Dogs

Check With Your Local Shelter About Their Fostering Needs Interested in fostering an animal? Contact the shelters near you to find out what their policies are for fostering a pet. Be aware that each shelter might be different. Some may foster dogs and cats. Some may even foster exotic pets. Some provide the supplies needed to care for the pet, while others require you to purchase them. Regardless of how you choose to give back to a shelter pet, you’re making a difference in their lives, especially during the holiday season.,WRITTEN BYSandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP Veterinarian Sandra Mitchell is a 1995 graduate of the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine. Since graduation, she has worked in many fields…,  As the holiday season nears, it brings with it the excitement and chaos of parties, family get-togethers, shopping, and cooking. It also stirs up in us the spirit of giving and helping others. By now, you are likely thinking about what gifts to buy a loved one, or how to help your local charity or animal shelter. Donating money to an animal shelter or buying items on their wish list is always a good idea, but have you thought about giving the ultimate gift—fostering a pet to give them a break from the shelter during the holidays? When you foster a shelter animal—for a night, weekend, or the long term—you are helping them get away from the hustle and bustle of a crowded shelter environment to have some one-on-one time with human companions. Fosters Help Clear Capacity at Shelters By taking home a foster animal, you are helping the pet as well as the shelter. Especially during the holidays, shelters are usually overwhelmed and in need of extra help and space. The shelter benefits when it has fewer dogs to walk and litter boxes to clean. Fostering a pet also reduces labor and supply costs for the shelter and frees up a space that can be filled by another needy animal.

Thanks to preventative medicine and better veterinary care, our pooches are living longer than ever before. Just as with humans, senior dogs experience age-related conditions and challenges as they get older, and new needs will emerge over time. Our loyal, happy senior dogs can develop many of the same physical problems that humans experience as we age, such as heart disease, diabetes, vision problems, joint issues, and weakness. You might also notice behavior changes such as confusion, increased vocalization, more anxiety, changes in sleep cycles, and house soiling. Sometimes we notice the signs of aging in our dogs: Their favorite game of catch might feel too strenuous; they may not be able to jump up to their favorite seat by the window; they can’t hear us calling them in for dinner. Armed with knowledge about senior dog care, you can ensure your pup has the best quality of life during their senior years.

So you want to adopt a dog, but you don’t want your whole home to be covered in fur. Maybe you even have allergic reactions that are triggered by dog hair. Here’s the good news: You can have your pup and a relatively fur-free home, too, as long as you adopt a low-shedding dog. While all dogs shed, some are more prone to let the fur fly than others. So, whether you’re trying to avoid sneezing fits or extra vacuuming (or both), this list of low-shedding dogs is for you.

5. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Photo by Adobe Stock/lisa gray You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more loving, playful dog than the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. These pups have high energy most (if not all) of their life, so it’s important they join an active family who will provide their Wheaten with plenty of exercise and playtime. Activities like flyball, nose work, and agility training are good for Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers—and can be a fun bonding experience for pet parents, too.,Many Irish dog breeds have a deep history, dating back to the mountains and farmlands of 18th-century Ireland. Some were bred as hunting companions, working dogs, or even messenger dogs during wartimes. Today, these pups are still all about exploring their surroundings and staying active with their pet parents. If you’re considering adding an Irish dog breed to your family, here are some pups to choose from.

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WRITTEN BYSandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP Veterinarian Sandra Mitchell is a 1995 graduate of the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine. Since graduation, she has worked in many fields…,You just took your puppy for a walk, and they did several large poops, but now your puppy is squatting to poop just inside the door. At times, it can seem like your new puppy is made of poop! But is this normal? Do puppies really poop more than adult dogs, and why? Here are the answers to everything you wanted to know about how often puppies should be pooping. How Often Should a Puppy Poop? In general, puppies poop a lot. They are small, with an intestinal tract that is still developing. Food is processed very quickly, and sometimes it’s not as thoroughly digested as it could be. In general, the younger the dog, the faster that the food will move through their digestive tract. It is not uncommon for a puppy to defecate 5-6 times per day. Some will eliminate even more frequently. The good news is that the pace of pooping will slow down as the dog matures. Although a 2-week-old puppy may defecate at every feeding, by 12 weeks, they may be down to only 4 times per day. By 6 months, it may be 3 times per day. Usually by 1 year of age, they will have settled into their “normal” habits. An adult dog usually poops once a day, but they could go up to 3 times a day. As your puppy’s pooping schedule settles down, you’ll begin to see what’s considered “normal” for them. Any changes in your puppy’s pooping routine should be gradual, so if you notice any sudden shifts, call your veterinarian. Pay attention to the frequency as well as the consistency, color, texture, and any coatings. Also make note of anything that doesn’t belong in stool, such as fragments of worms (they may look like spaghetti or grains of rice) or any pieces of toys or other things your pup may have eaten.

