Tag: taste of the wild

The Lifestyle of Overweight Dogs: A Sobering Study

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An overweight dog running through the grass outside in the sun.

People aren’t the only ones who need to worry about a mid-life spare tire. Obesity in dogs is a major problem, too. But it’s not just a matter of letting the collar out a few notches or buying a roomier dog bed — a recent study of chubby middle-aged dogs shows that curbing obesity in dogs could actually add years to their lives.

Less Overweight Dogs = More Years

Researchers examined the medical records of more than 50,700 middle-aged, spayed or neutered dogs, comparing the life spans of overweight pups against their normal-weight counterparts. Published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, the study found that dogs with ideal body weights lived up to 2.5 years longer.

The scientists compared 12 purebred breeds — representing five general sizes — including chihuahuas, Pomeranians, shih tzus, dachshunds, Yorkshire terriers, cocker spaniels, beagles, boxers, German shepherds, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers and pit bull terriers. All overweight dogs, on average, lived shorter life spans than normal-weight dogs, ranging from 2.5 years shorter for Yorkshire terriers to just a few months less for German shepherds.

Overweight Dogs Are A Common Problem

In the United States, approximately 56 percent of dogs and 60 percent of cats are overweight or obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. A dog or cat is considered overweight if it’s 10 to 19 percent heavier than its ideal body weight. When that figure creeps up to 20 percent or more, the pet falls into the obese category.

If you’re not sure what your pet should weigh, ask your veterinarian. These BMI charts for dogs can also help you determine if your pet is perhaps a little too roly-poly.

Extra Pounds, Extra Health Risks for Overweight Dogs

Obesity is considered a chronic inflammatory condition, contributing to changes in insulin resistance, metabolism and appetite control. Those few extra pounds can put your dog at risk of a range of diseases and conditions including cruciate ligament tears, arthritis, diabetes and even certain types of cancer.

Added weight can also contribute to respiratory, heart and kidney problems. Is it any wonder overweight pets may not live as long as leaner dogs and cats? Or that the international veterinary and human medical communities have recommended that obesity be classified as a disease?

Getting an Overweight Dog Back on Track

Helping your pet return to an ideal weight is one of the most loving things you can do to improve his or her health. As with people, it’s a matter of fewer calories in and more calories burned. Here are some simple steps you can take:

1. Talk to your veterinarian to determine what your pet really should weigh.
2. The doctor may recommend a specific diet and the daily amount your pet should be fed. Most weight-loss diets typically provide more protein and fiber and less calories and fats than maintenance diets. Feeding a high-fiber diet can also help your pet feel fuller and less inclined to beg.
3. Avoid the bottomless bowl syndrome. Instead of keeping your pet’s dish full all day, start using a measuring cup to make sure your dog or cat only gets what it needs.
4. Account for snacks. Every rawhide, table scrap and spoonful of peanut butter contains calories. If you can’t resist food treats, opt for healthier, lower calorie snacks such as sliced bananas, green beans or carrots. Make sure everyone in your family is on board with the treat-reduction program.
5. Increase the physical activity. Leash walks, swimming, a game of fetch or even regular play dates at the dog park are fun ways to help your dog work out. If your pet is extremely overweight, talk to your veterinarian about how to gradually increase exercise so your pet doesn’t overdo it at first.
6. Weigh your pet regularly. A healthy goal for your pet is a 1–2 percent reduction in body weight per week.
7. Avoid the yo-yo syndrome. Once your dog loses weight, returning to its couch-surfing days will make it easier for the pounds to creep back. The positive changes you’ve made in terms of food control and exercise need to be a permanent part of your pet’s life.

Granted, weight loss can be a long, slow process. But when you think about it, every small weight loss — even if it’s just a half pound — could mean better health and more time with your dog. And what could be more motivating than that?

A Pet Nutrition Primer: 7 Things You Should Know

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Taste of the Wild Pet Food

You want to do right by your pet. But pet food can be so complicated. What do the ingredients actually do? Does your cat need different nutrients than your dog? If you take vitamins, does that mean your pet should, too? The best way to get a foothold is to start learning some of the basics of pet nutrition.

