Dogs

Properly storing your dog’s food helps maintain its nutritional value, prevents contamination, and keeps your pet safe from potential health risks. Here’s why proper storage is essential: Preserves freshness and nutrients: Exposure to air, heat, and moisture can degrade essential vitamins and fats. Prevents spoilage: Improper storage can lead to mold growth, rancidity, or bacterial contamination. Keeps pests away: Rodents, insects, and other pests can be attracted to improperly sealed food. Reduces food waste: Storing food correctly helps extend its shelf life. Keeps it tasty: Stale or spoiled food may become unappetizing to your pet.,Jump to section Why Is Proper Dog Food Storage So Important? How To Store Dry Dog Food How To Store Wet Dog Food How Long Does Dog Food Last? How Can I Tell If My Dog’s Food Has Spoiled? FAQs About Dog Food Storage What is the best dog food container?

What’s better than treats on Halloween? A new toy, of course. Make this Halloween extra-special with a creepy-cute dog toy that will put a spell on your boo all spooky season long. To help you pick the perfect toy for your individual pet, we’ve rounded up new and best-in-category Halloween dog toys. From fetch toys to chew toys to plush toys, there’s a Halloween dog toy for every furry monster in your squad.

In This Article How Often Should I Take My Puppy to the Veterinarian? View 5 More +

#6 Be Prepared for an Adjustment Period If it’s a puppy you’ll be adopting into your home, be prepared for crying. Yes, just as with human babies, baby dogs cry during the night in their first days in their new home. But unlike human babies, it is not a good idea to take your puppy to your bed to soothe him. The best thing you can do before bringing the puppy home is set up a quiet, enclosed space with a comfortable bed, or a kennel that can be closed, keeping your puppy secure from wandering. Choose the spot that will be your dog’s permanent spot. During the day, let your puppy have free, supervised privileges to roam around the house to smell everything. This will also be a good way to spot any hazards you might have missed on the first go ‘round. Bedtime for cats is a bit easier. Arrange the kitten’s sleeping area in a secure area close to his litter box so that he doesn’t get lost looking for it, and then leave him to romp around in his area until he drops off to sleep. Things get a little bit trickier when you are bringing a new pet into a home with pets. You will need to make sure that your resident pet does not feel threatened enough to strike out at the newcomer.,#7 Train Your Pet If your happy home is going to remain a happy home, the housetraining will need to start immediately after bringing your pet home. If you are adopting a kitten, introduce him to his litterbox as soon as you get him inside. If it is a puppy, leash him up and take him outside to start getting to know his neighborhood. Most puppies will be intimidated by their new surrounding, and you don’t want to put a fright into your puppy. A very short walk on the first outing is all that is needed. Begin training on that first outing. When the puppy relieves himself outside, while he is doing it say, “Go now.” Repetition of this command will eventually make it so that you will be able to take your dog out in any kind of weather without worrying about how long your dog will take to relieve himself.,By Victoria Heuer Some of the greatest moments in life include the day we met our pets for the first time, and the day we adopted them and they came home with us. Here are 10 things to consider before bringing a new dog or cat home. #1 Can You Commit? Will you have the time to walk your dog three times a day? Will you remember to exercise your cat every evening? If the answer is no, and you have no one who can perform those essential tasks, you should stop right here and consider a fish or a parakeet as a low-demand animal companion.

In This Article Should I Let My Dog on the Furniture? View 2 More +

If your dog’s normally dark nose turns pink during the colder months, they may have a harmless condition called snow nose.   However, snow nose in dogs can be mistaken for more serious health problems, so it’s important to know what sets a dog with snow nose apart from a pink-nosed dog who needs to see a veterinarian. 

