Dogs

The following may contain Chewy links. PetMD is operated by Chewy. Dogs are naturally curious creatures, and the holidays offer the opportunity for them to investigate many new objects and foods. Christmas trees in particular can be intriguing to dogs—but pose a risk for a number of reasons. It’s critical to protect your Christmas tree and holiday decorations from your dog to avoid accidents that may result in injury or illness.  Why Should I Dog-Proof My Christmas Tree? Given the opportunity, many dogs will gladly investigate a new, interesting object in the home. It can be frustrating when dogs disrupt the freshly decorated Christmas tree, but an encounter with the Christmas tree could also cause your dog to injure themselves—enough that a trip to the veterinarian is needed. If you notice your dog is injured or not feeling well after messing with the Christmas tree, contact your local veterinary clinic immediately.  Common accidents that can happen when your dog has access to the Christmas tree include: Knocking Over the Christmas Tree  As dogs sniff, play, and investigate, they may accidentally get too rough and knock the tree over. As the tree falls, it can land on them and hurt them. Even smaller and lighter trees pose a risk to larger dogs, because they may jump or twist as they get startled and sprain or strain a muscle. Ingesting Decorations and Ornaments Everyone loves a decorated Christmas tree, but ornaments, tinsel, garland, candy canes, and foods hung from the tree can be hard to resist for most pups. Delicate glass ornaments and the hooks used to hang them can injure a dog’s mouth and, if swallowed, can cause injuries to the stomach and intestines.  Strings and tinsel can be fun to chew on but, if swallowed, can cause choking or obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract. If candy or food hung from the tree is ingested, a dog may end up with an upset stomach (vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite) or, worse, toxicity poisoning. Sugar-free candies that contain xylitol and artificial sweeteners, peppermint candy canes, gingerbread men, and salt dough ornaments can all cause harm to dogs and are best left off the tree.  Loose Tree Needles and Lights  Fresh trees and aging artificial trees may lose needles, which can be sharp. If a dog ingests a needle from the tree, the needle could poke through the stomach or intestines, resulting in serious infection in the abdomen. In addition, lights strung from the tree may become hot and could cause burns on a dog’s mouth if touched or chewed on. Dogs can also electrocute themselves if they chew on electrical wires. This can cause burns and pain in the mouth or could result in irregular heartbeats, pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), brain damage, or death. Water from live trees may contain oils, such as fir or pine oil, which can cause irritation to the stomach. The water may also be treated with fertilizers, pesticides, or preservatives that could be toxic to a dog. Be sure to monitor your dog when around the Christmas tree to ensure protective measures are in place to avoid any injuries. How To Protect Christmas Trees From a Dog There are many things that can go wrong if your dog is left unsupervised with a Christmas tree, but there are things you can do to help keep your dog (and your tree) safe this holiday season.  Use a Fence or Gate for Protection  Try to limit your dog’s access to the tree by putting a gate or fence around the tree. Likewise, pens used to keep dogs confined are a great way to keep pups away from the tree. You may want to consider limiting access to the room where the Christmas tree is located by using dog gates. Even if your dog hasn’t shown much interest in the tree, it is best to not leave them unsupervised around it. When you’re away, consider keeping your dog in their kennel to keep them safe.  Wire Safety Keep your dog safe by tucking away wires and keeping them out of reach. Avoid stringing lights from the lower branches of the tree, keep electrical wires within the confines of a gate, and consider using special protectors designed to prevent your dog from chewing on wires.  Use Pet-safe Decorations When decorating the tree, use trimmings that are safe for dogs. Avoid tinsel on the tree, use string or ribbon in place of metal hooks to hang ornaments, avoid using fragile ornaments, and avoid hanging food or candy. Avoid hanging decorations from lower branches where they can be easily reached.  Fasten the Tree and Ornaments Fasten the tree to a wall or secure place to help keep it from falling on your dog. Make sure ornaments and decorations on the tree are securely attached as well. Ornaments can be tied to the tree using ribbon or string, or they can be fastened to branches using twist ties. Maintenance and Cleanup Make sure to sweep up needles and debris (both from artificial and real trees) frequently to help prevent curious pets from ingesting them. Keeping real trees watered may help decrease needle shedding, but take steps to prevent pets from drinking the water. An Elizabethan collar or E-collar can be placed around the tree stand to help keep pets out of the water. You can also get creative and find ways to cover the water with a plastic lid or foil.  Leave the Presents for Christmas Don’t just think about what you are putting on the tree to keep your dog safe—keep in mind what you are putting under it as well. Avoid putting presents under the tree until you are ready to open them. If you do put presents under the tree, don’t place presents that contain food or interesting scents. Keep any presents under the tree within a pen or gate to prevent your dog from accessing them. Set up a Camera or Alarm, Just in Case Find a way to monitor the tree when you aren’t home (or when you are in a different area of the house). Put a pet camera on the tree so you can monitor if your dog is messing with it, or use an alarm system that alerts you or makes a noise if your dog gets too close to the tree. It’s also helpful for an alarm to notify you if a dog knocks down the gate or pen that is protecting the tree.  Keeping your dog and Christmas tree safe this holiday season may require a little creative thinking and some steps to teach your pet some new boundaries, but it will be worth it to avoid the injuries or illnesses that can result from inappropriate interactions with the Christmas tree. If your dog does get into trouble and is showing signs of injury or not feeling well, make sure to reach out to their veterinarian to discuss what next steps to consider. Featured Image: iStock.com/Aleksandar Jankovic

