Ask Dr. Paola: Monday December 9, 2024
VET APPROVED The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research. Learn more » Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” series, where every Monday we bring expert advice straight from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) to help our readers better understand their dog’s health and well-being. Whether you’re a new pet parent or a seasoned dog lover, Dr. Paola is here to provide answers to your most pressing questions. From nutrition tips and preventive care to troubleshooting common behavioral...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Adopting pets from foster homes, Camp Maddie recordings and more!
Happy Monday! Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. 5 tips for adopting pets out of foster homesHave you considered letting your foster caregivers process the adoptions of their foster pets from their homes? This may seem daunting at first, but the benefits are worth considering: multiple studies have shown that pets adopted from their foster homes are significantly less likely to be returned. Having foster caregivers process their foster pets’ adoptions… Learn More Camp Maddie: Pet-Inclusive Housing...
7 Holistic Strategies for Weight Management in Dogs
Ensuring your dog maintains a healthy weight is crucial for their overall well-being and longevity. Excess weight can lead to various health issues, including diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease. By adopting holistic strategies for weight management in dogs, you can effectively manage your furry friend’s weight while promoting their overall health and happiness. Let’s explore seven natural and integrative approaches to help your dog stay fit and healthy. 1. Balanced Diet and Proper Nutrition A balanced diet is the cornerstone...
How to Do a Health Check at Home: Dr. Karyn’s Tips & Checklist
VET APPROVED The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research. Learn more » Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred. Recently I was working on a Dogster article called “How Do I Know If My Dog Is Healthy?” and it made me think about the examination I perform when I’m giving a dog a basic health check. And then I thought back to Covid lockdowns, and how we were often relying on...
5 Reasons Wild Alaska Pollock is the Ultimate Fish Oil for Dogs and Cats
Not all fish oil for dogs and cats is the same quality, and there are specific things to look for when choosing the right product. Here are five reasons to give Wild Alaska Pollock oil a try! Fish oil has been increasingly popular with dog and cat parents because of its support for brain, skin, and coat health. Wild Alaska Pollock is an ideal fish oil for dogs and cats, and here are five reasons why! 1. Natural Source of EPA + DHA Omega-3 Fatty Acids Specifically, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) – omega-3...
Letter from the NEW HASS Director
Hello HASS Community, My name is Elkie Wills and I’m proud to share that I’m leading the HASS project as the new Maddie’s® Director of Human Animal Support Services. Formal titles aside–I really want to take this opportunity to introduce myself and share why I’m thrilled to be not only a part of this community, but to help mobilize the HASS movement this community has built! While I call the snowy state of Michigan home now, I had the honor of most recently hailing from sunny San Diego as the...
Dogster Photo Contest: Dogs of the Week Winners (December 5, 2024)
Click to Skip Ahead This Week’s Winner Name: Yogi Breed: Yorkshire Terrier Fun Fact: Yogi is 9 this year and he has slowed down a lot this past year, but Yogi is energetic, loyal, intelligent, funny, loves driving his freight liner truck around. Yogi loves to smile , but lately he has become depressed because he had to have some teeth removed they were loose, and now his smile isn’t at beautiful as it was, but I keep telling him no smile is ugly, you are still one of a kind and absolutely my bestie and you are gorgeous regardless...
How Bee Propolis Can Transform Your Dog’s Health Naturally
Imagine a substance so powerful that can be termed as “nature’s penicillin.” That’s bee propolis – a remarkable resinous mixture that bees create to protect their hives. Today, this golden treasure is gaining recognition for its extraordinary benefits in canine health care. What Exactly Is Propolis? Propolis is a natural resinous mixture produced by honey bees from substances collected from parts of plants, buds, and exudates. Propolis is a potent antimicrobial shield. For dogs, this natural wonder offers a...
Can Dogs Eat Vegetables? Vet-Verified Nutrition Facts, Safe Options & Benefits
VET APPROVED The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research. Learn more » Click to Skip Ahead Domestication has profoundly affected our canine companions. They have gone from carnivorous predators to pampered pets. Roughly 95% consider them members of their families. That’s huge for an animal we once considered a competitor. The gray wolf is the closest ancestor to the one these species diverged from 27,000 years ago. Despite millennia of selective breeding, dogs remain facultative...
Camp Maddie: Pet-Inclusive Housing Edition now available to watch on-demand
The Camp Maddie: Pet-Inclusive Housing Edition presentations are now available to watch at your leisure on Maddie’s® University. This event focuses on topics related to pet-inclusive housing with presentations and question and answer sessions. Four in-depth conversations and presentations are given by some of the nation’s top pet-inclusive housing specialists from My Dog is My Home, My Pitbull Is Family, Housing Equity & Advocacy Resource Team (HEART L.A.) and Michelson Found Animals: Understanding Human Homelessness...
