Taking our precious fur-babies to the vet can be a nerve-wracking experience at the best of times, but what do we do when we don’t see eye to eye with the doctor? Today we’d like to share a personal story in case any of you find yourselves in this position in hopes that it helps you navigate a disagreement with your vet. (more…)
dog wellness
DOG HEALTH: 6 SIGNS YOUR DOG MAY BE IN PAIN
It is never easy to learn that your dog is unwell. In fact it is one of the hardest things pet parents have to deal with. But how do you know when to take your dog to the vet? The answer is, of course, whenever you are unsure about your pet’s well being (it is always better to be safe than sorry). Yet there are some tell-tale things you can watch out for to help you make the call. Here are six simple signs you should constantly watch out for to tell if your dog is in pain…
1) Unusual movement
If you dog starts to limp, has trouble getting up or lags on their walks it may be cause for concern. Monitor your dog’s actions closely at all times, even when they are as fit as a fiddle, so that you can recognize if and when their abilities change.
2) Vocalizing
No, no, we don’t mean barking per se. If your dog starts to whimper or whine for no apparent reason, chances are they are trying to tell you something. So don’t brush their little voices off right away without paying true attention what might be bothering them. A trip to the vet may not be a bad idea.
3) Altered breathing
Heavy breathing, excessive panting or sudden snorting may be indications that something is not quite right internally. Just as though you came across a person having difficulty breathing, treat this symptom with caution and immediate medical attention.
4) Extreme sensitivity
If your dog begins to cringe when approached, touched or in any way handled, it’s probably safe to say that they are hurting in some way. Dogs with injured paws, for example, may try to bite if touched, not out of meanness, but as a way to try and protect their injury. If your dog acts out in this manner, completely out of character, don’t immediately scold them. Again, they may be trying to communicate something.
5) Change in appetite
All dogs love food, but if you notice that they are suddenly eating much more or far less than they’re usual serving of kibble, you may have reason to be alarmed. Monitor their eating habits closely so you can better inform the vet of any changes.
6) Change in coat condition
Sudden malting, excessive licking of a specific area or change in coat condition can all be earlier indications that something is wrong. It is a good idea to also keep an eye on your dog’s skin condition whenever grooming in case changes appear there also.
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PET WELLNESS: 3 DOG-FRIENDLY AT-HOME WORKOUTS
So the new year is here in case you haven’t heard and with it often comes a determined resolution to ‘get in shape.’ What most of us don’t think about, however, upon declaring our renewed loyalty to fitness is that January is a horribly frigid month to work out. Going for a run or even a long meandering walk becomes infinitely more difficult when -25C comes a calling (yes, for our non-Canadian readers, temperatures do plummet!)
But don’t despair! We have cooked up 3 easy dog-friendly winter workouts that won’t be deterred by bad weather to help you keep your promise to yourself.
1. WORKOUT #1: DOWNWARD DOG
We talk a lot about yoga (or doga – yoga for dogs) here on Pawsh, mostly because it is a fantastic way to keep body and mind happy and healthy. All you need for this workout is a yoga mat, a large open space to stretch out in and some soothing zen music.
If you know some yoga moves, work yourself through them. If you don’t, pick up any at-home yoga DVD (I personally love TurboFire; the fitness set has some powerful yoga training sessions in it). Yoga not only helps you to keep limber, but it can build muscle strength too. If you push yourself as well, you will definitely break a glorious sweat!
How your dog can join in: Throw a dog-friendly yoga party with friends. The dogs will love being part of the fun.
2. WORKOUT #2: DANCE!
It’s easy to fall into a case of the ‘winter blues,’ but an even easier way to avoid them is to dance – regularly! A wonderful form of exercise, dancing release endorphins which has been proven to improve mood and emotional outlook.
Take some time each day to throw on the radio or your favourite playlist and dance around the house without a care in the world. 30 to 45 minutes will do! Or, if you’d like to actually learn a particular form of dance, consider another at-home DVD routine and spend some time each day working on your moves.
How your dog can join in: Ever notice how if you’re moving around the house your dog will follow? The same is often true of dancing! Rather than sit on a couch and watch the world go by, your dog will most likely get up to see what you’re doing and (better yet) join in the bouncing around!
A beautiful photo series of dancers and their dogs
3. WORKOUT #3: AN APP THAT FITS
I have something of a love-hate relationship with gyms. Part of me loves the hustle and bustle, the social factor and the ‘you can do it’ atmosphere. But the other part of me hates how hard it is to cancel memberships, the perpetual smell of feet and waiting in line for machines.
