Dogs

Jump to section What Are the Signs of Arthritis in Dogs? What Causes Arthritis in Dogs? How Do Vets Treat Arthritis in Dogs? How Can I Help My Dog With Arthritis at Home? How Can I Prevent Arthritis in My Dog? FAQs About Dogs and Arthritis

This classic leash is an all-purpose option for everyday walks. Typically made of nylon or cotton web, a standard flat leash ranges 3-6 feet long. Most dogs do well with 4-6 feet for neighborhood strolls, as this gives pups room for safe exploration. Basic leashes are durable and easy to clean in the washing machine. Consider the thickness of the leash and weight of the clasp when selecting a basic dog leash, because one size doesn’t necessarily fit all. The Frisco solid nylon dog leash, for example, comes in two lengths and several thicknesses, so there’s an option for every pup, from tiny to XXL.,Your dog’s leash is one of the most important dog supplies for your furry best friend. Surprised? It’s more than just a way to keep your dog close when you go for a walk. The right dog leash gives your pup freedom to explore and make his mark on the world while keeping him safe. There are important considerations for him as well as for your end of the leash, like handle comfort and the ease of managing the leash length. So how do you make the right choice for you and your dog? To select the perfect dog leash, consider your canine’s size and temperament. For example, is he a 70-pound puller or a petite and polite walker? Think about where you go for walks, since a hike in the woods requires a different type of dog leash than when walking on a crowded sidewalk. For you, how does the handle feel when you hold it, how is the weight and maneuverability of the leash itself? Below are six of the most commonly used dog leashes and their functions.

Boating can be a great activity to share in with your dog. Whether you’re heading out onto canals and ponds or larger bodies of water, like lakes or the ocean, bringing your fur baby along can make for a fun outdoor adventure. If you’re taking your dog on a boat this summer, follow these boat safety tips to ensure your pup feels secure and confident while out on the water.

Ticks carry many serious diseases with long-term and debilitating effects. The best way to fight back is to prevent ticks year-round, keeping you and your pets safe. It is important to understand how ticks reproduce and when they are most active. Ticks can kill both dogs and cats, so you need to stop the tick life cycle, ideally before they are able to transmit a potentially deadly disease. Flea and tick prevention products aim to repel ticks or kill them before disease transmission, which is why they are so important. The Life Cycle of a Tick The tick life cycle consists of four stages: Egg Larva Nymph Adult Larvae and nymphs have six legs and adult ticks have eight legs. Ticks are bloodsuckers and require a host (and its blood) to survive, molt, and reproduce. For most tick species, they require several hosts to complete their life cycle; for others, such as the brown dog tick, they can spend their entire life cycle on one host (your dog). The female tick lays eggs by the thousands, usually under leaves or other types of detritus. The larva hatches and attaches to a host, usually a small bird or rodent like a mouse, where it can then pick up deadly diseases and become a carrier. Shortly after feeding, the larva drops off the host, lies dormant up to a year, molts, and becomes a nymph. It then feeds on another host, where it can transmit its disease or diseases, drops off, and lies dormant again for a few months before molting into an adult.  The adult tick then finds its host—usually a larger animal or human—mates, feeds, and transmits the disease. The male tick remains on its host until done feeding, when it falls off and dies. The female tick usually falls off shortly after mating to lay its eggs. On average, this time frame takes about 2 years to complete. When it’s feeding, the tick regurgitates digestive enzymes to prevent its host’s blood from clotting so it can continue feeding. During the regurgitation process, fleas transmit diseases to the host. This process often takes more than 48 hours for some ticks, but timing varies and for some tick species it only takes a few hours. If the tick is found and removed early, the chances of disease transmission is rare. This is why tick prevention is critical to keeping pets safe year-round, since medications are designed to kill the tick or cause it to drop off its host before disease is transmitted. 6 Most Common Ticks in the United States American Dog Tick Photo Credit: iStock/dbstudio Dermacentor variabilis has been known to transmit tularemia and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), and is also one of the main ticks that cause tick paralysis. This tick can be found throughout the United States, but no longer in the Rocky Mountains, where it was first identified, and in Southwestern states.  Lone Star Tick Photo Credit: iStock/Joesboy Amblyomma americanum has been known to transmit Ehrlichiosis, tularemia, cytauxzoonosis, Heartland virus disease, rickettsiosis, and STARI (southern tick-associated rash illness). This tick is commonly seen in southern states but can be found in some northern states. This tick is most active from early spring to late fall. Blacklegged (Deer) Tick Photo Credit: iStock/Jason Ondreicka Ixodes scapularis has been known to transmit Lyme disease, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, and Powassan virus disease. This tick is most often seen in the eastern United States but has reached as far south and west as Texas and South Dakota.    Brown Dog Tick Photo Credit: iStock/RobertAx Rhipicephalus sanguineus has been known to transmit babesiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), Ehrlichiosis, canine hepatozoonosis, and anaplasmosis. This tick is typically seen in southern states but there is no limit to its geographic expansion. A unique feature about this tick is that it can also be found in homes and kennels. Winter Tick Photo Credit: University of Nebraska Dermacentor albipictus is more commonly seen on moose, deer, and elk than our companion animals. It is not known to carry diseases that can be transmitted to people or pets. As its name implies, it is most active in fall and winter and has been seen from coast to coast throughout the United States.   Gulf Coast Tick Photo Credit: National Environmental Health Association Amblyomma maculatum has been known to transmit rickettsiosis and canine hepatozoonosis. As its name implies, this tick is most often seen along the Gulf Coast but has been seen as far north as Ohio. It is most active from late summer to early fall. How to Keep Ticks Off Pets Ticks pose a significant threat to you and to your pets. It is vital that they be protected as best as possible, and the best way to protect is through prevention. Partnering with your veterinarian to find the right flea and tick medication is important for your pet’s health. Most tick prevention products that come in a chewable tablet like Bravecto and Nexgard, a wearable collar like Seresto, or even a topical like Frontline Plus take several hours before they start repelling and killing ticks. So when planning outdoor activity with your pet, make sure they are protected far in advance.

