Dogs suffer from the same types of bodily aches and pains as humans. Dogs have creaky joints, muscles soreness, cartilage loss and inflammation; inflammation is called osteoarthritis and it is the most commonly diagnosed joint and muscular problem with older dogs—usually seven marks the beginning of advanced age in dogs, although problems become especially prevalent…
Our pets have the same type of dietary needs that we do, meaning that their diets affect their quality of life both good and bad. A pet’s diet matters for their overall health. A dog or cat who eats too many calories—oftentimes more calories than they are able to burn—will be obese, and, conversely, a…
Your dog’s digestive system and caloric needs are different from yours. Dogs, for instance, cannot process certain foods such as grapes (Could cause renal failure), chocolate (Allergy symptoms and possible increase in heart rate, restlessness, and vomiting—death in large doses), onions (Anemia), fruit (Often too acidic for a dog’s digestive system and high in sugar).…
Montana has had a Spring season with above average precipitation, and the extra wet and cool Spring helped those creepy crawlies—the ticks—establish themselves. Now ticks are active in Montana for most the of the year, but they are particularly active in the Spring and the early-to-mid summer months (they are around in late-summer and fall…
Vaccinations are an important component of a pet’s life (Imagine a world without the Parvo or Rabies Vaccinations). But sometimes the vaccinations can cause our pets to have an allergic reaction. Usually the reaction is brief and easily treatable with a combination of an antihistamines like Benadryl, supervision, and rest. But still there is a…
The usual symptom for separation anxiety is destructive behavior: a dog may chew on things in the house, turn over furniture, use the restroom inside the house where he or she knows it’s not allowed, and bark excessively. And for most dogs these behaviors can be curbed, although it is a difficult behavior to change…
Dog teeth do require some regular maintenance. In fact, it’s important, for a dog’s long-term dental health, to have his or her teeth cleaned routinely. No, you don’t need to keep to the same human-type rigorous routine of twice-daily brushings and once-daily flossing, but you do need to keep to some type of regular schedule;…
Depending on the circumstances dog barking is both a welcome or unwelcome sound. A dog is going to bark for any number of reasons; it’s a dog’s way of communicating. A dog may bark when he or she is excited—happy or nervous—or when he or she is acting on protective instincts. But not always is…
All dogs have a natural tendency to jump up on people. It’s their way of saying hello. We’re taller than the dog and they want to jump up to greet us, to get our attention. It’s a habit that begins at a very early age in a dog’s life. But it’s also a habit that…
There are five different types of dog coats: smooth coat, double coat, wire coat, long coat, and curly coat. Each coat type will have its own grooming needs. And here’s a few grooming tips for each type. Smooth Coat Breeds This type of coat does not need daily grooming. But when you do groom the…