Dog Health Archives - Page 2 of 4

10NovNovember 10, 2019

What It’s Really Like To Have A Service Dog

Sassafras Lowrey's service dog, Mercry, helped Sassafras to graduate from college and start a career after Sassafras was diagnosed with PTSD.

September is National Service Dog Month. This month is dedicated to raising awareness and showing appreciation for the work of service dogs.

Sassafras Lowrey is an award-winning author and Certified Trick Dog Instructor. This is Sassafras’ first-hand account of having a service dog.

When I was 18 years old, I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). That’s when I started working with my service dog, Mercury.

Most people think that PTSD occurs only to those who have served in the armed forces. Actually, it’s a condition that impacts people who have experienced a variety of traumatic events that include military service, sexual assault, accidents, natural disasters, and abuse. Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop PTSD, but those of us who do can have flashbacks or feel like we are re-experiencing the trauma while we’re awake or asleep.

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By P&ZBlogDog Health, Dog Lovers, dog news, Dogs0 Comments

10NovNovember 10, 2019

High-Ranking Dog Provides Key Training For Military’s Medical Students

The newest faculty member at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences has a great smile ― and likes to be scratched behind the ears.

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By P&ZBlogDog Health, Dog Lovers, dog news, Dog People, Dogs0 Comments

09NovNovember 9, 2019

How To Move On From The Loss Of A Beloved Pet

Losing a family member can feel unbearable. When that family member is a pet you’ve loved for years, the heartache is often indescribable. Pets play a huge role in people’s lives, and when a beloved pet dies, it can trigger a grieving process like no other.

The love and devotion many people have for their pets runs deep. Sometimes, this even goes to extremes, like a pet owner wanting their dog to be buried with them if they pass away. In most cases, though, if a dog dies, it’s important to understand that you’re allowed to grieve. You don’t have to “get over it” just because it’s an animal and not a person. You know your connection with your pet better than anyone, and allowing yourself time to process their death will make it easier to cope, in the long run.

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By P&ZBlogDog Health, dog news, Dogs, Family, Love0 Comments

08NovNovember 8, 2019

Several States Move to Ban Sales of Pets in Stores

HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGIE in the window? That question may become just an old song title instead of a hopeful customer inquiry, if a trend continues against selling certain animals in pet stores.

Maryland recently became the second state to ban retail pet stores from selling puppies and kittens, a move supporters of the legislation say will help discourage “puppy mills” that breed dogs in inhumane conditions and euthanize the animals when they are no longer able to breed. The law follows a similar one passed last year in California, though the Golden State will allow shops to sell cats, dogs and rabbits that came from shelters and rescue centers.

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By P&ZBlogDog, Dog Health, Dog Lovers, dog news, Law0 Comments

08NovNovember 8, 2019

Labradoodle Creator Dogged By Personal Regrets

Wally Conran created the labrador-poodle hybrid in 1989 and now laments “I opened a Pandora’s box and released a Frankenstein’s monster.”

When Frank Sinatra sang “Regrets, I’ve had a few,” he may have been speaking for the man who created the labradoodle.

Three decades ago, Australian dog breeder Wally Conron was asked to breed a non-shedding guide dog for a blind woman in Hawaii whose husband was allergic to long-haired dogs.

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By P&ZBlogAnimal Cruelty, Dog Health, Dog Lovers, dog news, Dogs0 Comments

08NovNovember 8, 2019

Retired Police Dogs Had To Be Sold Or Destroyed Under State Law

Police dogs spend all day working with handlers. They typically live together.

But when law enforcement K-9s in Texas have retired, they haven’t always gone home with their handlers. Laws in the nation’s second-largest state treated the dogs as surplus public property that, like firearms or police cars taken out of commission, needed to be auctioned off, donated to charity or destroyed.

That changed Tuesday, when voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment that allows dogs, horses or other law enforcement animals to be adopted at no cost by their handlers or other “qualified” caretakers.

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By P&ZBlogAnimal Cruelty, Dog Health, Dog Lovers, dog news0 Comments

07NovNovember 7, 2019

Bad Dog? Think Twice Before Yelling, Experts Say

Few things are more adorable—or destructive—than a new puppy. When they pee on rugs, chew furniture, and get aggressive with other pups, their stressed-out owners usually turn to dog training. Now, a novel study suggests programs that use even relatively mild punishments like yelling and leash-jerking can stress dogs out, making them more “pessimistic” than dogs that experience reward-based training.

“[Punishment] training may seem to work in the short run … but these methods can have future negative consequences,” says Marc Bekoff, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Colorado in Boulder who was not involved in the new study. “[These dogs are] living in perpetual stress.”

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By P&ZBlogDog, Dog Health, dog news, dog training0 Comments

07NovNovember 7, 2019

Are Christmas Tree Needles Bad For Dogs?

Your Christmas Tree bring Joy During the Holidays, but it can also bring danger to your Dogs and other pets. Apart from you, your dog may think that your Christmas tree is her friend during the holidays and cannot see the perils that tree can represent. Most dogs are instinctively drawn to its inviting smell, but beware; that natural curiosity can lead to the risk of serious injury or worse. Your dog's temperament and demeanor will play a role in how much mischief she might find herself in. Even the most well behaved canine will find it hard to resist the temptation of a Christmas tree and its trimmings. Short of 24/7 supervision, the next best line of defense to ensure her safety is to take precautions that could eliminate or at least minimize risk to your dog's health.

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By P&ZBlogDog, Dog Health, dog news, Safety First0 Comments

07NovNovember 7, 2019

Bacterial Disease Sickening Dogs in Colorado Can Spread to Humans, Vet Says

A bacterial disease that can spread to humans is reportedly sickening dogs in Colorado, a veterinarian in the state recently said.

Dr. Laura Russell, a chief emergency doctor at Colorado Veterinary Specialist & Animal ER in Littleton, told KMGH-TV that the clinic has treated six dogs for leptospirosis so far this year. On average, the facility sees one or two cases, she said.

It's not clear what's behind the reported increase.

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By P&ZBlogDog Health, dog news, Dogs0 Comments

07NovNovember 7, 2019

Black Lab Gives birth to 13 Puppies, Shocks Owners: ‘They Were Just Flying Out!

The owner of a black Labrador retriever in the United Kingdom was shocked when the dog birthed 13 puppies — roughly double the amount she was expected to deliver.

Beau the Lab was five weeks pregnant when her owner and dog breeder, Leah Barrett, 32, of Kent, took her to a veterinarian for an ultrasound. At the time, the scan revealed the dog was expecting maybe five or six puppies. Barrett said she expected Beau to deliver eight at most.

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By P&ZBlogDog Health, Dog Lovers, dog news, Dogs0 Comments

Tag - Dog Health