As a dog parent, you’ve likely experienced that awkward moment when your pup’s snout is suddenly glued to your private parts like you’ve hidden a piece of steak down there. You try to casually maneuver away, placing your hand in front of yourself as a guard, waving off any intruders. This might be enough to give some dogs the hint, but with others it escalates. Soon, it’s like a bull match with a target on your nether regions and your bobbing and weaving to avoid the wet-nosed assault. If your dog seems really attached to your genital area—or worse, your guest’s crotch—you’re probably asking yourself the question, “Why do dogs smell your crotch?” We’ll break down the reasons and give you some tips on how to correct this behavior if it becomes embarrassing.

The following may contain Chewy links. PetMD is operated by Chewy. Even though a dog may be missing a leg, they can live a long and healthy life without it. Understanding the needs of your three-legged pet and how to make their life easier is the first step in helping them live a full life. Dogs with three legs can certainly adapt to their situation and make for playful, loving, and lifelong companions.  What Is a Tripod Dog? A dog with only three legs is called a “tripod.” This means either a forelimb or hind limb is missing because of trauma from a car accident, catastrophic event, or amputation (surgical removal) due to infection, cancer, limb deformity, or fracture.  While they may have only three legs, tripod dogs can certainly go on to live a healthy and long life. They usually don’t require any specialized or ongoing care other than what’s needed post-amputation. Adopting a tripod dog requires altering your expectations as the pet parent. These dogs may have a different gait or walk and may have trouble with coordination and balance, so you need to take care around stairs and inclines and watch for tripping hazards.  Agility training and high-impact sports competitions are not completely out of the question for your tripod dog but should be done with extreme caution. Also, these dogs may be at a greater risk for osteoarthritis (joint disease), spine problems, and lameness, so you need to take precautions to reduce or eliminate these risks.  Because dogs carry more weight on their forelimbs, those that have had a forelimb loss may have greater future concerns than those with a hind limb loss. For these pups, walking and running puts them at a greater risk of arthritis to the adjacent leg. And large-breed dogs generally have a harder time than smaller breeds supporting themselves on three legs.  Before taking your tripod dog to her forever home, find out the following: Reason for amputation Date of amputation Long-term medical issues or complications from the amputation (i.e., If the leg is lost due to cancer, are follow-ups, additional testing, or treatments such as biopsies and x-rays required?) Need for medication for long-term pain management Reason for living at the shelter (i.e., owner abandonment/relinquishment, lost/stray, confiscation, etc.) Past medical history, including any diagnostics and treatments Current medical history, including additional medical conditions Availability of in-house low-cost testing, coupons, or discounted medical care to help with future costs Special diet the dog is currently on (feeding schedule and amount, and other feeding options if special diet is not available) Preparing Your Home for a Tripod Dog Congratulations on your family addition! You have taken the first step in building a better tomorrow for you and your new companion. While this is certainly an exciting time for both of you, remember that there is always an adjustment period for any animal in a new environment, so be patient and remain committed.  By making a few simple changes, accommodations, and preparations, you can ease your dog’s adjustment period and improve their physical and emotional wellbeing. These include: Therapeutic bedding: decreases pressure on bones and joints Ramps, toe grips, floor rugs: increase grip and reduce slipping and falling (Pet Gear Step and Ramp and Dr. Buzby’s Toe-Grips) Raised food and water bowls: prevent leaning down too much to eat and drink, helping with balance Harness: reduces the stress when lifting your dog up any stairs, in and out of cars, etc. (Help ‘Em Up Harness) Monitoring yard for tripping hazards and uneven terrain ensures your dog’s safety when unsupervised Carrying your dog, if possible, up and down the stairs or blocking access to the second story to ensure safety If cost is a concern, you can get creative since many of these products can be made by you or substituted with products already in the home. For example, you can place a rolled-up towel under the pelvis to help lift and support your dog.  Be sure to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for a checkup immediately after adoption. Discuss with your veterinarian ways to keep your dog healthy and maintain good body weight, future care, and the potential need for medications.  The Cost of Caring for a Tripod Dog Beyond the amputation and initial rehabilitation costs, there aren’t any additional expenses in this regard for most tripod dogs. Of course, if possible, ongoing physical therapy with a rehabilitation veterinarian is ideal to help maintain muscle strength and improve coordination and balance. And just because a dog has only three legs doesn’t mean they will be living a life in pain. For many cases where there is significant disease or infection, amputation is considered a therapeutic option that brings relief and helps improve quality of life. Long-Term Management of a Tripod Dog Because your dog walks on three legs instead of four doesn’t mean they can’t have fun. With patience and understanding, you can ensure they are set up for a fun and happy life. Keep in mind the following for long-term management of a tripod dog: Weight Management: A dog’s body weight is distributed over four limbs, with 60% of the weight supported by the forelimbs and 40% by the hind limbs. The weight of tripod dogs is distributed less evenly across their limbs. So, it’s important to keep their weight in check to avoid joint and heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and inflammation. Exercise Management: When walking, let your dog set their own pace but watch if they become winded too soon or fatigued after the walk. For these dogs, shorter, more frequent walks are a better option than long walks. Joint Care: Vigilantly monitor orthopedic disease in the remaining limbs and consider giving your dog joint supplements and feeding them a special diet for joint health. Be sure to discuss the best diet with your veterinarian. Creature Comforts: Provide therapeutic bedding and additional padding to your dog’s elbows and ankles to improve comfort when lying down. Consider putting booties on to protect their paw pads when walking in cold weather and avoid walking during the hottest part of the day. Inspect the pads daily for any cracks, fissures, or sores. Make sure that your dog’s nails are trimmed regularly to help with better traction and balance.   

