Leash pulling and how to take a pleasant walk with your dog

It is not enjoyable to take a dog for a walk that pulls on the leash. Furthermore, your friends and family don’t particularly want to help care for your dog when you are away because he or she is hard to handle. It’s also unpleasant for your groomer, boarding kennel, and veterinarian. In this instance, I am of the opinion that it is not sufficient to reach a tolerable state with your dog, but rather get your pet behaving as others would expect him/her to. 

http://blog.adoptandshop.org/bad-habits-leash-pulling/

What age should I adopt?

So you are looking to adopt a puppy or kitten, dog or cat… what age should you get? That depends on a lot of factors. Let me try to explain some differences in your choices and what you may find with each stage of life. I am striving to keep these explanations brief, so please understand there is a lot of generalization here.

Setting Heartworms Straight

Every dog owner knows that their pet should be on monthly heartworm prevention. Heartworms sure sound like a bad thing - I mean worms that live in the heart - not cool, right? Right!
I have discovered lately that some thoughts and general knowledge vary among my dog-owning friends and clients and felt it was time to comment on a few facts.

Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS)

Did you know that dogs and cats can develop behaviors in their old age that are the same as dementia in humans?  We know that we (humans) are prone to cognitive impairment as we age and that it affects our memory, attention, problem solving, and language.  We also can suffer from disorientation as the condition progresses.  Alzheimer’s disease is one form of dementia in people and some of the brain lesions that are found in human Alzheimer’s patients are the same type as we see in our pets.

The Benefits of Fatty Acids

image courtesy of vcahospitals.com

Many of us have heard of the benefits of fatty acids for some time now.  In fact, there is a great deal of good research into these products and their uses.  I will attempt to write a synopsis to help you as a possible consumer of fatty acid supplements - either for yourself or for your pet(s).  This information is largely based on a recent lecture I attended by Dr. Kenneth Kwochka.
Fatty acids are important sources of energy, but I will focus on their benefits to cells and management of inflammation.  Neither Omega 3 or 6 fatty acids can be synthesized in the body.  We (and our pets) get fatty acids from our diets.

Thinking of getting a new pet?

It's a small question on the surface, but quite loaded when you stop to consider it on a deeper level.  Many people who decide to purchase/rescue a new pet realize the importance of their decision and take certain factors into account.  This forethought is very much needed, however the full implication is still frequently underestimated.  I feel the decision to add a new pet to the family should be taken nearly as seriously as the decision to add a baby to the family.  Granted, these two things are on VERY different scales of responsibility; however the approach to these additions is nearly the same.  With any new addition, factors such as lifestyle, schedules, and finances are just a few important considerations. 

Cold weather tips for your pets

We have just come through a very rough spell of extremely cold weather and there may be more in our future.  Here is a quick refresher on some cold weather issues that may crop up for you and your pets.