1. All pets need dietary protein.

Proteins serve as a source of energy and are made of amino acids that help your pet’s body perform normal biological functions. Of the 20 or so amino acids, 10 of them are considered essential for dogs while 11 are essential for cats. Essential amino acids are those that must be provided in the diet because pets can’t produce them in their own bodies or simply can’t make enough of them. Dietary proteins come from many different ingredients, including meat, fish and poultry.

2. Fats are the most concentrated energy source.

Dietary fats typically come from animal fats and seed oils and are needed for proper cell structure and function. Fats provide essential fatty acids that aren’t produced in sufficient quantities by the body. And fats enhance the flavor and texture of food — which may be just what it takes to encourage that sick pet to eat.

Although fats don’t clog arteries in dogs and cats the way they can in humans, too much of them can be detrimental. Pets should not be fed table foods that are high in fat content, because sudden intake of high fat foods can trigger pancreatitis – a painful inflammation of the pancreas. Because fats are high in calories, another concern with feeding high fat foods or treats is obesity, especially in those couch-potato pets.

3. Carbohydrates help promote GI health.

Carbohydrates include starches, sugars and fiber from well-known sources such as sweet potatoes, potatoes and peas, but also from lentils and garbanzo beans. In addition to providing energy, carbohydrates such as fiber help the digestive system work properly.

Extra fiber is added to some diets to help overweight pets feel full so they’re less tempted to beg for more or scavenge for snacks. Your veterinarian may suggest supplemental fiber for your pet to help maintain healthy stool consistency. Plain canned pumpkin is commonly recommended.

4. Cats are obligate carnivores.

Remember those amino acids found in proteins? Two that are especially important for cats are taurine and arginine. Taurine deficiencies in cats can lead to blindness, heart failure, deafness and birth defects. Without arginine, cats have difficulty removing ammonia from the body, leading to drooling, vomiting, convulsions and even death.

Because plants can’t provide enough of the required amino acids for cats, our feline friends  usually can’t survive on vegetarian diets without additional supplementation of amino acids. In fact, adult cat foods need to have a minimum of 26 percent protein (dogs, by contrast, require 18 percent protein), and some of the amino acid requirements for cats are twice those for dogs. This is why cats should never be fed dog food.

5. Cats are usually lactose intolerant.

Despite all the storybook images of cats lapping up cream, cow’s milk can be difficult for most kitties to digest. They generally lack sufficient amounts of lactase, the enzyme that enables them to digest milk. While some cats may be fine with milk, it may cause vomiting or diarrhea in others.

6. Proteins are the cause of most food allergies.

Even so, a 2016 study by BMC veterinary research showed that the prevalence of food allergies in all pets who visited veterinarians was between one and two percent. If your pet is itchy, it’s more likely to be caused by fleas or environmental allergies.

7. Pets typically don’t need extra vitamins.

If your pet food label says that the diet was formulated to meet the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient profile for your pet’s life stage, or that it has passed animal feeding trials, the diet should be complete and balanced with all the vitamins and minerals your pet requires.

If your pet has any health conditions — even if your dog or cat is just a bit pudgy — ask your veterinarian for dietary recommendations. He or she can steer you toward the best food for your pet.

Pet Cams: When You’re Away, Are the Pets at Play?

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Taste of the Wild Pet Food

Ever wonder what your pet does all day while you’re at work? Does your dog make a beeline for the forbidden couch? Is your cat licking your toothbrush that’s propped in the glass by the sink? Or do they stare out the window all day, patiently waiting for you to pull into the driveway?

Inquiring owners want to know. And now you can — thanks to a multitude of high-tech pet cameras recently released to the market.

Nanny cams and pets: Is it ethical to check in?

You can probably rationalize spying on your nanny — especially if you suspect she or he is Facetiming friends when they should be supervising your little ones. And remote monitoring of your home has become commonplace with the advent of digital door monitors.

But peeping on your beloved dog or cat? Are pets entitled to a little privacy? Are you just being nosy about your snouts’ day-to-day lives?

As it turns out, there are some perfectly logical reasons why you might want to look in on your pet.

Monitoring their safety

If your pet is recovering from surgery, for example, you may want to keep an eye on your pup to make sure he or she isn’t licking the incision. (With some pet cams, you can even tell your pet “leave it” from your office miles away.) Or if your pet has a medical condition such as epilepsy, you can monitor for seizures.

