Severe dog coughs could lead to pneumonia, so don’t guess. Involve your veterinarian. Credit: Ocskaymark | Getty Images
A dog coughing should get your attention and not be ignored. The worst coughing comes with kennel cough, even mild kennel cough. The main symptom of kennel cough is that he sounds like he is “honking,” as if something is stuck in his throat.
Dogs with mild kennel cough sound terrible but feel reasonably OK. They tend to have a good appetite, want to be active (which, unfortunately, makes them cough more), and generally don’t act sick. These dogs can usually be treated at home.
In more severe cases, kennel cough symptoms may progress toward pneumonia and include lethargy, fever, and a loss of appetite. These coughing dogs need to see a veterinarian.
Do You Think Your Dog Has a Cold?
If your you see your dog coughing and he has a heart condition or a wet cough, the dog’s cough shouldn’t be treated at home without veterinary approval. It could be a cold or flu, which means the coughing dog needs to see a veterinarian. Symptoms include:
Purulent (pus) nasal discharge
Soft, wet cough
Increased respiratory rate (count how many times his chest rises in a minute – normal is 15 to 30 times)
Open-mouth breathing
Labored breathing
Your coughing dog could be diagnosed with bronchitis, and if so, he will likely receive medication from your veterinarian, possible including a cough suppressant.
Caring for Kennel Cough at Home
At-home care for kennel cough means easing the symptoms:
Limit exercise (exercise will increase the coughing)
Walk him in a harness, not a collar (if he pulls in a collar, the pressure on his trachea will make him cough more)
Let him share your shower – close your dog in the bathroom with you and let it get steamy, as this will help humidify his respiratory tract and provide some pain relief from the dry cough
Run a humidifier in his favorite room
Home Remedies for a Mild Dog Cough
Some foods may speed up your kennel-cough dog’s healing, such as adding a small amount of honey to his food. And, yes, chicken soup can help. Use homemade soup as a low-salt alternative to canned soup. Low-sodium chicken bouillon is another good option.
Hydration and rest will help your dog through mild kennel cough. If your dog needs cough medication, check with your veterinarian for the best options and correct dose for your dog.
Also, quarantine your dog, as kennel cough is contagious (there’s a vaccine for it!). There are many causes of kennel cough, and you don’t want your dog to be one of them, spreading kennel cough at daycare, classes, or the dog park.
Your veterinarian is an expert who you pay for advice, but ultimately, you must take responsibility for your dog’s treatment decisions. Photo by sestovic, Getty Images
In the November issue of WDJ, we published an article by a valued veterinary contributor regarding Librela, a new treatment for canine (and feline) osteoarthritis (“New Hope for Canine Osteoarthritis”), which became available for veterinarians to prescribe to their canine patients starting on November 1, 2023. The author has followed positive reports of the drug’s use since its approval for veterinarians to prescribe in Australia and in Europe about two years ago, and she’s used it in her own elderly cat with good results.
We’ve since received a few letters from readers who were concerned about our promotion of the drug, as each has been following reports in social-media groups from people whose dogs were given the drug. Some people report terrific results, but others report that their dogs experienced very bad and even fatal adverse reactions to the drug. I joined some groups I was able to locate on Facebook and have also been following some of these reports. These are my thoughts about the drug – and all new drugs that come onto the market:
I completely understand the enthusiasm of veterinarians for treatments that appear to offer benefits that exceed those of the competing treatments for painful, life-threatening conditions. Imagine feeling responsible for the well-being of countless patients who are in pain despite access to all the treatments currently available – and you hear about a new drug, one with a completely novel mode of action, with very good initial test results. You’d be excited and eager to hear more about it.
But I wouldn’t personally recommend jumping to be one of the first users of any new drug. Newly approved drugs may have been tested on relatively small numbers of animals – perhaps in the high hundreds or, at most, the low thousands – and the test subjects are unlikely to be afflicted with the number and variety of health problems (comorbidity) as the population of potential users of the drug. Often a drug needs to be given to a very large pool of patients before all the adverse side effects or contraindications – conditions under which the drug poses more harm than good – are discovered. And, personally, I wouldn’t be jumping to make my dogs these unwitting test subjects…. unless I was already using every other effective treatment, and they weren’t working. And unless my dog didn’t have any other serious health conditions, especially those that were being treated with other medications that hadn’t yet been evaluated yet for co-administration with the new drug. If my dog had Cushing’s syndrome, or cancer, or diabetes, or any other complex medical condition, forget it: I wouldn’t want to take a chance on something new and different.
That sounds selfish, I know. It is selfish. After all, unless someone is willing to try new drugs on their dogs, we’ll never find safe and effective (and better) new treatments.
But there has to be a balance. If my dog’s quality of life is poor, and the usual treatments are not working, heck, yes, I’d sign up to try a new and relatively untested but promising treatment. If it killed my dog, or made his condition worse, so that I ended up choosing to have him euthanized, I would feel terrible – and at the same time, glad that his life would have served to help other dogs. I’d want his adverse experience to be well-documented and reported to the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine; I’d pay for a necropsy (animal autopsy), so anything that could be learned about the drug’s safety or lack of safety would be learned.
But if my dog’s symptoms are mild, and I have not yet exhausted the range of long-proven drugs with good safety records, I’d hold off on agreeing to try the revolutionary new medicine that my vet just mentioned to me.
Which brings me to the topic of the responsibility of our dogs’ doctors and our own responsibilities as our dogs’ guardians:
We pay our doctors to give us their best professional opinions, but ultimately, it’s up to us to decide whether to administer any recommended treatments. No doctor is infallible – and not all doctors are equally skilled or informed. It’s their professional responsibility to offer informed treatment – and ours to determine, to the best of our ability, how well informed that treatment is.
Any time a doctor recommends a treatment, we should be asking about the product’s history and safety, its contraindications and risks. If your vet isn’t sure or can’t immediately produce that information, or makes it sound like the product has no risks or contraindications, take a pass for that visit and do some investigating yourself. All drugs pose risks, and advice from any doctor who suggests otherwise shouldn’t be heeded.
Priority one in finding and choosing a vet is that the veterinarian’s expertise meets your dog’s needs. Credit: Seventyfour | Getty Images
With today’s national shortage, how to find the best vet becomes even more difficult. But, you can do it! Keep these criteria in mind when choosing a veterinarian:
Knowledge and interests
Location
Personality
Cost
Emergency services
Reputation
How to Choose a Vet
All veterinarians go through veterinary school, but some have gone on to earn additional certifications or are really passionate about particular areas of medicine.
For example, a large animal vet who focuses on horses is probably not going to be the best option for your dog. And if you have show dogs who you might breed, you will want a vet who is interested in reproduction.
