Basics of Puppy Care

Having your dog tested for heartworms is one of the most important things you can do to insure the health of your pet as well as those living within the traveling range of mosquitoes from your house.
Heartworms are not a new deadly parasite. There was mention of them more than 100 years ago in the [...]

Regular grooming of your puppy is very important. Not only are good grooming practices beneficial to the puppy’s well being; regular grooming will save you a lot of housecleaning time because you’ll have a lot less loose hair to deal with.
Some may look at summertime as a season when you can cut the puppy’s hair [...]

All dogs will occasionally blast you with bad breath. It is important to understand the difference between breath that is foul because the dog ate something he or she should not have and bad breath that can be a sign of a serious health issue.
Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is the result of a [...]

Your dog is drinking an excessive amount of water. He or she is urinating a lot more than usual. You are noticing that Fido is losing weight. Your dog seems lethargic. He or she wants to sleep most of the time. What does it mean?
While these symptoms can be an indication many illnesses, it is [...]

It is important to monitor your dog’s urination habits. Unfortunately, dogs do get bladder stones. Your monitoring vigilance can mean the difference between soothing relief and prolonged pain for the dog.
The medical terminology for canine bladder stones is urolithiasis. Bladder stones can be found anywhere in the urinary tract, including the kidneys and the ureters, [...]

Broken bones are all too common among dogs and you need to be prepared in order to handle the bad situation.
Most broken bones in dogs are the result of two things – automobile accidents and falls from high places. Great care should be taken to avoid these injuries. When the worst-case scenario does happen, it [...]

Canine hip dysplasia is a debilitating disease that can affect all dogs. However, it is most common in larger breeds of dogs because of the fact that they weigh more than smaller breeds.
Hip dysplasia is an inherited disease that is the result of an abnormal looseness between the ball, which is also known as the [...]

Dogs need to have a balanced diet to keep them healthy and active.
Most dogs do get a complete and balanced diet that contains the vital vitamins and minerals if they eat a good quality dog food that has been made according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s guidelines. Dogs that are fed a [...]

You are at wit’s end dealing with fleas. The dog is almost bald. You have just paid out enough money to the vet that you figure you own stock in the practice, but at least you brought home enough flea-killing products for both the dog and the interior of your home to start your own [...]

A clean dog bed is vital to the good health and happiness of your dog, especially in areas where fleas, ticks and lice are prevalent.
One of the best things you can do to help make house cleaning easier is to provide any dogs in the house with their own beds. This helps to keep the [...]

Although there are many commercial shampoos available for puppies, some people prefer to make their own. Preparing the shampoo is rather easy and the homemade variety will usually cost less than the commercial products.
Most recipes for homemade shampoos include a mild dish washing detergent such as Dove or Ivory. If the puppy has gotten into [...]

Just about the time you thought you’ve heard it all, along comes doga, a form of yoga adapted for canines. In a typical doga session, dogs and their owners work through a yoga routine together.
Suzi Teitelman, an American yogini and the director of yoga for Crunch Fitness NYC, devised the concept of doga after noticing [...]

Most dog breeds do shed hair under normal everyday circumstances, so be prepared to give the vacuum cleaner a workout.
Shedding is a natural phenomenon that makes room for the growth of a new coat. Many dogs shed with the different seasons and this is to be expected. The amount of shedding depends on the [...]

In today’s world of escalating medical costs, pet insurance is almost a must. You never know when disaster will strike and veterinarian bills can easily cost as much as your doctor bills.
Consider for a moment that a gastric torsion (the intestines become entangled or the stomach flips) surgery can cost $4,000. Treatment for a heart [...]

If you have ever had to give a puppy medication, you know it can be quite a feat to accomplish. However, there are a few tricks that can help you get that pill into Fido without having to call in the National Guard for help.
It is important to realize that not all puppies can easily [...]

If your puppy loves the great outdoors, you will need to provide additional protection during the winter months in cold climates. You don’t have to keep the puppy indoors, but there are a few things you should do to keep the dog from becoming too cold.
It’s important to note than most dogs love to play [...]

Good oral hygiene is as important for your puppy as it is for you, so it is best to introduce the dog to a toothbrush at an early age. It will be a lot easier to teach a puppy this new trick rather than wait until he or she is older and more cautious.
Here are [...]

Healthy puppies are usually very inquisitive and full of energy, but common illnesses such as colds or upset stomachs can take the play right out of them.
Unfortunately, it can be very hard to tell if your puppy’s problem is something easily treated at home or the symptom of a much more serious disease. If [...]

Developing a regiment of good grooming practices is a must for puppy owners who want to insure that their dogs are well taken care of.
A healthy coat of fur is one sign of a healthy puppy. As a pet owner it is important that you check your puppy’s coat frequently. The proper tools can [...]

Your puppy’s first bath is likely to set the stage for all grooming sessions to come, so be sure to make the first experience a good one for Fido. Think of the future. You don’t want to have to drag a full-grown dog into the tub.
It is important to understand that not all canine [...]

It is not unusual for a puppy that is separated from his or her mother and littermates to experience separation anxiety.
Think about it. A puppy spends the first several weeks of its life with other dogs. All of a sudden, he or she is taken from the litter to a strange place with strange [...]