Home security

Some pet cams come with a bark alert, so you’ll be notified on your cell phone with each yap or woof. That way, you can know if someone’s at your door while you’re away. Or if your pup really is as vocal during the day as your neighbor claims.

Night moves

Does your cat prowl around the house in the wee hours of the night? Some pet cams have night vision and recording capabilities so you can keep tabs on your tabby, even when you’re asleep.

Calm their fears

Do you have a pet with separation anxiety or thunderstorm phobia? Pet cams may enable you to calm them down with your voice, or even spray some pheromones to help soothe their anxiety. In either case, you should consult your veterinarian about additional steps you can take to help them feel better.

Get them moving

All pets could use a little exercise during the day. Why not challenge yours to a laser dot chase game? With some pet cams, all you have to do is swipe your finger across your smartphone screen.

Behavior consult

Does your pet display an odd behavior, like compulsively licking the walls of your house, but then act completely normal when you take him or her to the veterinarian? With the right pet cam, you can catch the behavior on video and play it back for your veterinarian. Not sure what your pet is chewing on? Zoom in for a closer look.

Tighten your bond

You check in with your family throughout your work day, and that should include your pet, right? Many video cams offer person-to-pet video and two-way audio capabilities. You can even put them through their training paces from the job and reward them with a treat.

If you’re still worried about invading your pet’s privacy, one pet cam offers an option that lets your pet call the shots. When you’re available, a light goes on to notify your pet. Your pet, in turn, can push a button to initiate a call. The trouble is, will you, like Pavlov’s dog, spend your day staring at the phone, waiting for a signal from your pooch?

Good Hunting Dogs Are Vital Partners in the Field

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Dog in field hunting

Hunting dogs, it seems, like nothing better than tracking down game such as a pheasant, retrieving it with a soft mouth and obediently laying it at the feet of their owners. But hunting and fetching are two different activities!

Other dogs love to fetch — almost as much as they adore the ensuing game of keep-away as they orbit around their owners, refusing to give up the tennis ball.

Are there certain breeds that are better than others at hunting? And how does a great hunting dog become one?

Types of Hunting Dogs

Hunting dogs generally fall into three categories: gun dogs, hounds and terriers.

If you want a dog to track, point, flush and retrieve birds or small game, consider a gun dog. Labrador retrievers are probably the most popular type of gun dog and often have the ability to remember where birds land so they can easily retrieve them later. Other types of gun dogs include golden or Chesapeake Bay retrievers; Brittany, springer or Boykin spaniels; German shorthair pointers; English setters and Portuguese water dogs.

Hounds channel their noses or eyes to track large game such as deer or bear. Scenthounds include breeds such as coonhounds, foxhounds and beagles, and are more commonly used to hunt than sighthounds such as greyhounds.

Finally, high-energy terriers like to chase after small game such as squirrels and even dig into tunnels in pursuit of their targets. Examples of this hunting category include Jack Russell terriers and wire fox terriers.

Qualities of a Good Hunter

Most of all, you’ll need a dog that’s physically capable of keeping up with fast-moving game and has the stamina to track for hours at a time. That means bulldogs are probably not your best bet. Some breeds are just born with physical attributes that help them be good hunters. Labrador retrievers, for example, have webbed paws and a thick tail that acts as a rudder when retrieving fowl in the water.

If you’re a serious hunter and plan to spend a lot of time in the field, it’s worth it to find a reputable breeder who is devoted to raising hunting dogs. These people will typically breed for pups without orthopedic problems such as hip dysplasia that could shorten their hunting lives.

You’ll want a dog with a good temperament that can work at your side in the fields but be a good family dog as well. Of course, obedience goes without saying. Positive-reinforcement training should start at eight weeks so your pup learns basic commands such as sit, stay, come, fetch, heel and drop it before he or she advances to scent tracking and soft mouth skills.

Some dogs have a fear of loud noises such as fireworks, thunder and, unfortunately, gunfire. Part of training your dog might include trips to a target-shooting facility to make sure the sound won’t upset your pup.

Gearing Up Your Dog

The best way to prepare your dog for a day in the fields is to keep exercising and training all year long. That way, he or she will be in peak condition when you hit the ground.

