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Articles that apply dogs or are specifically written about dogs are here!

Police dog’s remarkable survival story

This morning brought us an amazing story about a courageous police dog named Shadow, who took a bullet to the face during a standoff with an armed suspect. Sadly, his handler, Officer Brent Long, was killed, but the story of Shadow's survival is definitely worth reading. It also provides a glimpse into the cutting-edge medicine available to our animal companions in an emergency, as well as the monumental team effort it took to give this story a happy ending. Please allow yourself  a few minutes to read the whole story ...

2017-03-23T14:05:45-07:00
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Pets are good for us!

Another day, another study on the benefits of companion animals. This one was reported in the Washington Post (a rarity these days, when most of the news coming out of Washington is not so great!).  A team of psychologists from Miami University and St. Louis University surveyed ordinary pet guardians to find out just what kinds of social and psychologic benefits pets bring. Since other work has shown that pets are beneficial to people with serious health challenges, the team wanted to know if pets were as good for ordinary ...

2019-06-30T13:18:43-07:00
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Consumer Reports giving bad pet advice — again!

For decades, Consumer Reports was THE place to go for product reviews and advice on big purchases. But when they enter the area of pet care, they consistently give very bad advice. Their product-review algorithm simply falls apart when applied to living, breathing beings. Example: "get the cheapest pet food at the cheapest store, there's no difference between that and the high-dollar foods." Well, we know that's absolutely false, and that ingredient quality makes all the difference in your pet's health. Science proves it, experience proves it. Or as they ...

2017-03-23T15:23:05-07:00
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Itch Relief Update

Dr. Patty Khuly's blog this morning was terrific! She has personally been dealing with a very itchy skin eruption, probably what most of us would call hives or "heat rash." I am totally sympathetic...last summer I developed a series of severe itchy rashes, I think from some bug or other that apparently lives in my lawn. O Misery, thy name is Itch! Her pruritis (med-speak for itch) not only drove her crazy, but also drove her to look into the problem more deeply. After all, skin problems are one of ...

2018-02-11T16:50:19-07:00
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Spaying & Neutering Saves Lives

A very well-written article in the Seattle Post Intelligencer reveals that aggressive spay-neuter programs have dramatically decreased the killing of pets simply because they are unwanted. From a ghastly high of 20 million pets per year in the 1960s, and an improved but still unacceptable level of 8-10 million by 2000, it is estimated today that only 4 million pets will be euthanized in shelters this year. However, 4 million is still a heck of a lot of pets--way too many, of course! But the drop is even more impressive when you figure ...

2017-03-23T15:25:26-07:00
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What if your pet gets into YOUR medications?

Great post by Dr. Patty Khuly over at PetMD on what to expect when your pet eats one of the five most-prescribed medications! (In case you're curious, those five are: Lipitor, Nexium, Plavix, Advair, and Abilify.) Also see: When You SHOULD Induce Vomiting When NOT to Induce Vomiting

2017-03-23T14:09:55-07:00
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Homemade Diets for Cats and Dogs

REVISED 6/30/19. Balanced homemade diets are the best for our cats and dogs. By making your pet’s food at home, you control the quality of the ingredients, and commercial food additives such as colorings and preservatives can be avoided. Once you get the hang of it, homemade food is both time and cost-efficient. It’s definitely worth the effort! Before you put your companion animal on a home-prepared diet, please discuss your decision with your veterinarian, or a holistic veterinarian  who understands nutrition and is comfortable with home-made diets. For a ...

2019-06-30T12:38:07-07:00
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Seizures and Epilepsy

There are few things more frightening than witnessing your cat or dog having a full-blown seizure—falling down, paddling with its paws, even barking or yowling. Seizures are the result of an abnormal burst of electrical signals from the brain. Possible causes include toxic substances, electrolyte imbalances or abnormalities, head trauma, or metabolic conditions such as diabetes or thyroid disease. The uncoordinated firing of neurons in the brain creates seizures (convulsions). These range from a few moments of mental "absence" where the animal seems not to be aware of its surroundings, ...

2017-10-15T07:05:39-07:00
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