Dogs with health conditions may need a veterinary team that includes specialists who focus on particular areas of the body as well as a general practice vet who covers regular care like wellness visits, vaccinations, and minor or routine surgeries. This team might be spread over several veterinary clinics and hospitals, or might all be under one roof.
Location Decisions
Consider how far you are willing to drive on a regular basis for veterinary care. Healthy dogs generally only need to go to the vet once or twice a year, but puppies who are starting their vaccination series and dogs with health conditions may need more frequent visits. And, in an emergency, the closer you are to your veterinarian’s office, the better.
Veterinarian Personality
It doesn’t really matter how brilliant your vet is if you just don’t like her. You don’t need to be best friends with your vet, but you should get along with him or her as a person and trust their judgment.
Veterinary Cost
No one likes making veterinary decisions based on money, but it is a reality for many dog owners. If you have financial concerns, talk to the front office staff about the clinic’s policies and if they ever do payment plans now so you can plan ahead of time in case your dog ever has a medical emergency, if you do not have insurance.
Emergency Services
Medical emergencies love to happen on nights and weekends. Some clinics will see emergencies for pets that are already established as patients, while others do not see any after-hours emergencies. Find out what a prospective clinic’s policies are, and if they recommend a local emergency vet.
Once you know the clinic’s policies, think about how that makes you feel. Are you OK with going to an emergency hospital if something goes wrong on the weekend, or do you absolutely want to be able to call your regular vet at all hours? This might impact your decision.
Veterinary Reputation
Ask trusted friends which veterinarians they recommend and why. If you are new to the area, contact a local dog club to see who their membership recommends. You can also browse online reviews.
Always take reviews with a grain of salt. Medical care decisions can be extremely stressful, and owners sometimes lash out at the veterinarian even if the situation was not actually the vet’s fault. But if every single review is negative that might be a red flag.
How to Choose a Veterinarian Post-Pandemic
There are a whole lot more pets in most areas now than there are vets to care for them. Because of this, your preferred veterinarian may not be taking new clients.
Don’t despair! Move on to your second or third choice so that your dog is established with a clinic and able to get any care that he needs. You can always check back with your first-choice hospital in a couple months to see if they are accepting new clients and make the switch at that time.
Dog on beach in sun: Short-haired dogs and those with thin coats, and especially dogs with white coats and pink skin, can easily become sunburned – and sunburns can lead to the development of skin cancer, so protection from the sun is needed. Photo by Heather Paul, Getty Images
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Most dogs are covered from head to tail with a natural sunburn deterrent called fur. But despite this natural protective covering, dogs can still get sunburn on certain areas of their bodies.
Areas where their fur is thinnest or non-existent are particularly prone to developing sunburn. This includes the ears, nose, and the underside of the belly. And it’s not just dogs who like to lay on their backs in the sun that need protection on their bellies. The sun’s rays can be reflected up onto a dog’s belly from white sidewalks, beach sand, water, and snow, making this region vulnerable to sunburn during walks or water sports.
Naturally hairless breeds, like the Chinese Crested or Xoloitzcuintli, need sun protection for obvious reasons. But dogs with white, yellow, light gray, or tan haircoats typically have fair skin underneath, making them more susceptible to sunburn. Dogs with a thin haircoat or that have a condition causing patchy hair loss need protection from the sun’s harmful rays. Dogs who have been shaved, either as part of a grooming routine or because of a recent surgery, will need to be protected against sunburn.
There are a few ways that you can protect your best friend’s skin from the sun. These methods include using sunscreen made for dogs, dressing him in sun-protective clothing, and avoiding outdoor activities during the time of day when the sun’s rays are the most intense.
Sunscreen for dogs
There are several sunscreen products made specifically for dogs. Look for a product that has an SPF (sun protection factor) rating of at least 30 SPF and that provides protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Forms of dog sunscreens include both sprays and lotions.
Sunscreen sprays can be used on your dog’s body. Avoid using sunscreen sprays on or near your dog’s face as your dog could accidentally inhale the sunscreen during application. Use sunscreen lotion on sun-sensitive areas of your dog’s face, such as the nose and ears.
Sunscreen should be applied at least 15 minutes prior to going outside. Do not let your dog lick the sunscreen that has been applied to his skin. Reapply sunscreen every few hours and more often if he gets wet. Do not use sunscreen made for humans as these products may contain zinc oxide, PABA, or salicylates.
Sun-protective clothing for dogs
Provide your dog with sunscreen, sun-protective clothing, or a shade structure when visiting an especially bright, sunny environment. Photo by Giovanni Bortolani, Getty Images
Sun-protective clothing may be a good option for hairless breeds and dogs with thin hair coats or patchy areas of hair loss. There are a variety of clothing options available, including sun suits that provide excellent coverage of the body, neck, and limbs. Other options include t-shirts, neck gaiters, and hats.
Look for clothing that has a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) of 30 or greater. Most sun-protective clothing has a rating of 15, 30, or 50 UPF. A rating of 50 UPF means that the apparel is capable of keeping 98% of harmful UVA and UVB rays from reaching your dog’s skin.
Wearing sun-protective clothing may impair your dog’s ability to keep cool. You may want to avoid using sun-protective clothing if the outside temperature is greater than 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius). During the summer months, avoid using sun-protective clothing if the dew point is greater than 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius).
If your dog is panting or moving slower than usual while wearing sun protective clothing, remove the clothing and move him to a shady area. See “Heat Stroke in Dogs” for more information about how to help a dog exhibiting signs of heat stroke.
Avoiding your dog’s sun exposure
The sun’s ultraviolet rays are at their greatest intensity between the hours of 10am and 4pm. Dogs who are the most vulnerable to sunburn should avoid outdoor activity during these hours.
Sunburned skin does not become painful until after the damage has been done. Dogs who are laying outside in the sunshine may not move to a shady spot unless they become too warm. Skin can become sunburned in as little as 10 minutes on a high UV-index day.
How to treat sunburn in dogs
If your dog develops a sunburn, do not despair! Skin that is pink and not painful can be treated at home by bathing with a soothing oatmeal shampoo. After the soothing oatmeal bath, you can apply a layer of aloe vera gel or spray that is made specifically for dogs, such as Frisco’s Aloe Hydrating Spray.
Skin that is red and painful or that has developed blisters and flaking are indicators of more severe sunburn and should be assessed by a veterinarian. It can take 24 to 72 hours for sunburned skin to declare its true severity, so closely monitor your dog to ensure that his sunburn is improving and not becoming worse.
Bright sunlight does not need to be a deterrent to being outdoors. Utilize sun protection for both you and your dog and enjoy your outdoor activities!