Before heading into the field, your dog may benefit from a grooming session to remove longer fur (including on the tail) that can collect burrs or get tangled in the underbrush. Trim nails so they don’t snag on roots or rocks. A comfortable hunting vest that protects the chest and belly can help prevent branches and thorns from scratching your dog’s skin raw. If it’s waterproof, all the better for diving into lakes and streams in search of game.

Don’t forget to bring fresh drinking water and extra dog food to help sustain your dog’s energy during the day.

Even if you don’t bag the limit, just being in the outdoors with your best friend makes for a great day.

Winter Cat Safety: Keeping Your Tabby Toasty

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Taste of the Wild

Pet cats have the right idea about winter. You’ll never find them shoveling or scraping ice off a windshield. They’re more likely to be inside, basking in a sliver of sunshine. Or curled under your down comforter. Which raises the question: What else can you do to make your kitty feel cozy during the cold winter months?

Invest in feline fashion — While a hairless cat breed such as the sphynx could use a wool sweater, other cats may appreciate some extra insulation, too. Especially if you keep the heat turned down low or it’s drafty near the windows. When you choose a sweater or coat, make sure it doesn’t restrict your cat’s movement and doesn’t include beading or strings that could be chewed off and swallowed.

Make a comfy bed — The cold and damp can bring out the aches in an arthritic cat’s joints. Since cats often hide signs of illness, you may not know that your cat is in pain. In fact, one study reviewed 100 random X-rays from cats aged 6 months to 20 years, and the researchers found evidence of arthritis in 91 percent of those cats. So why not provide a padded bed to help cushion those joints, just in case?

Add a little heat — Some cat beds are designed to be self-heating, meaning they absorb your cat’s body heat and reflect it back to the cat.  Other heated beds may use heating elements that are warmed in the microwave or plugged in like an electric blanket. A word of caution: hot water bottles and other heated elements should never be placed next to a cat’s skin. To help avoid burns, there should always be at least a towel between the heat source and the cat. Also, electric beds can be dangerous if your cat urinates in the bed or chews on electrical cords.

Trim out those mats — Cats’ fur, especially if it’s long, can become matted if it’s not brushed regularly. While it may be tempting to leave the mat in place for warmth, the mat may actually have the opposite effect by not allowing air to circulate between the skin and coat. If your cat’s fur is severely matted, ask your groomer or veterinarian for help.

Heat your cat’s food — You enjoy a warm meal when it’s blustery outside. So why shouldn’t your cat? It’s easy to slightly warm canned food (make sure it’s not too hot). Or you can heat up low-sodium chicken broth and pour it over your cat’s dry food for a belly-warming treat.

Move the litter box — Do you keep the litter box in the cold basement? Then consider moving it to a warmer spot, away from drafts, just for the winter.

Help the neighborhood stray — If there’s a stray cat that frequents your yard, consider trapping it and bringing it to shelter to reduce the risk of hypothermia and frostbite. As an alternative, provide a “cat house” lined with straw that’s sheltered from the wind and snow. Make sure the house is raised off the cold ground. If the kitty takes to it, provide food and fresh water daily. That simple kindness will make you feel warmer, too.

Step Right Up: It’s Circus Dogs

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Bringing the Fun Back to the Big Top

In its time, few things offered more entertainment in one place than the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Within three different rings, you could marvel at sword swallowers, trapeze artists, contortionists and strongmen. In addition to human entertainers, the circus showed off animal acts, enlisting animals with special talents.

In fact, the circus employed a menagerie that included trained cats, goats and sheep to monkeys, bears, lions, tigers, wolves, horses, elephants — even xylophone-playing pigs. By comparison, dogs jumping through hoops or riding horses bareback probably didn’t seem all that unusual.

Eventually, though, people began to question the ethics of animal acts (not to mention the so-called “freak shows”) and the company folded up its tents permanently in 2017.

A Better Kind of Circus

But Jeff Jenkins and Julie Jenkins felt they could put a positive spin on the circus concept, without exploiting people or animals, and founded Midnight Circus in the Parks in Chicago in 2007.

The group of artists and performers work to advance good in three ways:

  • Animal advocacy — Two rescued pit bulls, who have become Jeff and Julie’s beloved family pets, perform to help dispel negative stereotypes about pit bulls.
  • Support for Chicago parks — 100 percent of the proceeds go to the city parks, with almost $1 million raised to date.
  • Community involvement — Events are affordable, accessible and involve community leaders.

