People regard chocolate as a sweet treat. But it can be dangerous and even deadly if eaten by dogs. Identifying Risk Factors The size of the dog plus the type of chocolate play factors in health risks. Theobromine is a chemical found in cocoa beans that acts as a stimulant when consumed. In people, theobromine…
What may be safe for dogs can be downright dangerous to cats. Case in point: hydrogen peroxide.Yes, hydrogen peroxide can be safely given to a dog suspected of ingesting a toxin to induce vomiting under certain circumstances. Play it safe by contacting a veterinarian by phone or online who can guide you on the correct…
Our dogs display lots of behaviors – some we applaud and some we abhor. Fitting in that latter category is a dog scooting his rear end on the living room rug and sometimes, in front of horrified houseguests. Don’t blame the dog for misbehaving or attention seeking. That scooting is triggered by a health or…
I live in Texas with a reputation for being scorching hot, but even the Lone Star State does experience freezing temperatures and yes, ice and snow. I also live with Kona, Emma and Nova. My dogs all sport shorthaired coats, and they definitely benefit from wearing cozy coats when temperatures dip below freezing during outdoor…
A dog’s tail is more than just a wagging accessory — it plays an important role in communication, balance, and even warmth. Dogs use their tails to signal their emotions, steer in the water, and some even curl their tails around their noses to stay warm on chilly nights. For many pet parents, nothing is…
Lost Pets In my neighborhood, every day it seems that a person reports that their dog or cat is missing. I spot the new “lost dog” poster on my leashed walks with my dogs, Kona and Emma. I view pleas from pet parents posted on Next Door and other apps. Even the most conscientious pet…
By Arden Moore When It Gets Cold The brrrrr is on! Ice storms, heavy snowfalls, and plummeting temperatures can make outdoor exercise for dogs quite challenging. For tips on keeping dogs safe during cold winter months, I reached out to a trio of professional pet sitters who live in cold states. They include Amanda Waring…
Kitty Candy Some dogs just can’t say no to opportunities to grab poop deposited by the family cat in the litter box. There is the obvious reaction from many of us – yuck! Gross! And, definitely, we do our best not to be on the receiving end of a doggy kiss, right?But coming up with…
Many purchases made these days – from grabbing a burger at a fast food drive through to paying for a gallon of paint at the hardware store are cashless. It is far quicker to pull out a debit card or credit card and insert or tap to complete the purchase than to fumble in your…
by Arden Moore Lucky to Have Avoided Them I feel like I’ve won nature’s lottery. Why? None of my dogs, dating back to my childhood Beagle mix named Crackers to my current duo of Kona and Emma have ever been sprayed by an agitated skunk. I count myself lucky. Far too many of my friends…
By Arden Moore When it comes to comparing the ability to smell things, dogs easily beat us by a nose. Olfactory receptor cells inside a dog’s nose are boosted by tiny hairs called cilia that are coated with mucus to help trap scent. Why dogs win by nose is because there are about 100 million…
By Arden Moore How to Play Safely With Your Pooch on the Water Ryan Lilly is an avid fisherman from Hampden, Maine who makes a living educating people on all the various types of canoes, kayaks and boats available these days. He handles consumer marketing for Old Town Watercraft, a Maine-based company making watercraft since…