As long as the spots on your dog’s tongue maintain a consistent appearance, and are flat and the same texture as the rest of his tongue, they are nothing to worry about. Photo by Yosanon Yingyuenyong, Getty Images.
Most dogs have pink tongues. Chow Chows and Shar Peis are the exception; these dogs may have purple or black tongues. But some dogs have pink tongues with black spots.
Normal, healthy dogs can have pink tongues with black spots. This is part of their natural pigmentation, like freckles in people. These dogs may also have black spots on their gums, lips, nose, eyelids, and paw pads. The black spots have been present at birth or developed when they were young puppies.
More than 30 breeds of dogs are known to have black spots on their tongues. This does not mean that they are mixed with Chow Chow or Shar Pei breeds. It is merely just part of their genetics to develop these spots.
Black spots on the tongue that are part of the normal pigmentation will be flat. They will also have the same texture as the rest of the tongue.
When to worry about black spots on your dog’s tongue
Black spots that are raised, ulcerated, or have a foul odor are not normal pigmentation. These abnormal black spots can be a sign of certain types of cancer in the mouth, like melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma. They can also be the result of oral ulcers, such as those found in dogs with kidney failure.
If you have any concerns about the black spots you are finding on your dog’s tongue (or anywhere in his mouth), have your dog examined by his veterinarian.
The best canine candidates for joining you as you dine al fresco are calm, relaxed characters who won’t leap to their feet every time a server approaches the table, or try to socialize with other dogs or people. Photo by RossHelen, Getty Images.
Americans are increasingly bringing their dogs with them when they go places, and to take advantage of this trend, many national chain restaurants have become known for welcoming dogs to join their humans for meals in their outdoor dining areas. Some even have special menus for dogs, or serve complementary treats or appetizers designed just for dogs.
The list of national-chain restaurants with dog-friendly outdoor dining areas grows longer all the time, but includes:
Applebee’s
Baja Fresh
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
Cracker Barrel
Dairy Queen
Dunkin’ Donuts
In-N-Out Burger
Joe’s Crab Shack
Johnny Rockets
Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar
Le Madeline
Noah’s New York Bagels
Olive Garden
Outback Steakhouse
Panera Bread
Shake Shack
Sonic Drive-in
Sprinkles Cupcakes
Starbucks
In addition to national chains, many local restaurants invite well-behaved dogs and offer amenities such as clean water bowls for their canine customers.
Is your dog restaurant-ready?
Sounds like fun, yes? But first, consider your dog. No matter how welcoming a restaurant, it won’t be a pleasant meal if you’ve brought the wrong date. If your pup is noisy, easily startled, unable to settle down, uncomfortable around other dogs, or needs constant supervision, make other arrangements. Your best canine dining companion is polite, quiet, relaxed, travels well, and responds appropriately to cues such as sit, down, stay, and leave it.
Most dog-friendly establishments are casual, informal, and spacious rather than crowded. To avoid last-minute disappointments, call ahead to verify the establishment’s pet policy in case it doesn’t match a recommendation or website description.
Bring a friend if you can, someone who understands dogs and can assist as needed. Try to visit early or late, when the restaurant isn’t busy, to minimize distractions. Park a comfortable distance away so that you can take your dog for a walk before entering and have pick-up bags ready to clean up after your dog. Use a well-fitting harness and short leash, not a retractable leash. Ask or look for a table that’s in a corner or out of the way. Even if your dog is well-behaved around small children, aim for a table near quiet adults rather than young ones whose excitement and interest may stress your pup.
Bring a mat for your dog to lie on plus a portable water bowl. To help your dog relax around food distractions, consider feeding her before leaving home, and bring treats. Have your dog sit or lie on the floor or ground, not in a chair, on the table, on your lap, or where he’s in the way of serving staff or other diners or where he might have his tail stepped on. Once seated, hold onto your dog’s leash by looping it around your wrist or use a hands-free leash that attaches to your belt. Don’t tie the leash to a chair, table leg, or gate that could get pulled over and cause mayhem if your dog spots a pigeon walking around the other outdoor tables. Last, don’t let your dog eat off of your plate, and don’t feed anyone else’s dog.
In other words, use common sense and good manners to ensure that you, your friend, your dog, and the diners around you all enjoy yourselves.
No matter how good your deaf dog’s training goes, it’s still important to take all measures to keep him safe. Credit: Sonya Kate Wilson | Getty Images
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If you have dog who is losing his hearing, you may wonder if a hearing aid would help. Right now, dog hearing aids must be custom fit for each dog, to the tune of $3,000 or more. The FETCHLab at the University of Cincinnati is one place where you can have a hearing aid made for your dog.
Your dog will need to be trained to wear the hearing aid, and adjustments may be necessary for both fit and settings. Also, hearing aids also will not work for dogs who have lost all hearing. This is because all hearing aids amplify hearing, but with congenital deafness there is no residual hearing left to amplify.
Collars that vibrate, called a vibration collar, can be useful a useful tool for training deaf dogs. This is not a shock collar, which we do not approve of using, and it should never be used as a correction collar. If you look at vibration collars, avoid any brands that are also capable of delivering a shock.
Whole Dog Journal Contributing Editor Pat Miller used two different vibration collars on her dogs to see how they worked, saying, that a vibration collar is “certainly something I recommend to owners of deaf dogs as a useful communication tool.” Of the two, she found the less expensive Wolfhill collar the better choice.
Deaf-Dog Care
For most dogs, management strategies are a simpler and less expensive way to handle a dog who cannot hear well.
These 10 management and training strategies may help our dog cope with hearing loss:
Start teaching hand signals for common skills and behaviors as soon as you notice signs of hearing loss. This will allow you to communicate with your dog visually.
Teach your dog to come inside from the yard or look at you when you blink the lights.
With the help of a trainer, introduce a vibrating deaf dog collar so you can get your dog’s attention at a distance.
Keep your dog on leash or in a fenced yard, as he won’t be able to hear approaching cars.
Stomp your feet when approaching your dog from behind so he can feel the vibrations of your approach and won’t startle.
Start teaching hand signals for common skills and behaviors as soon as you notice signs of hearing loss. This will allow you to communicate with your dog visually.
Teach your dog to come inside from the yard or look at you when you blink the lights.
With the help of a trainer, introduce a vibrating deaf dog collar so you can get your dog’s attention at a distance.
Keep your dog on leash or in a fenced yard, as he won’t be able to hear approaching cars.
Stomp your feet when approaching your dog from behind so he can feel the vibrations of your approach and won’t startle.
Is My Dog Losing Hearing?
