Dog welfare campaigns that tell people to be 'responsible owners' don't help to promote behaviour change, a new report suggests. Dog owners interviewed for a study all considered themselves to be responsible owners, despite there being great variation in key aspects of their dog-owning behavior.
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Nail trimming is an essential part of dog grooming, and trim nails are one clear sign of your dog’s good health and hygiene. Professional groomers will perform the task for squeamish owners, but dog nail trimming is a simple procedure if done correctly.
Since nail trimming can be an anxiety-laden experience for many dogs, start handling your puppy’s feet and trimming their nails when they’re young, so they become accustomed to the process. Some dogs will sit in your lap or on a table while you
Researchers have found that dogs can suffer from the same type of autoimmune encephalitis that people do. The finding could lead to better screening methods for diagnosis and possibly more effective treatments for canine encephalitis.
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Cats have a reputation for being aloof and independent. But a study of the way domestic cats respond to their caregivers suggests that their socio-cognitive abilities and the depth of their human attachments have been underestimated. The findings show that, much like children and dogs, pet cats form secure and insecure bonds with their human caretakers.
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A new study reports that the prevalence of overweight dogs is markedly larger among overweight owners than among normal weight owners. Part of the explanation lies in whether treats are used as training tools or ''hygge-snacks''.
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Some people lament the end of summer, holding on to the lingering warmth as much as they can, while others celebrate the arrival of cooler weather. Whatever your stance is, once autumn arrives, it’s time to tend to your dog’s post-summer grooming needs—from heat-damaged paw pads to insect-bitten skin and sun-bleached fur.
Here’s how to best prep your pup for fall:
Hot Paws
Do you like to take your dog to the beach or lake with you? Go on hikes? Or have her keep you company in the backyard?
Your dog’s sleeping habits may begin to change as he or she ages
Sleeping more is (usually) very normal for senior dogs, although there can sometimes be reason to worry
Pay attention to your canine’s behavior — certain changes in sleep cycles may be an indication of possible disease
If you have a senior dog at home, then you know all too well that your pet’s health and behavior are likely to evolve and adapt over the years — and that includes sleep. But what differences should you expect and
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Puppies explore the world through their mouths, so they’ll chew anything they can sink their teeth into. By providing them with toys that indulge their teething instincts, you’re more likely to spare your shoes and socks from destruction.
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A change in diet is a go-to strategy for treating inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's. In dogs with a similar illness, researchers tracked specific changes in the microbiome as the pets went into remission. The team's findings, which mirror what is seen in children with Crohn's, could inform the design of improved therapeutic diets.
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There are many reasons your dog may have bad breath, including diet and disease
Talk to your vet to see if your dog is a candidate for a dental cleaning
Get rid of bad dog breath with our top product picks
Few smells are as unpleasant as a dog with bad breath. Your dog might think that you appreciate his kisses, but if he has bad breath, then getting up close and personal is the last thing that you want to do.
Bad dog breath isn’t just gross – it could also be a sign of a health problem. Be
An extensive international survey indicates that pet owners do not consider raw food to considerably increase infection risk in their household. In the survey, targeted at pet owners, raw food was reliably determined to be a contaminant only in three households.
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Researchers have found the companionship of a pet after the loss of a spouse can help reduce feelings of depression and loneliness in older adults.
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The amount of time dogs need to spend with humans varies depending on each individual pet
A dog should spend no more than 6-8 hours alone during the day without a dog walker or dog daycare
Recognize the signs of separation anxiety, which is a sign of stress when dogs are left alone
Working humans, students, families juggling busy schedules, and those who travel a lot may have to leave our dogs alone more often than we’d like.
Whatever the reason your pet may be alone at the house for long h
Dog brain structure varies across breeds and is correlated with specific behaviors, according to new research published in JNeurosci. These findings show how, by selectively breeding for certain behaviors, humans have shaped the brains of their best friends.
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As many as 20 percent of dogs have some form of ear disease
Dogs are more prone to ear infections than humans because of the shape of their ear canals
Prevention is key — learn how to clean your dog’s ears safely
If your dog is showing any of the common signs of ear infections, it’s important to visit your veterinarian as soon as possible
Purchase a safe ear-cleaning solution for your dog
Many dog owners have learned to recognize the telltale signs of an ear infection: whining, scratching,
The popular notion that dogs only see in black and white is incorrect
Dogs can make out yellow and blue, and combinations of those colors
This means the best toys for your dog may be those in blue and yellow hues
Is everything in a dog’s world black and white? That idea was widely accepted for decades, but new research and conclusions about canine anatomy and behavior have shown that while dogs can’t see the same colors humans do, they actually are not color blind.
Technicolor may be beyond
Puppies’ eyes open at 14-21 days old, but their sight is still limited
Hearing is the last sense that puppies fully develop — they can’t hear until about three weeks old
Puppies navigate by smell from the moment they are born — it is their strongest sense
Puppies come tumbling into our lives full of exuberance, energy, and a wholehearted enthusiasm for life. It is natural that we wonder how they perceive the world, and if they see, hear, and smell differently than we do. We want to share the
Animal-assisted therapy has many benefits in health care. Yet, its biological and psychosocial effects in the military are unknown, especially for injured, airlifted patients. Researchers teamed up with a non-profit animal organization that trains therapy dogs to see if an animal-assisted intervention could reduce stress in this setting. Results showed that levels of the stress biomarkers cortisol, alpha-amylase, and immunoglobulin A, significantly decreased after a 20-minute intervention with t
We are all familiar with the sounds of a cat or dog vying for human attention, and for pet-owners, these sounds are particularly evocative. Dog sounds are especially sad to both cat and dog owners, who actually rate a whimpering dog as sounding as sad as a crying baby.
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Like many women who develop a particular type of breast cancer, the same gene -- HER2 -- also appears to be the cause of lung cancer in many dogs. Researchers found that neratinib -- a drug that has successfully been used to battle human breast cancer -- might also work for many of the nearly 40,000 dogs in the US that annually develop the most common type of canine lung cancer, known as CPAC.
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Law enforcement K-9s face the same dangers their human handlers confront. Recognizing a gap in care for law enforcement K-9s injured on the job, a team of veterinarians, emergency medical services experts and canine handlers has developed protocols for emergency medical service personnel who may be called upon to help treat and transport the injured dogs.
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Some puppies continue growing up until 24 months
Larger dog breeds take longer to reach full adult size than smaller breeds
Puppies require the right amount of food and exercise (not too much or too little) to stay healthy
Puppies seem to grow up so fast. One day, they’re little balls of furry cuteness and, in what seems like the blink of an eye, they’re fully grown into loving canine companions. But not all dogs grow at the same rate, with smaller breed dogs growing up much faster than their