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AKC: Health

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How to Remove a Tick from Your Dog

Removing a tick from your dog, or worse — ticks — may not be pleasant, but it’s important to do it promptly and correctly. Once you know how to remove a tick, it will be a fairly easy process. Because they can carry infectious organisms, every year ticks infect thousands of animals and people with illnesses like Lyme disease, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis, among others. Pathogen transmission can occur as quickly as three to six hours after a bite occurs, so the sooner you remove the tick the les

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Can All Dogs Swim? Safety and Training Tips for Dog Swimming

Does your dog run with excitement to every body of water in sight? Maybe you can’t walk past a creek or pond without your pup diving in. Or maybe your dog treats water like the enemy and will do anything to stay dry. Every dog is different and not all are born with a love of getting wet. But can all dogs swim? Depending on the breed, your dog might be a natural in the water or swimming might be challenging. However, whether your dog enjoys taking the plunge or prefers staying on land, it’s esse

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Why Is My Dog Limping?

Like us, dogs limp for a variety of reasons. Unlike us, dogs can’t tell us what happened or where it hurts using words, leaving us struggling to figure it out for ourselves. Your most valuable resource for determining the cause of your dog’s limp is your veterinarian. Before calling to make an appointment, however, most of us want to know a little bit about the common causes of limping in dogs, what to expect from a veterinary visit, and when limping is a veterinary emergency. Gradual Onset vs

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Summer Shows and Events: How to Keep Your Dog Cool

Outdoor dog shows and events present particular challenges in the summer. If you want to see what it’s like for our dogs in hot weather, the next time it’s 90-plus degrees, put on your warmest coat and go outside. Now try running. Whether you have an English Setter participating in field trials or a Border Collie showing off his agility skills, exertion combined with high temperatures and high humidity can spell trouble for your dog. One of the biggest challenges owners face when preparing for

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Tips for Keeping Your Dog Safe This Summer

Summer is the time to have outdoor fun with our dogs. Longer walks in the park, ambitious hikes, beach days, or family travel — the sun is shining, and the outdoors is calling. But hot weather can also make us uncomfortable, and it poses special risks for dogs. From an increased exposure to ticks and other insects, to sunburn, and even heatstroke, all sorts of things can go wrong for your dog in summer. Keep the following safety concerns in mind as the temperature rises, and follow our tips for

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What is Xylitol? The Dangers Of Xylitol for Dogs

A substance called xylitol is making thousands of dog sick and even causing death, affecting more pets now than ever before, and it’s probably in your home right now. The Pet Poison Helpline confirms that cases of xylitol poisoning have increased dramatically in recent years. “In 2018 we received nearly 4,000 cases and now have more than 20,000 such cases in our database,” Dr. Ahna Brutlag, the helpline’s Director of Veterinary Services, told the American Kennel Club. “Looking back over the pas

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Understanding, Preventing, and Treating Dog Anxiety

Just like humans, dogs experience anxiety. While unpleasant, it is a normal and also healthy emotion. Dog anxiety can affect all breeds, but may affect each individual dog differently. Although it is something that all dogs experience from time-to-time, if disproportionate levels of anxiety are left unchecked, a dog can develop an anxiety disorder. If left untreated, dog anxiety can lead to behavioral and other issues. How do you know if your dog has anxiety? What can you do to treat dog anxiet

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Anaplasmosis: Another Tick-Borne Threat to Dogs

When it comes to tick-born threats to your dog, Lyme disease usually gets all the attention. But anaplasmosis is another tick-borne disease that can cause bruising, lameness, and even uncontrolled bleeding in your pet. That’s why you should learn the signs of anaplasmosis and what to do if your pet contracts the disease. What is Anaplasmosis? Anaplasmosis, aka dog fever or dog tick fever, is a tick-borne disease that infects a dog’s bloodstream. Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the most common form

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A Timeline of Puppy Teething