Junebug and Rosie Rae: Canine Stars

Some people have misconceptions about pit bulls, which is why the breed tends to fill Chicago shelters in greater number than other breeds. In fact, Jeff found Rosie Rae at just such a shelter. An exuberant pit bull with no socialization or training, Rosie also had irresistibly sweet eyes. Jeff didn’t hesitate to make her a part of the family.

While teaching at an anti-dogfighting event, Jeff first encountered Junebug, a pit bull that showed all the signs of mistreatment. He convinced her owner to relinquish the dog to him, then made her part of the family, too.

With patience and kindness, Jeff socialized and trained the dogs so they learned to trust people and know the love of a family. Now, the dogs are crowd favorites under the big top, zigzagging through obstacle courses and playing keep-away with Jeff’s hat. In some instances, the dogs serve as a springboard for talking about how to take better care of rescue dogs.

Clowns in Training

Another place you can find dogs jumping through hoops — all in the name of fun and positive-reward training — is at the Canine Circus School in Oakland, California.

This obedience school combines rigorous training with the fun of choreographed routines so dogs — and their owners — can bring out the performers inside of them.

Even with the negative baggage that circuses carry, today’s pet-oriented circuses are fun, creative environments that turn family entertainment into, well, one of the greatest shows on earth.

Hypoallergenic Dog Food: How Does It Work?

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A close-up of a brown and white dog sitting on the ground outside scratching itself.

If you’re starting to research food allergies and hypoallergenic dog food, there are a few misconceptions that are important for you to be aware of. We’ll go through those and other information about food allergies in dogs — but if your dog is showing any signs of illness, your veterinarian should be your first call. 

Hypoallergenic Food for Dogs

The first thing to know about hypoallergenic diets for dogs is that, while it’s a relatively common term used by pet parents, no diet can truly be allergen-free. Instead, specialty dog food is formulated with ingredients that reduce the risk of an allergic reaction. These are known as hydrolyzed-protein diets and limited-ingredient diets. More on that later — let’s go over dog food allergies and food intolerances.

The Facts About Dog Food Allergies

A food allergy is an abnormal reaction to a normal food. This occurs when the dog’s immune system misidentifies a substance in the food, most commonly a protein, as a foreign invader and mounts an unnecessary immune response against it. This often leads to itchy skin and, for a small percentage of dogs, gastrointestinal signs like vomiting or diarrhea. A food allergy can occur suddenly after a dog has been eating the same ingredients for months or years with no problems.

Protein is the most common food allergen, with beef, dairy products, chicken and wheat topping the list. Other allergy-triggering protein ingredients include lamb, eggs and soy, but over time, dogs can develop allergies to any protein source they’re repeatedly exposed to. Dogs can also be allergic to preservatives, food additives or other ingredients in their diet. 

True Food Allergies in Dogs Are Rare

Food allergies are actually very uncommon in dogs. Flea and environmental allergies are far more likely, which is when dogs react to flea saliva or pollen, mold, dust mites and other environmental irritants. Dogs with food allergies tend to itch all year long, while those with environmental allergies often experience seasonal signs.

To complicate matters, dogs can be allergic to more than one allergen and have both food and environmental allergies. Some dog breeds, such as Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers and cocker spaniels, can be genetically predisposed to allergies.

Signs of Food Allergies in Dogs

Some dogs may experience gastrointestinal issues including vomiting, diarrhea, gas, loud intestinal rumbling and frequent bowel movements. They may also experience weight loss and irritability. However, the most common signs of a food allergy include: 

  • Nonseasonal itching
  • Scratching or chewing their face, ears, feet or groin
  • Red, irritated skin
  • Secondary skin infections
  • Chronic or recurring ear infections

Food Intolerance Is More Common in Dogs

While we’ve spent some time discussing a food allergy, it is far more likely that a dog has a food intolerance rather than a food allergy. A food intolerance doesn’t involve the immune system reacting to an ingredient in the diet (an allergic reaction). Instead, it usually occurs when a dog has trouble digesting a particular ingredient.

Diagnosing a Food Allergy or Food Intolerance in Dogs

The best way to help your dog is to start with a visit to your veterinarian. They can provide your dog with medications to help relieve the itch and other symptoms while you work together to determine what’s causing it. They will most likely start by ruling out parasites, infections, metabolic diseases and other possible causes of your dog’s symptoms. 

