Dogs

While some sources of dog stress are chronic in nature, such as separation anxiety, many are temporary and situational. Thunderstorms, fireworks, and even holiday gatherings can be stressful for dogs. For these short-lived events, what can a pet parent do to help their anxious dog? With good intentions, pet parents may rummage through their own medicine cabinets for potential solutions. Perhaps you have done so yourself and you’ve wondered if Benadryl can calm dogs. If so, you are not alone. But is Benadryl safe for dogs? Can Benadryl ease a dog’s anxiety? These are questions I often hear as a veterinarian. The answer isn’t a simple yes or no—it’s a little more complicated than that. Here’s what you need to know about using Benadryl for dogs and what you need to be careful of. Can You Use Benadryl to Calm Dogs? Benadryl is sometimes referred to by healthcare professionals by its generic name, diphenhydramine. It’s an antihistamine, meaning that it acts to stop or prevent allergic reactions. For this reason, Benadryl is often used for the treatment of environmental allergies and allergic reactions to insect bites and bee stings. Benadryl is also used to decrease the severity of or prevent vaccine reactions. Occasionally, Benadryl is helpful for mild motion sickness, though it is infrequently effective for this purpose. But what about using Benadryl for dog anxiety? You may have heard that Benadryl can be used as a sedative to calm your dog while traveling or during fireworks or thunderstorms. It’s true that Benadryl may alleviate symptoms for some dogs, but the sedative effects are mild and not nearly as pronounced in dogs as they are in people. So overall, Benadryl is not commonly helpful for dogs struggling with anxiety or phobias.

by Caitlin Ultimo Whether you’ve never used a dog harness before or are considering trying out a new style, it’s easy to get tangled up in the process. With every new style there is a different set of benefits that vary from training to comfort purposes. There are also unique guidelines and different ways to put on the many styles of harness. Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to find out which harness is best for you and how to properly put it on your dog. “Walking your dog should be enjoyable for both pet and walker,” said Susan Konecny, RN, DVM and Medical Director at Best Friends Animal Society®. “Body harnesses are ideal because of the comfort they afford the dog and the ease with which most dogs adjust to them. Different types of harnesses can be used depending on the dog and the situation.” Why Your Dog Might Need a Dog Harness A pet parent might consider getting a harness over a collar for different reasons. “Certain dogs who have medical conditions like megaesophagus (an enlarged esophagus) or a neck injury are better off with a harness because it won’t put any pressure on the neck,” said Ashley Atkinson, CPDT-KA and behavior consultant at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. You may also consider a harness to help train your dog to not pull or jump. Harnesses are a less severe option when compared to pinch or chain collars as training methods. “We recommend harness over those other styles because pinch and chain collars can actually increase certain behavioral concerns like lunging or growling at other dogs while on leash,” Atkinson said.

In This Article Summary View 6 More +

That moment was a turning point in my life. Since then I have been looking for ways to make the veterinary visit more fun and less scary for the pets under my care and have been attempting to influence other veterinarians to do the same.,Can you imagine a veterinary practice where virtually all pets LIKE to come in the door? I can now. After years of staff training, and implementing numerous protocols, my wife Susan and I gradually transformed our practice into something I was really proud of. Our basic strategy was to imagine what it was like to visit the hospital from the pet’s point of view. We had one Husky mix who repeatedly ran away from home to come to the hospital. I later attributed our high practice growth rate largely to managing the pet’s perception of the visit. If I were to own another practice, I would review every staff veterinarian’s performance partially on how much pets liked them.,This article is courtesy of The Hannah Society.

Svelte and speedy, the Greyhound is an iconic dog breed. But are you as familiar with the slightly smaller Whippet or the petite Italian Greyhound?  Minus their obvious size discrepancy, the three sight hounds look a lot alike. But there are meaningful differences between the breeds. Here’s what to know about Greyhounds, Whippets, and Italian Greyhounds.

Just like losing a human family member, losing a pet can be a traumatic experience. Pets quickly become a part of your family, and you build a bond on mutual love and trust. Pets love you unconditionally and are by your side during good and bad times. They share your life with you in intimate ways that even your friends and family members may not, perhaps comforting you when you’re sad or sharing your bed. “Their constant presence truly becomes a steady source of support that you can count on,” says Farage-Smith. Pets also become a big part of your daily routine. You may feed them as soon as you wake up, take them for an after-dinner walk, and play with them in the park on weekends. The change in routine brought on by their death can feel profound, and it’s a void that’s hard to fill.,Jump to section Why Does Losing a Pet Hurt So Much? 6 Ways to Cope With the Loss of a Pet FAQs About How To Cope With the Loss of a Pet

