Puppy & Dog Health Care Tips

Keeping Your Canine Cool This Summer

When the temperature goes up, your heat-alert level should be up, too. If your dog is panting heavily, salivating, or foaming, he may be having a heat-related problem. These tips can help you avoid a dangerous situation before it starts—and tell you what to do if your dog is showing symptoms.

Cleaning Your Dog’s Face and Eyes

Dog faces can be cute, adorable, joyful, soulful, noble, and commanding. They are capable of communicating a wide range of emotions. And they have the power to look deeply into our souls and touch us on an elementary level. They are also prone to attracting schmutz and getting dirty.

Bath Time Made Easy (Really!)

For some dog owners, bath time is pure canine chaos. One minute your pooch is calm, then, when he sees the shampoo and grooming tools, he becomes a running, squirming, shaking mess.

How Can I Get Rid of Dog Breath?

Do you think your dog's bad breath is just what a dog's breath smells like? There's good news: Dog breath doesn't have to send you running away from your pet. Here are some steps you can take to freshen up the situation.

In the Swim With Your Dog

Who doesn't love to watch a dog as he wades into water and instinctively begins to doggie paddle his way across a pond or pool? The fact is, most dogs enjoy the water–at least enough to wade in–and many are natural swimmers.

Summer music festivals are goin’ to the dogs!

There are a host of dog-friendly music festivals across the country perfect for you and your four-legged bestie. Whether you explore the Woof Fest in Denver, Colorado; DoggieStock Music Fest in Washington State or Woofstock in Ohio, you’ll find music, excitement and festivities for a summer of fun.

Go for a hike!

Most small dogs are natural lovers of the outdoors. And, your small dog just might jump up and wag his tail at the phrase, 'Let's go hiking!' To him, there's very little that's more exciting than exploring endless trails and letting his big personality shine through.

Keeping Your Pet Safe and Secure

The time to prepare for the possibility that your dog can go missing is now, when he’s safe at home. Here are a few things you can start to do today:

Oral Care: Preventing Gum Disease & Serious Problems

With proper daily oral care and a healthy diet, you can make a positive difference in the health of your dog’s teeth and gums.

The Facts About Spaying and Neutering

Each day thousands of puppies and kittens are born in this country and many will end up in shelters. The good news is you can personally make a difference by spaying or neutering your dog.

Sadly, there are still many misconceptions about spaying and neutering. Once you know the facts, you’ll agree—spaying and neutering just makes sense.

Give Your Dog a Healthy Valentine

With Valentine’s Day approaching, you might be tempted to give your canine pal a special treat or two. As tempting as it is to sneak him a piece of Valentine’s candy, don’t give in. Sugar is high in calories and chocolate is toxic for dogs.

Winter Activities That Are Fun

The nights are colder, the days are shorter, and your dog’s favorite chew toy is buried under ten inches of snow. What a perfect day to play with your dog. While not all dogs care for snow in the same way, they all still need regular exercise to stay fit and healthy for life. Here are few games you can try to help boost your dog's energy and fitness level over the next few winter months.

Hitting the Road Together: 10 Tips

Dogs make great traveling companions. But there are certain challenges that come with taking your canine with you on a road trip. Here are 10 tips to make your next long-distance drive safe and fun for both of you.

New Year's Resolutions to Make for Your Dog

By now you may have made your New Year's resolutions. But have you made resolutions that will help make your dog happier and healthier in the year to come? Here are a few easy-to-keep resolutions that will get the year off to a great start.

Should You Share Holiday Leftovers with Your Dog?

Fall Activities With Your Dog

Congratulations, you’ve made it through the dog days of summer. Now that the heat and humidity levels have eased, you and your dog can look forward to a fresh, new season of fun activities. Here are a few of our favorites:

Discover the Breeds in Your Mixed-breed Dog

July Fireworks: Keeping Them Calm

Does the BIG-BANG-BOOM!!!!! of fireworks turn your pooch into a scaredy-dog? We have some helpful advice.

The Benefits of Growing Up with Pets

The relationship between children and their pets is special and comforting, and brings with it many benefits for the child's development. Studies have shown that children with pets have higher self-esteem, improved social skills, and are more popular with their peers. They learn nurturing skills, as well as show improved empathy and a more caring attitude. There is also evidence that pet ownership may help to develop non-verbal communication.

Celebrate Earth Day With Your Dog

Celebrate St. Patty’s Day With Your Dog

Hiking With Your Dog

A Short History of Poodle Grooming

While the distinctive hairdo might seem more like a fashion statement than a necessity, the Standard Poodle haircut makes sense once you understand the breed's history.

All About The Yorkie’s Hair

With its long silky hair, the Yorkshire terrier has one of the most distinctive coats in the canine world. And while this luxurious coat is beautiful, it can also be quite a job to care for.

Coping with a Golden’s Shedding

Poodle Hair Care 101

Your handsome Poodle is a study in hair-ology with so many pigment variations and textures! Your poodle might be one of 10 colors — from silver to apricot, champagne to café-au-lait — with hair quality ranging from wavy to soft, wooly to coarse. Poodles are also unique in that they have hair rather than fur, so they rarely shed.