To check for a food allergy or intolerance, your veterinarian may recommend an elimination diet trial for 8 to 12 weeks. The goal is to remove potential allergens from the diet to see if your dog’s symptoms resolve. While there’s no such thing as a hypoallergenic diet, your veterinarian may recommend a limited-ingredient diet or a hydrolyzed-protein diet. 

A limited-ingredient diet typically includes a single carbohydrate source and a single protein source (e.g., pasture-raised Angus beef, cage-free turkey or trout raised in spring-fed water). Sometimes a single-protein diet also contains a novel protein that the dog hasn’t been exposed to before, like venison, duck or salmon. These diets provide all the essential nutrients dogs need and are formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrition, even with only a few ingredients. A limited-ingredient formula may also help dogs that have a sensitive digestive system or skin issues, even if they don’t have a food allergy. Hydrolyzed diets have the proteins broken down into pieces small enough to avoid detection by the immune system and are typically only available by prescription. Your veterinarian will choose the best dog food for your dog. 

During the elimination trial, it’s very important that your dog doesn’t eat anything else besides the assigned diet. That means no treats, rawhides, table scraps, flavored medications or even chew toys made from animal products. After the 8 to 12 week elimination period, a challenge period is started where the original diet is gradually introduced again. If your dog’s itching improves, then gets worse when they’re challenged, a food allergy diagnosis is typically made. There is no cure for a food allergy. Instead, your dog will need to stay on specialized dog foods for the remainder of their life and avoid anything that contains the allergen. 

What About Hypoallergenic Dog Treats?

Similar to hypoallergenic dog food, no treats can be truly hypoallergenic. However, like limited-ingredient diets, there are treats available which have ingredients that are less likely to cause a reaction or have the protein hydrolyzed into small pieces, so the immune system won’t recognize it. If your dog has food sensitivities or allergies, always ask your vet before feeding them any type of new food, including treats.

Autumn Safety Tips for Pet Owners

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A brown and white dog and an orange and white cat sitting together in a large pile of leaves.

It’s the time of year when the scent of pumpkin spice wafts through the air and dogs are rolling around like crazy in piles of crispy leaves. Fall is also an important time to protect the safety and well-being of your pet from seasonal hazards. Here are some pet safety tips to share with family members as we move from summer to fall.

During Fall, Pets Still Need Exercise and Grooming

With their summer playmates leaving the house for school, is your pet napping the day away on the couch? Consider hiring a dog walker to take your pooch on a stroll around the neighborhood during the day. Schedule a game of laser chase with your cat over your lunch hour or find an indoor activity to play with your dog. You could also drop your dog at day care so they can romp, socialize and burn off energy while everyone is out of the house.

Many pets have the advantage of a thick coat for cold weather, but they prepare by shedding more in the fall as that winter coat comes in. Take the time to brush your pet regularly, so there will be less hair to clog your vacuum cleaner.

Fall Pet Safety Tips for Inside Your House

The change in temperature may mean firing up systems that haven’t been used in a while. Make sure your regular maintenance includes inspecting for cracks and drafts in your heating system, flues and fireplace and checking that carbon monoxide detectors have new batteries and are working. 

When there’s a chill in the air, rodents are drawn inside where it’s warm and there’s plenty to nibble in your cupboard. The tips for sealing your home to keep out the cooler weather will help keep out the pests, too, but be alert if you have to place rodenticides. Keep these out of your pet’s reach: depending on the type of poison, they can lead to internal bleeding, kidney failure, seizures and death if eaten by pets.

Keep Human Cold and Flu Medications Away from Pets

Some of us begin the fall season with a stuffy nose or sneezes. Remember that your over-the-counter drugs may contain potentially dangerous ingredients for pets. If you’re sick, you don’t want your fur buddies to ingest your medicine by accident.

Acetaminophen can be problematic for dogs, but it’s especially toxic to cats, where it can lead to liver failure and poor oxygen delivery to the body. Ibuprofen and naproxen, often combined with decongestants, can cause ulcers or liver and kidney damage. And certain decongestants, in high doses, can cause seizures and death in pets. Why risk it? It’s best to keep all cold and flu meds out of the reach of curious pets.

