The Dog Blog — Dog Health

            Ah summer. The long stretches of daylight. The joyful laughter of children playing.   The loud ka-booms from the sky.             Oh yes. Summer brings with it not only refreshing warmth and rain, but serious storms as well. For people in certain parts of the country, thunderstorms or tornado warnings can be a weekly event. Extreme weather is a reality many of us have to just accept, but for our dogs it can be absolutely terrifying.             Without the foresight of knowing that the storm will eventually pass, dogs can grow extremely anxious with thunder....

            Summer is in full swing.  Warmer temps and extra daylight hours can only mean one thing: more activity time for you and your pup! Whether you live on the coast, in the mountains, or somewhere in the Midwest, there are loads of things to do with your dog during these months of the Scorpion skies. But there are also some precautions to take as well – summer can bring a few dangers. That’s no reason to lock yourself and your pooch indoors, though!  As long as you are armed with enough knowledge to be prepared, there is no reason...

As we work hard to fulfill our dogs’ nutritional needs by providing them healthy meals, it is easy to overlook snacks. So often in our culture, the words “treats” or “snacks” imply a time to let the rules slide, or to cheat on the healthy practices you have set into place. As happy as this might make your dog, this is not something to encourage or to overlook. Snacks and treats ought to be just as healthy. While they may not be the primary meal for your pup, it is still important that treats still be relatively healthy, whether he...

Senior dogs come with unconditional love and years of devotion with them. Conscientious dog owners generally stay on top of potential healthy issues to ensure that their dogs spend final years in comfort. One issue that catches many dog owners off-guard is age-related anxiety. Whether it is a result of dementia, or fear resulting from diminished hearing, or pain from other serious health issues, you may find your senior dog suddenly barking at nothing.  This can happen at all hours, disrupting your sleep as you try and calm down your agitated pooch. Even worse, your dog may have attacks of...

Senior dogs can require some extra attention because just like humans, their physical needs often increase as they age. A common problem that occurs is poor bladder control in dogs who have been house-trained, otherwise known as urinary incontinence. Incontinence is stressful for everybody involved. Pet-owners have to be on continuous clean-up duty, unsure of where the next accident may occur. This may lead you to confine the dog to only certain areas of the home. The dog is also stressed out, knowing that she has broken a rule she has previously followed very well. She may be upset or...