6. Cat Litter Litter is tricky. The most common type of litter is made from clay, says Dr. Hofve. Clay is extracted from the ground in an environmentally unfriendly mining process,and it creates a lot of dust (even in the “dustless” types). Since your cat’s nose is just a few inches away from her digging paws, clay dust can get down into her lungs, where it can cause inflammation, and even asthma in susceptible cats. There is also a risk (though very small) of intestinal impaction of clay in the digestive tract of very young kittens, very elderly cats or cats with extremely furry paws; they are more likely to walk through wet litter, and ingest it when they lick their paws clean. It’s preferable to use natural, sustainable resources, such as corn, walnut hulls, wheat or sawdust. However, they too have benefits and drawbacks. Some are quite dusty themselves, and many have scents (whether artificial fragrance or natural pine oils) that are aversive and even potentially toxic to sensitive kitties. Pine oils in particular can cause an allergic reaction. Newsprint is sort of renewable, but the inks used on newspaper may be toxic. Most cats prefer the softer surface of fine-textured clumping litters over pellets, pearls and large clay pieces. But the most important thing is to use a litter that the cat likes, and is also easy to keep clean so you’ll do it! A dirty box is the No. 1 reason for failure of the cat to use it. Image: wvita / via Shutterstock,Natural Remedies for Dogs and Cats By Cheryl Lock If you’re interested in helping your pet lead a healthier life, going the natural route is a big step in the right direction. We spoke with Jean Hofve, DVM, staff veterinarian for Only Natural Pet, for some expert tips on how to get started down the all natural path. 1. Natural Pet Food Food is the biggest investment you make in your pet’s health – so make it count! Unfortunately, some pet food companies have caught on to consumers’ desires for wholesome, natural food for their pets, so they have created friendly-looking packaging, brand advertising, and new claims on their products—but in some cases, without improving the ingredients inside, says Dr. Hofve. Here are a few of the vet’s general guidelines to help you choose the best natural pet food: Unless a corn ingredient is labeled organic, it’s going to be genetically modified.  At least two named meats or meat meals should be among the top ingredients in a dry food, and a named meat should be the first ingredient in any other form (canned, raw, dehydrated, frozen). Avoid synthetic chemical preservatives like ethyoxyquin, BHT, BHA, propyl gallate and propylene glycol. Choose a food that is complete and balanced for all life stages rather than tweaked for a certain lifestage. Foods with more of an emphasis on natural, are ususally all life stage.  For cats in particular, a high-protein, high-moisture diet is crucial to maintain a lifetime of optimal kidney and bladder health, as well as to prevent obesity and the diseases that go with it, like diabetes, heart disease and arthritis. Try canned, homemade or raw for cats. (But always make a slow and gradual transition to minimize tummy problems.) Often, it’s the specialty manufacturers who are doing the best job of finding good quality ingredients and making a healthy natural food for a reasonable price. Choose brands that have put their efforts into making the best food possible. Dry and canned pet food are heavily processed. Consider raw, frozen or dehydrated diets to get the most natural nutrition.

Our dogs are family, so it’s no surprise that we like to celebrate with them too! Make this Halloween one to remember with one of our DIY dog treat recipes for homemade dog biscuit pupcakes. This easy dog treat recipe makes more than enough dog treats for all the four-legged trick-or-treaters, plus extra to freeze and make every occasion feel like it’s Halloween! Made with only the highest-quality ingredients, this DIY dog treat recipe gives your Halloween-loving pup a homemade dog biscuit cake to gobble up while you can enjoy knowing that it’s good for them, too! Grain-free and made with natural ingredients, this festive homemade fall treat lets you celebrate Halloween guilt-free.

The only breed on the list not in the working group, this hound is the tallest of all breeds, said Wayne Ferguson, president of the Kennel Club of Philadelphia and past president of the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation. Also one of the oldest breeds in existence, the Irish Wolfhound was bred and used for hunting wolves, deer and boar but has since become a beloved companion and family dog. Patient and affectionate with children and friendly with other dogs, Irish Wolfhounds have tall, long legs, a wide head and a long curved tail. In addition to their impressive size, Irish Wolfhounds are also recognizable by their thick, wiry coats.,With hearts as big as their bodies, extra-large dog breeds have been used as guard dogs, working animals and trusted companions of humans for centuries across the world. Here are the ten largest breeds, along with a few tips for bringing home and caring for one of these gentle giants.

Size: 50–70 pounds Life expectancy: 11–14 years Temperament: Intelligent, spirited, loving The largest dog breed in the terrier group, the Airedale Terrier is an active and intelligent breed with a long history of hunting small game, so expect strong tracking and scent work skills. While an Airedale Terrier isn’t known as a social butterfly (the breed tends to be aloof with new people and other pets), they are devoted to their family members.,Dogs come in all shapes and sizes. The smallest dog breeds weigh in at just 4 pounds, while some big dog breeds can tip the scales at over 200 pounds. If you’ve got room in your heart (and in your house!) for large dogs, here are some types of big dogs you can bring home.