BarkBox Subscription Review 2024: Keeping Your Dog Excited Month After Month
Click to Skip Ahead Our Final Verdict We give BarkBox a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars. Quality: 5/5 Variety: 5/5 Ingredients: 5/5 Customization: 5/5 Value: 5/5 Theme: 4.9/5 Subscriptions are a big part of our everyday life – from streaming services to ready-to-make meals delivered to our front doors. These products make our busy lives a lot easier, coming to us instead of us coming to them. So why not do a subscription service for the most important member of your family – Fido! BarkBox is a popular subscription service for your...
SwiftPaws Flirt Pole Review 2024: The Ultimate Toy to Exercise Your Pup
Click to Skip Ahead Our Final Verdict We give the Flirt Pole a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars. Quality: 5/5 Usability: 5/5 Durability: 5/5 Value: 4.8/5 If you have a high-energy dog, finding an effective way to exercise them can be a challenge, especially if you have a small backyard or don’t have time for a long walk. While a few games of fetch can be helpful, most active pups need strenuous exercise to keep them happy and healthy. That’s where SwiftPaws’ Flirt Pole comes in. SwiftPaws is a lifestyle brand that sells...
Hyaflex™ PRO Complete Joint Care Liquid Review 2024: Our Hands-On Test
Click to Skip Ahead Our Final Verdict We give Hyalogic Hyaflex™ PRO Complete Joint Care Liquid a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Effectiveness: 4.9/5 Ease of Use: 4.8/5 Ingredients: 4.8/5 Value: 4.7/5 When it comes to protecting your aging dog’s joints, you probably already know all about glucosamine and MSM. But did you know that there is more you can do to keep those old joints in top shape? Hyaluronic acid is an important but lesser-known factor in joint health. Unfortunately, as dogs age, their bodies produce less and less of...
7 Natural Pain Relief Methods for Dogs with Chronic Conditions
When your beloved canine companion suffers from chronic pain, it can be heart-wrenching to see them struggle. Whether it’s due to arthritis, hip dysplasia, or another chronic condition, finding ways to alleviate their pain naturally can improve your dog’s quality of life. Let’s delve into seven effective natural pain relief methods that can offer comfort and ease for your furry friend. 1. Dietary Adjustments Nutrition plays a crucial role in managing chronic pain. Consider incorporating anti-inflammatory foods into your...
Sausage Party: Adding a Second Dachshund to the Mix
Welcome to the Wednesday Dogs of Dogster! Every Wednesday, we share a story from one of our Dogsters. This week is about Meagan and her dynamic duo of dachshunds, Draper and Rue. When we first brought Draper home in early 2020, we were already toying with the idea of getting him a companion. After all, two dachshunds are better than one, right? From everything we had read, Doxies seemed to have an unspoken bond with their own kind—maybe it’s something about the shared experience of having legs barely longer than a ruler. But...
How to Prevent Ear Infections in Dogs
Ear infections in dogs are itchy, painful, and cause discomfort, but even if your dog is prone to them, there are steps you can take to prevent them. Ear infections in dogs are common, affecting about 20% of pups at any time. They can be acute or chronic, often caused by debris buildup that allows bacteria and yeast to thrive. The most common type, otitis externa, occurs in the ear canal. Left untreated, infections can lead to serious complications like painful ear hematomas, also known as “cauliflower ears.” With proper...
An Emotional Reunion of Ssg. May and Hero Military K-9 Yyacob Thanks to American Humane
Click to Skip Ahead Thanksgiving 2024 may be over, but the bond between U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Payton May and his retired military working dog Yyacob is forever. On Monday November 26, 2024, American Humane orchestrated a touching reunion in San Antonio, Texas, between Yyacob, an eight-year-old Belgian Malinois, and his former handler, Ssg. May. After two and a half years apart, the duo, who served together in Iraq, were finally back together, just in time for Thanksgiving—something the two of them are beyond grateful for. Military...
10 Reasons Why You Should Adopt A Shelter Pet Before Buying From A Breeder
Email Address * First Name * Last Name * Zip Code * Adopted from APA! before? * Interested in Dogs or Cats * * indicates required Submit Source: Austin Pets...
How Old Is 11 in Dog Years? Vet-Approved Guide to Each Size of a Dog
VET APPROVED The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research. Learn more » Click to Skip Ahead Many people think that a 1-year-old dog is equivalent to a 7-year-old human. That figure is an oversimplification and not quite accurate. Depending on the animal’s size and other variables, an 11-year-old dog would be roughly 60 to 86 years old, depending on things like breed and size. If that seems out of line, remember that our canine companions have much shorter lifespans than we do. After...
Homemade Dental Care Solutions: Keep Your Dog’s Teeth Clean Naturally
There’s nothing quite like seeing a happy, healthy smile on your dog. Dental health is crucial to their overall well-being, yet it’s often overlooked. Neglecting dental care can lead to bad breath, tooth decay, and serious health issues. Fortunately, you don’t need to rely solely on commercial products to keep your dog’s teeth clean. Here are some effective and natural homemade dental care solutions for dogs that can make a big difference. Coconut Oil Toothpaste Coconut oil is a natural antibacterial and antifungal...
