5 ways to give back to your dog this holiday season
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The holiday season is a time to focus on giving back to your friends and family, and don’t forget your beloved four-legged friends! Your dog fills your life with joy, love and wet doggy kisses. So, show them how much you care with the 5 best ways to give back to your dog this holiday season. 1) Maintain their regular routine The holidays can really throw your regular routine off. With all the cooking, baking, gift-buying and gift-wrapping that needs to be done, it’s hard to...
A Sweet Rescue Dog Still Needs a Home After Being in Shelter for More Than a Year
Meet Mister, an adorable shelter dog who’s been waiting for a forever home for more than a year in southern Arizona. A 6-year-old neutered male, he’s a gorgeous tricolor pit bull terrier that weighs approximately 70 pounds. Mister may be a formal name but he’s a pretty casual kind of guy. He loves mellow strolls, giving smooches, and wearing Hawaiian shirts every day (not just casual Fridays). Mister enjoys car rides, loves to play fetch, and knows basic skills like sit, down, and stay. Ok, his down isn’t perfect but...
Pretty in Pink, CuppaPug Cafe’s Pint-Sized Pack of Pugs Decked Out for the Holidays
Pug lovers in London have something to be excited about over the holidays. CuppaPug, a cafe for snuggling with the little flat-faced goofballs millions have come to love, is celebrating the holiday season in pug style. Dressed up like Santa and his helpers, the cafe’s motto is “pugs’ welfare first, cafe second,” and is home to seven resident rescue pugs: Gaston, 6, Bruce, 5, Bowser, 3, Beau, 2, Gizmo, 1, Bebe, 1, and cute little Baloo, that’s just six months old. Photo: Pixabay/judygraham Pugmas Opened by pug...
How much does the microbiome REALLY contribute to animal health and wellness?
We were taught in school that the genes we inherit from our parents are the biggest driver of health outcomes. Since Antonie van Leewenhoek’s discoveries in the 1680’s that there are visible differences in microbes from the mouth vs. feces, the microbiome and its influence on health and behavior is slowly being realized (cardiovascular, neural development, metabolism, immune regulation, bacterial infection and anxiety to name a few), yet there is so much that remains unknown. [1-6] We know that the cellular power of the microbiome...
Tips for Responsibly Giving Rescue Pets as Gifts According to a Pro
Do you know someone who would like to welcome a pet into their home? Maybe you’re thinking about gifting them one for Christmas. In a recent article in People, Deb Fair, the executive director of the PEDIGREE Foundation, offered her advice on the most responsible way to gift a rescue pet this holiday season. Gifting Rescue Pets for the Right Reason First off, before we get into her advice, be sure they really want one and you’re not considering it because you feel they want or need one. An animal is not a toy or a gizmo you...
Man Makes Short but Sweet YouTube Video Featuring a List of His Dog’s Favorite Things
A man named Scott, who started a YouTube channel called biggietheshepherd, has created a short featuring his dog Biggie’s favorite things, and it couldn’t be more fun. Biggie came into Scott’s life unexpectedly, and they’ve been best buds ever since, with Scott saying he’d never experienced a bond with a dog like this before Biggie came along. Photo: YouTube/@biggietheshepherd6642 Biggie’s Favorite Things Set to the Austin Powers’ theme music, aka Quincy Jones & His Orchestra’s Soul Bossa...
Tinsel Accounts for More Veterinarian Visits During the Holidays than Almost Any Other Reason
You’ve likely already read a number of articles on tips for keeping pets safe at Christmas, but did you know strings of tinsel ingested by cats and small dogs account for more veterinarian visits at the holidays than almost any other reason? Yes, tinsel, a holiday favorite for decorating Christmas trees everywhere. The reason it’s so harmful is that it can cause bowel obstruction in pets, and cats are particularly fond of it. Photo: Pixabay/suju-foto Cats and Tinsel According to the Pet Poison Helpline, tinsel is a common cause of...
Gold Medal Winner, Luke, is a Work in Progress While He Awaits His Forever Home
There is no rhyme or reason why some dogs end up in shelters and rescues. We just have to accept the fact that it happens and pray that they find forever homes sooner rather than later. But part of the problem is that a lot of folks don’t take into consideration the fit of the animal they’re bringing home. And by fit, we mean does the breed’s temperament and needs match your own? Are they a good fit for you and your lifestyle? Chocolate Lab Enter Luke, aka Chocolate Chip, who is looking for his forever home. He’s a...
Periodontal disease: the top 3 early signs in dogs
The beginning signs of periodontal disease in dogs can start as early as the age of three. Good oral health is crucial for the overall health of your dog. Having poor oral health can lead your dog to have serious heart, liver and kidney problems, along with eye issues and oral cancer. Are you unsure if your dog is exhibiting signs of periodontal disease? Here are the top 3 early signs to watch out for: 1) Bad Breath Bad breath means that there are too many bad bacteria in your dog’s mouth as a result of a build-up of tartar, which...
Dog in Horrific Condition Cries After Receiving Sustenance for the First Time in Weeks, but a Happy Ending Was Waiting for Him
After weeks of laying near a fence too weak to move, a sweet dog in horrific condition literally cried in relief after being offered water and food. This is the kind of stuff that makes you want to cry yourself but thank goodness for happy endings! According to the video overlay, neighbors claimed the animal had been lying there for three weeks, trying to stay out of the sun’s glare. They also said that occasionally the owner would provide the dog with some food. Covered in ticks, the poor pup tried to struggle to an upright position...