough to appear asleep but have not yet fully lost consciousness, so their eyes haven’t fully closed. These dogs usually return to full awareness very quickly if stimulated. Often, just quietly saying their name is enough to return them to wide-eyed consciousness. It’s instinctual for dogs to stay alert while sleeping. Another theory about why dogs will do this is related to evolution. Animals in the wild need to maintain some degree of situational awareness. In fact, birds can put half of their brain to sleep, leaving the other half active. They can even fly while asleep! Animals that are able to “keep an eye out” on their surroundings may have a definite advantage. It is possible that our pampered house pets have retained some of this protective instinct. They may be much more deeply asleep, but still have some part of their brain alert and functioning. Some may also show a “raised third eyelid” (also known as a nictitating membrane) while they are asleep. This membrane is a partly clear, protective layer that covers the eye. It usually comes up from the corner of the eye nearest the nose, and often has a pinkish or yellowish hue. Your dog may be in REM sleep. Many dogs sleep with their eyes partly open during REM sleep, or the stage of sleep in which dreams occur. In this stage, you may see twitching, barking, and even eye movements. Many people confuse this stage of sleep with a seizure, because the dog is unconscious but still showing movement, and sometimes vocalization. However, dogs that are experiencing a seizure often have much more violent movements, are impossible to arouse, and will often have eyes fully open and “staring into space” as opposed to the half-open, relaxed look of dogs that are sleeping. Your dog may have an eye condition. There may also be a medical reason behind why your dog seems to be sleeping with their eyes open. Some dogs develop conditions of the eyes or eyelids that make it difficult or impossible to close their eyes normally. These dogs will always sleep with their eyes open, not just sometimes. These types of disorders are most common in dogs with short, smushed-in faces and big eyes, like Pugs or Boston Terriers. In breeds with huge, bulging eyes, their lids may be so small that they can’t normally close their eyes. Dogs with narcolepsy may also sleep with their eyes open. If your dog falls asleep at inappropriate times, such as while eating, playing, or even going to the bathroom, they may have narcolepsy. In most cases, this condition isn’t subtle and will prompt a speedy visit to your veterinarian. If you think your dog has a medical condition that makes it impossible to sleep with their eyes closed, or if you think your dog may be having seizures,  schedule a checkup with your veterinarian. It can also be helpful to get a video of what your dog is actually doing at home to take with you to your appointment. A picture or video is often worth a thousand words in these situations!

WRITTEN BYHeather Hoffmann, DVM Veterinarian Dr. Heather Hoffmann is a 2018 graduate from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a certificate in…,Small dogs have become increasingly popular due to their compact size. However, we need to consider that, due to their smaller size, they have specific nutritional needs and a genetic predisposition to certain health problems. If cared for properly, small dog breeds can have a long life span. Here are some general guidelines on how to keep small dogs healthy, from puppyhood to their senior stage of life. Jump to Section: List of Small Dog Breeds and Weight Range Health Issues in Small Dog Breeds Life Span of Small Dog Breeds Puppy: 0-12 Months Adult: 12 Months – 8 Years Senior: 8-16 Years What’s the Small Dog Weight Range? Small dogs are usually considered to be 20 pounds or less, give or take a few pounds. These are 10 of the most common small dog breeds, and of course, small mixed-breed dogs are included in this category as well. French Bulldog Beagle Miniature Poodle Yorkshire Terrier Dachshund Pembroke Welsh Corgi Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Miniature Schnauzer Shih Tzu Pomeranian

Jump to section Bee or Wasp Sting Symptoms in Dogs What To Do if Your Dog Has Been Stung by a Bee or Wasp Can Dogs Be Allergic to Bee Stings? How To Prevent Bee and Wasp Stings in Dogs FAQs About Dog Bee Stings

When bringing home a new puppy, that pet-parent checklist is chock-full of fun things like securing a cozy place to sleep and keeping yummy training snacks on hand. Figuring out—and sticking to—a puppy vaccine schedule is also super important. Because their immune system is not fully developed, young puppies are at risk for bacterial and viral infections, including distemper, parvovirus, canine hepatitis, and canine influenza. The ideal time to socialize your puppy is from 3–12 weeks of age. Keep your puppy on a dog leash and walk them on clean, dry pavement—and away from grassy areas where other dogs walk and poop.

WRITTEN BYStephanie Howe, DVM Veterinarian Dr. Stephanie Howe graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011, after receiving a Bachelor of Science…,You may have been surfing the internet and stumbled across a hilarious video of a pug urinating while doing a handstand. While this is indeed funny, it is actually one of 12 distinct elimination postures dogs use while peeing. The handstand, among some of the more popular options like the “raise” and “squat” positions, were all documented in a 1970s study on canine elimination patterns. Conventionally, it is thought that a male dog lifts his leg to urinate and a female dog squats. Because this is statistically true, it often leads pet parents to believe that any male that does not lift his leg, or any female that does not squat, has a behavioral or medical issue. Let’s find out what’s behind the urge for dogs to lift their leg to pee. Why Dogs Raise Their Legs to Urinate So, what is it that causes a male dog or even a female dog to raise their leg? Thankfully, science has given us an answer. With both male and female dogs, urination serves two distinct purposes: eliminating liquid waste and marking territory. Male dogs are much more likely to scent-mark, which contributes to their occasional preference for a leg-lifting position. Lifting a leg makes it easier to urinate on higher surfaces like trees or fire hydrants and cover a larger area, which leaves a stronger message than urine on the ground.

Roses are red, violets are blue—if you love flower crowns, now your dog will, too! From stylish photo shoots to Halloween costumes sure to win any contest, flowers make the perfect year-round accessory. Whatever the occasion may be, this flower crown tutorial will dress your pup in a trend that’s sure to turn heads. Choose your favorite dog-safe flowers, like roses or daisies, for a fresh flower crown for dogs, or go with artificial flowers for an everlasting fashion statement. Decorate in style with autumn colors, or use a pop of bright colors; the choices are endless! Here’s an easy-to-follow homemade flower crown tutorial. Materials: pet-safe flowers, malleable floral wire, wire cutter, string or twine, scissors, decorative duct tape, hot glue gun and glue sticks, floral tape