In compiling these 12 real-life tales of pups rescuing people from life-threatening situations, I’m in awe of what incredible heroes they are. Their acts of valor show why dogs deserve our gratitude and respect every day.

1. A Puppy Survivor Saves A Little Girl

Peanut, an abused rescue pup adopted by a loving family, returned the kindness he received. One day, his dad discovered a naked, shivering 3-year-old girl near their home. She had wandered from an abusive situation and only uttered one word: “doggie.” Thanks to Peanut, both children were removed from that dangerous household.

2. A PTSD Service Dog Calls 9-1-1 For His Veteran

Terry McGlade relies on his service pit bull, Major, to get through each day due to debilitating PTSD after being wounded in Afghanistan. When Terry suffered a seizure one day, Major grabbed his cell phone, pawed at the screen to dial 9-1-1, and refused to hang up until help arrived. Major then waited out front to guide responders to his unconscious owner.

3. A Golden Takes A Rattlesnake Bite For His Human

While hiking with his owner, Paula Godwin, in Arizona, sweet golden retriever Todd leapt between her and a sudden rattlesnake attack. He took the venomous bite so she wouldn’t have to. Godwin later posted online that Todd is her “hero puppy.” That’s true love from a dog!

4. A War Dog Loses A Limb But Keeps Fighting

Layka, a military Belgian Malinois, was shot 4 times at close range by an enemy combatant while on a mission. The courageous dog kept working to protect her team until she received emergency treatment. Vets had to amputate Layka’s front leg, but this setback didn’t stop her valor. She was adopted by the soldier whose life she saved.

5. A Tiny Yorkie Saves Her Diabetic Dad

When Christine Brewer’s son, Michael, lost consciousness from low blood sugar, his little Yorkie, Jazzy, sprang into action. She barked persistently to get attention, kept pawing at her diabetic owner, and refused to leave his side until help arrived. If not for this pint-sized hero, Michael might not have survived.

6. A Loyal Dog Fends Off Predators After A Car Crash

Teenager Joseph Phillips-Garcia owes his life to his dog Sako. After their vehicle plunged over 100 yards into a Canadian forest, the resilient pup fought off coyotes in the remote area while Joseph awaited rescue with broken bones. The pair survived 40 dire hours in the wilderness thanks to Sako’s protection.

7. A New Puppy Gives A Suicidal Veteran Hope

Airman David Sharpe sat on his kitchen floor, ready to take his own life due to PTSD and depression. Suddenly, his new pit bull puppy Cheyenne plopped down next to him, licking his ear until he laughed. That sweet gesture reminded David he still had reasons to live. Cheyenne now serves as his unofficial therapy dog.

8. A War Dog Sacrifices Herself To Save Marines

Lucca, a decorated military German Shepherd/Malinois, served 6 years detecting IEDs and leading patrols, saving countless soldiers. While checking for explosives in Afghanistan, she ran ahead of her unit and located a hidden IED. When it detonated, Lucca shielded the troops, sacrificing herself. She survived and kept serving with her trademark resilience.

9. A Guide Dog Leads Her Blind Owner Down From The 78th Floor On 9/11

When the first plane hit the North Tower on September 11th, Yellow Lab guide dog Roselle remained focused getting her blind owner, Michael Hingson, and 30 others to safety. As they descended over 1,000 stairs through smoke and debris, Roselle guided perfectly until they all escaped minutes before the tower collapsed.

10. A Dog Rescues A Boy Clinging To A Pole In Rising Floodwaters

During devastating floods, Great Pyrenees-Lab mix Cooper got swept downstream yet still managed to offer lifesaving support to a terrified autistic boy clinging to a pole. Rescue boats saved both, and the grateful boy credited his survival to Cooper staying by his side.

11. A Family Pet Stops Traffic To Save Her Seizing Owner

When Clover the Maremma mix saw her owner having a seizure, she raced into the road to halt oncoming cars. The protective dog made sure help arrived for her mom, who now feels safer knowing Clover will always be there for her.