Signs of hearing loss include:
Not meeting you at the door when you get home
Slow to respond to verbal cues
Not coming when called
Startling when approached from behind
Difficult to wake up
Hearing loss can be loosely split into two categories: congenital deafness and acquired hearing loss.
Congenital deafness is when your puppy is born deaf due to a genetic defect. Dogs with a lot of white on their heads, particularly if both parents are merles, are more likely to be born deaf. Deafness can often be noticed by 3 to 4 weeks of age by an astute observer, as these puppies won’t respond to loud noises or react to their siblings squealing. These dogs have no trouble navigating their silent world, as it is the only one they’ve ever known.
Acquired hearing loss is when your dog loses hearing later in life due to an injury, illness, or age-related changes. These dogs usually have progressive hearing loss, with subtle changes at first that gradually become more obvious.
We asked WDJ’s contributors for their recommendations for “things they can’t imagine living without” in their dog-care kits – their favorite dog toys, training tools, and treats. Here are some of the products that made their lists of things that they must have for their dogs.
Whole Dog Journal Contributor's Choice
MIGHTY PAW SMART BELL 2.0
The Mighty Paw light provides both light and audibles alerts. Credit: Nancy Kerns
Price: $30
When I adopted a young Beagle from a lab, I knew that I was in for a potty training challenge. Cienna spent the first eight months of her life peeing indoors. It was immediately apparent that when not crated, she had no concept of “holding it” or going to a particular location to relieve herself. She would happily squat wherever she was as soon as she felt the urge. Her last potty could have been three hours or five minutes prior, it didn’t matter. There was no schedule and she had no care in the world.
Even after acclimating her to the outdoors, treating her every time she happened to potty outside, and designating a potty spot that she used (on cue!) as soon as we got outside, she displayed no natural indicators of needing to go out. So I taught her to lay down to ask for things, and she started laying down at the door when she needed to potty! This was a huge breakthrough for her. The problem was, our front door was out of sight, and if we didn’t notice her heading to the door, she would have an accident.
I needed to teach her how to communicate in a way that was glaringly obvious to us. The Mighty Paw Smart Bell was the solution. This device has two parts: an oversized “activator” that your dog will touch and a receiver with a flashing light and a speaker that plays tones or songs (there are 38 tone/song options and four volume settings) when the button is touched. Instead of something that makes noise near the door (like bells hanging on the door), you plug the receiver into a regular wall outlet where you are most likely to hear it; it can be as far as 1,000 feet from the activator/transmitter button!
In five repetitions, Cienna learned to hit the activator successfully. Within five minutes, she learned to touch it when we were out of sight. As soon as she demonstrated the ability to do this, we had a system. Every time she hit the activator button, I would grab high-value treats from the fridge and take her straight out to her potty spot. After she relieved herself, she got the special goods. By the next day, she was using the button for this purpose regularly.
With the built-in adhesive on the activator, you can stick it on the floor so your dog can hit it with her paw, or stick it to a wall or door so she can boop it with her nose; it’s easy to depress from any angle. Sound-sensitive dogs will appreciate having the speaker separate from the activator – and hearing-impaired owners will appreciate the flashing-light feature. You can buy additional activator buttons if your want your dog to be able to alert you from more than one door – and additional receivers, too! There’s no limit as to how many activators or receivers can be synced together. I can’t recommend this device highly enough. The Mighty Paw Smart Bell saved my sanity – and my floors!
Seadent is an oral supplement that freshens breath and encourages canine dental health. Credit: Animal Essentials
Price: $18
It’s a challenge to keep our dogs’ breath sweet, teeth strong, and gums healthy, but these two products affect the oral microbiome, improving the dog’s ability to fight plaque and bacteria in the mouth without using disinfecting chemicals.
Animal Essentials SeaDent is an oral supplement that helps improve a dog’s breath and prevent dental problems. Its five plant enzymes, including lysozyme, combine with Norwegian kelp (Laminaria digitata) to control plaque and tartar, thus reducing the risk of gum disease. SeaDent’s digestive and antibacterial enzymes remove plaque by breaking down food particles trapped between teeth and under the gum lines. SeaDent powder is sprinkled onto the dog’s food once or twice per day. A 70-gram jar can last a small dog several months.
Added to a dogs drinking water Protektin42 encourages dental and gum health in dogs. Credit: Teef for Life
Price: $27 FOR 30 SERVINGS
Protektin42, a dental probiotic for dogs, was invented by a microbiologist after she almost lost her dog to a blood infection caused by periodontal disease. Added in small amounts to a dog’s drinking water, Protektin42’s beneficial bacteria slow the growth of pathogens above and below the gum line. The dental kit for dogs can be ordered with powder packets for 30, 60, or 90 servings, with refills available for storing in the kit’s glass jar. A sodium-free kidney-care version is also available.
Grayson staying cozy in his Voyagers K9 Winter Coat. Photo by Lauren Novack
Price: $101 – $207
I grew up with Irish Setters in Buffalo, New York, a place famous for its long, cold, snowy winters. As a born and raised Western New Yorker, I’ve always been used to bundling up to go outside. But coats on dogs? Totally unnecessary. That was for frou-frou owners who treated their dogs like babies.
Then as an adult in NYC I adopted Grayson, a mixed-breed dog with a short coat who started shivering when it hit 40 degrees. Well, that would not do. I now had to walk a dog who wore a coat, but I couldn’t find anything that fit him. If he was going to wear clothes, I needed it to cover his whole body and provide actual warmth! He was long and thin, so most of what I tried on him went only halfway down his back, and putting his paws through tiny little arm holes was frankly a huge pain in the you know what.
Then I found Voyagers K9 Apparel. Voyagers makes breed-specific dog coats and custom fit made-to-measure coats. They are well designed, requiring no finagling to get on your pup. The coat goes over the dog’s head and two straps hug the belly and Velcro to the opposite side. No paw handling necessary. If your pup wears a harness, Voyagers can put an opening at the top for your leash attachment.
There’s a fleece turtleneck that can come up over the dog’s ears on extra cold days. The inner shell is fleece-lined, and the outer shell is waterproof. And because you measure your pup before you order one (neck, back length, and chest), it actually fits and keeps them warm. And, they are machine-washable! It’s truly the best dog coat I have ever found, and I tell as many people as I can to get one.
My dog’s coat outlived him. It was still as good as new on the day that he passed. I don’t know what to do with it. It was made for him and kept him warm and happy on so many of our best adventures. I can still picture him wearing his coat and sprinting through the snow last winter, full of energy and life and joy.
I have a new pup now, a Beagle from a lab. She is very small (at 13 pounds, a veterinarian recently dubbed her a “micro Beagle”) and she doesn’t quite fit the standard breed sizing. This will be her first winter outside, and her very own made-to-measure Voyager K9 winter coat (and tummy warmer and rain coat) has been ordered and is on its way.
