Comments Off on 5 New Year’s Resolutions for You and Your Dog
The new year is upon us and it’s time to make those annual changes that we always strive to make, the resolutions. This year, why not make it a little more fun and invite someone to join you? You know you always do better when you the motivation of another person! So this year, instead of going at it alone, bring along your best friend, I know they won’t let you down. Here’s some New Year’s resolutions for you and your dog to try:
Loose a little weight. As the saying goes, if you have a fat dog, then you’re not getting enough exercise. You know your dog would go for a walk if you just asked. Take that walk around the block or a few miles, your choice.
Watch your calories and stop munching. Just like you, your dog’s diet most likely isn’t the best in the world. It’s not their fault, they just eat what you put down. Look for foods for both of you that don’t have a ton of preservatives or additives in them. The fresher the better. And watch that portion control.
Make new friends. If you have a social dog, get them out to the dog park to interact with others. Who knows, you may meet a few new friends too.
Pamper yourself and dog a little. Enjoy life! Make yourself a spa appointment and get that massage you’ve been wanting. While you’re at it, get a spa day for your best friend too. Make an appointment at the dog groomer. Although they may act like the don’t like baths, a clean dog is a happy dog. When they are matted it can be uncomfortable and unhealthy for them.
Learn some new tricks. Both you and your dog can benefit from dog training. It strengthens the bond and cuts down on the frustration.
Comments Off on Are You A Doggie-for-Christmas Kind of House?
Every year around Christmas thousands of people try to decide whether or not to get a dog for their kids for Christmas. Below are 6 Questions to help you decide if you should adopt a dog for Christmas from our friends at TheUncommonDog.com. Please remember, if you are going to get a dog don’t buy, adopt a dog from a dog rescue near you!
It’s that time of year! The tree’s up, lights are out and the eggnog is being poured. Here are some tips about decorations, plants, and foods that can be harmful to dogs during the holidays.
Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) is the world’s largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners.
Comments Off on Traveling with Your Dog Infographic
Here at DogGeek we love to travel with our pack! As you most likely know, getting ready for a long trip with your best friend takes a little bit of extra planning. You have to think about potty breaks, not just for your dog but for you since you can’t leave them in the car in the heat. Where to eat, water, etc… Below are a list of items for you to remember.
Thank to HerePup for creating the infographic below.
Comments Off on Exercise With Your Dog Through Indoor Play While Self-Quarantined
So you’re self-quarantined, you’re out of Netflix shows you “want” to watch, you don’t want to go to the dog park, your dog has the zoomies and they have destroyed all the new toys… what to do? Here’s some games you can play with your best friend to get off the couch and get some of that great puppy bonding time!
Hide and Seek This game may start with teaching your dog how to sit and stay. Start by having him sit and stay while you place a favorite toy (squeaky ones are a favorite in our house) where he can see it, but away from him (like across the room). Use your release word (ours is “OK”) and let him go fetch the toy, making sure to allow enough time to celebrate the reward of waiting patiently, by dancing around with his toy in his mouth. You can make this game more and more complicated, incrementally, by moving further and further away with the toy, around a corner, to another room, up a flight of stairs and eventually by hiding the toy in places where your dog could eventually find it. When hiding the toy, think about a child’s Easter egg hunt. Don’t make it too hard, you do want your dog to be successful, eventually!
Keep Away There are many variations on this game. With two people, you can simply toss a toy or ball back and forth to each other, letting your dog chase it in each direction. We’ve even gone as far as to use tennis rackets and a tennis ball in the garage, for greater distance. Be sure to “accidentally” drop the ball once in a while, to keep your dog a part of the game.
Agility Training You can get very creative at home with simple props, like a hula hoop. Start by using a piece of kibble to coax your dog to walk through the hoop, as it rests on the floor. Once your dog is used to walking through the hoop on ground level, lift it off the ground one inch at time. By the end of a very rainy week, you might have your pal leaping through the hoop a couple of feet off the ground!
