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The best in health, wellness, and positive training from America’s leading dog experts

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Sundowners in dogs is equivalent to sun downing in senior citizens.

Sundowners in Dogs

Sundowners syndrome in dogs is officially called canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome, abbreviated CCD or CDS. It is a degenerative disease that it will steadily get worse over time. Activities, supplements, and medications can help to slow the progression of the disease.
When is a dog a senior dog. There are many signs inside and out.

When Is A Dog Considered a Senior?

Tiny dogs have a longer life expectancy while giant and large breeds are on the other end of the spectrum biologically, aging faster. When you are caring for an aging dog, there are some things you can do to improve or even extend her life
Double coated dog breeds like this border collie require specialized coat care.

What Is a Double-Coated Dog?

Regular grooming is an important part of caring for a double-coated dog. Without a proper grooming routine, the dog’s fur can form tangles and mats that may need to be cut out. If left unattended for long enough, these can become painful and even cause sores or skin damage.
How much it costs to groom a dog varies by the type of dog and grooming needs.

How Much Does Dog Grooming Cost?

So how much does salon grooming cost and what can you do to make grooming more affordable? Keep in mind that grooming costs can vary widely depending on factors such as breed, size, coat type and the groomer's experience.
Christmas trees aren't toxic to dogs, but they can still make a dog sick.

Are Christmas Trees Toxic to Dogs?

Christmas trees aren't especially toxic to dogs, but chewing on Christmas tree branches can hurt your dog. While touching the tree here and there won’t harm him, ingesting the branches, needles, and/or sap can.
Fleas do not die in winter, they can withstand cold temperatures and hitch a ride on your dog.

Do Fleas Die in Winter?

Your house is perfect for fleas all year round. Even if the outdoor weather is sufficient to eliminate fleas, every life stage will be nice and cozy in our warm homes that are complete with nooks and crannies to hide and hosts to feed on.
Swollen runny eyes are one way to identify a dog allergic reaction.

How To Identify a Dog Allergic Reaction

Dogs can experience allergic reactions just like humans do. Often these are low-grade, chronic problems such as a food or pollen allergy, but dogs can have severe or anaphylactic reactions too.
Getting a sick dog to drink water can be a challenge but there are several ways to encourage drinking.

How to Get a Sick Dog to Drink Water

If your dog is sick, feeling a little off, or has an acute or chronic illness that makes him avoid water, he still needs to drink enough to stay hydrated. We have ways to entice a dog to drink starting with cool clean water, and adding flavorings.
A dog's whisker serve an important sensory function and should not be cut.

Why Do Dogs Have Whiskers and Should You Cut Them?

When you think of whiskers, you probably picture cats, but dogs also possess a set of whiskers on their muzzle, cheeks, and above their eyes that serve important specific purposes.
Dog sedation for grooming is an option for dogs that find it stressful or taumatic.

Dog Sedation For Grooming

In some cases, a dog may need to be sedated for grooming. For example, if you have a new rescue dog who is badly matted, sedation may be the kindest way to get him shaved and nails trimmed.
Mastitis in dogs is a an inflammation of the mammary glands that needs veterinary attention.

Mastitis in Dogs

Prevention of mastitis involves keeping the nursing environment as clean as possible. It’s wise to try to prevent trauma to the mammary glands by eliminating sharp objects in the whelping box and trimming the puppies’ toenails. Make sure the puppies are nursing from all the teats to keep the glands drained (in small litters, rotate through each of the teats).
Senior dogs may need soft food not only for ease of chewing, but for ease of digestion.

Soft Food for Senior Dogs

As dogs age, their nutritional needs and dietary preferences may change. Dog food recommended for senior dogs is usually soft, wet, or canned. The wide variety of soft foods on the market makes it easy to find one to fit your senior’s specific needs, as you will see here.

Latest Blog

Spay Surgery Is Not Required to Stop Canine Reproduction

While estimated numbers for 2023 and 2024 won’t be available for another year or two, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that the number of euthanized pets will be far higher than the lowest historic counts.