The Olive & Odin Poop Pouch provides a place to stash your doggy bags until long walks are done. Credit: Olive & Odin
Price: $23
The worst thing about being a responsible pet owner is carrying stinky bags full of poop for the duration of your outing with your dog. My walks with my dogs became so much more enjoyable when I discovered the Olive and Odin Poop Pouch. It seriously 100% locks in odor! The bag is made with a five-layer design (one layer is activated carbon) that locks in odors to keep your walk stink-free.
It’s also easy to use and carry. The top opens up wide, making it easy to drop a poop-filled bag into the Poop Pouch. You fold over the opening a couple of times and when you clip it together it keeps the folded edge completely closed.
And the 7-inch by 10-inch pouch holds a lot of poop! I walk two large-breed dogs who each poop at least twice on our walks and there is room to spare. You can clip the bag to a belt loop or backpack. The Poop Pouch also has a small pocket on the front (like for keys or an ATM card) and a poop-bag dispenser.
I have never had to clean it, I simply empty it when we get home and leave it standing open in the garage to air out. I have been using it for two years and hundreds of walks and it still smells fresh as a daisy!
Or the handle can be looped around itself: The Handle with the O-ring is long enough that, even if it’s looped through itself, there is still plenty of room for my hand.
We rarely feature different products from the same company two years in a row, but I have to make an exception for a product I didn’t know I needed until I had one. Last year, I raved about Trailblazing Tails’ long lines that are made of Biothane, a light but strong synthetic material that feels like leather (but doesn’t crack or dry out the way leather can when it gets wet and dries repeatedly). After running that review, Trailblazing Tails sent me some samples of their other products, including what is now my new favorite dog-walking accessory: The Handle.
I have a dozen or more leashes hanging up in my house by the door, tangled up in the way-back of my car, and strewn around my office. I’m never quite sure which leash is where, and I don’t really care – as long as I know the location of The Handle, a 101/2-inch-long, 5/8-inch wide handle that can be attached to any other leash (or clipped directly to a collar), to improve the handle’s comfort and grip. Whether I’m handling a big dog who is prone to lunging (par for the course when I’m doing some volunteer work with wayward adolescent dogs at the shelter), or taking ahold of a client’s crummy leash, I snap on The Handle to save my hands from rope burns and/or losing my grip on a rogue dog.
You can run the other leash’s handle through the O-ring and back through itself.
Although The Handle is available in Trailblazing Tails’ Premium Biothane – the regular, flat, smooth surface – for $20, I recommend the $2 upgrade to the Premium Supergrip Biothane, which is covered with rubbery soft bumps. Everyone who puts a hand on this handle immediately gets a surprised, happy expression on their face and says, “Oh!” The material is soft and grippy at the same time and supremely comfortable in the hand.
You can order The Handle in one of three colors (brown, black, or red) and with one of three ends: a snap, O-rings on both ends, or a 1-inch O-ring (that’s the one I have). Each of these connects in varying ways with some of Trailblazing Tails’ other leashes and long lines, some of which have snaps at each ends, or which can be fed through the O-rings and snapped back onto a sliding D-ring on the leash.
I use The Handle with all my other leashes by looping their handles through the 1-inch O-ring, or by looping The Handle itself around the leash’s handle. Either way works and improves the way every leash feels in my hands.
Bark Pouch provides a range of prepackaged and convenient treats that can be used anywhere with convenience.
Price: $7 – $8.25
I will never forget the time I spent an hour cutting a 2-pound bag of tiny treats into quarters. Even though I like to cook and chop veggies regularly, by the end I had blisters. Never again! Imagine if I had arthritis or carpal tunnel or was recovering from a hand or arm surgery? Forget it. Training would have just been off the table. Sure, there are some lickable options at Petco, but I don’t love the ingredients enough to make them a regular part of my dog’s diet or recommend them to clients.
With Bark Pouch, gone are the days of filling camping tubes or travel bottles with cream cheese and peanut butter. And I no longer subject myself to handling slimy hot dogs outside in cold weather. When I need an easy-to-handle, high-value treat that my dog will love, made with human grade ingredients, I just reach for a Bark Pouch.
With simple, short ingredient lists and five flavor recipes that your dog will love (Beef & Liverwurst, Peanut Butter & Blueberry, Salmon & Ricotta, Sardines & Cream Cheese, Turkey & Chicken), Bark Pouch will cut down on treat prep so you can just get training. They’re very versatile. I’ve used them for everything from teaching loose-leash walking, working with reactive dogs, luring dogs out of dangerous situations, muzzle conditioning, and continuous treating during medical handling. Feed it directly from the tube, or spread it on a LickiMat for enrichment. The only thing you can’t do with this high-value treat that you can do with hot dogs is toss it!
These are pricey, but Bark Pouch offers discounts for buying in bulk (35 or more pouches at once) or by subscription.
The Lucidium range of pet pens provide and unimpeded view for both you and your dog. Credit: Clearly Loved Pets.
Price: $370 – $550
Whether for potty training, dog/baby safety, travel, or crate rest after surgery, most dogs will need to be safely contained at some point in their lives. Teaching dogs to feel comfortable when their movement is restricted is a necessary part of responsible dog ownership.
There are many ways to contain a dog: crates, baby gates, tethers, and pens are the popular options. Dog stuff may not be as ugly as cat furniture, but they aren’t exactly designed for your dream home, either. That is unless you opt for a Lucidium Pet Pen from Clearly Loved Pets. With scratch-resistant aluminum frames that come in gunmetal, silver, or white, these transparent acrylic pens are a decor enthusiast’s dream. I discovered these pens a few years ago when I walked into a new client’s home and saw her dog curled up on a faux fur rug inside one of these beauties. I instantly fell in love (with the pen and the dog, of course).
These are higher-end, higher-cost containment systems, but they offer several advantages. There are no bars for your dog to chew on or use to climb. You can see your dog (and she can see you) without any obstruction, which seems to make many dogs behave as if they aren’t missing out on anything. They come in multiple sizes and can be arranged in a variety of shapes. You can up the aesthetic ante (and save your floors) by placing a washable rug or interlocking foam tiles on the floor to further delineate the area.
The smallest standard pen is 24 inches by 48 inches; the largest is 48 inches by 72 inches. But additional panels can be ordered to expand any pen.
These pens are available in two heights: 27 inches and 36 inches – so, they are not going to be useful for large dogs, or small dogs with high-jumping skills. They are perfect for puppies and smaller dogs – and I think they’d be perfect for a senior dog who needed to be contained but for whom ducking into a crate or turning around in a small space is difficult. (And it’s easy for you to access them, if, for example, you had to go into the enclosure to help them up.)