Congratulations on deciding to welcome a new puppy into your life! Whether this is your first dog or it’s been a long time since you’ve owned a puppy, there’s a lot to learn about what to expect and how to handle certain changes in your dog as he ages. Here, we are focusing on the teething process. (Yes, puppies have baby teeth that fall out, just like human babies!) We’ve compiled a puppy teething timeline so you know exactly what to expect as your furry friend grows into his adult body. Weeks

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Best Dog Toothpaste on Amazon According to Pet Owners

As humans, we brush our teeth thoroughly every day, but many of us don’t do the same for our dogs. Periodontal disease is the most common clinical condition in adult dogs according to the AKC Canine Health Foundation. To prevent illness and keep your dog healthy, it’s important to clean your pup’s teeth. Although many dogs may not like it initially, finding the right dog toothpaste, introducing it slowly, and brushing consistently, can help with the process. To help owners improve their dogs’ o

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AKC’s Chief Veterinary Officer Weighs In On Tick-Borne Diseases

Tick-borne disease is a growing threat to both canine and human health. Ticks are parasites that attach themselves to animals and people, feed on blood, and transmit diseases directly into the host’s system. The disease occurs when an infected tick bites a dog or a human and transmits the disease into the victim’s body. The geographic distribution of ticks is changing due to climate change, de-foresting, and the changing living and migrating patterns of deer, birds, and rodents. This can vary y

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Lyme Disease in Dogs: Symptoms, Tests, Treatment, and Prevention

Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is a bacterial illness that can be transmitted to humans, dogs, and other animals by certain species of ticks. It is caused by the spiral-shaped bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi that is carried inside a tick and gets into a dog or person’s bloodstream through a tick bite. Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria can travel to different parts of the body and cause problems in specific organs or locations, such as joints, as well as overall illness. Where

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Can I Leave My Dog in the Car If I Crack a Window?

Most dog owners know that you can’t leave a pet in a hot car. Temperatures can rise to dangerous levels in just minutes, putting your dog at risk of heat stroke. But what if you open a window a little bit? Does that make it safe to leave your dog in the car? The answer is simple: You should NEVER leave a dog alone in the car, even with the windows cracked. In some states, it’s even illegal. Open Windows Don’t Keep Dogs Safe It doesn’t have to be super hot outside for your car to heat up. The i

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Do Dogs Sweat?

As a dog owner, you may be used to seeing your canine companion pant in warm weather, but do dogs sweat? Contrary to popular belief, dogs do sweat, but sweating is only a small part of the process they use to cool themselves down. How Do Dogs Sweat? There’s a reason why you’ve never seen your dog sweat in the same way you do, and that’s because dogs only produce sweat in certain parts of their bodies. Dogs have two types of sweat glands: Merocrine glands Apocrine glands Merocrine sweat glan

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Should Your Dog Wear Sunscreen?

Humans often take precautions to protect themselves from the sun, but should we be doing the same for our dogs? Do dogs need sunscreen? The answer is yes. Just like people, canine companions are prone to sunburn and to other complications and diseases associated with sun exposure. Taking certain safety measures can lower your dog’s risk of developing serious sun-related medical issues. This includes choosing a sunscreen appropriate for dogs. Sun Risks Sunburn isn’t just painful for dogs; it ca

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How to Manage the Symptoms of Canine Arthritis

If you have an older dog who has started to slow down on walks and has difficulty getting up and down the stairs, arthritis may be the culprit. According to the Arthritis Foundation, one in five dogs suffers from canine arthritis. This disease, most commonly seen in older dogs, can affect the legs, hips, back, and more—making everyday movements painful.  However, as a dog owner, you can look out for symptoms of arthritis in dogs, and if your dog is diagnosed, you can work with your veterinarian

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Heartworm in Dogs: What You Should Know About the Mosquito-Borne Parasite

