Tag - Family

9% of Dogs In Texas Found To Carry Kissing Bug Disease

dog-health

Have you heard of Kissing Bug Disease? Known officially as Chagas Disease it’s transmitted through nocturnal insects known as Kissing Bugs.

Chagas disease has infected millions of people in Central America, Mexico, and South America has made it’s way to Texas, but now it’s becoming prevalent amongst dogs in Texas.

How Chagas Disease is Transmitted

The parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) is the causative agent of Chagas disease. It’s a tropical disease that effects 8 million people across Mexico and Central and South America.

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How To Care For Your Pregnant Dog

Virginia-based veterinarian Dr. Katy Nelson has three words of advice for dog owners thinking about breeding their dogs: Don’t do it. “Just because your dog is cute and your neighbor’s dog is cute does not mean they should get together to make puppies,” says Nelson. “You need experience and know-how to breed. It’s not something to be taken lightly.”

Nelson suggests spaying and neutering to avoid unplanned pregnancies. If you do find yourself tasked with the care of a pregnant dog, there are important steps you can take to ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Below, Nelson weighs in on how to provide the best prenatal and postnatal care for your pet.

Veterinary Visits
When you first suspect your dog is expecting, it’s important that her veterinarian examine her in order to confirm the diagnosis. “Infections to the uterus can mimic pregnancy, with an enlarged midsection and discharge,” says Nelson. “These infections can be life-threatening, so it’s important to rule this out.”

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Mississippi Now Allows Dogs On Restaurant Patios

ms-dog-patio-dining
(Stock photo, outside patio)

The Mississippi State Department of Health has created a new policy allowing pet dogs to be present at restaurants and other food facilities under specific conditions.

MSDH has examined policies in other states and believes with the proper hygienic conditions public health can be protected, and local businesses wanting to accommodate their clientele can be supported.

OWNERS: This policy takes effect Friday, November 1, 2019. Check local and county ordinances to ensure that dog-friendly restaurants are not otherwise prohibited.

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Anonymous Donor Gives 40,000 Pounds Of Pet Food To Shelter

dog-food-pieces
(Stock image of dog food)

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — An anonymous donor has given 40,000 pounds of pet food and snacks to the Rogue Valley Humane Society.

The Daily Courier in Grants Pass reported Thursday that most of the food will go to the organization’s pet food bank, which fed 5,000 cats and dogs from low-income households in the last year.

Some of it will also be delivered to homebound seniors who have pets.

Executive Director Margaret Varner says the truckload of donated food will cover the needs of both programs for at least six months.

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Dog-Dining Gets First Approval In Port Orange

PORT ORANGE — Pups and their people are may soon have the option to dine together in outdoor restaurants throughout the city. That is, legally speaking.

On Tuesday, the City Council voted 4-1 in favor of creating a dog-friendly dining program, where local eateries could pay a permitting fee, apply to participate and — as long as they follow state-mandated rules — designate outdoor areas for well-behaved, leashed pups and owners to eat together.

“This is kind of like a tail wagging the dog situation,” said Councilman Scott Stiltner to laughter from the room. “Some of these places, they do it now anyway. They’ve been doing it for years.”

While the practice is not officially allowed in city limits, several eateries already offer dog-friendly dining spaces, according to Senior Planner Penelope Cruz. She said city staff has observed dogs in outside dining areas at Panera Bread, Tomoka Brewery, Starbucks, Neighbors Ice Cream Parlor and the Original First Turn Steakhouse.

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Puppy Basics 101 – How to Care for Your New Dog

care-for-your-new-puppy
(Courtesy of Shutter Stock)

Puppies are without a doubt some of the most adorable things on the planet. Parenting a new puppy, however, is no walk in the park. Here’s a guide to help you care for the new addition to the family.

When the time comes to finally bring your new puppy home for the first time, you can pretty much count on three things: unbridled joy, cleaning up your puppy’s accidents, and a major lifestyle adjustment. As you’ll soon learn, a growing puppy needs much more than a food bowl and a doghouse to thrive. And while it may be a lot of work initially, it’s well worth the effort. Establishing good and healthy habits in those first few sleep-deprived weeks will lay the foundation for many dog-years of happiness for you and your puppy.

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Meet Lily, The First Dog To Take The Witness Stand In Anne Arundel County

lily-the-first-dog
Lilly Reilly, a 5-year-old labradoodle, was the first therapy dog to take the witness stand in a Maryland court when she assisted a victim in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court on Nov. 13. - Original Credit: Handout (Courtesy of Barbara Reilly / HANDOUT)

At first glance, Lily Reilly looks like just another cute girl. But don’t be mistaken: She’s a working woman with a rough job.

Lily, a 5-year-old labradoodle, was the first of her Caring Canines colleagues to take the witness stand in a Maryland court Nov. 7, comforting a child while she testified as a rape survivor in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court.

Lily can’t take people’s trauma away, but she can put her head in their lap as they recount the worst moment of their lives. And that sweet, calming presence can make a world of a difference for victims, said her handler Barb Reilly, who stood next to the witness stand holding Lily’s leash and escorted her through the court.

“In other cases, she sits in the courtroom... But this was different. This was a much bigger case,” Reilly said. “I think the child really, really appreciated having the dog there. It gave her a chance to decompress."

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Puppy Brought To Animal Shelter In Cereal Box Has Found A New Home

Razz Berry the dog was dropped at California’s Riverside County Animal Services covered in fleas, but now she’s living the good life.

Riverside County Animal Shelter

Last week, Riverside County Animal Services posted an adorable photo of what it called “one of the oddest ways a pet came to us as an over-the-counter dropoff” ― a puppy squeezed into a Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries box and brought to one of the organization’s shelters in Jurupa Valley.

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Puppies Over Politics

Congress must stop the cruel experiments the VA is conducting on dogs.

IN AN ERA CONSUMED BY partisanship and deep policy divides, Republicans and Democrats appear far apart on major issues dominating the headlines. But there are two notable exceptions – veterans and dogs – and we are leading a new bipartisan effort to score a win for both.

In mid-July, The New York Times noted the Veterans' Affairs Committees in both the House and Senate were a "case study in Washington working as designed." Veterans issues, from accountability reform and whistleblower protections to the "forever GI bill," appear to be among the few things folks in Washington can agree on.

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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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