Prince and his Go Pro setup; the Fetch Dog Harness fits nicely over his fleece jacket, too. Photo by Dr. Jennifer Bailey
Price – $40
I recently bought myself a new toy: the GoPro Hero 11 action camera. I wanted a camera to document and share the many adventures that my dog, Prince, and I experience – hiking, biking, kayaking, and so much more. The GoPro Hero 11, with its high-resolution color and super smooth stabilization, fit the bill perfectly.
Prince and I were getting ready to attend the veterinary emergency and critical care conference in Denver, Colorado, last fall when I got a brilliant idea. Wouldn’t it be cool for the folks back home to see the conference from Prince’s perspective? To do this, I purchased the Fetch Dog Harness from GoPro so that Prince could direct his own movies.
The harness arrived the day before we left for the conference. Upon opening the package, I became a little apprehensive about how this would fit him. In all honesty, I had ignored the minimum weight requirement on the GoPro web page when ordering the harness. According to GoPro, the Fetch Dog Harness is fully adjustable for dogs weighing between 20 and 120 pounds.
Thankfully, Prince is a little more deep-chested than the average 17-pound dog. The instructions for adjusting the harness were clear and straightforward and the harness fit him perfectly. But the Fetch Dog Harness may not fit every dog who weighs less than 20 pounds.
For Prince’s first movie, I put the Fetch Dog Harness on him outside the conference hotel. We walked the grounds outside and then entered the hotel to finish walking to the conference center. He walked normally with the GoPro camera on his back. But I could tell that he was just humoring me by wearing the harness and was not terribly excited to be a part of my game plan.
Upon entering the conference hotel, people immediately started noticing that he was wearing a GoPro camera. Prince heard people’s comments as they passed him – “Look at the handsome dog!” and “Oh, cool! He’s wearing a GoPro!” Prince’s normal prancing gait turned into a proud and exaggerated strut as he walked toward the conference center.
Prince showed his audience how important it is to sniff bushes and check out the contents of people’s open bags and purses as he passed. He ended the movie by jumping up onto a chair in the conference hall and sitting down, ready to learn.
I put the Fetch Dog Harness on him later that morning so he could make a movie while walking about the exhibit hall. This time, he lowered his head and pushed himself into the harness. He patiently stood while I fastened the straps around his chest. Then he took off for the exhibit hall with such confidence and swagger. The movie was stable, crisp, and clear, even when he jumped two feet into the air demanding cookies!
Prince’s movies have been a hit with his fan club. If you have a GoPro camera, buy Go Pro’s Fetch Dog Harness so your dog can also be a famous director and star of his own show.
The bully grip prevents dogs from chewing the treat down to the point it poses a choking hazard. Credit: Bully Grip
I’m honestly not sure who loves bully sticks more: The dogs? Or the people who get to watch their dogs hold onto the stick with their paws and chomp away, knowing that their dog is happy (and quiet and occupied!).
There’s just one problem: that little choking hazard that occurs when the stick is chewed down to the end. Depending on your dog and the individual bully stick, the hazard could happen in 10 minutes, or 45 minutes, or two hours, or tomorrow. So you have to watch them – and you can’t put them in their crate and leave them with their favorite thing to do unless you have a Bully Grip – WDJ’s new favorite bully stick holder.
With a touch of water and a twist, the eco-friendly all-rubber Bully Grip grabs onto the end of that expensive bully stick and doesn’t let go. The stick can be chewed down to the last inch without worry. The Bully Grip comes in small, medium, and large to fit bully sticks of varying widths. Or, you can opt for the Bully Lok Chew Holder, which has a screw that can be turned to hold the bully stick in place and can be used with any size of stick.
These are available from the maker, as well as through Amazon.com.
Your dog may interact with toxic, poisonous plants at any time of the year, but for some reason, the holidays come with an overload of dangerous flowers, like poinsettia, and pine cones in the trees, and don’t forget the cookies. Credit: Jason Ondreicka | Getty Images
Many flowers and house plants are toxic for dogs. Calla lilies, jade plants, poinsettia, and mistletoe are just a few. Most toxic plants cause vomiting, diarrhea, and/or lethargy, but some can even be fatal when eaten in large quantities. During the holidays, the number of potential hazards for your dog are especially high.
If your dog is respectful of tables and counters, you can likely keep potentially toxic flowers and plants safely out of reach. Be sure that the arrangement is placed so that dead leaves will not land on the floor, as some dogs may try to eat these poisonous dropped leaves.
For dogs and puppies who like to explore the world with their mouths, more caution is warranted. A rambunctious teenage Labrador can easily bump a table and knock over a vase of tulips, and an avid counter surfer might grab for the carnations you thought were safe next to the sink.
What Flowers are Safe for Dogs?
Thankfully, many beautiful flowers are not toxic to dogs. If purchasing an arrangement for yourself or a fellow dog lover, consider blooms from this list:
If you suspect your dog has eaten something poisonous, call your veterinarian immediately. You may be instructed to give activated charcoal, but don’t unless you are instructed to do so.
If your dog has eaten a known poisonous plant or a plant that you aren’t familiar with, call a pet poison hotline to get the most up-to-date toxicity information. These services do charge a fee, but it is well worth it to get peace of mind or to have toxin experts guiding your veterinarian in making treatment decisions.
Your veterinarian has dozens of options when prescribing an antibiotic for your dog’s infection and will choose the most appropriate one, based on her professional experience and education. However, it can be helpful if you are aware of any contraindications or potential side effects of your dog’s medication. Credit: Nancy Kerns
Antibiotics are the best weapon in our medical arsenal for fighting bacterial infections in dogs. Prescribed and given appropriately, antibiotics give our dogs the best chance at recovery from an infection. It is important to note that antibiotics are effective only at treating bacterial infections, not canine viral,yeast, or fungal infections.
Some antibiotics are better suited for certain types of infections than others. Your veterinarian will select an antibiotic based on the type of infection your dog has and where that infection is located. The results of a bacterial culture and sensitivity test, when available, can also help direct the antibiotic selection.
Other considerations for antibiotic selection include which formulation is easiest to give your dog (liquid versus tablet), how much your dog weighs, how often the antibiotic needs to be given, what medications your dog is currently being given, and any reactions your dog has had to medications in the past.
You must give antibiotics exactly as prescribed by your veterinarian; there are serious consequences for antibiotic misuse for dogs. Always complete the full course of treatment, even if your dog seems to be feeling better. Contact your veterinarian if your dog experiences one or more side effects from the antibiotic. Your veterinarian may prescribe something to help alleviate the side effect or may prescribe a different antibiotic.