12. A Stray Dog Finds An Abandoned Newborn On Christmas Eve

In the Philippines, a stray dog selflessly spent Christmas Eve guiding people to an abandoned newborn in danger of dying. If not for the dog named Blacky alerting a passing motorcyclist who then alerted authorities, the helpless baby likely would not have survived the night.

What’s even more heartwarming than these stories is knowing that there are so many other dogs out there who are also heroes, yet their stories remain untold. Dogs give everything to protect us, and all they want in return is our love and care. We really don’t deserve such loyalty, but I will always be grateful for it.

The post 12 Amazing Dog Rescue True Stories of Dogs Helping People in Danger appeared first on The Petster.

“Contact with caterpillars can be fatal”

Although they may seem innocuous, their body is covered in hairs that release a toxin called Thaumatopenia, capable of causing severe allergic reactions in your dog when sniffing, licking or eating them.

The most common symptoms of this intoxication are hypersalivation (drooling), itching, inflammation of the head, lips and tongue, being able to appreciate colour changes in these areas, agitation, vomiting, panting, respiratory distress, etc. In some cases, contact with the caterpillars can be fatal.
“In case of contact with a caterpillar, go immediately to your vet.”

For all this, we leave you some tips to avoid the risk of this poisoning:

• Avoid walks with your dog through areas infested with caterpillars, especially between February and April, when temperatures begin to rise, although due to climate change their presence is increasing more and more.
• You should use gloves and wash the affected area well with running water, but without rubbing, since friction stimulates the production of toxins and helps their penetration and, we repeat, go immediately to your veterinarian.
• In the presence of this insect in parks, gardens or forests, inform the authorities so that they take the necessary measures. To eliminate caterpillars from your field or garden, seek the advice of a pest control company so they can propose the best solution.
• In case of contact with a caterpillar, go immediately to your vet. How quickly treatment is given is essential to saving your life.

If you want to learn how to groom your dog at home, you need to know the basics, such as how to cut a dog’s nails. I’ll show you exactly what you need to do and how to do it safely so that know one gets hurt.

Cutting a dog’s fingernails might sound scary but there’s nothing about it that’s difficult. You just have to be careful and know what you’re doing .

You should start off by collecting all of the supplies for this task. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Nail Trimmer
• Scissors
• Styptic Powder (optional)

Now that you’ve got your stuff together, it’s time to get started.

Step 1: Make Your Dog Comfortable

First, make sure your dog is relaxed and comfortable around you. Do this by giving him a treat or two before starting. If possible, start this process after they’ve eaten their meal to help them feel extra sleepy and calm! For anxious dogs, you can even try CBD Oil for Dogs.

Step 2: Prepare The Paw

Second, lift one of your dogs paws into your hand and press gently on the pad of the paw while looking at the tip of each nail. You’ll be able to see where your dog’s skin is and if you cut it, he will bleed and it may hurt him.

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That’s why we use a nail cutter, so we don’t have to worry about hurting our dog when trimming their nails.

Step Three: Secure The Paw

Third, you can feel free to push down on the pad of their paw if it’s more comfortable for you. If your dog is wiggly when you’re trying to hold his paw, you can try this instead!

Step 4: Apply The Cut

Fourth, once you’ve identified where the quick ends in each nail, go ahead and cut just past that point. You’ll only want to cut into the pinkish area on the end of his nail, not into the black part. If you do accidentally cut into this black section, use an absorbent cotton ball to stop the bleeding. After it stops, apply some styptic powder to help the blood clot faster and prevent infection in your dog’s paw. You can then apply some CBD for Pets to promote healing as well.

Step 5: Repeat on All Nails

Fifth, keep trimming until all their nails are the same length.

Step by Step Instructions for Trimming Dog Nails

1. Pet your dog and make sure they’re comfortable with you
2. With one paw in each hand, feel for the end of each nail to know where to cut
3. Cut just past this point (only into the pinkish area)
4. Keep cutting until all of the nails are the same length
5. If you accidentally cut into the black part, apply some styptic powder to stop the bleeding

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Now that you’ve learned how to cut your dog’s nails, you can feel confident doing it at home! If this process continues to be too stressful for either of you, then why not try bringing them to a groomer?

