Dogs

No matter why you’re away from your pet, there’s a limit to the amount of time they should be left alone. If you’re a dog parent, you should always have someone check in on them if you’re going to be away for more than four hours, our experts agree. Cat parents can get away with up to 24 hours, as long as their cat has access to food, water and their litter box, but will need a pet sitter for longer stretches of time. But does that person need to be a professional pet sitter, as opposed to a friend or family member? Not necessarily—but professional pet sitters can offer benefits that friends and family typically don’t, including: Experience caring for pets Specialized pet health and behavior knowledge In-home service (as opposed to leaving your pet at a friend or family member’s house) Maintaining your pet’s daily routine Plus, when you hire a pet sitter, you don’t have to feel like you’re imposing on your friends and family members’ time. (Not that they’d ever admit that hanging out with your pet is an imposition, of course!),Jump to section Do I Really Need a Pet Sitter? How to Find a Good Pet Sitter Other Tips and Tricks Finding a Pet Sitter: Frequently Asked Questions

5. Savings of Time and Money Healing a sick dog is still costly and time-consuming, even if it is ultimately successful. If you have a dog with Cushing’s disease, for example, there are the costs and time associated with trips to the veterinarian, adrenal hormone level tests, and often the long-term administration of prescription medications. If a dog needs surgery, chemotherapy or other intensive care, these treatments can easily set you back thousands of dollars. This doesn’t take into consideration the time you’d need to take off from work or other obligations. It also doesn’t calculate the high level of stress and discomfort your pup may experience from frequent trips to the veterinarian and unpleasant procedures. Healthy dogs typically require less veterinary care. “Maintaining a healthy weight will mean fewer trips for medical care other than preventative therapy, and less or no medications to treat obesity-related problems,” says Dr. Bartges. A longer life, increased energy, decreased risk for health issues and better joint health are all benefits that can result from dogs losing weight. Committing to a balanced diet and exercise—with the help of your veterinarian—is an important part of maintaining your dog’s health and is well worth the effort. By: Paula Fitzsimmons Featured Image: iStock.com/Przemyslaw Iciak,Reviewed for accuracy on March 14, 2019, by Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM Veterinarians have been raising concerns about the issue of pet obesity, and with good reason. Overweight dogs are at risk for conditions like heart disease, arthritis, Cushing’s disease, and some types of skin disease and cancer as well as a shorter lifespan and decreased quality of life. Helping your dog lose weight can result in a host of health benefits for her, including a reduced risk of disease along with better joint health and overall vitality. An added benefit is that with a healthy dog, you’ll likely be making fewer trips to the veterinarian. How You Can Help Your Dog Lose Weight While certain health conditions—like low thyroid hormone levels—can result in an overweight dog, a poor diet and lack of exercise are often key contributors to weight gain in dogs. “We’re seeing dogs who are increasingly being overfed and not exercised enough. They are also increasingly considered members of the family, with pet owners using treats as a form of communication and love,” says Dr. David Dilmore, medical editor at Vancouver, Washington-based Banfield Pet Hospital. The good news, says Dr. Dilmore, is that even small changes can have a big impact over the long term. “Instead of resolving to run with your dog 3 miles a day, start with walking a few extra blocks each day. Cutting down on ‘people food’ and limiting treats to no more than 10 percent of the dog’s daily calories are also small changes you can make.” Another easy change is to use dog interactive toys for mealtime rather than a dog bowl. Some interactive toys encourage dogs to increase their activity levels, says Dr. Angela Witzel, clinical assistant professor at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville. The Busy Buddy Kibble Nibble dog toy and Starmark treat-dispensing Bob-a-Lot dog toy, for example, are designed to make your pup work for her dog food or dog treats. Partner with your veterinarian to design a balanced diet that ensures that your dog is losing weight properly. Additionally, “Consulting with your veterinarian before starting an exercise plan for your pet is a good idea, as it may be best to start slow to build up your pet’s endurance,” says Dr. Dilmore. Getting fit can actually be fun, too. You can use technology to help monitor the progress your pet is making and set daily goals for her. A dog activity tracker, like the FitBark 2 waterdog activity and sleep monitor, can help you meet those fitness goals, monitor your pup’s movements and track progress. It even has an option that lets you synchronize the monitor to your phone so you can get in shape together. If you need a little extra motivation in helping your dog lose weight, consider the following benefits.

Jump to section What Is Cerenia®, and How Is It Used in Dogs? How Does Cerenia® Work? How Do You Give Your Dog Cerenia®? What Are the Side Effects of Cerenia® for Dogs? What To Do If Your Dog Takes Too Much Cerenia® FAQs about Cerenia® for Dogs

What’s more rewarding than being a pet parent to a sweet senior dog?   Not much! But it can also be tough to see the changes that come with age. Here’s what to expect as your pup gets older, how to stay ahead of any issues, and how to help them age gracefully.  

My dogs, Millie and Olive, are scared of thunder and fireworks. Unfortunately, my neighbors love to find any reason to break out the pyrotechnics, so I frequently have to help my dogs through their nervous reactions. The best solution I’ve found to alleviate my dogs’ anxiety is to create their own doggy Zen spaces. Dogs who feel stressed or overwhelmed might react in several ways. There’s the well-known “fight or flight” response. Or a stressed dog may display appeasement behaviors, known as “calming signals,” such as yawning and lip licking. Or your dog might even shut down completely and become so afraid that she won’t respond when you try to interact with her. As our pups’ advocates, it’s our responsibility to help reduce the stressors in our best friends’ lives. There are various ways to decrease stress in dogs, but sometimes all they need is the perfect space to relax in. If your dog has anxiety, you can create a special Zen space built to her preferences to help calm her down.