The following is an information guide to the most common antibiotics that are used in dogs.
Amoxicillin for Dogs
Common trade names: Amoxi-Tabs, Amoxi-Drop, Bimox.
Drug class: Penicillin
Indicated for: Respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal infections, skin infections (abscesses, lacerations, and wounds). Can also be used to treat Lyme disease in dogs who are sensitive to or are too young to receive doxycycline.
Contraindications: Should not be used in dogs who have had a previous hypersensitivity to any antibiotic in the penicillin or cephalosporin classes of drugs.
Potential side effects: Diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
Formulations available: Tablets, capsules, and oral suspension.
Amoxicillin/Clavulante for Dogs
Common trade names: Clavamox, Augmentin
Drug class: Penicillin
Indicated for: Skin infections (superficial and deep pyoderma), soft tissue infections (wounds, abscesses, cellulitis), periodontal infections, urinary tract infections, endocarditis (heart valve infections), and canine infectious respiratory disease complex caused by a bacterial infection.
Contraindications: Should not be used in dogs who have had a previous hypersensitivity to any antibiotic in the penicillin or cephalosporin classes of drugs.
Potential side effects: Diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite.
Formulations available: Tablets and oral suspension. Clavamox is the veterinary formulation and Augmentin is the human formulation. The ratio of amoxicillin to clavulanate is different between Clavamox and Augmentin, so prescribing Clavamox for dogs is preferred over prescribing Augmentin.
Azithromycin for Dogs
Common trade names: Zithromax
Drug class: Macrolide
Indicated for: Skin infections and other susceptible infections. Used to treat susceptible protozoal infections (Babesia gibsoni and microti, theileriosis, and cryptosporidiosis). Also used to treat ileus (cessation of normal gastrointestinal smooth muscle contractions).
Contraindications: Should be used with caution in dogs who have liver disease.
Potential side effects: Diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
Formulations available: Tablets, oral suspension. Also available as injection for veterinary use only.
Contraindications: Should not be used in dogs who have had a previous hypersensitivity to any antibiotic in the penicillin or cephalosporin classes of drugs.
Potential side effects: Diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
Contraindications: Should not be used in dogs who have had a previous hypersensitivity to any antibiotic in the penicillin or cephalosporin classes of drugs.
Potential side effects: Diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
Indicated for: Skin infections. Can be used for (but is not labeled for) urinary tract infections and periodontal infections. Can also be used for (but is not labeled for) treating Lyme disease in canine patients who are sensitive to or are too young to receive doxycycline.
Contraindications: Should not be used in dogs with a previous hypersensitivity to any antibiotic in the penicillin or cephalosporin classes of drugs. Should be used with caution in dogs with kidney disease. The safe use of this drug in puppies younger than 4 months of age has not been established.
Potential side effects: Diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. This is a long-acting antibiotic. Side effects can remain for up to two months following injection. Anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction) has been reported but is rare.
Formulations available: Injection for veterinary use only.
Clindamycin for Dogs
Common trade names: Antirobe, Cleocin.
Drug class: Lincosamide.
Indicated for: Skin infections, dental infections (such as tooth root abscesses), osteomyelitis (bone infections), systemic infections (such as sepsis), surgical prophylaxis (such as before a dental procedure or before a surgical procedure if a dog is hypersensitive to amoxicillin). Also used for susceptible protozoal infections (Babesia gibsoni, Hepatozoon canis, Neospora, and Toxoplasma).
Contraindications: Should be used with caution in dogs who have severe kidney and/or liver disease. Unlike in humans, use of clindamycin in dogs is not associated with an increased risk of severe Clostridium difficile infection and associated diarrhea.
Potential side effects: Diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Can cause esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus) if not given with food or water.
Formulations available: Tablets, capsules, oral solution. Also available as injection for veterinary use only.
Doxycycline for Dogs
Common trade names: Vibramycin, Doxy 100, Doxirobe (periodontal gel).
Drug class: Tetracycline.
Indicated for: Leptospirosis, several tick-borne diseases (anaplasmosis, Lyme disease, erlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, babesiosis), and periodontal infections. Also part of the treatment plan for canine heartworm disease.
Contraindications: Do not give with multivitamins, calcium supplements, antacids, or laxatives two hours before or after giving doxycycline; these products may inactivate doxycycline. Should be used with caution in dogs with severe liver disease.
Potential side effects: Vomiting, nausea, and loss of appetite. Can cause esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus) if not given with food or water. May cause your dog’s skin to become more at risk for developing sunburn, particularly on the nose, eyelids, ears, and underside of the dog’s belly. It’s rare, but it can cause discolored baby teeth in puppies or interfere with the formation of enamel on adult teeth as they are developing in puppies.
Formulations available: Tablets, capsules, oral suspension. Also available as a gel for application under the gums for treatment/prevention of periodontal disease (for veterinary use only).
Erythromycin for Dogs
Common trade names: Gallimycin.
Drug class: Macrolide.
Indicated for: Susceptible infections. Should only be prescribed if a bacterial culture and sensitivity test indicates that this is the best antibiotic to address your dog’s infection. Also used to treat ileus (cessation of normal gastrointestinal smooth muscle contractions).
Contraindications: Should be used with caution in dogs who have the MDR1 (ABCB1) gene mutation. (The breeds that most commonly have this mutation include Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, Australian Shepherds, Old English Sheepdogs, English Shepherds, German Shepherds, Long-Haired Whippets, Silken Windhounds, and mixed-breed dogs descended from one of those breeds.)
Potential side effects: Diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite.
Formulations available: Tablets, capsules, oral suspension. Also available as injection for veterinary use only.
Marbofloxacin/Zeniquin for Dogs
Common trade names: Zeniquin
Drug class: Fluoroquinolone
Indicated for: Skin infections, urinary tract infections, and leishmaniasis.
Contraindications: Do not give at the same time as other medications. Do not give with multivitamins that contain certain minerals, such as calcium, iron, magnesium, aluminum, or zinc. Should be used with caution in dogs who have severe kidney or liver disease. Should be used with caution in dogs who have a seizure disorder. May cause your dog’s skin to become more at risk for developing sunburn, particularly on the nose, eyelids, ears, and underside of the dog’s belly. * Note: The use of fluoroquinolones is contraindicated for puppies during their rapid growth phase. The rapid growth phase begins at 2 months of age in all puppies and ends at 8 months old for small and medium breed dogs, 1 year of age for large breed dogs, and 18 months old for giant breed dogs. The use of fluoroquinolones in puppies has been shown to cause cartilage deformation within their joints when given for prolonged periods of time at high doses.
Potential side effects: Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and loss of appetite.
Formulations available: Tablets.