Summer is here, and with temperatures reaching all-time highs, it is critical that pet parents understand the dangers of heatstroke in dogs, including signs to look for, how to treat heat stroke or heat exhaustion in dogs and, most importantly, the best ways to prevent this emergency from happening.

WRITTEN BYRhiannon Koehler, DVM Veterinarian Dr. Rhiannon Koehler is a veterinarian and freelance medical writer. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master of Public…,We’re all familiar with the unsightly reddish-brown stains around the eyes of our (typically) white-furred friends. While we hope that dogs with tear stains aren’t self-conscious about it, these stains can be bothersome to us as pet parents. What causes those unsightly tear stains? Once you understand how tear stains on dogs develop, you’ll be better equipped to remove and prevent them in the future.

Can dogs eat ice cream? Yes, they can (but only specific types)! But we wouldn’t add any extra pints of your favorite made-for-humans Häagen-Dazs to your grocery cart quite yet. If you’re wondering what kind of ice cream dogs can eat, how much, and how often — and what to do if your pup is lactose intolerant — read on. We spoke with Dr. Amanda Williams, Chief Veterinarian and Medical Director of Furry Friends Adoption, Clinic & Ranch, for everything you need to know about ice cream for dogs.

Image via iStock.com/Okssi68 By Paula Fitzsimmons You wear a coat when it’s cold outside, so naturally, you may wonder if your pup should wear one, too. While some breeds need dog coats more than others, any dog can benefit from one, depending on the circumstances. When it comes to keeping dogs warm in winter, here’s what veterinarians and experts recommend for finding the ideal dog coat, dog jacket or dog sweater. Are Dog Coats an Absolute Must-Have for Winter? A dog probably doesn’t need a coat if she’s going outside for a short bathroom break, but if the temperatures drop to below zero, it can help, says Dr. Lisa Powell, a veterinarian with BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. “I put something on my dogs then because it’s just so cold.” Watch your dog’s body language to determine if she needs a coat, says Dr. Susan Jeffrey, a veterinarian at Truesdell Animal Care Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. “Some dogs will hold up their paws when they get cold and sometimes even refuse to walk. Other dogs may shiver. Some dogs may need a coat long enough to get ‘warmed up.’ An example of this is a dog who arrives at the dog park initially needing a jacket, but after a few minutes of running or playing, may not need a coat,” she says.   Which Breeds of Dogs Need Coats? For some dog breeds, cold weather can be a challenge. Short-coated dogs, thin-coated dogs and dogs with thin body frames should wear a jacket during colder months, Dr. Jeffrey says. “These include most toy and small breeds such as Chihuahuas, Toy Poodles, Italian Greyhounds (and Whippets), Yorkshire Terriers, Chinese Cresteds and Havanese.” Another reason why small breed dogs—and dogs with short legs, like Basset Hounds—may also benefit from coats, is “because they are so close to the ground and more likely to have their bellies or bodies in contact with snow and ice,” says Dr. Kelly Ballantyne, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and owner of Insight Animal Behavior Services in Chicago, Illinois. Large, shedding dogs, like Huskies and Malamutes, typically don’t need to wear coats, says Dr. Powell, who is board-certified in veterinary emergency and critical care. A dog’s size isn’t necessarily the determining factor, however. “Some large or giant breeds, such as Great Danes, Greyhounds and even some Pit Bull Terriers, may benefit, as they have very short hair coats that do not provide insulation,” says Dr. Jeffrey. Dog breed, size and fur length should all be considered when deciding whether to buy a dog coat, but there are other considerations as