Bee Stings in Dogs • Just like in people, a bee sting can be serious; dogs are more likely to be stung because of their natural curiosity and playful nature. • If a dog is stung by a bee or shows signs of a bee sting, remove the stinger if possible and seek professional help from your veterinarian. • Bee stings can be successfully treated and sometimes prevented. What You Need to Know Bee stings can be a serious event and even life threatening in some cases. Dogs are at greater risk for bee stings than people, as they tend to chase or play with things that move. Dogs are likely to get stung in the mouth or on the nose, face, or feet by several different insects, including bees, wasps, and hornets. Signs of Bee Stings • Crying out, running in circles, salivating • Mild signs include swelling of

Training Advice for Positively Good Dogs by Kelly Spring, CPDT Thunder Phobia The warm weather has rolled in – that’s good news and bad news at my house. While we’re all enjoying the longer days and opportunities to hike and play outside, my little Lab mix, Tallula, is scared of the thunderstorms that have rolled in with the season. Poor Tallula starts panting and fidgeting hours before I see any sign of a storm. When it arrives, she huddles up against the tub in the bathroom – unable to move until it’s over. I know Tallula isn’t alone in her fear of thunderstorms. Every year at this time, I start hearing from clients who are concerned about how distressed their dogs become when it’s storming out. Like all fears, dogs’ fear of thunder storms can range from mild discomfort to outright panic. If your dog is uncomfortable, scared or panicked

Heartworm Disease in Dogs Heartworm is endemic in all 50 states. • Heartworm disease attacks the lungs, heart, and related blood vessels. It is serious and potentially fatal. • Dogs are highly susceptible to heartworm. Nearly all exposed dogs will become infected. • Heartworm disease is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. • Treatment can be costly and complicated. • Illness is easily and effectively avoided by giving preventive medications. What Is Heartworm Disease? Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition that affects dogs, cats, and up to 30 other species of animals. It is caused by parasitic worms (heartworms) living in the major blood vessels of the lungs and, occasionally, in the heart. These worms are transmitted (as microscopic larvae) through the bite of an infected mosquito. The scientific name for the heartworm parasite is Dirofilaria immitis. Heartworm disease can cause a variety of medical

Heatstroke in Dogs • Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition that occurs when body temperature reaches 106°F to 109°F. • Being left in a hot car and exercising in hot weather are the most common causes of heatstroke in pets. • “Cracking” car windows does not keep a car cool. • Organ failure, seizures, and death are likely if treatment for heatstroke is not started immediately. • Starting the cooling process at home is key to the pet’s chances for survival. What Is Heatstroke? The word stroke comes from “strike,” and heatstroke means “to be struck down by heat.” Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition suffered when a pet is unable to lower its body temperature. Cells in the body become damaged when the core body temperature is between 106°F and 109°F. Heatstroke is most common in dogs but can happen to cats. Heatstroke may occur when a pet is left in

Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth • Periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss and affects most dogs before they are 3 years old. Bacteria from periodontal disease can spread to affect other organs and cause illness. • Before you start brushing your dog’s teeth, have them checked by your veterinarian. • Make toothbrushing enjoyable for your dog by rewarding him or her immediately after each session. • Be very patient when teaching your dog to accept toothbrushing. • If your dog won’t tolerate toothbrushing, your veterinarian can recommend plaque-preventive products for your dog. Periodontal Disease—Why Brush? Periodontal (gum) disease can lead to tooth loss and affects most dogs before they are 3 years old. Bacteria from periodontal disease can spread to affect other organs and cause illness. One of the best ways to help prevent periodontal disease is to brush your dog’s teeth on a regular basis—daily, if he or she

Food Allergies • A food allergy is an immune response to something in the pet’s diet that did not cause problems in the past. • Food allergies commonly cause itchiness and/or vomiting and diarrhea in dogs and cats. • Food allergies are diagnosed with an elimination diet trial. • Long-term treatment can be very successful if the offending ingredient is avoided. What Is a Food Allergy? Food allergy (also called food hypersensitivity) refers to a type of physical reaction to food. Food reactions are classified into two categories: those that are the result of immune system stimulation and those that are not. Food allergy occurs when the immune system begins to overreact to ingredients that the pet has eaten with no problems in the past. Food intolerance occurs when what is eaten has a direct, negative effect on the stomach and/or intestines, such as spoiled meat, chewed up toys, food

Exercising Your Dog • Exercise can have many health benefits for your dog. • You can help your dog get plenty of exercise by scheduling regular activity. • Consult your veterinarian before beginning an exercise program for your dog. Benefits Exercise can have many health benefits for your dog. Regular exercise burns calories, reduces appetite, improves muscle tone, increases metabolism, and improves temperature regulation. It can be a valuable contributor to weight loss and maintenance. Exercise can also help stimulate your dog’s mind, thereby preventing boredom and destructive behaviors. Needs and Precautions Individual exercise needs vary based on breed or breed mix, sex, age, and level of health. If your dog is a 6- to 18-month adolescent or a sporting, herding, hound, or terrier breed or mixed breed, your dog’s exercise requirements are high. However, strenuous exercise can cause problems in some dogs, especially those that are not fit or

FLEA ALLERGY DERMATITIS (FAD) Fleas and ticks are external parasites that can cause extreme discomfort and serious illness in pets and even people. Fleas and ticks are easily prevented from bothering your pet through the use of safe, easy to administer, effective products. Parasite prevention also may require treating your home and yard and keeping pets out of areas where fleas and/or ticks are likely to lurk. Flea or tick control products meant for dogs should never be used on cats and vice versa. What Are Fleas and Ticks? Fleas and ticks are external parasites that can cause extreme discomfort for your pet and can also cause serious diseases. Fleas Fleas are insects that are ubiquitous in the environment-meaning they can be found almost everywhere. There are more than 2000 species of fleas, but the common cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) is the one that most commonly afflicts dogs and cats.

Training Advice for Positively Good Dogs by Kelly Spring, CPDT Tips for Handling Your Nipping and Mouthing Puppy Is your puppy driving you crazy with her sharp little teeth on your hands, arms, legs and clothes? Don’t worry; this is a really common (and fixable) problem. The first thing to know is that it is very unlikely that this is aggressive behavior. Puppies use their mouths and teeth when they play with each other, which is normal and appropriate behavior – with other puppies. As the bigger-brained species, it’s our job to teach puppies that we don’t like that kind of play and give them other appropriate options. First, swap out your hand or pant leg for something that is appropriate for her to have in her mouth. When your puppy starts getting excited and mouthy while you’re petting her, give her a bone, a rope toy, or a soft

Training Advice for Positively Good Dogs by Kelly Spring, CPDT House Training Your Dog A dog has no innate understanding of where you think it is appropriate to potty and where you would rather he didn’t.  He really doesn’t know.  Seriously.  He can and will learn – but it will be much easier for both of you if you communicate it to him in a way that he can easily understand.  The holy grail of housetraining is: confinement, supervision and positive reinforcement. Crate Training: When you can’t actively supervise your dog, he should be confined to an area small enough that he won’t want to soil in it – a crate is a great confinement solution. The crate should be large enough that he can comfortably sit, lie down, and turn around, but not so large that he can soil one area of the crate and comfortably move away from