25 Most Popular Dog Breeds and Their Natural Health Problems

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Dogs are our friends, and they rely on us to make sure they’re healthy. Some breeds are prone to specific health concerns, and this infographic breaks it down.

If you have a dog, you might be aware of some of these already. And if you’re thinking about adopting one, you’ll want to be aware of any health issues that might pop up. This way, you’re prepared to give your friend proper care, and you know what to expect.

Bulldogs, for example, often suffer from breathing problems. According to the infographic:

Your bulldog’s small nostrils, elongated soft palate, and narrow trachea are the reasons why he probably snores and they can lead to a life threatening emergency if he gets overheated or overtired.

They include info on 25 breeds, and you can check out their full article at the link below, which includes even more information on each breed.

Spring Cleaning Tips For Pet Owners

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Here are my top 8 spring cleaning tips for pet owners:

1. Brighten up their bedding.
Your pet probably spends most of his/her time indoors. Spruce things up by refreshing his favorite places, including his bed, kennel or favorite napping spot. First, vacuum in and around the area to remove hair and dirt. Next, if he sleeps in a plastic or wire crate, take it outside, hose it down and dry it thoroughly. Then launder blankets or bedding, tossing and replacing any worn items.

2. Take care of toys.
Throw away any toys that are permanently soiled, damaged or simply ignored by your pet. Gather any plush toys and launder them so they’re fresh and fluffy again. Hand-wash any plastic or rubber toys, too. If your pet has lots of toys, you can rotate them weekly to keep your pet interested. You might also keep a set of durable, Kong-type or rope toys for outdoor playtime, and keep the soft, squeaky plush toys inside so they last longer.

3. Tackle the yard.
Now that snow and ice have melted (hopefully) and buds are ready to bloom, give your yard and patio a good once-over to check for things you wouldn’t want your pet to get into. Eliminate trash or debris that has blown into the yard, pick up any dead critters that your pet might want to roll on, and look for cracks or holes in the fence or screen to prevent your pet from escaping.

4. Get a grip on collars, leashes and tags.
How long has your dog or cat been wearing that collar? Does it still fit properly? Is it dirty or in ill repair? What about your dog’s leash? Does it have frayed or thin sections that could suddenly snap if they try to chase a squirrel? Wash dirty items and toss any that are no longer usable. While you’re at it, don’t forget to take a look at their identification and rabies tags. These can become dirty and worn over time, making them illegible. Clean them up or replace if necessary.

5. Pack away the parkas.
As a Labrador mix living in Florida, my dog Chilly is not a regular wearer of coats. However, for those of you living in colder climes, you may have a nice selection of winter wear for your pooch. Go through their sweaters and coats, and donate anything that your pup has outgrown or no longer wears. Then look over the ones you keep, checking for rips, tears or loose buttons and Velcro. After repairing any problems, wash them and then store them neatly away for next winter.

6. Check up on medications.
If you give your dog or cat medications or supplements, go through everything and toss any that are old or have expired. Make sure you have an adequate supply of flea, tick and heartworm preventative on hand. If you don’t, contact your veterinarian and stock up so you don’t run out.

7. Organize their files.
If you’re like me, you end up throwing all of your pet’s records in one file. Spring is the perfect time to go through all of that paperwork and get it organized. If you have a variety of records — veterinary, adoption paperwork, training certificates, etc. — think about creating different files for each category. That way, you’ll be able to quickly access exactly what you need in the coming year.

8. Get caught up on grooming.
During the cold winter months, many people put off bathing and trimming their pets. But there’s no time like spring for a furry makeover. Give your pet a good bath, trim his or her nails/claws and brush his coat thoroughly. Not only does brushing help keep warm weather shedding to a minimum, it’s a great bonding experience. It also helps remove any allergens that may hitch a ride on your pet’s coat during the spring. Try to make it a daily or weekly habit, particularly if your pet has a long coat prone to tangles and matting. If your dog or cat requires a professional salon session, go ahead and schedule a spring appointment.

Finally, as you’re cleaning other areas in your home, remember to keep toxic supplies and chemicals well out of reach of your pet. Consider using natural cleaning solutions like baking soda or vinegar and water. Not only are they safer for your pet, they’re easier on your wallet, too!