Ticks are most active during the warmer months, typically from April to September, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Colder states that start to see freezing temperatures in the fall and experience them until early spring have a lower risk of tick infestations during the months of December and January. However, in milder regions (like the southern states or on the west coast), ticks can be found any time of year, says Dr. Bethany Hsia, DVM, a veterinarian and co-founder of CodaPet, in Fresno, CA. In fact, according to the CDC, certain species of adult ticks, such as deer ticks, may be out searching for a host any time winter temperatures are above freezing. While we’re offering some guidelines on tick season below (per the CDC and our vet experts Dr. Hsia and Dr. Raymond Spragley, DVM, CCRT, CVA, an integrative veterinarian at Zen Dog Veterinary Care in Tuckahoe, NY), it’s best to always be on guard and protect your pet from ticks year-round—no matter your location. The bottom line is, if you’re spending time outdoors, be aware that ticks could be present.,Jump to section When Is Tick Season in Your State? What Are the Most Common Ticks in the US? And Where Are They? My Pet Has a Tick—What Do I Do? How To Protect Your Dog Against Ticks How To Protect Your Cat Against Ticks How To Protect Your Home Against Ticks FAQs About Tick Season

Owners of long-haired dogs can agree that their pup’s supple, flowing coats are somewhat of a marvel, but when they become matted, it can be a nightmare for both them and their dog. Matting generally occurs from a lack of brushing, says Valeria Lopez with the spcaLA Grooming Salon. “It is important to use a dog brush with bristles that penetrates the coat down to the skin,” she says. “Both cats and dogs can become matted, and the matting is caused in the same way.” If you’ve already noticed mats in your pet’s coat, keep in mind that they should be dealt with immediately, since they could become dangerous if left alone. “Brushing your pet’s coat keeps your pet healthy and comfortable,” says Lopez. If left untreated, “Mats can cause bruising when they get too tight, which can be painful for the pet,” she adds. Mats could also be hiding additional health issues—like fleas and skin conditions—so removing them should be a priority. To get rid of mats at home, Lopez suggests the following: 1. Get the right tools. For long hair, she suggests a slicker brush and metal comb. “The comb will help the owner find the hidden mats below the top layer of the coat,” she says. “If only tangles are found in the coat, a detangling conditioner can be used before brushing the coat, but remember that detangling conditioners do not break apart mats.” 2. Avoid big mat removal no-nos. Besides securing the proper tools, Lopez warns parents to never use scissors to cut out the mats, since they could puncture the skin and lead to further damage. She also suggests that parents skip a bath before attempting any de-matting. “Doing so just risks making the mats tighter,” she says. 3. Follow the correct procedure. To appropriately remove mats, begin by brushing at the neck and end of the tail. “Break mats apart by combing the top of the mat, and then work through toward the pet’s skin,” says Lopez. “If the mat is too close to the pet’s skin, a groomer or veterinarian will need to shave the mat out of the coat.” For smaller mats, you should be able to remove them at home. However, sometimes mats are too tight or there are too many, in which case it would be best to seek professional help. “If de-matting the pet’s coat takes more than 30 minutes, the matting is excessive, or if the mats are too close to the skin, seek the help of a professional,” suggests Lopez. Remember that the best way to avoid having to deal with mats in the future is to keep your pet properly groomed. Try the FURminator Long Hair deShedding Edge to push through your pet’s top coat to easily and gently remove the undercoat and loose hair without cutting or damaging your dog’s skin. Remember to also bathe your pet regularly. PetAg Fresh ‘N Clean Scented dog shampoo is a natural, soap-free, plant-based cleanser that effectively washes away dirt and grime on your pet. If you love the smell of a clean dog, this shampoo has a fresh scent that can linger on your dog’s coat for up to 2 weeks. Pair this with a shampoo brush like the KONG ZoomGroom to remove loose hair, stimulate the capillaries for healthy skin, and encourage natural oil production.

While you are absent-mindedly petting your dog during the latest “Bachelor” episode, your hand feels something abnormal: a lump on or under the skin that wasn’t there before. Slightly alarmed, you part the hair and take a closer look. Your hands did not deceive you—there is a lump on your dog’s back! It’s squishy, and a little red. Is it cancer? Many dog skin tumors found on dogs today are completely treatable with modern medicine, and many growths on dogs are benign and may require no treatment or minimal treatment.

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