Because their immune system isn’t fully developed, young puppies tend to be more at risk for certain bacterial infections and viral infections like parvovirus, kennel cough, distemper and intestinal parasites. “Every puppy should receive core vaccines, which typically include vaccinations against distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus and rabies,” notes Colleen Lambo, DVM, a Bryan, Texas–based veterinarian with the national, mobile, pet care service The Vets. “These vaccines protect against highly contagious and potentially deadly diseases that puppies are susceptible to.” It’s also important to keep an eye out for potential health problems so you can ensure they’re cared for right away. Here are the signs of a sick puppy.,Jump to section 11 Signs of a Sick Puppy When To Take Your Sick Puppy To See a Vet How To Care for a Sick Puppy at Home

Many pet parents treat their dogs the same way they would treat any other family member. So when it comes to finding the right someone to look after their pup, it’s only natural for owners to seek the best care possible when they hire a dog walker. If you’re looking to hire a dog walker, consider these tips before you commit.

You can’t control the weather, but you can control how prepared you are for a major storm. And when it comes to hurricane season (which runs from May to November), the earlier you start, the better. “The best advice I have is to start preparing before hurricane season begins,” says Kristen Brauer, DVM, a veterinarian at Healing Hands for Pets in St. Petersburg, Florida. “Don’t wait until the hurricane is approaching.”,You’ve hurricane-proofed your house and stocked up on essentials—but have you prepped for your pets? Sadly, 47% of evacuees have had to leave at least one pet behind during a hurricane, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). But with a little planning, you can avoid this heartbreaking scenario and keep your pets safe during severe weather.