The Cost of Owning a Pet

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The cost of owning a pet is a key factor when considering a pet, and this chart from the ASPCA breaks down costs you should expect for the first year after adopting a new animal companion.

The chart covers a number of popular pets.  You can see estimates for individual expenses—like food, litter, toys, and health insurance—as well as an overall first year total for each type of pet. The chart also gives you an idea of which expenses are reoccurring and which are likely a one time thing. As the ASPCA points out, these are the minimums, so you may need to budget more than this if you’re thinking of adopting an animal companion. . Don’t forget about unexpected vet visits and pet boarding fees for when you go away.

While you have many factors to think about when deciding on a new pet, the cost is an important one. If you prefer a PDF version of the chart, you can find it here.

Pet Care Costs | ASPCA

This ASPCA Chart Shows You the Cost of Owning a Pet

Keep Your Pets from Getting You Sick with These Simple Rules

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Keep your pets from getting you sick

As much as you love your pets, there’s still a possibility they can make you sick if you are not careful. A recent study explains the potential health risks of pet ownership—particularly for those with weak immune systems—and how you can easily avoid them.

The study, from Ohio State University and published in the April issue of Canadian Medical Association Journal, found that there are at least 20 different diseases that people acquire from typical house pets. The transmittable bacteria include Campylobacter from cats and dogs, and Salmonella from amphibians, reptiles, rodents, and young poultry. There are even some parasites than can make the jump as well. Fortunately, there are some simple ways to keep your furry, feathered, and scaled friends from getting you sick:

  • If you have a weak immune system, ask your doctor if the pets you have are okay. They won’t always ask, so bring it up to them. Contact with higher risk pets like reptiles, amphibians, and other exotics are best avoided.
  • Wear protective gloves while cleaning aquariums, cages, bedding, feeding areas, and when cleaning up feces. Be sure to clean and disinfect those areas regularly.
  • Discourage pets from face licking and wash your hands before eating.
  • Keep litter boxes away from areas where eating and food prep occur, and cover playground boxes when not in use.

Lastly, and maybe most importantly, make sure you take your pets to the veterinarian regularly for check ups and shots. The risk of contracting disease is much higher for those with weaker immune systems, but it’s possible for anyone to get sick. Your animals are certainly not disease-ridden monsters, it’s just important to do the little things so everyone stays healthy. Check out the link below to learn more.

New study suggests ways to avoid catching diseases from pets | The Ohio State University News Room via Science Direct

Photo by Stewart Black.

Tips to Pet Proof Your Home

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We are often asked for tips to pet proof your home.  Here is some of that information we would like to share.

Household cleaners, furniture polishes, disinfectants, insecticides, antifreeze, fertilizers, perfumes, and make-up can be dangerous to dogs.  Make sure cupboard and storage areas (garage) containing these items are secure. A bored or determined dog can go ‘where they’ve never gone before.’

According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, food items, such as chocolate, onions, raisins, grapes, avocados, and anything with mold on it can cause serious illness, even death.

Chicken bones can shatter and choke a dog or cat.  Remove candy or nuts from coffee tables or locations where a pet can reach it. Also, Poinsettia plants and Lilies can cause kidney failure in cats if ingested.

Ingestion of uncooked bread dough can be life threatening.  The animal’s body heat will cause the dough to rise in the stomach.

Throw out plastic bags, aluminum foil, and food wrappers.  If swallowed, they can cause damage to a pet’s digestive tract or in some cases, cause shock and death.

Toys with small, removable parts, string, yarn, rubber bands, and dental floss can pose a choking hazard to animals.

See that medications are locked up.  The sound of pills rattling in a plastic bottle may entice the pet to chew the bottle open.  Most human medications, including aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen are poisonous to animals. Be careful to discard any pills dropped on the floor.

Do Dogs Dream?

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Here is an interesting question that I have often come across.  Do dogs dream like humans?  Dogs and humans have the same type of slow wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement (REM) and during this REM stage dogs can dream. The twitching and paw movements that occur during their sleep are signs that your pet is dreaming.  Now you know!