Dog and Owner Reunited After Oklahoma Tornado

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May 29, 2013

File this one under: we knew it was so. The American Heart Association recently publicly released a statement declaring that pets, especially dogs, are good for a person’s heart. While this may not come as a surprise to many dog owners out there, having our belief backed by a respectable group like the AHA always feels good. Dr. Glenn N. Levine of Baylor University has been quoted from the AHA as saying that dog ownership is probably linked to a decreased risk of heart disease. So why is this so? One of the chief reason why is because dogs love to walk. In fact, many dogs will gladly bother their owners into going for a walk, to the point that even the laziest of owners will eventually give in. These walks add up, to our benefit. Research done by the AHA claim that dog owners are twice as likely to get the suggested ...

Signs of Heat Stroke in Pets

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May 28, 2013

With the hot weather finally here, it becomes important to be careful that not only you but also your dog, don’t get too much of a good thing. Heat stroke can happen to both people and animals although it is more common in dogs because they have fewer mechanisms for sweating and reducing the body temperature. Dogs only sweat through their pads and they don’t do very much sweating that way. Instead, they rely mainly on panting to bring cooler air into the body and maintain body temperature. When the air gets really warm, that mechanism isn’t nearly as efficient. When you combine that with activities that naturally heat the body up, it can be a deadly combination. Common signs of heat stroke include: Excessive panting Drooling – often thick Vomiting Bright red gums and tongue If it isn’t treated right away, your dog may suffer seizures, coma and even death. Start by moving your dog into ...

Driving With Dogs: Safety & Tips

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May 24, 2013

Traveling with your dog can be a lot of fun. It’s nice to have company for a long ride and many dogs really enjoy going for a drive. Nowadays there are many pet friendly hotels to stay in when on the road. Major roadways often have rest areas with grassy places to walk your dog. Just be sure you clean up after your pet. Responsible pet owners make it easier for everyone to travel with their pet and reduce prejudices against dogs. There are a few important safety rules you should follow when driving with dogs. Your dog should never ride loose in the car. It can lead to tragic and avoidable accidents. When driving, your attention needs to be on the road and the traffic around you. A wandering dog is a distraction. A dog that is pawing at your arm while driving is even worse. A loose dog is ...

How to Prepare Your Pets for Cicada-pocalypse

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May 24, 2013

These 17-year-olds are itching to party. And their parties are attended by some pretty large crowds. Try in the tens of billions. Brood II sounds more like a cheesy sequel than a bug species, but that’s just what it is: Brood II are known as periodical cicadas, who stay dormant underground for up to 17 years before coming back to the land of the living, to wreak harmless havoc on us all as they mate in what little adult-time they have. 1996 was the year - the year these crop of cicadas was born. That makes them millennials, having been born in the era of Twitter and Facebook. While these teens probably won’t be social sharing anytime soon (darn those thumbs!) this will be the first time that those of us graced with their presence (that’s East Coasters from Georgia to Connecticut) will be able to provide real-time reports on their ...

Israeli Company Sued Over Cruelty to Kosher Animals

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May 23, 2013

This is when kosher is anything but. Israeli-based Adom Adom (very red) is a top quality brand of beef, that is supplied its beef from, among other places, the Beit She’an slaughterhouse. A December, 6, 2012 exposé on Israeli TV revealed some not-so-kosher treatment of animals in the Beit She’an slaughterhouse. Now, a group of consumers, headed by Ruth Kolian, are filing a class-action suit against Tnuva Central Cooperative (who controls the slaughterhouse), for consumer anguish. The footage was shown on the Colbotech show and revealed the following: Calves were beaten and shocked to urge them to continue marching toward their slaughtering. Those that had trouble walking were continuously shocked in the head and testicles. If the calves still did not move, they were dragged by forklifts, rather than killed on the spot (as law demands) Lambs were beaten on their heads with a pipe and dragged on the ground by their legs To make ...

Ten Things to Know about Dog Bite Prevention Week

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Kristin Masliuk

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May 22, 2013

“Don’t touch him while he’s eating!” Parents tell kids this every day when they bend down to pet a family pet during evening chow. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year - half of those are children. Most of these dogs are household pets that hog the covers and eat out of your hands. Each year, during the third week of May, National Dog Bit Prevention Week rolls around to remind owners that, “even nice dogs can bite.” Here is what the AVMA and USPS want you to know 1. Dogs bite for a number of reasons, including: They are scared. They’ve been startled.. They feel threatened. They are protecting something valuable to them. They are not feeling well. 2. Socialize your dog as a puppy. As your puppy grows, slowly introduce them to new places, people, and situations. This will allow your ...

Summer Activities For Dogs

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May 22, 2013

Summertime brings with it a list of potential outdoor activities for you and your dog. But for every fun activity you have planned, you should realize that there’s proper etiquette to follow. Below are some activities for dogs and proper summertime etiquette guidelines to follow for your dog. The Park If you have plans on going to a dog park, there’s an entirely different set of dog park etiquette guidelines to follow. If, however, you have plans of bringing your dog to a normal “human” park, you should keep in mind the following: Most, if not all, public parks require your dog to be leashed. This doesn’t mean “under control” (which you can usually get away with leashless, so long as you maintain voice control). This means, you need to have your dog leashed at all times. Why? Well, because while your dog may be safe, everyone else doesn’t know that. Everyone who ...

Ear Cropping & Tail Docking: Is It Necessary?

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May 21, 2013

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Both ear cropping and tail docking, along with removal of dew claws, began as a practice to protect the dog while he was doing his job. In gun dog the tail was docked to prevent injury when out hunting in heavy brush. In breeds whose main function was as a guard dog, protector, or fighter, it was removed to avoid giving an opponent (human or animal) something to grab on to that could be used to injure the animal. Ears were cropped in these breeds for the same reason. Hanging ears were easier for another animal or person to grab on to and injure the dog. In some breeds, dew claws extend greatly from the foot and are prone to being torn when out running in heavy brush. Now, there are some countries that ban ear cropping, tail docking and dew claw removal or only allow it under certain circumstances. In ...

Dog Scootering: What Is It and Is It Right for Your Dog?

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May 21, 2013