Becoming a guide dog puppy trainer can be relatively simple or very difficult, depending upon the types of programs that exist in your area where guide dogs are trained. Each program has its own requirements, and some are set up in cooperation with organizations like schools, children’s care facilities, or even prisons. Others depend upon…
There’s usually no cause for alarm when your dog sneezes. Typically, some foreign material has simply found its way into his snout, and a hearty sneeze can easily extricate the irritant with a wet-and-wild flourish. And sometimes, a dog sneeze means something else entirely. When dogs get worked up during play, they begin to “play…
Norway always ranks close to the top of “Best Places to Live” lists, and depending on your point of view, it might seem like heaven for dogs. While the United States stresses the importances of neutering dogs – with some places even imposing fines for not doing so – Norway has made the practice all…
Gone are the days when Rover and Rex lived in their own little house in the backyard. These days, not only have the dog friends moved indoors with the people, but they’ve taken on some formerly human attributes, and not necessarily from choice. Many pets owners have turned to dog cologne to make the kitten, pup, ferret,…
Named after the Catahoula parish in Louisiana, the Catahoula leopard dog is the only current breed of domesticated dog to originate in North America. Part of the herding group, these are large, muscular dogs with wide foreheads. These dogs are usually used as working dogs, herding unruly cattle or pigs, but are also purchased as family pets….
A dog that comes into contact with a substance that it is allergic to will experience several physiological changes. Depending on the invading allergen, these responses can include rashes, swelling, and hives. Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine medication that is able to reduce a severe inflammatory response to an allergic attack. The medicine can also be…
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychological disorder affecting both humans and animals PTSD in dogs can occur after a traumatic event, just as it does in humans. Signs include a change in behavior such as nervousness, weight loss, and aggression. Shaking, whining, or other sudden changes in behavior may also be apparent. Many dogs returning…
Itchy skin can be miserable, even for dogs. Atopica® for dogs is a medicine that can help alleviate the symptoms of various canine skin conditions, including itching. Atopica® is an immunosuppressant drug that limits the immune response within the canine body. Allergies are an immune response to a foreign entity, so an immunosuppressant such as…
Dietary supplements containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, the main ingredient in yogurt for dogs, supply probiotics for the digestive system. These beneficial bacteria keep the intestinal tract balanced, especially when antibiotics are used to treat infection. Antibiotic drugs might kill harmful bacteria and healthy bacteria in the gut. Some dogs using antibiotics suffer bouts of diarrhea. Yogurt for dogs might replenish good bacteria and stop diarrhea….
If you’ve ever wondered what signals a dog is sending when wagging its tail, this story is for you. Previous research has focused on how fast or slow a dog wags its tail, and the position of a wagging tail, and what all that apparently means. In 2011, researchers and veterinarians at the University of…