Heartworm is a potentially deadly parasite that is transmitted only by mosquitos, which pick up larval heartworms, called microfilaria, circulating in the bloodstream of infected animals. Dogs and other canids, such as fox, wolves, and coyote, are considered the primary heartworm hosts, but these parasites can also affect other mammals, including cats and ferrets. There are treatments available for dogs, but prevention is the wisest approach to dealing with heartworms. What is heartworm disea

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Dog Shedding: What to Expect And How to Manage It

Some dogs, like Labrador Retrievers, Newfoundlands, and Pekingese tend to shed a lot. Others, like Dachshunds, Poodles, and Border Terriers seem to be almost shed-free. There are reasons why some dogs shed and others don’t shed at all. But how do you deal with dog shedding? Different dog breeds shed in different amounts: Some shed seasonally, while others shed year-round. This depends on the type of coat your dog has. A Golden Retriever, for example, has a thicker double-coat, which makes it mo

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Is It Dangerous for Dogs to Drink Salt Water?

Anyone who has ever swallowed a mouthful of salt water when swimming in the ocean knows how unpleasant it tastes. When dogs drink salt water, it can be dangerous for them, and it can even be deadly. Dogs Drinking Salt Water Dogs love the beach, but playing games of fetch, chasing waves, and swimming can all lead to a thirsty dog who consumes salt water. In most cases, a few mouthfuls of salt water may only cause diarrhea. Consuming large amounts of salt water, however, can be fatal. When a do

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Why Is My Dog’s Nose Dry?

A cold, wet nose means a healthy pup. That wet nose is part of the reason why dogs have an amazing sense of smell –10,000 to 100,000 times more powerful than ours. The wet nose draws in tiny particles to be examined by a dog’s olfactory glands. The thin layer of mucus on dogs’ noses holds and absorbs scents and when a dog licks its nose, that adds the sense of taste to its sensory information. Should you be concerned if your dog has a dry nose? Although sometimes it can signal something serious,

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Is Your Puppy Drinking Enough Water?

As a general rule, adult dogs need about one ounce of water per pound of body weight per day. But growing puppies, despite their smaller size, drink more than their adult counterparts. A lot depends, however, on your puppy’s age, size, and activity level. Very young pups fulfill their hydration needs from their mother’s milk. As they are being weaned and starting to eat solid food, they will need a fresh supply of water. Generally, young puppies need about one-half cup of water every two hours.

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Steroid Responsive Meningitis-Arteritis in North American Dogs

Steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) is a common inflammatory disease of the central nervous system in young dogs. A recently published study (1) examining records from a British veterinary referral hospital found that 48 percent of juvenile dogs that presented with a fever were diagnosed with SRMA.   Most of the published literature on this disease describes cases from Europe, but a dedicated group of dog owners and researchers are collaborating with the AKC Canine Health Foundation

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First-Year Puppy Vaccinations: A Complete Guide

When you bring that soft, sweet-smelling little ball of a puppy into your home, you know right away that she depends on you for, well, everything. It’s up to you to give her all the care she needs every day. It can be a little intimidating — she needs nutritious food, plenty of attention, gentle training, safe toys, socialization, a comfortable home, and proper veterinary care. And that includes puppy vaccinations throughout her first year. Which Vaccinations Do Puppies Need? Going to the vet

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Your Puppy’s First Vet Visit – What To Expect

Finally, it’s the exciting day you’ve been anticipating for months, maybe even years. Your new puppy is ready to come home with you. You’ve gotten your crate, food, and other supplies, you’ve chosen a place for training and socialization, and you’re ready to start an amazing adventure with a little ball of fluff who is going to become your best friend. Whether your pup is coming from champion show lines or from a local shelter, a first step is a trip to the vet. Breeders generally include a ve

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New Studies on Ticks and Your Dog's Health

In 2016, the American Kennel Club (AKC) launched its Canine Health Foundation (CHF) Tick-Borne Disease Research Initiative, and the research is continuing this year. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the challenge to collect $250,000 in donations for this initiative, matched… View the source article

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