A Brief History Of Dog Food
It might be hard to imagine a world without pet food, but believe it or not, it’s a relatively modern concept. Let’s take a trip back in time and learn about the history of dog food, from the 1800s until today. Up until the mid-1800s: Working animals Before we started to consider dogs as members of our family, they were primarily used as working animals. When not working, they lived outside and survived off of a diet of table scraps such as potatoes, cabbage, and bread crusts. In short, whatever wasn’t eaten by the family...
Ask Dr. Aziza: How to Check Your Dog’s Vitals
As a veterinarian, there are many things I observe and measure to assess the health of a dog. If you’re interested in learning how to do the same, I recommend keeping it simple and sticking to the fundamentals, which is learning how to check your dog’s vitals. When learning how to check dog vitals, there are four key signs you’ll need to focus on: Vital sign #1: Temperature Dogs have higher normal body temperatures compared to us humans – the average temperature range for a dog is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. At...
The Most Important Things To Look For on Pet Food Packaging
The food we feed our pets plays a big role in their overall health, so you want to choose a brand that will support them in living their happiest, healthiest life. If you’re not sure whether a pet food brand is reputable or not, just take a look at the packaging. Just like the packaging on the food we eat, pet food packing provides detailed information on the ingredients and nutritional content. To help ensure you’re choosing the best possible food for your pet, we’ve put together a list of the most important things to look...
2022’s Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Pets
Believe it or not, the year is coming to an end which means one thing: It’s time for our 2022 pet gift guide! We’ve put together the ultimate holiday gift guide for pets, with gifts divided into three unique categories so there’s something for everyone. Budget-friendly The first category in our 2022 pet gift guide is budget-friendly gifts. These gifts may be easy on your wallet, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t be memorable! Plan a special day together: Put together an itinerary for a day full of your...
Ask Dr. Aziza: How Your Dog’s Nutrition Needs Change Throughout Their Lives
Nutrition plays an important role in health and longevity at every stage of your dog’s life. Let’s take a look at Dr. Aziza’s explanation of how dog nutrition needs can change throughout their lifespan. Dog nutrition needs during the puppy years The best puppy food options are formulated to meet the three key nutritional needs of young dogs: Frequent meals throughout the day: Puppies are young balls of energy that require frequent meals throughout the day to help maintain their blood glucose levels. Calories match their...
Holiday Season Is Approaching! Here’s How to Prepare Your Pup for The Festivities
Believe it or not, the holiday season is fast approaching! Between family events, parties, out-of-town travel, and anything in between, this time of year can be overwhelming for our four-legged friends. To avoid unnecessary stress, you’ll want to prepare your dog for the holidays before the season is in full swing. Give them some pampering Before the festivities begin, why not treat your pup to a day of pampering? Start by choosing a low-scent or scent-free shampoo designed specifically for dogs or cats, such as the one by Burt’s...
Tips For Curing Your Dog’s Boredom
While dogs are usually quite good at entertaining themself, it doesn’t mean that they don’t experience boredom from time to time. If you’re not sure if your dog is experiencing boredom, or if you know that they are but aren’t sure what to do about it, read on! How can I tell if my dog is bored? Dogs don’t often hide the fact that they are bored – they actually try to make their feelings very clear. A few of the telltale signs of dog boredom include: Destructive behavior: Dogs that are experiencing boredom...
Ask Dr. Aziza: Why Your Dog Can’t Stop Itching and How to Relieve it
An itchy dog is a common occurrence in the vet clinic, but several things could be causing this discomfort. Let’s take a closer look at the top causes of itching and how we treat it to provide your dog with some itch relief. Reason #1: Fleas Fleas are a type of parasite that can cause severe itchiness and it’s the most common cause of non-stop itching. Some dogs are more sensitive to fleas than others, but all are affected to some degree. Flea preventatives are the best way to protect your pup from fleas and avoid the need for dog...
Do Pets Have Pet Peeves? Find Out What Might Annoy Your Dog
Believe it or not, there’s quite a bit of overlap between what annoys people and what annoys dogs. To help you better understand your dog’s pet peeves, we’ve put together a list of common annoyances as well as tips for spotting if your dog is feeling annoyed. Not having their food preferences taken into consideration Just because a dog will eat over-processed brown kibble doesn’t mean that they’re happy about it. Not only does kibble use powdered meat and artificial colors, it’s cooked at high temperatures...
The Best Ways To Bond With a Newly Adopted Pet
There are few things more exciting than bringing home a new four-legged family member. This new addition is going to be part of your family for years to come, so we know how important it is for you to create a strong bond from day one. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of the best ways to bond with a new pet – and spoiler, it involves food! Get some insight from the foster parent or shelter staff If possible, schedule some time to chat with your pet’s foster parent or a staff member from the shelter where they were...
