Pet Wellness Advocate
Forbidden Foods for Dogs --- Or Not? LinkAKC recently asked me to do an online Q & A interview --- but they weren’t really able to fully use my answers. So I thought I’d give you the unredacted version! 1. Is it OK to give your dog beer occasionally?I’ve had a dog or two in... Read more »
Sponky the Yorkie is Itchy Gloria, sent me an email asking for my advice because Sponky, her 11-year-old Yorkie, is itchy. Very itchy! Skin problems are common and the No. 1 reason that people take their pets to the vet. Unfortunately, this is often a poorly managed problem when the dog or cat is put... Read more »
Cold Weather Dangers - How Cold Is Too Cold? In some parts of the U.S., “spring has sprung” but in the Northeast, like Vermont where I live with two thin-coated Weimaraners, we have another two months of winter to bear, including a current windy cold snap in the single digits. Therefore, vigilance about keeping your... Read more »
Cold Dog Paws in Frosty Weather Protect your dog’s feet in the winter Since dogs have sweat glands in their toes, the moisture there can form into balls of ice when they abruptly leave a warm indoor environment and go into very cold temperatures. These ice balls can be so uncomfortable that a dog will... Read more »
Like Presidents, Dogs May Go Gray When Stressed A new study, co-authored by author and scientist Temple Grandin and published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science explores whether anxiety and impulsiveness may contribute to premature graying in dogs. The research focused on a sample of 400 dogs, age 1 to 4 years old, found... Read more »
In an article published January 1 in The New York Times, the columnist pointed out that by law city shelters and pet stores are required to microchip animals before selling them or releasing them for adoption. The author mentioned that the chip should be registered, but the “rest of that story” is where the slippery... Read more »
Dog Talk University Debuts: Myths About Dog Vomiting After my last blog on the basics of how and why a dog vomits, I realized there was a need for some shorter informational radio podcasts in which I could impart some basic information about pet health and wellness. I figured it might be easier on the... Read more »
What Does It Look Like When a Dog Vomits? This is a quick “Vomit 101” so you can be aware and prepared for what happens when a dog throws up. (If you have my book THE DOG BIBLE: Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know then you probably don’t panic if your dog throws up... Read more »
Dog with Goopy Eyes? A Totally Natural Remedy! I've been taking tracking lessons with my darling four-month-old Weimaraner puppy Wanda, working with Kathy Jo Magan, who is widely known as a tracking and Schutzhund trainer and competitor. Lucky for me, she leaves her Florida home base (where she also breeds Belgian Malinois and Corgis!) and... Read more »
Nobody Likes to Hear Their Dog is Fat! Canine etiquette question: what do you say when you encounter someone whose dog is seriously overweight? I have been in this predicament more than several times and am torn between not wanting to offend or alienate the person, and advocating for a diet and change in feeding... Read more »