How Much Does It Cost to Put a Dog Down?
Even when our pets live long and happy lives, it’s really never long enough. The decision to let a beloved pet go is never an easy one, but if your dog is suffering, putting your dog down is the most compassionate thing to do. What is euthanasia? The term “putting a dog down” is common but somewhat old-fashioned and impersonal. “Putting a dog to sleep” is also commonly used. Most veterinarians and pet parents prefer the term “euthanasia.” But all of these terms boil down to the same thing: to humanely...
Guide to Rawhide Chews for Dogs and the Latest Alternatives
The dog treat aisle of your favorite pet store is undoubtedly filled with rawhide chews in various shapes, sizes, flavors and brands. Despite its popularity, there are conflicting opinions about rawhide for dogs based on how it’s made, whether it’s safe for your dog and what alternatives exist. Fortunately, if you wish to avoid rawhide chews altogether, there are many great rawhide alternatives including things like dental chews and bully sticks. Let’s paw through it. What is rawhide? Rawhide chews are dried animal skins,...
What Is Dry Shampoo for Dogs?
Melissa L. Kauffman Covering the pet world for more than 30 years, Melissa L. Kauffman has been an editor/writer for a wide variety of pet magazines and websites from the small critters and parrots to cats and dogs. Her advisory team of pets — rescue dogs Tampa Bay and Murphy Brown, plus Cirneco dell’Etna Liberty Belle and rescued 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...
What You Should Know About Trazodone for Dogs
Trazodone is rising up the ranks as veterinarians’ go-to medication to help dogs of all ages and breeds contend with behavioral issues, including anxiety, noise phobias and stress. This antidepressant is regarded as a relatively safe and effective medication to tone down worried and frightened dogs and cats. What is trazodone for dogs? In technical terms, trazodone is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Its mission is to enable the feel-good hormone serotonin to work harder and more efficiently in a dog’s brain to help him feel...
Why Dogs Eat Poop and How to Stop Dogs from Eating Poop
Do dogs really eat poop? Yes, and not for the reasons you might think. Here’s the lowdown on why dogs eat poop, how to tell if your dog is sick and the truth about natural remedies to make your dog stop eating poop. Is it normal for dogs to eat poop? When dogs eat poop, it is actually a common behavior — especially among puppies and young dogs, according to Dr. Alex Yeager, an emergency veterinarian with VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital in Denver, Colorado. She says the behavior, called coprophagia, which may seem repulsive to...
Why Puppy Playtime is Important to Socialize Your Dog
Imagine being picked up by a stranger and transported to a completely new world, where everything is new to you. Everything you see, hear, touch and smell is scary. That’s what happens when you bring a new puppy home. Your world is foreign and maybe even a bit scary to her. This is why puppy playtime is important: to socialize your dog! During puppy development, your dog is learning what the world is, either full of fun things or scary things. It’s up to you to do everything you can to properly socialize your dog to a wide variety...
How to Trim Dog Nails
How often should I trim my dog’s nails? Dog’s nails should be trimmed every three to four weeks, regardless of the dog’s breed, size or nail color. You can either use nail clippers like the guillotine clippers on the right or a Dremmel tool to grind the nail. © Melissa Kauffman Tools for trimming dog nails at home: You’ll need the following tools to trip nails at home. You can get these at a dog retail store or online at Chewy or Amazon. Will trimming my dog’s nails hurt him? Yes, if you trim the quick. The...
How to Build a Dog Staircase
As Francis Eggelton’s three English Bulldogs got older, he noticed they were having trouble jumping up from the floor to his bed. He enlisted the help of his stepson, Colin Scott, owner of Denver-based Custom Creation Woodcraft and a dog lover himself, to help him create a colorful, two-tiered, portable step that he could place alongside his bed or couch to give his pups a lift. Even better: Colin and Francis completed the project in one hour for less than $70, with enough extra material to make two more sets of stairs. “I wanted...
Guide to the Goldendoodle Dog
Goldendoodles, a cross between a Poodle and Golden Retriever, were first bred in 1970 as service dogs and have since become the most desired of the Doodle breeds. People are drawn to the friendly, affectionate and loyal qualities of the Golden Retriever – along with the Goldendoodle’s signature fluffy cuteness, plus the obedient, intelligent and low-shedding Poodle. Goldendoodle dog breeders hope to bring out these most desirable traits in the offspring. Goldendoodles are not official AKC breeds and therefore, there’s no...
Dug up at Dogster: July 2022 Dog Events and Dog Holidays
July is a month for celebrations, BBQs and lots of play time outside with our dogs. It’s also the month we bring awareness to the importance of pet hydration in the summer heat. Prefer the indoors? We’ve got you covered. Check out the dog events and celebrations in your area. Don’t see your dog event on the list? Email us at dogstermag@belvoir.com and we will include your dog event. Monthly July 2022 Dog Holidays National pet hydration awareness monthNational lost pet prevention month Daily July 2022 Dog...
