The return of warm water inspired me to offer some thoughts on keeping comfortable for the next few months: Cool your dog creatively. Lay down a wet towel for your dog to rest on; fill a kiddie pool and set it in the shade; turn on a fan behind a bowl of ice; or carry…
Category Archives: pet info
Sex and the Single Dog – Hooray, I’m Spayed
Spaying is not only the responsible choice for pet owners as it prevents unwanted litters and the cost if caring for homeless pets. As it turns out, neutering may extend your dog’s life, too, according to a recent study from the University of Georgia, reported by Smithsonian Magazine http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/smartnews/2013/04/ dogs-may-live-longer-if-they-are-fixed/#ixzz2R7dfeJr2. Researchers in Georgia looked at more than…
Air Dog: Tips for Dog-Disc Interactions
I love my discs — to chase and chew and, at least half the time, catch in mid air. I’ve destroyed a couple discs already. The fabric versions have a longer life for me as they are less satisfying to chew. There’s a lot to know if your dog — like me — is serious…
Dog Myths Decrypted: The Nose Knows
How many times have you heard that you can tell if a dog is sick if its nose is warm or dry? We did some nosing around and discovered, no matter how many times people say it, it’s just not true. It’s an “old wives tale” that cold wet noses indicate health and warm or dry noses…
The Spring Collection from Jimmy Chew’s: A Gnawing Issue
Bees gotta buzz, birds gotta fly, dogs gotta chew. According to the American Humane Society, puppies, like infants and toddlers, explore their world by putting objects in their mouths. And, like babies, they teethe for about 6 months, which usually creates some discomfort. Chewing not only facilitates teething, but also makes sore gums feel better. What…
Puppy Social: I Get Out and About
I was recently invited to a Puppy Social at my vet’s office, the Animal Wellness Veterinary Center, and as you can see — I had a super time! Socialization — introducing and familiarizing a dog to new experiences,including people, places, objects, other animals, so I can learn to respond to and interact without fear — is…
Depression in Dogs: Does Bowser Have the Blues?
The answer could be yes, according to WebMD http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/features/depression-in-dogs. The symptoms are what you would expect: less activity, changes in sleeping and eating habits, not enjoying activities he used to love. The causes are not surprising, either. A change in the household — new house, new baby, an owner taking a job out of the house — and of course,…
Dog Myths Decrypted: Grass for Gas?
Dogs don’t typically graze on grass like a cow, but they may nibble on grass, for additional roughage or because they like the texture. Experts think that for most dogs, the interest in eating grass is something inherited from their wild ancestors, like wolves and cougars, who eat grass to obtain intestinal parasites to add digestion….
Be the Human Your Dog Thinks You Are
“If your dog thinks you’re the greatest person in the world, don’t seek a second opinion.” –Jim Fiebig Joe Kita in Men’s Health magazine has some good advice on getting the two-legged creatures in our lives to love us as much as our canines do. According to Kita, and the experts he’s consulted, all you…
The Eyes Have It — Happiness in a Glance
According to Prevention magazine, http://www.prevention.com/homepage, locking eyes with your dog produces the happiness hormone, oxytocin, in your bloodstream. Various studies have implicated oxytocin, which is produced by the pituitary gland at the base of the brain, in human and animal bonding behavior. Experiments have found that just sniffing oxytocin will increase a person’s trustfulness of others….