Mid-century modern design is sexy. From the angular, clean lines and curved and geometric shapes to its bold accent colors and heavy use of natural materials, like wood, metal and glass, the design aesthetic is sophisticated and minimalist—and one dog mom is proving that it’s a great home style for pet parents, too. Yena Kim is dog mom to Luc, a Jindo mix rescue, and his brother Bodhi, the Shiba Inu behind the beloved blog Menswear Dog—and whose cool, timeless sartorial style totally echoes the Mid-century modern interior design trend’s key elements and overall vibe. “[The] 1950s design [is] all about functionality, clean lines and simplicity with pops of eclectic accent colors,” Kim explains of mid-century modern design, which was popular from the 1940s to ’60s.

The following content may contain Chewy links. PetMD is operated by Chewy.  Anyone who has raised a puppy knows that they are not just small adult dogs. Within their first year of life, a puppy’s job is to grow, learn, and mature—from behaviors and social interactions to physical growth. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that puppies have very different nutritional needs from adult dogs. In fact, to avoid serious health issues such as fractured bones, heart disease, or bone marrow issues, it is extremely important that puppies are fed diets formulated specifically for them. So what are the differences between a puppy and adult dog’s diet? Puppy Food vs. Adult Dog Food When formulating a food that supports puppies’ nutritional needs, pet food companies pay particular attention to the following components: Protein and Amino Acids Dietary protein and amino acids are important building blocks for muscle and organ growth. Puppies need a higher percentage of calories from protein than adult dogs. This means the ratio of protein to other sources of energy is very important in a puppy’s food, even if the diet has a similar total quantity of protein as an adult food. Fat Fat is a great source of energy for the always-on-the-go puppy, as it contains twice the calories of proteins or carbohydrates. It is also important that puppies get enough fat to help absorb certain vitamins (known as fat-soluble vitamins). Fat contents of puppy foods should be higher than adult dog foods, but not so high as to cause obesity or accelerated growth rates. Omega-3 Fatty Acids Omega-3 fatty acids support brain development, vision, and skin health in puppies. Once puppies are weaned, it’s important that they get fatty acids like DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) from their diet, usually from a fish or fish oil source, as they are no longer getting them from nursing. Minerals Minerals such as calcium and phosphorous are essential for puppy skeletal development. Sodium and chloride are important for muscle and heart function. Overall, puppies need more calcium than adult dogs, but large-breed puppies (those that will be over 50 pounds as adults) can be very sensitive to excess calcium or inappropriate calcium to phosphorous ratios. If you have a large-breed puppy, look for diets made specifically for larger puppies. Vitamins Though vitamins help dogs utilize nutrients, most are only needed in small amounts. Often, you’ll find similar amounts of vitamins in puppy and adult dog foods. A healthy puppy should not need vitamin supplementation if you feed them a balanced diet. Calories Calorie content is directly related to the fat, carbohydrate, and protein content of the food. The calorie density of puppy food is generally higher than that of adult dog food. That said, there is a limit to how many calories a puppy should have, which can vary by breed and even individual. It is very important to monitor your puppy’s body condition and growth rate with your veterinarian to ensure that they are not growing too quickly, which can cause obesity and skeletal deformities.

Hire a “Friend”,If your day is just too hectic to spend enough time in the early morning playing or taking walks, or if you have a pet that has an energy level that exceeds your allowance of time, you might consider hiring a local dog walker or pet sitter (or even a neighbor) to come in and spend some time with your pet in the middle of the day.,Tips and tricks to entertain your lonely four-legged housemate Being left with nothing to do, day after day, will get old for nearly everyone. So it is no surprise that left to their own devices, day after day, some dogs or cats will get unbearably bored and do things we would rather they didn’t. Some pets will bark or meow, seemingly without pause, while others will urinate or defecate in inappropriate locations, tear, scratch or chew things apart, or mutilate themselves neurotically by biting, licking or scratching too much at themselves.