Puzzles and Toys There are many treat-dispensing and puzzle toys on the market for dogs now. These toys are mentally challenging, requiring your dogs to ‘figure out’ how to get the treat out from it’s hiding spot. Look for sturdy toys that will withstand heavy chewing.
Fetch A hallway with doors closed makes for a perfect runway for a game of fetch. A straight stairwell does, too. Use a plush ball or toy to avoid the ball going in all directions and to get the most distance out of running to fetch.
Mental and physical exercise are both an important part of your’s and your dog’s health. It’s fun, relieves boredom, and can be extremely bonding for the both of you!
Comments Off on Why Does Your Dog Have an Upset Stomach?
A DogGeek.com exclusive
Dog vomiting is a common daily occurrence for many dogs because of the very fast consumption of food by your pooch or may be because he ate something he shouldn’t have. But in some dogs, it may be an indication of any serious hidden illness.
Changing the meal schedule of your dog can be an easy fix to the problem if it isn’t anything serious. But in case this didn’t seem to work, be sure to get your dog good medical attention without any delay as he might have a serious underlying illness.
Frequent vomiting of your dog can lead to intestinal problems, extreme dehydration, and in worse cases, organ failure. It is essential that you do not ignore the vomiting of your dog if it exceeds the frequency of twice per hour, and take him to the vet immediately.
Reasons for Frequent Dog Vomiting
Intestinal parasites – These can lead to both diarrhea and vomiting in adult dogs and puppies. Dogs with illnesses, like flue are also known to have minor vomiting.
Higher stomach acid – If your dog vomits soon after his meals and the vomiting is yellow in color, it can suggest overproduction of acids and bile in your dog. Feeding small, frequent meals to your dog can help you correct this problem.
Food intolerance – At times, change in dog food can also lead to diarrhea and vomiting as your dog might be intolerant to certain ingredients of this new food. Beef, pork, fish, wheat, and salt are the common foods that can cause food intolerance.
Eating Grass – Although it is normal for dogs to eat grass but if your canine friend has eaten too much of grass, it may lead to vomiting.
Consuming Non-Food Items – It is natural for dogs to hog upon almost anything that they come across, including garbage, dead animals, plants, and others. Some of these items can be very dangerous when consumed by your dog. To eliminate this habit in dogs, you may want to buy dog supplies or toys to keep them occupied with harmless stuff.
Eating Human Food – Human foods that have a higher content of salt, sugar, and fat, should be given very sparingly to dogs. Frequent consumption of these foods can not only cause vomiting but also lead to chronic illnesses, like diabetes.
Hurried or Excessive Drinking or Eating – Drinking or eating hurriedly or in excessive quantities can cause your pooch to vomit soon after the meal. This is especially common among small breeds and puppies.
Illnesses – Diseases like cancers, canine parvo, and pancreatitis can also be the reasons for vomiting. Bacterial infections, ear infections, and tumors are also cited as one of the many reasons that can cause vomiting. For better diagnosis, it is essential that you observe the secondary symptoms and any change in behavior of your pooch, apart from vomiting.
What to Do When Your Dog is Vomiting Frequently?
If you suspect any illness, you should call your vet immediately. If your pooch has eaten any dead or spoiled animal by any chance, your vet will prescribe the necessary antibiotics. In some extreme cases, your pooch might need to be provided with an IV drip overnight to avoid any dehydration.
In mind vomiting cases, Pepto Bismol or Tylenol may be recommended by your vet. But it is important that you must NEVER give these to your furry friend, unless your vet consents for it first.
Any food should be kept away from your dog if he vomits frequently all through the day. Provide your dog with ice chips to make up for his hydration but don’t give him any fluids if your dog keeps vomiting or has diarrhea. After you’ve not given him water for 12 hours, begin introducing bland meals to him. This includes rice, boiled hamburger, or plain oatmeal. If your pooch stops vomiting in the next few days, you can re-introduce his normal dog food.
