Is Your Dog Panting Excessively?
All dogs pant, especially when it’s hot out, but excessive panting could be a danger sign. Here’s what you need to know. Summer’s here, and your dog is frolicking in the grass. His tongue is lolling and he’s panting up a storm. Most of the time, a panting dog is little cause for concern. After all, every canine pants and there are numerous reasons why, most of which are perfectly normal. Excessive panting, however, can sometimes signal a problem that requires veterinary assistance. As a dog parent, it’s important...
13 Dog Breeds with Webbed Feet
It’s recommended that from the time dogs and cats are puppies and kittens humans should begin getting them used to having their feet touched and inspected. This helps when they’re older and pet parents or veterinarians need to check them for stickers, thorns, ticks, and any number of other reasons an inspection might be necessary. You may never have noticed before, but several dog breeds actually have webbed feet. That’s because they were bred for water activities. There are 13 in total, and we’re going to cover them...
Spartacus and His Mighty . . . Dachshunds?
While it’s served a number of purposes in its lifetime, excavation and various research have been conducted at the Roman Colosseum since at least the early 1800s. Some years back, scientists even confirmed how the ancient elevators with their pulley systems were able to lift great numbers of gladiators to the arena above or scores of wild animals to thrill the eager crowds. This penchant for blood sports kept the traditions of the colosseum alive and well for close to 500 years. Photo: Pixabay/Ichigo121212 Colosseum Construction While...
Be Ready for Higher Medical Bills with These Dog Breeds
Being a dog guardian costs money, and some breeds cost more than others. Knowing what breeds are more expensive can help you budget accordingly to keep your new dog healthy and happy. When it comes to vet bills, certain breeds tend to have higher medical costs than others. Forbes Advisor recently put together a list of dog breeds with the highest average medical costs, so if you’re looking at a specific breed, then you can use these numbers to help budget for being a dog guardian. It’s also important to remember that some breeds...
This Shelter Pays Pet Deposits and Pet Rent for Anyone Who Needs It
Across the country, pets are being given up to animal shelters by people who love them—but who are facing housing challenges that leave them making the choice between having a place to live, and keeping their pet. Lawrence Humane Society, a nonprofit, open-admission shelter in Lawrence, Kansas, reports that over the last year, over half of pets were surrendered due to housing issues—a full 51 percent. In the fall of 2020, LHS developed a comprehensive pet retention program—they call it their Crisis Pet Retention...
Watch the Behavior Track from the 2022 Shelter Medicine Conference
The 2022 ASPCA® Cornell Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Conference features lectures on a variety of critical and engaging topics. The Behavior Track, specifically, is now available on Maddie’s® University! You’ll learn about what the science says about behavior assessments in shelters, a trauma-informed approach to behavioral care, review case studies, the effects of short-term foster care and more! The courses are a unique educational opportunity for veterinarians and other animal well-being professionals to...
Understanding Sudden Vision Loss in Dogs
Sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome, aka SARDS, is a medical condition wherein a dog suddenly loses its vision over a period of several days to a matter of weeks. More commonly seen in older canines between the ages of 8 and 10 that are mixed breeds, it also tends to afflict spayed females for some reason. Unfortunately, the condition cannot be reversed. SARDS in Dogs While all canines regardless of breed can be struck by SARDS, some — such as dachshunds, beagles, and pugs — are reportedly predisposed to it. At the same...
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...
Top 5 ways to properly care for your senior pet
A senior cat or dog needs a different level of care than when they were young. The older your pet gets the more they’ll show signs of aging like arthritis, muscle loss, loss of hearing and eyesight, weight gain or loss, lethargy and more. Luckily, there are five things you can do regularly to help your beloved senior pet age comfortably and with ease. The first step is to stay on top of your senior pets’: 1) Veterinary Care No matter your pet’s age, you should be taking them for regular veterinary check-ups to ensure...
On Giving Tuesday Find an Animal in Need and Donate to their Wishlist
Giving Tuesday celebrates generously giving back after spending like crazy on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Marking its 10-year anniversary, the annual day of giving began in 2012 as a way to honor the value of generosity, Asha Curran told USA TODAY. Curran, who is the CEO of Giving Tuesday, went on to say, “There’s not a person or community in the entire world where generosity is not important.” And she’s right. Since its inception, the movement is officially celebrated or observed in countries all across the globe....
