The evening of December 4, 2018 was unfolding like any other. Kristi Blust did the usual quick basketball practice drop off run with her daughter after work, taking the typical 10 minutes or so. She returned home to start making dinner for her family, just like the night before. That's where the similarities stop though. Sadly, that evening wasn’t going to be just like any other evening for Kristi and her family.
Topics: Dogs, pet safety, #IfOnlyIKnew, hearing loss, Pet Suffocation
Like many health-conscious people these days, Melissa Wardrop is eating healthier and watching her and her family’s consumption of sugar. She’s also a very considerate person, both generally and also in terms of taking her friends' sugar-free eating habits into consideration. Sadly, it was the two “thank you” loaves of sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-free zucchini bread she baked for her friends that led to the loss of her beloved family dog, Lucy, a beautiful and sweet 5 year old Lab.
Read MoreTopics: Dogs, Dog Treats, Xylitol, Xylitol Products, pet safety, #IfOnlyIKnew
Bringing a dog into your life often means that trips out of town can become a little more complicated. Sometimes you can’t bring your dog with you, sometimes you don’t want to bring them with you, and some dogs simply don’t want to go with you — at least not all the time. Where do you leave your dog when you’re away? This is usually a tough question, especially if you can’t find someone you know who has the time (or experience) to care for your pet. On the other hand, Internet pet sitting services have made it easier than ever to find a sitter, but not all sitters are created equal. And many people prefer to board their dogs at their vet or with another reputable facility.
Topics: Dogs, travel with pets, holiday safety, Travel, pet sitting, treatment authorization, pet health, dog boarding, pet sitter
Ah, Halloween; the time of year when no one is allowed to say that you can’t dress up as a superhero while eating enough sugar to put yourself into low-Earth orbit. For you, Halloween might be a fun reprieve from normal clothes, as well as a candy-fueled kickoff to the holidays. But for a dog it presents a new batch of hazards. Here are the Top 10 Halloween dangers for dogs you need to watch out for.
Topics: Dog Safety, pet safety tips, Dogs, Toxicity in dogs, Blog, Pet costumes, Dog costumes, Halloween, Trick or Treat, canine chocolate toxicity, Xylitol Dogs
You might have heard that playing tug of war with your dog, especially a puppy, puts them on the path toward aggression. If you’ve heard this, you’ve heard wrong.
Playing tug of war with a dog will not necessarily cause them to become aggressive. How you play tug of war might lead to aggressive behaviors, but it’s remarkably easy to stay on the right path. Why would you want to? Well, playing tug of war with your dog can be extremely beneficial for both of you.
Read MoreTopics: Dogs, aggression in dogs, Dog toys, Play & Environment, how to play with your dog, Dog Behavior
You’ve done your research to find the perfect puppy for your apartment life and you bought the toys and training aids. The phone numbers for your veterinarian and animal poison control are on the fridge, puppy classes are booked, and your homemade first aid kit is at the ready. Now the time has come to finally welcome home the new addition to your family, but there’s one problem: you’ve just entered the front door of your 28th floor apartment and your new puppy needs to go... NOW!
Read MoreTopics: Dogs, Adopted Dogs, Dog Behavior, Potty Training, Puppy, Puppy Training, Crate training a puppy
Warm water gently flows down the body. Strong, yet tender hands massage the perfect combination of soaps and conditioners from head to toe. Each hair is expertly styled—bringing out all the beauty that hides beneath. Finally, the nails are shaped, filed and finished to rival the best mani-pedis around.
Topics: Dogs, Blog, Grooming, Anxiety in Dogs, Socialization, Puppies
Since the day you got your newest four-legged member of your family, you have (hopefully) been preparing them for the outside world and all the experiences that’ll come ahead. One of the more important aspects of their socialization is relationship building. Relationships with family, friends, their veterinarian, other dogs, maybe even a kitty or two. Another important bonding experience that they’ll most-likely have is with their groomer. After all, the dog/dog groomer relationship is based on two-way trust. Each have to be—not just comfortable with the other—they need to have confidence in each other. Neither the dog, nor the groomer, wants to have any fear whatsoever from the other. Remember, there’s a lot of personal space being invaded while your pup is getting all cleaned, cut and coiffed!
Read MoreTopics: Dogs, Blog, Grooming, Anxiety in Dogs, Socialization
Bringing home a dog is an exciting time for everyone involved. However, while you get to return to the comfort of your home, your new pet might not initially feel the same comfort. They’re in an unfamiliar environment with new people, new smells, and a new routine.
Read MoreTopics: Dogs, Blog, Adopted Dogs, Dog Behavior, Potty Training, Separation Anxiety
And while it’s always nice to include your pets in your travel plans, doing so isn’t always practical or possible. It’s at times like these that more and more people are turning to pet sitters and family/friends to watch and help care for their cats and dogs (and other pets).
You'll likely think to leave behind instructions regarding feeding, walking, and medicating your pets. But are you aware of the importance of leaving whoever is going to be watching after your pets another very important bit of information, too – authorization for medical care decisions in your absence?
Read MoreTopics: Dogs, travel with pets, holiday safety, Cats, Travel, pet sitting, treatment authorization, pet health
Please do not ask emergency or other specific medical questions about your pets in the blog comments. As an online informational resource, Preventive Vet is unable to and does not provide specific medical advice or counseling. A thorough physical exam, patient history, and an established veterinary-patient-client relationship is required to provide specific medical advice. If you are worried that your pet is having an emergency or if you have specific medical questions related to your pet’s current or chronic medical conditions, please contact or visit your veterinarian, an animal-specific poison control hotline, or your local emergency veterinary care center.
Please share your experiences and stories, your opinions and feedback about this blog, or what you've learned that you'd like to share with others.