It’s a scene I’ve seen countless times as a pet mom: one paw down, eyes fixed on that spot, and my dog licking his paws, oblivious to the world around him. Through the years, I’ve learned that paw licking causes can range from itchy allergies to tiny cuts, something stuck in your pet’s paws, a…
I have seen first hand how dehydration in dogs sneaks up on you when you least expect it. A dog rescued by a shelter I volunteer at refused to move indoors on a hot afternoon, and his handlers noticed that he was lethargic, stopped drinking or eating, and was generally disinterested in his surroundings. The…
It’s a sight all too common in homes with dogs: one minute your pup is calm, the next they’re going around in goofy circles. These episodes of high-octane play are commonly called dog zoomies. Veterinarians have a formal name for them: FRAPs (frenetic random activity periods). Of course, its adorable and hilarious to watch your…
Dog ear mites can be a real pain to deal with, especially because they’re so hard to diagnose. Picture this: your pet is scratching at his ear incessantly, shaking his head like crazy, and you begin to notice foul smelling waxy debris building up more than usual. Is it a case of ear mites or…
We all know the old tale that a wet nose means a healthy dog and a dry nose means sickness. But it’s just an old wives tale. In reality, dogs’ noses naturally cycle between wet and dry. A dry nose in dogs, on its own, say, right after sleeping or playing outside, is usually harmless….
If you’ve been around dogs, you’ve likely seen them erupt into a sneezing fit, usually when they’re sniffing something or mid-play. I’ve seen it with my GSDs all too often. There they are rolling on grass, chasing leaves, or even chasing a toy, and suddenly, they need to pause to sneeze. More often than not,…
As a dog mom, I’m all too familiar with the crusty eye goop my pet often wakes up with. If you have a pet at home, I’m sure so are you. While it might look gross and you may not enjoy cleaning off dog eye boogers part of the grooming routine (I know, I don’t),…
Can dogs get hiccups? Yes, they can and they often do. If you’ve had a pet long enough, I’m sure you’d have noticed an occasional case of dog hiccups. The first few times it happens is surely puzzling. You might find yourself wondering, “What is the strange noise my pet is making?” “Why does it…
So your pet is happily spinning around chasing her tail. Looks hilarious, right? At first, even I’d dismiss it as one of those canine quirks that we don’t quite get but find endearing all the same. It was only when I noticed that my rescued GSD did this almost compulsively in certain situations that I…
Protein is the building block of a dog’s diet, essential for muscles, coat, organs and immunity. Protein deficiency in dogs can lead to weakness, lethargy, poor growth in puppies, loss of muscle in adults, and make them more prone to infections. As a pet mom, I always make it a point to feed my dogs…