Feel the Heat: 10 Potentially Hazardous Summer Hotspots for Pets

“Having your furry family members tag along on summer vacation is becoming more popular with pet owners, but it also adds an extra level of responsibility,” says Dr. Jennifer Maniet, DVM. “Just be sure to prioritize your pets’ needs when making your plans. Make sure they will have access to plenty of clean water, shady places to cool down, and above all else, constant supervision. Summer goes by quickly and the last thing you want is to spend time and money treating potentially avoidable medical emergencies.”

Here are some common summertime risks to help pets and their parents surf safely through the season.

Your Dog Has Ringworm: What To Do Now

Although the name often misleads pet owners into thinking a worm has invaded their pet’s bodies, ringworm is actually a fungus that can affect the hair, skin and nails. This fungus can lead to circular patterns of hair loss and red, scabby bumps. Before you introduce another pet into your home, knowing the facts about ringworm and how to prevent the skin condition from spreading is crucial. 

Dermatophytes, fungi that feeds on protein in the skin, hair and claws, is the agent of ringworm. Infections are transmitted by contact with infected hairs from another infected pet in the environment, or through bedding, grooming tools, and even fleas. The fungus can be passed between animals and humans, but young and elderly people are more susceptible to developing the infection. Those with weak immune systems are also more prone to ringworm.

House Hunting and Moving With Your Dog

Finding a new place to live when you have a dog can be quite an undertaking. It's definitely doable, but requires some  work. And moving is stressful, no matter when or how you do it. Moving with a dog can certainly add to the day's hassles but a little preparation can make the transition a little more smoother. This guest post from Bernie The Boxer filled with tips on finding a home and prepping for moving day!

 Your lovable, tail-wagging, slobbery dog might not look like a human, but she’s a member of your family. Until you perfect your "Doggese," you’ll have to do your best anticipating her needs when house hunting, and especially on moving day itself. Here are some tips for what to look for in a new home and how to keep your dog calm on moving day:

We Love You, Hayley Girl

Our sweet Hayley girl

We lost our Hayley girl yesterday.

Many of you know the trials that Hayley has gone through over the years: her diabetes diagnosis, Cushing's disease, canine blindness. She also had a severe hypoglycemic attack a few months ago and extreme pancreatitis two years before that.

Each time we were warned that her prognosis was not good and she may not survive. Each time, we worried and prayed, and each time, she recovered.

She was the amazing Hayley, and literally nothing would keep her down. She would come home with her energy renewed and right back to her old self, lapping up her food with delight. Even after she lost most of her teeth, she still loved her food. Always in a happy mood, always running around in a quick pace, Hayley was the literal example of living life to its fullest.

This time everything was different. She started displaying neurological symptoms and all signs pointed to a brain tumor. And still, she tried her absolute best to push through and eat and walk, and there came a point when we had to let her go because Hayley, the incredibly strong and incredibly sweet girl deserved to be happy again and pain free.

Wordless Wednesday: Django Looking For Spring

Discovering A Lump On Your Pup

Django knows something is up

My daughter, Kate is an animal whisperer. Every since she was little she has always intuitively known when something was wrong with one of our pets. She always knows when Hayley's blood sugar is dipping low and she can use a snack. She knew when our Lily was feeling ill. She even knows when one of the dogs has to use the yard. 

So, of course it was Kate who discovered a smallish, golfball sized lump on Django's neck. It isn't exactly the top of her neck as much as it is the side, close to her eft shoulder.

All the times that Django sprawls all over me on the couch and I pet her, I never noticed it. Kate asked me to feel and I immediately felt a sense of dread. No one wants to find a lump on their dog ... ever.

Snacktime: New Milk-Bone Farmer's Medley Dog Biscuits

I've always given my dogs treats. Usually it's an occasional thing, like when Django just will not come in because she's trying to get the attention of the cat next door. I taught her early on to always come when I say 'Get in" and she always does, no matter how excited or insane she is with the cat outside. That deserves a treat because I always want to reward her for important things and coming when I call her is a safety issue.

However, as many of you know, Django is now our model for our shop, BKLYN Handmade. Several times week, she models dog snoods and scarves, and she does so quite happily. I put the snood over her head and she runs right up to the stairs in the yard, takes a seat and looks incredibly cute while I snap photos.

6 Tips To Keep Your Dog Safe in the Winter

Winter is here and so is the cold. Here are 6 tips to avoid a chilly trip to the vet’s office!