People who suffer from hay fever and ragweed allergies can be miserable until the first frost. Then trees contribute their fallen leaves and debris. Pets who have environmental allergies may show an increase in symptoms as the weather changes. If your pet is itching, scratching or chewing on their skin, consult your veterinarian for ways to help bring your pet relief.

No Halloween Candy for Your Pets

If your children (or you) come home with a bucket full of Halloween candy, keep it out of reach of your pets. Chocolate is toxic to cats and dogs, and sugar-free varieties of candy containing xylitol are toxic to dogs. Pets should also avoid eating large amounts of sugary foods. The best plan is to keep candy and chocolate treats away from your dog and cat and limit their sugar consumption. There are plenty of treats made just for pets, so stick to those for your furry friends.

Fall Season Safety When Outdoors with Your Pet

With the sun setting earlier, you may find that your usual walking times are in the dark. It’s a good time to buy a reflective leash, collar or coat to make sure your pet has good visibility for nearby cars and cyclists. As dawn and dusk creep in, you may want to create a fall route that avoids busy roads or favors streets or parking lots with good lighting.

Cooler temperatures aren’t the highlight of the year for dogs and cats who have thin coats or are hairless. When you want to wear warm clothing, your pets may need to wear extra layers, too. Support them in the shiver season with pet sweaters or footwear (like cute booties) so they can do more than look out the windows as the weather heads toward cool air and snowy days.

The end of summer doesn’t mean the ticks are hibernating. Help keep your pet protected with regular tick prevention and thorough tick checks when they come indoors. Mosquitoes can also still be buzzing around during autumn and even winter in some areas. That’s why it’s important to maintain heartworm protection year-round. 

More Autumn Safety Advice for Pets

Although many wild mushrooms aren’t toxic, some common backyard species can be poisonous and even deadly if eaten by dogs and cats. For example, as little as half of a fresh “death cap” mushroom (Amanita phalloides) can be fatal to an adult dog. Since many mushrooms can look alike, it may be simpler to ensure safety by removing them from your yard and keeping pets on a leash when hiking in the woods.

Are you getting your car ready for winter? Antifreeze and other car products may contain ethylene glycol. Many dogs and cats find its sweet taste inviting, but ingesting a large enough amount can lead to kidney failure. Watch for the whereabouts of your pets if you do this vehicle care at home: be sure to clean up any spills on the garage floor and lock all car products away from wandering pets.

With a little preparation, you can help protect your pet from seasonal fall hazards. Keep this autumn safety information on your calendar and prepare to feel as warm and comfortable as when you slip on your new flannel shirt and cozy up on the couch in front of the fire.

The Ethics of “Saving” Sick or Aging Pets: How Do You Know When to Let Go?

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Ethics of “saving” sick or aging pets

Sir Walter Scott was not only a prolific poet and novelist, he was also “perhaps the most devoted dog lover that ever was,” according to a New York Times article published in 1898. In paintings, he is almost always portrayed with a dog. And his deerhound, Maida, is immortalized in the monument of Scott in Edinburgh, forever curled at his side.

Scott lamented about the brief lives of his canine companions: “I have sometimes thought of the final cause of dogs having such short lives and I am quite satisfied it is in compassion to the human race; for if we suffer so much in losing a dog after an acquaintance of ten or twelve years, what would it be if they were to live double that time?”

It’s a loss that all dog and cat lovers have to face at some point. But how do you know when it’s time to let go of your companion? And when can euthanasia, in fact, be the most kind and loving choice?

The Dilemma of Sick and Old Pets

Pets are living longer than ever before, thanks to advances in nutrition and veterinary medicine — and perhaps because more now sleep in our beds, rather than outside. And many of the same life-extending procedures available for humans can also be offered for pets. From brain surgery and chemotherapy to hip replacements and kidney transplants, there’s almost nothing you can’t do for your pet (at a price, of course).

But like human medicine, most of these advanced measures rarely come with guarantees of how much life — or quality of life, considering potential drug side effects or hospitalizations — they’ll buy for our pets.

Even if the pet is simply grey around the muzzle and slowing down from a degenerative disease, a common phenomenon in older pets, at what point is medical poking and prodding helping the pet or hindering comfort and happiness?

