Canine Health

Is Your Pet Suffering From Dog Joint Pain?

When a human is in pain, they have very obvious ways of telling each other. Even before they can speak, babies use facial expressions, body language, and crying as a way to tell their parents that something is wrong. It’s different for dogs and other animals, however. The signs that they’re suffering from dog joint pain are much more subtle. If you notice any of the following, it could be a signal that arthritis is causing them pain. Not Playing With Other Dogs Is your dog normally active and playful at the dog park, eating grass whenever your back is turned? If your dog suddenly becomes sedentary and shows no interest in galloping around with their friends, it’s a big...

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3 Common Foods That Increase Joint Health For Dogs

Is your dog suffering from decreased joint health? Like humans, dogs who maintain an extremely active lifestyle or are simply entering their senior years are more likely to suffer from osteoarthritis and other joint issues. For dog lovers, watching the discomfort and lack of mobility that comes from these issues can be heartbreaking. What many don’t realize is that there are a number of natural foods that can increase joint health for dogs. Be sure to consult with your vet before adding any of these to your dog’s diet, however! Alfalfa Alfalfa is a member of the pea family, and has been used for medicinal purposes for over 1,000 years. According to clinical research quoted in Dogs Naturally Magazine, as...

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Simple Ways to Help a Dog After Orthopaedic Surgeries

What do you think the most common orthopaedic injury is for dogs? Surprisingly, ACL tears makes up to 65% of surgical orthopaedic caseloads for specialty veterinarians. For a full ACL tear in a dog's knee, the best and often only option is to perform a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy also called a TPLO. This surgical procedure removes the torn ACL and changes the biomechanics of the knee so the dog can function normally without the need of an ACL. Up to 40% of dogs that experience a tear in one ACL will tear the opposite knee’s ACL as well. Once the procedure is complete the dog and owner work through an intense series of physical therapy to help the dog...

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Growing the Bond Between Dog and Handler Through Positive Training

There is few greater joys than welcoming a new puppy into your home. They are a new member of the family but once you get them home, many new owners wonder what to do. How do you train your new puppy to go potty outside? How do you instill some manners into the new addition? Positive reinforcement training is the standard in the dog training world. This means that for every correct action the puppy performs, they receive some form of treat. For example, the puppy comes when called, they will receive a reward in the form of food or play with a unique toy. When practicing positive reinforcement training techniques, pet supplies such as small training treats, dog clicker,...

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Benefits to Maintaining a Healthy Dog Weight and 3 Ways to Do It

Veterinarians are commonly asked, if there is one thing owners can do to keep their dogs happy and healthy, what would that be?  The answer time and again is to keep your dog at a healthy weight.  What does this mean?  A dog at a healthy weight will have a defined waist and as an owner, you should be able to easily feel the ribs with minimal fat covering.   Keeping your dog at a healthy weight can add up to two years to their life and is essential in lifetime dog joint care.  If your dog isn’t at an ideal weight or simply needs to maintain here are three ways to help your pet reach their ideal weight. Talk...

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