During these winter months it can be challenging to keep our pets healthy and happy. The cold weather often brings a slew of things to watch out for when it comes to keeping Fido and Fluffy out of trouble.

Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM offers a few essentials to get your furry friend through these cold months without a trip to the vet’s office:

Keep Your Dog Safe With These Holiday Safety Tips!

  

‘Tis the season for putting up decorations and eating delicious holiday treats, but that also means pets could be getting into serious trouble!

Trupanion, a leading provider of medical insurance for cats and dogs, sees a 10% increase in foreign body ingestion claims and a 24% increase in toxicity claims during the holiday months each year.

But you can keep your pets safe this holiday season with the below tips from Dr. Sarah Nold:

Top Dog Names

From Twilight and Game of Thrones to Grey’s Anatomy, it’s no secret that pop culture provides us with an endless amount of inspiration for naming our furry friends.

But what dog names rank in the top 10

DogVacay, the most popular pet sitting service in the U.S. and Canada with more than 35,000 vetted hosts booking millions of overnights a year, uncovered the top dog names, which you can see in the infographic below. Here are some of the interesting findings from this year's list:

10 Reasons Why You Should Rescue A Dog Instead of Buying One

Everyday there are countless, gorgeous and loving animals available in local shelters, yet when many people considering getting a dog, they think of buying one from a store first. I would like to change that.

The first step is awareness. Some people just do not realize what a great dog they can find in a shelter or how they will be saving their lives (not to mention helping put the stores which profit from puppy mills out of business!).

My Hayley and Django were both adopted and they are the sweetest animals in the world! I am so lucky to have been able to find them.

Canine Cognition Facts

I always knew

The recent studies out on dog cognition include many things that us dog lovers already know: mainly that dogs understand us and feel emotions. Anyone who has lived and loved a dog knows this instinctively. Of course, I'm very glad that these observations are being up by scientific facts, and proving what incredible and special animals dogs are.

What's exciting are the studies coming out which give us a glimpse of things we might not know about our beloved companions, like they actually prefer human companionships yet don't feel guilt. I am continually intrigued about the various cognition leaps and bounds being made. 

Purina Pro Plan who has taken a lead in researching the science behind why dogs do what they do,  has a list of dog cognition facts on their website. It's a good read, and there is also a test you can take about dog cognition (which leads you to a money saving coupon).

In addition, you can find a Dognition Assessment which is a set of 20 games created by experts such as trainers, behavioral specialists, and scientists. The games are to be played with your dog to realize and boost their cognition skills. 

In the meantime, check out this handy infographic (who knew your dog was either right-handed or left-handed?!):

The Potty Training Puppy Apartment: An Innovative, Modern Training System That Works!

Anyone who has ever had a dog knows that the most critical time of a puppy's life is potty training. How well you potty train your puppy will set the tone for your dog's lifetime potty habits...and if not done properly, can result in a stressful (and messy) existence for you both.

I am a huge believer in crate training. When I adopted my pup, Django, we started her on crate training immediately. She was 8 weeks old and just forming habits. She trained quite fast. In those first few days, I would never let her roam around freely unsupervised, and I put her out in our yard countless times a day. When I couldn't watch her, I would put her in her crate many times a day for short periods of time which worked incredibly well because puppies sleep so much.

Straight Talk About Ear Infections

Many dog owners have witnessed their pet excessively scratching their ears or rubbing their head on a hard surface. Some owners may even notice redness, swelling, or odor in their dog’s ear canal. Although we may do everything we can to keep our dogs clean, these common signs could be a result of a canine ear infection.

According to Dr. Alison Diesel, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, canine ear infections are common and can be caused by multiple factors. 

“There are several contributing factors associated with the development of ear infections in dogs,” she said. “Some factors, such as excess hair in the ear canals, excess wax production, and increased moisture, can contribute to the development of ear infections; however, they do not solely cause the infection. There is generally an underlying cause, such as parasites, allergies, or foreign bodies. Other causes include hormone imbalances, benign or cancerous growths in the ear canal, or physical trauma.”

7 Tips To Help Your Dog Adjust To Back-To-School Season

Right now, millions across the country are transitioning from summer freedom to a hectic school year schedule that can be a tough on kids, parents and man's best friend. This is especially true for owners of newly adopted and/or young dogs that do best with moderate exercise and supervision. Have no fear though; your couch and sanity can be saved by implementing common-sense training, enrichment and smart management strategies suggested by Wagfield Academy's (the newest online training academy) Lisa Gunter, Co-founder & Head of Training: