I had a scare with my Boston Terrier, Thumper recently. Why is that important? Because it can happen to you and your dog. Found this lump on Thumper (L) one morning. Appeared out of nowhere. Reminded me of five similar lumps that Chipper had (R) beginning at age five years. Thumper is five years old. Chipper’s lumps were mast cell tumors, the most common form of skin cancer in dogs. They come out of nowhere, are hard to the touch, can change shape, and can be found on the paws, legs, stomach, and other parts...
Dog socialization is more than just a buzzword in the world of pet ownership. It’s a critical aspect of raising a well-rounded and well-behaved dog. In this post, I’ll delve into why dog socialization matters, what it entails, and how to ensure your pup gets the best out of this essential aspect of their development.Understanding Dog SocializationDog socialization begins at birth with the mother dog and the breeder. This is why it is so important to the dog’s early development that it is not removed from contact with its mother or siblings prior to eight...
In the last month, I’ve read four posts in different FB groups I belong to where people are crushed with grief having lost their dogs, one as young as 9 months, to the dreaded medical emergency, commonly known as bloat, or the medical term gastric dilatation volvulus, or GDV. What makes this more earth shattering is that bloat is pretty much preventable, and yet most people are completely unaware of what this medical and surgical emergency is all about until it happens to their dog.I’ve owned dogs for over 30 years, and bloat can happen...
For many dog owners, there’s only one answer. Yes. But not so fast. It’s not so much a question of if, but when, if you want a healthy dog.In one of the Facebook groups that I belong to, a member asked the community if she should neuter her German Shepherd. It was amazing to me, as one who has always spayed and neutered my dogs, the number of commenters who replied ‘no’ and that they had no intention of doing so. And for those who neutered their dogs, they said they noticed no difference before...
A recent post in a Facebook group that I belong to caught my attention. A owner lost her two beautiful German Shepherd Dogs to moldy dog food. She and her partner came home and found the first dog had already passed in his crate, covered in bloody diarrhea, while the second dog needed to be rushed to emergency, where less than one day later, due to liver failure and quality of life, he was humanely euthanized.While still in shock, the owners went through everything that could have possibly killed their dogs. They took the bag...
Euthanasia is an extremely difficult topic for all dog owners. In this post, I’ll share my experiences (and mistakes) in how to know when it’s time, or not, but more importantly, making the best decision for your dog. Because bottom line, it’s about your dog, it’s not about you. I should know – I’ve had to euthanize six dogs in the last 14 years.Having to make the decision to euthanize a dog, or in other words putting a dog down, does not necessarily equate only to elderly, senior dogs who have lived a full life,...
There are two words that cause the most heartache and concern for dog owners. One is cancer and the other is surgery.I speak from experience. How much experience? Let me show you.These canine surgeries are just from the past 20 years of dog ownership. I could have put a fully furnished addition onto my house with what I’ve spent in vet bills. The pup’s name, how many surgeries and the type each has had is shown.Whether you are a single owner or have a family, when you’re told your dog needs surgery, this is an...
For every dog who is not afraid of fireworks, or thunder and lightning for that matter, there’s a dog who is afraid, who may pant heavily, look for someplace to hide, panics and gets destructive, or just plain runs.Here are some quick tips and tricks I’ve learned in how to handle dogs and fireworks (or other loud noises) from close to 35 years of owning dogs.Tip 1: Know where your dog is at all timesThis can be somewhat difficult especially if you have pool parties, barbeques, and other fun going on, and you’d like Bella...
In the last month, I’ve read five grief-crushing posts in different FB groups I belong to, where people have lost their dogs, one as young as nine months, to the dreaded medical emergency, commonly known as bloat, or the medical term, gastric dilatation volvulus, (GDV). What makes this more earth-shattering is that bloat is pretty much preventable, and yet most people are completely unaware of what this medical and surgical emergency is all about until it happens to their dog.I’ve owned dogs for over 30 years, and bloat can happen to any dog, but it...