You may wonder why your dog is urinating in so many places when you take them out for a walk. This type of behavior is known as urine marking. Urine marking in dogs is a natural behavior where dogs release small amounts of urine in various locations. Both male and female mark, but it’s more commonly seen in male dogs. Urine marking can quickly become a nuisance behavior if your dog starts marking indoors. Here’s some helpful info on why dogs mark, how to tell urinary accidents from urine marking, and how to stop your dog from marking in the house. Why Dogs Mark For most dogs, urine marking usually begins around the time they reach sexual maturity, which can be between 6 and 12 months of age, depending on the size and breed of dog. If you can identify why your dog may be urine marking indoors, then you can take steps to resolve the issue. Several reasons dogs may exhibit urine marking include: Territory Identification Many dogs will often urine mark to tell other pets that their territory has been claimed. Your dog may consider both your yard and the inside of your house to be their territory, and they may mark vertical surfaces. Some dogs will frequently re-mark specific areas to make sure it is clear to other pets that this is their territory. Urine marking may also occur if there are animals outside near your house or apartment. Your dog may feel threatened by their presence and feel the need to mark their territory. Male Dogs Interacting With Female Dogs Male dogs will typically exhibit urine marking if there is a female dog in heat nearby. Urine marking is often a way for dogs to attract mates, so the presence of an intact female dog can influence this behavior. Conflicts With Housemates If there are one or more dogs within the household and there is tension or a disagreement between dogs, then one dog may start marking. The anxiety associated with the conflict as well the basic need to mark territory can lead to increased urine marking. Changes in a Dog’s Environment Some dogs will exhibit urine marking when there are changes in their environment. New furniture, new people, and new items that are normally not a part of the household can be targets for dogs to mark. The anxiety associated with a change in routine and structure in the environment can lead to urine marking indoors. Submissive Urination Some people note that if they talk loudly or their dog is easily startled, their dog may have an accident of a few drops of urine on the ground. This is different from urine marking, as submissive urination happens in response to your pet being startled or scared.

Dog Food – This is preferably the brand your dog was eating prior to coming to your home to prevent tummy upsets. You can always work on transitioning him to a different dog food later. Food and Water Bowls – You’ve got to have something to serve your pupper his supper in, and a way to keep him hydrated. Collar and ID tag – Your dog is in a new neighborhood. If he gets lost, an ID tag can improve the chances of your pet being returned to you. Get tips for selecting the right collar for your dog here. Leash – This is a necessity for walks around the neighborhood and leash training. “It’s important to start setting the ‘house rules’ promptly, and this likely includes leash training,” Dr. Mitchell says. Poop Bags – Be the neighbor that always cleans up pet messes during walks. Dog Crate – It’s ideal for crate training and to give your dog a space to call his own. Dr. Mitchell recommends beginning crate training on the first night home. Read more about crate training your new dog here. Dog Treats – Keep plenty of dog treats on hand for rewarding good behavior and for bonding with your new dog. Dog Bed – A cozy dog bed should help your new dog feel comfortable in his new home. Toys – Provide your new dog with mental and physical exercise with different types of dog toys. Calming Aids – Help ease the transition for nervous or older dogs. Calming products for dogs include items like a dog calming collar or sprays infused with pheromones, apparel that provides constant pressure, and tasty calming supplements. Those are the basics for a dog of any age. As time goes on and you get to know your new family member better, you can customize the type of dog toys or dog beds or leashes to meet his specific needs and preferences. “Products beyond the first few days will depend a lot of the personality of the dog,” Dr. Mitchell emphasizes. And there are seasonal changes to consider. Depending on the weather and the time of year, dog supplies, like dog boots, can help avoid common issues, like cracked paws in dogs. You’ll also need to provide additional items and care specific to his life stage.,Bringing home a new dog can mean tons of sloppy kisses, snuggles and tail wags coming your way. And while you’re about to embark on an exciting new adventure as a family, it’s important to note that this transition can be a difficult time for your new addition. “Sometimes it can be hard to remember that moving into a new household can be stressful for a new dog, and it can take time for them to adjust,” says Dr. Sandra Mitchell, owner of All Creatures Veterinary Services in Bangor, Maine. “So, being careful not to overwhelm them initially can help them to adjust.” Dr. Mitchell recommends giving your new dog his own space, such as a small room or bathroom, providing him with downtime, and staggering introductions with family and friends so they happen over time, not all at once. It also helps to have basic dog supplies on hand to ensure a smooth transition. Of course, you’ll need the essentials, like dog food and poop bags (trust us, you do NOT want to be caught outside on a walk without one of those nifty plastic baggies). You’ll also need training tools, like a dog collar and leash for leash training or a dog crate or kennel for crate training.

In This Article Why Do Dogs Growl? View 4 More +