Pet Care Articles
Findings from a recent study of owner-reported observations indicate dogs and cats engage in grieflike behavior after a companion animal in their home dies.
With funding from a Morris Animal Foundation grant, researchers surveyed 279 owners following the death of a pet. The questionnaire was distributed through veterinary clinics and several animal welfare organizations based in New Zealand and Australia. The two most common classes of behavioral change reported through the questionnaire were in affection behaviors and territory behaviors.
“Both dogs and cats were reported to demand more attention from their owners and/or display affiliative behavior, as well as spend time seeking out the deceased pet’s favorite spot,” according to the study, titled “Owners’ perceptions of their animal’s behavioural response to the loss of an animal companion,” which appeared Nov. 3, 2016, in ... Read more...
By Laura Moss
We're not the only ones who can develop allergies to certain foods.
Just as we can develop food allergies, so can man's best friend.
Food allergies occur when a dog's immune system mistakenly treats a specific protein as harmful and responds with antibodies that trigger a series of symptoms. Proteins are present not only in meats, but also in grains and vegetables, so any commercial dog food could cause an allergic reaction.
While dogs can be allergic nearly any ingredient, there are certain foods that are more likely to cause an allergic reaction. These include the following:
Beef
Pork
Rabbit
Chicken
Lamb
Egg
Corn
Soy
Wheat
Dairy
When a dog has an allergic reaction to a food, symptoms can vary, but they can include any of the following:
Itchy skin and ... Read more...
By Dr. Becker
For some reason, many dogs and even cats enjoy licking lotions and other types of topical products off their human’s skin. In fact, one of my dogs tends to wait by the bathroom door, hoping he’ll get a chance to sample whatever I’ve applied to my skin after my shower. (That’s one of the reasons I use all organic body products.) And dogs seem especially intent on having a lick if the product has a yummy smell, for example, vanilla scented body lotion or coconut oil-based products.
Unfortunately, this seemingly harmless little habit so many pets indulge in can be cause for concern depending on what you’ve put on your skin. The following are products you definitely don’t want your dog, cat, bird, or other animal companion licking off you and ingesting.
Over-the-Counter Topical ... Read more...
Best Regards,
Mike, Marcia, Bomber, and Bella
The Paw Minders Plus Family
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By Tom Jacobs
Do you dread leaving your dog home alone? Do you come back from dinner and a show to find chewed-up shoes, or foul-smelling puddles on your kitchen floor?
If so, a newly published study suggests the blame may not lay entirely with Fido. Rather, this sort of acting out may be a symptom of a problematic relationship.
Yours and his.
Researchers from Hungary and Germany argue that the tendency to avoid close attachments to others—a personality trait that is a common source of friction within families—sometimes extends to one’s canine companion. Owners who keep their emotional distance “are less responsive to the dog’s needs,” they write in the journal PLoS One, and the animal—not unlike a neglected child—fails to develop the sense of security that keeps him calm in times of stress.
Hence the howling your ... Read more...
Natural medicines and alternative therapies are becoming more and more popular, both for people and pets. As people discover the risks often associated with prescription medications, they shy away and seek out more natural alternatives. This option also helps with minor illness and injuries at home, when shucking out the big bucks to sit in a waiting room just doesn’t seem worth it.
Even many veterinarians are now turning to holistic health, which entails evaluating the pet’s overall health when something seems amiss, instead of addressing individual symptoms. Holistic vets are encouraging better diet and more exercise to help prevent some of the most debilitating diseases in pets like arthritis, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. There are a variety of techniques and therapies used in holistic health including acupressure, aromatherapy, chiropractic, herbs, massage, and nutrition that can be applied to pets.
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By Dr. Becker
According to the results of a recent study, your dog is communicating with his canine friends (and foes) using his eyes alone. And in fact, some of his facial features may be designed specifically for that purpose, including the coloring around his eyes, the shape of the eyes, and the color and shape of the iris and pupil. These are all elements of the canine eye-based communication system.
Gray Wolves Adapted Gaze Signals to Help Them Hunt in Packs
Researchers at the Tokyo Institute of Technology at Kyoto University in Japan compared 25 different types of canines and separated them into 3 groups based on their facial coloration and gaze:
- Group A… species with clearly visible pupils ... Read more...