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

How long can you leave a puppy alone? Not long.

Leaving Your New Puppy

I have a sign hanging near my back door that says, “If I can’t bring my dog I’m not going.” Of course, it is meant to be humorous, but it is truer than I care to admit. I am lucky in that, as a trainer, I have been able to bring my dogs almost everywhere I go. Not everyone is as fortunate. Let’s see if I can help you make plans for your puppy, should you be forced to leave him home alone.
Homemade dog food recipes must include complete and balanced nutrition in order to be healthy.

Concerns about Homemade Dog Food Recipes

One of the biggest challenges with homemade dog food is the inconsistency of nutrient content in raw ingredients. Ingredients such as meats, vegetables, and grains can vary widely in nutrient content depending on their growing conditions, seasonality, source, storage conditions, and processing methods.
The best dog food for small dogs combines a healthy balance of nutrition and calories.

The Best Food for Small Dogs

There may be some benefits to feeding your little dog a diet specifically formulated to target many of the issues small breeds face. When looking at labels for healthy dog foods for small dogs, consider these elements:
While Doodles typically share some traits with their Poodle parent, there are no guarantees regarding which traits they will inherit. Credit: Madeline Block

Why are Doodle Dogs so Popular?

The first popularized Doodle was a Labrador Retriever and Poodle mix, bred in 1989 by Wally Conron as a guide dog prospect. He aimed to create a dog with the temperament of a Lab, but the non-shedding coat of a Standard Poodle for a woman who needed a guide dog, but whose husband had dog allergies. In a 2014 interview with Psychology Today, Conron said that he regrets popularizing Doodle breeding. "I opened a Pandora's box, that's what I did,” he said.
Dogs eating chocolate was the fourth most common reason for calls to Animal Poison Control.

Top Calls to Animal Poison Control

The APCC received more than 451,000 calls from pet parents last year who needed immediate answers: Could what their dog gobbled down cause a life-threatening problem? The organization crunched its data and just released its annual list of the top ten toxins that pets managed to ingest the most.
Sucralfate for dogs can help with a variety of canine stomach problems.

Sucralfate May Help with GI Problems in Dogs

Sucralfate is a human medication used off-label in dogs for ulcers, vomiting, and irritations along the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the small...
Knowing the signs of heart failure in dogs can lead to a better prognosis for an aging dog.

Signs of Heart Failure in Dogs

The first symptoms of congestive heart failure in dogs are subtle. Your dog may seem less active and not eating well. He may be coughing a bit. Don’t dismiss these signs as the dog is just getting old. These changes could indicate congestive heart failure, and the earlier it’s diagnosed the better the prognosis.
Famotidine for dogs is an acid reducer that can help deal with certain stomach issues in dogs.

Famotidine for Dogs

Famotidine is a stomach-acid reducer that is sometimes used “off label” in dogs. “Off label” means the medication is not approved by the FDA for use in dogs, but veterinarians may prescribe it. Famotidine is available as an injectable that can be administered at a veterinary hospital and an oral form that is available over the counter (OTC).
Adopting a shelter dog, a rescue dog, or another dog in need is a great way to make a friend for life.

Adopting a Dog from a Shelter

On average, it takes three to six months for a shelter dog to fully settle into their new home and to see their true personality. Some dogs may blossom quickly. Others may take longer to adjust. This is normal, and it can take longer if a dog has experienced a lot of turmoil and change throughout their life before adoption.
Acid-reflux in dogs is a serious issue that requires a vet visit.

Acid Reflux in Dogs

Symptoms of GERD in dogs include regurgitation, decreased appetite, difficulty swallowing, and acting uncomfortable. Some dogs with GERD may have a chronic cough. You may also notice that your dog’s bark sounds different than it used to. One of the classic symptoms experienced by dogs with GERD is that they are more likely to regurgitate than vomit (see sidebar). However, conditions that cause chronic vomiting may lead to the development of GERD.
Hyperthyroidism in dogs is rarer than hypothyroidism and results in a dog's metabolism speeding up.

Hyperthyroidism in Dogs

With hyperthyroidism, the dog’s metabolism speeds up. You may notice your dog drinking more water (and increased urine), losing weight, constipation, and showing signs of increased activity. With the dog’s overall metabolism too high, many of the dog’s body systems are affected. Some dogs will vomit and have diarrhea along with an increased appetite.
Dogs can eat cicadas, but they shouldn't do so in large numbers.

Can Dogs Eat Cicadas?

Cicadas interest dogs because they smell appetizing, are a source of protein, move in ways that attract a dog’s prey drive, make intriguing noises, and have a crunchy texture. While cicadas aren't poisonous to dogs they can cause gastrointestinal upset and stomach obstructions if they are eaten in large numbers.
E-collar dog training is not recommended by most expert trainers, as it can traumatize the dog.

Why E-Collar Dog Training Is Not Recommended

E-collars are dog-training devices used to deliver several stimuli to the dog wearing the collar, including auditory, vibration, and electric shock. There are several...
Dogs cannot have down syndrome, but they can other conditions that have a superficial resemblance.

Can My Dog Have Down Syndrome? (and Other Questions About Dog Genetics)

While dogs can’t have Down Syndrome, they can possess chromosomal abnormalities that lead to conditions similar to that disorder. These include developmental disabilities, difficulty with coordination, as well as distinct physical features such as a flattened face, shorter limbs, and smaller stature.

Latest Blog

Why Veterinary Wellness Exams Are Important

I took my two dogs—Woody, age 9, and Boone, age 3—to see their vet a week ago. I wasn’t looking forward to being chided for allowing him—nay, facilitating him—to gain a few extra pounds this winter. But I wasn’t at all expecting the health problems that my vet found.