Metronidazole for Dogs
Common trade names: Flagyl
Indicated for: Severe systemic infections caused by anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that do not require air to grow). May also be used for enteritis (gastrointestinal infections) caused by Clostridium species of bacteria, gastritis (stomach infection) caused by Helicobacter, giardiasis (when used in combination with fenbendazole), hepatic encephalopathy, and canine chronic ulcerative stomatitis.
Contraindications: Should be used with caution in dogs who have severe liver disease.
Potential side effects: Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and loss of appetite. Can cause nervous system side effects, including ataxia (wobbly gait) and nystagmus (rapid eye movement).
Formulations available: Tablets, capsules, oral suspension. Also available as injection for veterinary use only.
Contraindications: Do not give at the same time as other medications. Do not give with multivitamins that contain certain minerals, such as calcium, iron, magnesium, aluminum, or zinc. Should be used with caution in dogs who have severe liver disease. Should be used with caution in dogs who have a seizure disorder. * Note: The use of fluoroquinolones is contraindicated for puppies during their rapid growth phase. The rapid growth phase begins at 2 months of age in all puppies and ends at 8 months old for small and medium breed dogs, 1 year of age for large breed dogs, and 18 months old for giant breed dogs. The use of fluoroquinolones in puppies has been shown to cause cartilage deformation within their joints when given for prolonged periods of time at high doses.
Potential side effects: Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and loss of appetite.
Formulations available: Tablets, oral suspension.
Trimethoprim/Bactrim for Dogs
Common trade names: Bactrim, Sulfatrim, TMS
Indicated for: Skin infections, urinary tract infections, and leishmaniasis. Indicated for treatment of pneumocystis pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis jiroveci. Also used for susceptible protozoal infections (Hepatozoon americanum, Neospora, and Toxoplasma) and for coccidiosis.
Contraindications: Should be used with caution in dogs who have moderate to severe kidney or liver disease. A serious immune-related condition called sulfonamide-induced polysystemic immune complex disease (SPICD) can develop in dogs taking trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Doberman Pinschers, Samoyeds, and Miniature Schnauzers are at increased risk for developing SPICD.
Potential side effects: Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye).
Some people may need an emotional support dog to cope with life, but in order for that dog to qualify you for benefits, you need your mental health professional to write a letter. Credit: Little City Lifestyle Photography | Getty Images
It’s a trick! Emotional support animals are not registered in any database. What you do need is a letter from your licensed mental health professional that you need an emotional support animal.
What Is an Emotional Support Animal?
An emotional support animal (ESA) is any critter that provides comfort, companionship, and relief for a person who has an emotional or mental condition. Canine ESAs help their owners cope simply by being present.
These dogs are not service dogs. Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks to aid people with disabilities. Seeing eye dogs are the most common example, but there are countless other tasks that dogs can perform to help their owners navigate daily life. For example, a psychiatric service dog might be trained to remind the owner to take their medications or guide their person to safety during a panic attack.
Emotional Support Dog Training
No specific training or certification is needed for the dog to be an ESA. Emotional support dogs do, however, need basic training and socialization, just like any other dog, so that they are not dangerous or disruptive when out in public.
Service dogs are legally protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and can go pretty much anywhere with their handlers. Emotional support dogs do not count as service dogs because they do not have specific training, and they do not have the same legal rights.
The primary area where emotional support dogs have extra benefits is in housing. Landlords cannot bar you from renting with an ESA and can’t charge pet fees. Some businesses and restaurants may allow ESAs access where other pets are denied, but this can vary. Airlines are no longer required to allow ESAs to fly for free.
Emotional Support Dog Certification
Rather than any sort of certification, in order to have an emotional support dog you need an Emotional Support Animal letter from a licensed medical human-health professional.
What does this mean? It means that you need to be seeing a therapist, psychiatrist, or psychologist, and that professional must determine that you can benefit from having an ESA and write a letter stating that. This letter is what gives your ESA access to housing that doesn’t otherwise allow dogs.
There are many websites out there that advertise that they will register your dog as an ESA and sell you vests and badges. But these bells and whistles will get you nowhere without a legitimate ESA letter from a mental health professional.
Who doesn’t love a puppy? Keeping your puppy healthy means giving them time to mature physically as well as mentally and feeding an appropriate quality food. Credit: Marko Paakkanen | Getty Images
Puppies differ from adult dogs both in physical maturity and in their behavior. Although the exact timeframe varies by size and breed, pretty much all dogs are considered adults by 2 years of age.
When Do Dogs Stop Growing?
Scientifically, your dog stops growing when the growth plates in her bones seal up and are no longer creating new bone. This can be seen on an X-ray. Puppies will have black lines toward the ends of all of their longer bones, while adult dogs do not.
The timing of growth-plate closure is controlled by hormones and varies with the size of the dog. Small-breed dogs, under 20 lbs of adult weight, tend to mature more quickly, while large breeds, with a mature weight of over 70 lbs, take the longest. Toy breeds can be done growing around 1 year of age, while giant breeds will continue to grow until their second birthday, and they will continue to “bulk up” for several years after that.
Most medium-size dogs, between 20 and 50 lbs, are done growing around 18 months of age.
How Long is a Dog Considered a Puppy for Food?
Your dog should be eating puppy food until his growth plates close. Those growing bones require a lot of extra nutrients and minerals. It won’t hurt to leave him on the food a little longer, as long as he doesn’t gain excess weight.
General guidelines for when to switch to adult food are:
Small dogs: 9 months
Medium dogs: 12 months
Large dogs: 18 months
Giant breeds: 18 to 24 months
Large- and giant-breed puppies should eat food specifically formulated for large-breed puppies to support optimal growth of those big bones. You should feed a food labeled for “Growth/Reproduction” or for “All Life Stages.” If you have a large-breed dog, read the AAFCO nutritional statement on the bag of food, which should state if it is acceptable for puppies who will mature at 70 lbs of weight or more.
Tip: If you’re nervous about when to make the change from puppy food to adult food, you can feed a diet that covers all your bases. All Life Stages foods provide everything that both puppies and adult dogs need. Check out Whole Dog Journal’sapproved dry foods and approved canned foods for help sorting among the many different brands of food.
How Long is a Dog a Puppy Mentally?
Puppy brains go through many of the same processes that child brains go through. Your adolescent puppy may have a mostly mature body, but her brain isn’t there yet. Adolescence ends around 18 to 24 months for most dogs.
A couple of days ago, I received a text from a dog-training client, wondering about a video she had just watched—and which she linked in the text. “Is meat meal bad for dogs?” she asked. She followed that message with, “I get that she’s selling her own pet food, but is it (meat meal) that bad?”