The Shih Tzu and Renal Dysplasia

Degenerative Myelopathy in German Shepherds

A Few Shih Tzu Health Concerns

Each breed has its own set of health problems. Luckily for the Shih Tzu, their list of health worries is relatively short! Working our way from head to toe, here is a list of the most common Shih Tzu health concerns.

Top 5 Yorkie Health Risks

Smart, lively, and inquisitive, Yorkshire Terriers are lovable companions. But like all breeds, they have their vulnerabilities. Knowing the health risks that affect your Yorkie can facilitate prevention and early detection and, ultimately, help keep him feeling like top dog.

Health Risks for Labrador Retrievers

Strong, smart, playful, and friendly, Labrador Retrievers are lovable companions. But like all breeds, they have their vulnerabilities. Knowing the health risks that affect your Lab can make early detection and prevention easier, and keep him feeling like top dog.

The Toy Poodle’s 5 Biggest Health Risks

As a Toy Poodle owner, you can consider yourself lucky. Your cuddly little breed is not only a generally healthy one, it has a life expectancy of as long as 18 years. Of course, like all purebred dogs, the Toy Poodle does have its share of inheritable health problems.

The life stages of dogs

This article guides you through the life stages of dogs, so you'll know what to expect.

Protecting Your Dog’s Paws

Winter can be brutal on your dog's paws. The cold weather, snow, and ice can lead to cracked or peeling paw pads—and that can be painful for your pooch. Fortunately, you can take a few simple steps to prevent pad problems and keep your dog comfortable.

Common diseases in older dogs: Cushing's Disease

Cushing's Disease (also known as "hyperadrenocorticism") is a disorder in which the adrenal gland produces excessive cortisol, a natural steroid hormone.

Common Diseases in Older Dogs: Idiopathic Vestibular Disease

Can Cranberries Cure Canine Troubles?

Is autumn's most popular berry good for your dog? The answer may be "YES." But before you add cranberries to his food bowl this Thanksgiving, you should know a few things about this berry's canine health benefits and limitations.

Dry or Canned: Which is Best?

When Should You Switch Your Senior Dog to Soft Food?

When it comes to dietary needs, every dog has individual needs, regardless of age. So there's no one easy answer to the question of soft food versus hard food. Both types of food can provide your dog with the nutrition your dog needs—providing you are feeding your dog a quality dog food that is nutritionally balanced and complete.

Overcoming Canine Obesity

Obesity is the most common canine nutritional disease in this country, occurring in up to 25% of dogs. While the many problems associated with weight gain are frightening, it's reassuring to know that by keeping your dog at a reasonable weight, you can reduce his chances of diabetes, heart disease, orthopedic problems, and possibly even cancer.

Common diseases in older dogs: Loss of appetite

Common diseases in older dogs: Urinary Tract Infection

Your Dog’s Primal Need to Be Walked

Walking your dog each day is Canine Care 101. A walk provides your pooch with exercise and, of course, a potty break. But there's another reason why that daily stroll is so important—and it has to do with instinct.

Common Diseases in Older Dogs: Skin Lumps

It happens to many dog owners: You stroke your dog and suddenly feed an odd bump on your dog's skin. What could it be?

Why Does My Dog Chew on His Leg?

It's not uncommon to see your dog chew on his leg or paw—after all, even dogs get occasional itches that need scratching. But if your dog has become an obsessive chewer of his leg or paw, there may be a serious problem underlying his behavior, and an examination by his veterinarian could be necessary.

Making it Easier for Older Dogs to Get Around

There are ways you can make life easier and more comfortable for older dogs that have arthritic joints, hip problems, or other complications that make it difficult to get from here to there.

Exercises for your older dog

No matter how old he is, when a dog is active and stimulated it's good for his overall well-being: physically, mentally and emotionally. In fact, exercise is the very thing a dog needs to maintain his quality of life as he ages.

The Serious Benefits of Play

Playing and having fun helps to eliminate stress from your life—and the same holds true for your dog. In fact, incorporating various forms of play into your dog's daily routine is vital to helping him develop a healthy, loving personality.

Is Your Dog Coughing And Sneezing?

Does My Dog Need A Winter Coat?

If you've always considered dog coats and sweaters silly accessories for overindulged pets, there's something you should know. Many breeds actually need winter coats or sweaters to brave the winter weather. Here's how to determine whether your dog is a candidate for outerwear.

Common diseases in older dogs: Seizures

While seizures are indicative of canine epilepsy, the fact that an older dog can have seizures doesn't mean they are epileptic. In fact, it's uncommon for epilepsy to appear in senior dogs if they didn't already have the condition as a younger dog.

Caring For Dogs With Chronic Kidney Failure

Chronic kidney failure is a relatively common problem in dogs. Although it can occur in young dogs, it's more commonly seen in seniors. The more you know about this serious condition, the better off your dog may be.

Why Does My Dog Scoot His Rear End?

Are Rawhides Good for Your Dog?

There’s no doubt about it—dogs love to chew. And fortunately, chewing provides some real benefits. It can be a great stress reliever and also scrapes away tartar and calculus from your dog’s teeth and gums where harmful bacteria can form. But what is an appropriate chew toy for your dog?

Common diseases in older dogs: Urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence—the inability to hold urine in the bladder—is not an uncommon occurrence in older dogs. This is just one more example of how similar humans and dogs are as they age.

How To Take Your Dog’s Temperature

Treating Paw Pad Injuries