Care

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).

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.

Dandruff in dogs isn’t a life-threatening disease, but dry skin flakes are messy, itchy, and unattractive. Worse, they can trigger allergic reactions in humans and signal health problems in your pup. What causes dog dandruff, how can you prevent it, and what can you do to improve your dog’s coat?

Shedding removes old, damaged, or excess hair in a natural cycle that regulates body temperature and maintains skin and coat condition. The rate and timing of your dog’s hair loss depend on age, breed, and overall health.

Proper care of your dog’s nails and following treatment instructions for any injuries can help keep your dog on the run and allow problems to heal faster.

Dogs drool. Some just drool a little once in a while, while others drool a lot. Some dogs are also just plain built to drool. Drooling can happen for structural, behavioral, and medical reasons.

For a normal dog who doesn’t have atopic dermatitis or any other skin irritation, you can use human hair shampoo to bathe your dog.

While it can seem daunting at first, learning the basics of how to groom a dog is well within reach for many dog owners.

Fleas are among the most irritating and harmful parasites that attack dogs. Fleas are among the most irritating and harmful parasites that attack dogs.

As a do-it-yourself project, pitch removal requires time and patience, so take an objective look at the situation. Is there a small amount of pitch in your dog’s hair? Or is there a lot? Is your pup able to sit or lie still for half an hour or more? Do you enjoy grooming your dog?

The basic ingredient in any shampoo is soap, and you can use anything from a liquid dish soap (look for sensitive-skin formulas) to baby shampoo or a castile soap containing olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, or other moisturizing oils.

A dog's sleep requirements are influenced by their age, breed, activity level, and individual makeup. Puppies, very active dogs, and seniors need their power naps. Adult dogs in their prime sleep more like people do.