The only way to be sure your dog doesn't produce unwanted puppies is to get your female dog spayed or your male dog neutered (castrated). Intact male dogs and bitches in heat have an uncanny way of finding [more…]
Your dog's digestive system is an amazing mechanism that takes in food, grinds it up, and converts it to nutrients that can be absorbed and used by your dog's body. The digestive tract converts food into [more…]
Euthanizing a beloved senior dog is probably the most traumatic experience you'll ever face in your time with her. Because you loved your senior well, you can't avoid the pain that comes with such a loss [more…]
To be a good neighbor, you need to keep your puppy quiet when you're away from home. No puppy enjoys being left alone — she's sociable by nature. Don't be surprised if she thinks of some activities to [more…]
While Chihuahuas have fewer genetic defects than many breeds (maybe because so many breeders try hard to eliminate problems), no breed is perfect. The following sections show you some idiosyncrasies — [more…]
Looking at your Pug's short-haired coat, you probably find it hard to imagine that he needs much primping and preening to keep him clean, but even Pugs need some grooming. His ears need to be wiped out [more…]
One of the more difficult parts of having a canine friend is that you must watch him or her age. As they age, dogs experience many of the same physical and mental changes that humans do. They find it a [more…]
Parasites are the ultimate opportunists, living on the skin, in the intestine and just about anywhere they can gain a foothold. Luckily, with the excellent veterinary preventive medicine programs available [more…]
Many puppy buyers are not aware that some breeds, such as the Doberman pinscher, have their dewclaw, an unnecessary toe on the back of the leg that's an evolutionary leftover, removed to give the leg a [more…]
In spite of the efforts of responsible Jack Russell breeders to rid the breed of all genetic problems, some disorders still pop up from time to time. This article shows you discusses some of the more common [more…]
Depending on your Jack Russell Terrier's outside activities, you should only have to bathe him every month or less. Of course, if your terrier is out rolling in the dirt on a daily basis, you may have [more…]
Your Golden Retriever puppy has a built-in timer that prompts him to eat on schedule. Give him three meals a day for the first three months and then feed him twice a day for the rest of his life. Most [more…]
Your puppy's first trip to the veterinarian is almost as much about educating you as checking out the puppy. Besides your many questions and concerns, you need to bring two things with your puppy to the [more…]
Choosing which food to feed your retired racer isn't as simple as walking into the grocery store and buying the biggest, least expensive bag of food on the shelf. All dog foods are [more…]
The time may come when you want to take your dog with you when you're flying somewhere. Although all you have to do to fly is buy a ticket, pass through security, and get on the plane, things get a lot [more…]
Cancer occurs frequently in all breeds of dogs, and some breeds are predisposed to certain types of cancer. Unfortunately, the German Shepherd is one of them. [more…]
Dogs don't get cavities the way humans do, but they do get plaque, tartar, and gingivitis — all of which can cause foul breath and tooth problems. Trips to the doggie dentist can end up being costly, and [more…]
Despite taking preventive measures, a Dachshund sometimes will suffer a disk herniation where the disk bulges out from between the vertebrae in the spinal column. If this happen to your dog, you must know [more…]
All dogs are social by nature, as proven by the formation of packs. When you separate your puppy from his littermates, you and your family effectively become his pack. When you have to be gone, whether [more…]
Most mature dogs catch a nap when their owners leave the house, but some pitch a fit when they're home alone. They may chew on the carpet, shred the toilet paper, urinate, bark nonstop, or any combination [more…]
While Labrador Retrievers tend to be healthy, some genetic disorders do occasionally occur. These are some of the more common genetic disorders in Labrador Retrievers: [more…]
Shepherds love to chew. If you leave them to their own devices, they will chew shoes, furniture, walls, and anything else that will succumb to their vice-grip jaws. [more…]
When people use the generic term worms in describing puppy parasites, they are usually talking about roundworms, or ascarids. That's because hardly a single puppy avoids being born infested with the pest [more…]
There aren't many food items that some dog lover hasn't popped a pill into to try to get their dog to eat it. Peanut butter and hot dogs have always been popular, but cheese [more…]
Blind dogs can live comfortably. Some sightles canines take quite a while to even recognize the full limitations of their handicap, since vision usually diminishes progressively and isn't a dog's primary [more…]