Restrain your dog when she’s in your car. Have you seen slow-motion videos of what happens to items in a car that’s in a head-on collision?  Everything not tied down or seat-belted continues to travel forward – coffee mugs, purses, backpacks, tablets.  And dogs. An unrestrained dog in your car can become a projectile – injuring human passengers in the car and being injured as well.  If a car rolls over and windows break, an unrestrained dog can get out of the car, and now is a hazard on the road or busy highway. A dog propelled into the back of a seat can sustain serious injurie ..read more

"Do you wash your dog’s water and food bowls after every meal? Do you wash your hands after feeding your dog her meal and treats? If you answered “No”, you’re inviting bacteria and illness for you and your pet. Tips for Preparing Pet Food Begin and end with clean hands. Both before and after handling pet food and treats, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and hot water. Wash pet food bowls and scooping utensils with soap and hot water after each use. Do not use your pet’s food bowl as a scooping utensil. Use a clean scoop, spoon, or cup instead. Use the scooping utensil only fo ..read more

During the COVID-19 pandemic dogs spent significantly more time with their human families and little-to-no outside dog-on-dog meetings and playtime opportunities as humans maintained social distancing.  Because of this, many dogs now experience separation anxiety when the family heads off to school, work and even shopping.  Puppies adopted during the pandemic didn’t have the opportunity to interact with other dogs and now many don’t know how to play, and are afraid of, or leash aggressive towards, other dogs.  Dog-on-dog experiences help puppies and dogs develop and enhance thei ..read more

Lots of pups put on pounds during the pandemic.  Don’t add more to your dog’s waistline during the food-laden December holidays.  Help your dog shed a few pounds by following these simple steps: Read the feeding guidelines on the back or side of the dog food bag, pouch or can. Measure accurately the amount of food you put in her bowl. Feed twice a day so she’s not hungry and begging for snacks or treats because her stomach is empty. No grazing throughout the day. No filling the bowl when it’s empty. If your dog doesn’t eat when her bowl is served to her, she doesn’t like the food.&n ..read more

Over-the-counter medications designed for people are not always appropriate for dogs.  The next time your dog has one of these ailments, reach into the kitchen cabinet for curcumin-based turmeric. Tumeric Curcumin Tumeric, that yellow spice found in a variety of international dishes, settles grumbly tummies, is used as an anti-inflammatory, and often serves as a steroid alternative.  Tumeric is a warming spice (see April 2021 blog post on ayurvedics), so you may not want to give turmeric to “hot” dogs. And for best absorption, its best to mix with ghee to make a paste that can be add ..read more

Training your dog requires consistency, patience, positive reinforcement and cooperation from your dog.  Dog and trainer To get your dog to focus on you - and what you want from her - do training practice 30 minutes after you feed her.  Though many trainers suggest training a dog whose hungry, she may be less able to focus when her energy is low. Just like people, the brain works better when it’s had some fuel.  Read more: https://www.avidogzink.com/wp-content/pdf/Miller-Breakfast-Effect-On-Scenting.pdf The post Health Tip: Training After Meals appeared first on Just Fur Pets Do ..read more

Natasha 08/10/2021 Two weeks before crafting this final section, our fifteen-year-old Samoyed Natasha’s mobility issues got worse.  She started having difficulty getting up from laying on the floor, started walking slower, her rear legs would slide out from underneath her, and she’d intermittently walk kind of sideways like a crab on our twice-daily walks. We’d already used acupuncture, Chinese herbs for inflammation and immune support, walked her twice daily, changed her diet, and administered prescription immune suppressants and anti-inflammatories.  This new mobility wrinkle, coup ..read more

Dogs don’t know that feeling unwell is not normal.  Be mindful and see the veterinarian when you first see changes. Ask yourself how much money you’re willing to spend.  Canine healthcare is very advanced;  it can add up – and quickly. Exercise is good for arthritis.  It keeps joints lubricated and keeps muscle toned to support stiff joints.  Joint support supplements are good to add as your dog’s early nutrition and previous injuries are not always known. Pain medications?  Use them!  Dogs don’t show they’re in pain until it’s REALLY bad. Serve up wet and dr ..read more

At this writing, I’m wrestling with this tough decision myself.  I never thought my dog’s mobility decline would lead me here.  She has autoimmune issues and decreased kidney function, and I thought those diseases would eventually inform my decision. Questions to ask yourself: Has her vet monitored her health and prescribed therapies that (until now) have worked? How is her appetite? Eating? Drinking? Pooping normally and regularly? Peeing normally and regularly? How is her mobility? And her activity level? Moving slower Trouble getting up No more stairs Panting Shorter walks Lim ..read more

Gone are the days of feeding a dog the same food comprised of the same proteins from the same brand for her entire life.  Rotating proteins in your dog’s diet means changing her food to one with a different protein every few months. Vet nutritionists recommend protein rotation for a variety of reasons. Protein rotation not only keeps your dog’s tastebuds entertained, changing her food also helps ensure her nutrition is coming from a wider variety of healthy sources (vitamins, minerals, fruits and veggies, different fat and fiber percentages, different fat sources).  Many brands offe ..read more