Subtract Your Emotions from the Equation

While these questions never have black-and-white answers, what makes them even harder is the fact that your pet is a loved family member, bound inexplicably to your heart. But perhaps the kindest thing you can do is to put aside how you feel and focus instead on how your pet feels. How can you minimize your pet’s suffering and make sure their remaining time is physically and mentally rewarding? To help accomplish this, there are numerous quality-of-life surveys, like this one, that help you objectively evaluate whether your pet is enjoying life or having a hard time of it.

You can also keep a daily diary to determine if your pet is having more bad days than good. Or select three of your pet’s favorite activities, whether it’s slurping up peanut butter, chasing a laser or retrieving the squeaky toy, and note when your pet loses the interest or ability to do the things he or she loves.

The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement also offers resources and online chats to help you grapple with the difficult decision.

It’s Always a Personal Decision

Your veterinarian can be an invaluable resource in terms of evaluating your pet’s comfort level or simply serving as a sounding board to discuss how you feel. But inevitably, only you and your family can decide what’s right for your pet.

Knowing when to let go is, without a doubt, the toughest part of being a pet parent. But it’s also one of the most loving and compassionate ways we can repay our pets for a life of devoted companionship.

Water Rescue Dogs Take Lifeguard Duties Seriously

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Taste of the Wild Dog Food

When the S.S. Ethie crashed into the rocky Canadian shoreline during a blizzard in 1919, a dog named Tang helped rescue everyone on board.

With the ship’s rope clenched in his mouth, Tang paddled through frigid, choppy waves to the shore. All 92 passengers and crew, including a baby in a mail sack, were safely rescued. To recognize Tang’s heroic efforts, the insurance company Lloyd’s of London is said to have bestowed him with a medal of bravery.

Today, some dogs still perform lifesaving water rescues from shores, boats and even helicopters.

A Job for Water-Loving Breeds

Water rescue dogs are trained to swim to the victim, who then grabs a handle on the top of the dog’s life jacket and is towed to safety. If the swimmer is unconscious, some dogs can flip the person on their back so their head is out of water, grip the upper arm and bring them to shore. Or if a small boat is stranded, the dog can use a rope to tow the vessel and passengers in.

Although any dog can go through training, the best water rescue dogs are large breeds that have the strength and endurance to tow people or even small boats over distances of a mile or more. (Pugs, Chihuahuas and bulldogs, for example, need not apply.) Breeds that naturally love the water (Newfoundlands, Portuguese water dogs and Labrador retrievers) are ideal. Of these breeds, the Newfie is probably the most popular water rescue dog. The breed’s large size gives it the power to haul survivors, and its thick, insulating coat enables it to withstand icy water temperatures. With webbed paws made for paddling and a tail that doubles as a rudder, this gentle giant is built to follow its natural instinct to watch over people.

A Complex Training Program

It should come as no surprise, then, that one of the most respected programs for water dog training is through the Newfoundland Club of America. The program consists of three tiers of training.

Dogs that pass the first tier receive the title of “Water Dog.” These dogs have passed six tests, starting on land with basic obedience commands. In the water, the dog must successfully retrieve a bumper, fetch a lifejacket or boat cushion, deliver a rope to a “drowning” swimmer, tow a boat and swim with a handler, following commands.

Dogs that successfully complete a more complex set of tasks receive the title of “Water Rescue Dog.” For example, the dog must determine which of three swimmers is “drowning,” bring that person a life preserver and help them back to shore.

Finally, elite dogs can achieve the title of “Water Rescue Dog Excellent.” At this level, dogs must complete challenges that include taking a rope to multiple victims, rescuing an unconscious victim and finding a victim under a capsized boat and towing him or her to safety.

A Long History of Saving Lives

Today’s water rescue dogs follow a long line of canine heroes. According to one legend, a black Newfoundland named Rigel played a heroic role in the sinking of the Titanic. The dog is said to have swum next to a lifeboat for three hours in search of his owner. When a nearby steamship was headed straight for the lifeboat, Rigel’s barking alerted the ship, whose crew was able to save both the passengers in the lifeboat and the dog. Another water rescue dog, Gander, took his efforts ashore and saved his Canadian army platoon from a grenade.

Most water rescue dogs aren’t enshrined in legend, but their everyday efforts are no less important.