No, dogs should not eat almonds. While almonds aren’t toxic to dogs, says explains Dr. Richard Goldstein, chief medical officer at the Animal Medical Center in NYC, they can pose potential health problems for dogs and should be avoided. Let’s crack open everything you need to know about dogs eating almonds.

Glaucoma in dogs is a serious medical condition that can cause pain and permanent vision loss if left untreated. Some dogs develop cataracts suddenly, while others show subtle changes over time.   Spotting the warning signs early and getting prompt veterinary care can make all the difference.  Here’s everything you need to know about canine glaucoma: what causes it, how veterinarians manage it, and steps you can take to protect your dog’s eye health and keep them comfortable.  

Not all dogs have the same nutritional needs. A puppy, for example, needs more DHA in her dog food to boost her nervous system development, while a senior dog often needs more fiber and fewer calories. But your furball’s life stage isn’t the only factor that determines dog nutrition. Different size dogs also have varied nutritional needs. And if you’re the proud owner of a toy or small dog—that would be any pup under 25 pounds—you may have wondered, “What is the best dog food for small dogs?” Here, according to experts, is what to keep in mind when picking food for your petite pooch:

Image via iStock.com/Mark Newton By Linda Rodgers “A dog that’s constantly pulling is frustrating for owners who just want to go on a nice, leisurely walk,” says Mary Huntsberry, a certified animal behaviorist and owner of Helping Pets Behave in Gaithersburg, Maryland. If you find yourself being dragged on your daily walks, it might be time to consider your options when it comes to dog walking supplies. A dog harness made specifically to discourage pulling, for example, can help you gain more control on your walk and improve your pup’s dog leash skills. By using a no-pull dog harness, you can help make walks more enjoyable and prevent your dog from hurting herself. Why Leash Pulling Can Be Harmful If your pup is only wearing an ordinary dog collar, she can put a lot of tension on her throat as she strains forward, especially if you grip the leash or yank it back. This kind of pressure can hurt your dog’s neck regardless of her size, but especially if she belongs to a smaller breed. “Little dogs can actually do a lot of damage to their very sensitive throats and trachea if they do excessive pulling,” says Mikkel Becker, certified dog trainer and resident trainer for FearFreeHappyHomes.com. Excessive pulling can also lead to unwanted behaviors. Say your dog pulls whenever she sees another dog. If you hold her back, jerk the leash or drag her away, she begins to associate that unpleasant experience with other dogs. “Dogs make associations with what’s happening in their environment and whatever they’re looking at, so from their perspective, seeing another dog predicts this unpleasant reaction from their owners,” Huntsberry explains. The result: Every time your dog sees another dog, she becomes uneasy and starts barking. A no-pull dog harness helps end the leash battle between you and your dog so that you can have more peaceful walks. How No-Pull Dog Harnesses Work The best no-pull dog harnesses have straps that cross above your pup’s shoulders and can be fastened at center of your dog’s chest and behind her front legs, says Becker. The dog harness will also have a clip in front for the leash. Once you clip the leash to the front ring and begin walking, your dog has to stay by your side in order to keep moving forward. If she does pull, the leash goes off to the side—not straight back—which directs your dog back towards you. That gives you greater ability to control and guide your dog back to your side by applying a little pressure, she adds. Features to Look for in a No-Pull Dog Harness Standard front clip. One dog harness option available is the PetSafe Easy Walk dog harness. Like other front-clip harnesses, it encourages you and your dog to engage in what trainers call loose-leash walking—when your dog walks by your side in a relaxed manner. A front clip and back ring. Dog harnesses that have rings for clipping a leash on the back and front, like the 2 Hounds Freedom no-pull dog harness and leash, can minimize pulling. Becker explains that having a front and back ring means you can increase and decrease control as needed. As your pup becomes more accustomed to loose-leash walking, you can graduate from using both the back and front rings to just the front ring and then just the back ring. Becker says another benefit is that “You can clip the leash to adjust to whatever situation you and your dog find yourselves—for example, a crowded sidewalk versus an open green space.” Wider straps. If straps are thin and flimsy, the material is likely to chafe against your dog’s skin if she does pull toward something, says Huntsberry. “A thicker, wider strap is going to better distribute the pressure” so it doesn’t cut into your dog’s skin. Some dog harnesses even have cushioning, like the Frisco padded front lead dog harness, which has wide straps as well as a front and back ring. Cushioning makes a harness even more comfortable for your dog, especially if you own a breed that doesn’t have much fur.

Do you know someone who loves their wine as much as their rescue dogs? If so, this could be the perfect gift to give them this holiday season. These wine glasses made by Susquehanna Glass have “Rescued is my favorite breed” on the front, sand-etched by hand by skilled artists. They come in a set of four, so everyone can raise a glass and say cheers to having the most adorable four-legged rescue dogs to cuddle up with.,It can be hard playing the role of Santa when you’re not sure what to get your loved ones. When you find yourself wondering what they may like, think about what they love (hint: it has four legs!). If you’re shopping for a pet parent of rescue dogs, your search begins and ends here. We’ve created this holiday gift guide especially for all the pet parents you know that have rescue dogs.