So this winter, why not run your own gym at home with some clever apps? Here are two that I’m loving right now:
Nike Training Club – easy to use and oh-so effective, you’ll be sore after any of these workouts. Set your goals, set your desired workout times and off you go! You can choose between get lean, get toned, get strong or get focused and workouts can be as brief as 20 minutes, yet very effective!
The app creates a daily program for you to help you reach your fitness goals without having to spend hours every day working out. Whether its your core, legs or cardio you want to focus on, this app covers it all! ANDROID | iPHONE
PumpUp – this nifty app was developed by students in Waterloo and is remarkable. It too allows you to set goals and work towards them in a totally customized manner. Plus it offers a cool social aspect, kind of like a Facebook feed, where you can interact with other users who are also pursuing fitness. The social aspect is awesome as it allows you to motivate each other and get a friendly sense of competition going. ANDROID
How your dog can join in: While Fido won’t be able to lift weights with you, he can be present for your workout and engaged by your activity. Plus, with all the time you’ve saved not trekking out to the gym and back, you can fit in an extra game of in-house fetch or catch to help pupster burn a few extra calories too.
{Huge thanks to my incredible friend and talented artist Tonya Pet Photography for photographing this feisty installment of the “Pet Wellness” column.}
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This article was made possible by DogTrot Fitness — Canada’s exclusive distributor of the PetRun line of dog treadmills — the ideal solution if your dog doesn’t love dog parks.
Adequate exercise is equally important to your dog’s wellness as a healthy diet. Even if you can’t run WITH your dog, we can help you meet his exercise needs, regardless of weather. With running decks scaled to suit any stride, there’s a PetRun treadmill for every size of dog! WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
DOG HEALTH: DOG EAR INFECTIONS
Everybody knows that dogs have incredible hearing, but did you know that many breeds and mixes, of all shapes and sizes, are prone to ear infections.
Unlike a human ear canal, a dog’s is rather L-shaped, which means waxy build-up can more easily occur in the little elbow of that ‘L’ shape. Wax build-up then leads to bacteria and even fungus development which can become very serious and uncomfortable.
Today we’re chatting about ear-care basics; how to identify an ear infection, how to prevent it and how to treat it if need be.
4 signs your dog might have an ear infection
1. Unusual smell
A canine ear infection typically comes with a rather pungent and noticeable smell. If you notice such an unpleasant smell when you hover above your dog’s head or flip your dog’s ears, take your pupster to your vet for a complete check up.
2. Shaking
As you can imagine, having an ear infection is very uncomfortable and a dog will do whatever it can to try and relieve some of that discomfort. Excessive shaking of the head is a common symptom of an ear infection, so be sure to watch for this behaviour.
3. Scratching
Similar to shaking of the head, scratching is another way for a dog to try and make itself feel better. A dog may try to scratch around or by its ear to the point of breaking the skin, or even rub the side of its head along the ground in an effort to stop the irritation.
4. Inflammation
Perhaps the best indication of an ear infection, however, is redness, swelling or visible irritation around the ear or inside the ear. To check for this simple flip your dog’s ear – gently of course, as they are probably sensitive – and observe. Do not touch the redness or irritation as that will most likely be painful for your dog.
How to treat a dog ear infection?
If any or all of these symptoms are observed in your dog, it is recommended that you visit your regular vet as soon as possible for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Usually, ear infections are treated with specially prescribed medicated ear drops that need to be administered anywhere from once to three times daily for a week or two.
How to prevent a dog ear infection
Some dogs are naturally prone to nutritional and environmental allergies, such as wheat or pollens, which make them more susceptible to ear irritations. However, according to vets, one of the leading causes of dog ear infections is excess moisture in the ear canal.
This excess moisture usually occurs after your dog has a bath or a swim. The extra moistness in your dog’s ear canal creates a prime breeding ground for bacteria to fester. So be sure to dry your dog’s ears well after water activities by covering your index finger with a dog towel and delicately drying the inside area.
Hair or fur in the ears can also contribute to excessive waxy build-up, so be sure to ask your groomer to trim the inside ear fur whenever you take Mr. Fluffypants in for a haircut.
{Huge thanks to my incredible friend and talented artist Tonya Pet Photography for photographing this special “Pet Wellness” column.}
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This article was made possible by DogTrot Fitness — Canada’s exclusive distributor of the PetRun line of dog treadmills — the ideal solution if your dog doesn’t love dog parks.
Adequate exercise is equally important to your dog’s wellness as a healthy diet. Even if you can’t run WITH your dog, we can help you meet his exercise needs, regardless of weather. With running decks scaled to suit any stride, there’s a PetRun treadmill for every size of dog! WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER