Wellness

Hypertension in dogs

Dog farts. For some, they’re no joke, but like a bad comedian they can clear... More

When Steve Werner began to experience a ringing in his ears and general malaise, he attributed it
to nothing more than grief. Camden, one of his two beloved dogs, had just passed away and he
believed that his condition was simply a side effect of the anguish he and his surviving Golden
Retriever, Wrigley, shared. For weeks, Werner and Wrigley spent most of their days curled up
together, bonded in their sadness and heartache at the loss of a friend.

Two of the most common negative assumptions people make about dog behaviour are that (1) dogs know when they’ve done something wrong, and (2) dogs sometimes do bad things on purpose to get back at their owner. In fact, the human emotions guilt and spite are not part of the canine repertoire. Understanding what your dog is really telling you with that “guilty look” or misbehaviour will defuse your anger and help you deal with the situation more appropriately.

Q: “I have a somewhat arthritic 12-year-old Beagle, and when he started dragging a hind leg, I didn’t think too much of it. But the vet was very concerned about a spinal disk problem, and wanted him to have a myelogram right away. Are disk problems common in dogs? How serious are they?”

A new research study conducted by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association ... More

Top 12 holiday hazards

“So what are your plans for re-homing Charlotte before Jake is born? Just wondering. Love Mom.” Charlotte is my 11-year-old Pit Bull, whom I adopted as a young pup. She’s a delightful dog provided you are not of the canine species, and has been a wonderful companion. But in the presence of any unknown dog she is true to her breed: a major hassle for even the skilled handler and a frightening canine psychopath to the lay observer.

Keeping your dog mentally sharp

Beneficial bacteria can out-compete some of the bad bacteria.