Today’s Pet Food Recalls
If you go on the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine website, you’ll find dozens of pet food recalls just from the past year. For example, in 2021, media organizations across the country reported that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that more than 130 deaths in dogs occurred and hundreds of other pups got sick after eating pet food from one manufacturer. The pet food maker had received a warning letter from the FDA after inspections revealed “apparent violations” of federal law that were shared across its...
Is Your Dog Fat?
Ever had the feeling that whatever you say next is only going to make things worse? This was one of those times. “So you’re saying my precious little Luna is FAT? How dare you call her OBESE! Dr. Ward, I’m so surprised at you!” For the record, I hadn’t uttered the word “fat,” “obese” or much of anything. I had wordlessly pointed to a body condition chart — well, all the way to the far edge of the chart, to indicate that Luna’s current body shape corresponded to...
Get Away on a Canine Caribbean Vacation
As we continue to emerge from the protracted pandemic, two things are clear. First, our dogs have been all too happy to have us home. Second, we really need a vacation. ©marekuliasz | | Getty Images Luckily, as we enter winter, several Caribbean destinations offer attractive options to bring Fido along for a much-needed beach getaway. Let’s look at a few U.S.-controlled islands, as, for Americans, these present the least hurdles to a delightful, dog-friendly vacation. Of course, first off is getting there. Not surprisingly, where a...
People Who Help Disabled Pets
Owners of disabled dogs often have to overcome unique challenges. These humans have dedicated their lives to helping make it a little easier to give those dogs a full and happy life. Mark Robinson: The Pet Mobility Maker Twenty years ago, Mark Robinson created a website called HandicappedPets.com so that caretakers of disabled animals had a place to talk and share information. The group is now called Walkin’ Pets and offers not only a community but a large array of products that help dogs and other animals overcome a number of different...
How to Get and Maintain Attention
Getting our dogs’ attention is truly a foundation skill. It’s a signal for your dog to look toward you and to be mindful of what will follow. This can be a verbal signal, such as their name, or an audible signal like a “kissy” noise. Get attention I personally have two ways of getting my dogs’ attention. Both of my dogs were conditioned in this exact same manner. Each has a different schedule of reinforcement connected to them. Saying their names The kissy sound So what’s the difference? By saying their...
Grooming Adventures at Home
If your dog is anything like mine, rolling in dirt is a daily adventure. My 2-year-old Terrier mix, Emmy, will go into the backyard with a perfectly clean coat and come back in with leaves and a worm stuck to her face. Keeping our dogs clean, comfortable and healthy is part of being a responsible dog owner — and necessary for sanitary purposes if your dog sleeps on the couch or in your bed. Basic daily care includes brushing the coat, which can help lessen matting and shedding, and brushing your dog’s teeth to prevent periodontal...
The Hows and Whys of Hydration
Gulp? Sip? Or, sniff and walk away? Which of these drinking habits best describes your dog? In my household, Kona, my medium-sized terrier mix, never turns down the chance to lap up lots of water from the bowl after a long walk. However, Emma, my pint-sized Poodle-Chihuahua mix, rarely dashes over to the water bowl. She does take in a few licks after my coaxing but prefers to wait at the refrigerator for me to dole out small pieces of chilled,seedless watermelon to her. Hydration is a major health hallmark for dogs of all ages and sizes....
Tampa’s Cinnamon Pumpkin Drops
Melissa L. Kauffman Covering the pet world for more than 25 years, Melissa L. Kauffman has been an editor/writer for a wide variety of pet magazines and websites from the small critters to parrots to cats and dogs. Her advisory team of rescued pets — dogs Tampa Bay and Justice and parrots Deacon and Pi-Pi — help keep her on top of the latest and greatest pet health research, training and products, anything to give keep them in the high life they are accustomed to. Follow Tampa and his crew on...
The Emergence of Veterninary Telehealth
The veterinarian will see you now — any time of the day or night. But the two of you may not be in the same exam room or even in the same city or state. Welcome to the fast-growing brand of veterinary medicine — telehealth. Think of it as the House Call Version 2.0. But instead of the veterinarian stepping into your home — or you traveling to the veterinary clinic, your dog is diagnosed and a care plan is quickly created by a veterinarian during a live video call with you. ©Getty Images Why the Rise in Popularity Fast....
Help! My Dog Has Parvo
New puppies can be a fun addition to the family, bringing laughter and excitement. But along with a new puppy comes significant responsibility, including veterinary care. The most important basic medical care to provide for pups is vaccinations. This is because, despite widespread vaccination, diseases such as distemper and parvovirus are still present in the dog population. What is parvovirus? Parvovirus — a highly contagious virus — is spread by other dogs via the oral-fecal route. The virus is present in the feces and can...