well. “There can be a lot of individual variation in cold tolerance, which can be related to age, underlying health problems and body condition,” says Dr. Ballantyne. Check with your veterinarian for her best recommendation for your pup. What Type of Winter Clothing Does Your Dog Need? It depends on the dog, says Dr. Jeffrey. “For example, I have a very muscular French Bulldog who doesn’t need a thick jacket, but a sweater is perfect for keeping him warm outside. A Chinese Crested, on the other hand, has little to no fur and requires a heavy jacket when going outside in the winter.” Other small breeds, such as Shih Tzus, may only need a sweater, depending on hair length, she adds. Some dog sweater suggestions include the Chilly Dog spencer dog and cat sweater and Chilly Dog grey cable knit dog and cat sweater. If you plan to keep your pup outside for longer periods, Dr. Jeffrey recommends coats or jackets for dogs that are made with waterproof or water-resistant material. “Lightweight insulation, such as fleece, is also helpful to help maintain warmth.” Some to consider are the Pet Life fashion parka dog coat, Frisco reversible dog and cat plaid puffer coat and Canada Pooch Alaskan army premium dog parka. If you pick out coats for dogs that are too bulky, it can make it difficult for a dog to walk, advises Dr. Jeffrey. “Also, avoid jackets with buttons, buckles or other small decorative pieces to avoid the possibility of ingestion and possible gastrointestinal obstruction,” she says. Be Sure to Get the Right Fit Fit is a critical factor for your dog’s comfort and safety.   “It is important to make sure your pet’s sweater or jacket is not too snug or too loose, as it can be dangerous for your furry friend. It is especially important to check the fit around your pet’s neck and armpit area to ensure there isn’t any rubbing or irritation,” says Kelsey Dickerson, spokesperson with the Arizona Humane Society. To find the right fit, you’ll need to know how to measure a dog for a sweater or coat. Use a soft measuring tape (or a piece of string and a ruler) to measure your dog’s neck, chest and body length. Match these up to the size chart for the clothing, and size up if your dog is between sizes. Experts also recommend finding a coat or jacket that’s easy for your dog to get in and out of, like the Frisco dog and cat fleece vest. Tips to Keep Your Dog Safe Even with a dog coat on, dogs can be prone to frostbite. “Pet parents need to take other precautions to protect their pets from the cold weather, such as shortening walks. When the weather is below freezing, dogs are just as susceptible to frostbite as humans, and frostbite typically affects the ears, tail and paws—areas not protected by a coat,” says Dr. Ballantyne. Dickerson also recommends watching for signs of overheating, which include excessive panting, drooling, elevated temperature and red gums. “If this happens, contact your vet immediately, as they may be signs of heatstroke. Never leave your pet unattended while wearing a jacket or coat, and never leave your pet outside during extreme temperatures. It may also be worth looking into protective footwear for your pups for cold or hot weather to keep their sensitive paw pads protected.” Dog boots can provide your pet’s paws with a protective layer from the snow and ice. They are also a great way to protect your pet’s feet from sidewalk salt and other deicers, which can be very harmful to paw pads. Dog booties, like Ethical Fashion extreme all weather boots and My Busy Dog water resistant reflective anti-slip dog boots, are great options for keeping your pet’s paws protected while also providing them a little extra traction in cold weather. When dressing your pet up in their new winter fashions, make sure to keep an eye out for signs of hives or itching. Some dogs can have allergies to certain fabrics or detergents, so you will want to make sure they are comfortable and safe.

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