If you want more information on how to do this and other dog grooming basics, check out the video linked below:

Whether or not dogs dream isn’t known with scientific certainty, but it sure is difficult to imagine that they don’t. We’ve all watched our dogs demonstrate behaviours in their sleep that resemble what they do in a fully awake state. Paddling legs, whining, growling, wagging tails, chewing jowls, and twitching noses inspire us to wonder what our dogs are dreaming about.

What we know about dogs and dreams

While our knowledge on this topic is very limited, the following known information helps us believe that dogs do indeed experience dreams. According to MIT News, Matthew Wilson, a professor of neuroscience at MIT, and Kenway Louie, a graduate student in 2001,  have studied the relationships between memory, sleep and dreams. They found that when rats were trained to run along a circular track for food rewards, their brains created a distinctive firing pattern of neurons (brain cells). The researchers repeated the brain monitoring while the rats were sleeping. Low and behold, they observed the same signature brain activity pattern associated with running whether the rats were awake or asleep. In fact, the memories played at approximately the same speed during sleep as when the rats were awake.

Can we apply this to dogs?

Can we take what is known about dreaming in rats and humans and apply the information to dogs? Wilson believes that we can.”My guess is — unless there is something special about rats and humans — that cats and dogs are doing exactly the same thing,” he said, according to USA Today’s website.

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It is known that the hippocampus, the portion of the brain that collects and stores memories, is wired much the same way in all mammals. According to healthday.com, Professor Wilson says, “If you compared a hippocampus in a rat to a dog; in a cat to a human, they contain all of the same pieces.” He believes that as dogs sleep, images of past events replay in their minds, much the same way people recall experiences while dreaming.

In people, it is known that most dreams occur during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, according to the National Institutes of Health. Dogs also experience periods of REM sleep. Psychology Today’s website says that during REM their breathing becomes more irregular and shallow. There may be muscle twitching during REM and, when one looks closely, rapid eye movements behind closed eyelids can often be observed. It is during REM sleep that behaviours thought to be associated with dreaming (legs paddling, twitching, vocalizing, etc.) are most commonly observed.

What we want to believe about dog dreams

When we observe our dogs as they sleep, it’s just about impossible to imagine that they are not dreaming. Just like the rats studied by Wilson and Louie, it is tempting to believe that our four-legged best buddies are reenacting their recent experiences; playing at the dog park, sniffing in the woods, chewing on a treasured bone, and chasing squirrels.

The National Institutes of Health says that Sigmund Freud theorized that dreaming was a “safety valve” for our unconscious desires. Perhaps he is correct, and, when our dogs sleep, they dream about catching the neighbour’s pesky cat, continuous belly rubs in conjunction with unlimited dog treats, and stealing the Thanksgiving turkey from the dining room table.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian — they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

Did you know that some authorities feel that 1 out of every 100 dogs that reach 12 years of age develops diabetes mellitus?

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a hormonal problem where the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin, the hormone that helps push sugar (“glucose”) into the body’s cells. Without the insulin, the body’s cells are starving for sugar; unfortunately, this then stimulates the body to produce more and more sugar (in an attempt to feed the cells). That’s why your dog’s blood sugar is so high (what we call a “hyperglycemia”) with diabetes mellitus.

Without insulin, the sugar can’t get into the cells; hence, why you need to give insulin to your dog with a tiny syringe twice a day. In dogs, this is a disease that can be costly to treat and requires twice-a-day insulin along with frequent veterinary visits for the rest of your dog’s life.

So how do you know if your dog has diabetes? Clinical signs of diabetes mellitus in dogs include:

• Excessive drinking
• Excessive urination
• Urinary accidents in the house
• Dilute urine
• Overweight or obese
• Muscle wasting
• Ravenous appetite
• Frequent urinary tract infections
• Weakness
• Unkempt or poor hair coat
• Blindness secondary to cataracts
• Neuropathies (nerve problems)

As your dog gets older, it’s worth talking to your veterinarian about doing routine blood work to make sure your dog is healthy. This blood work will help rule out kidney and liver problems, anaemia, infections, electrolyte problems and diabetes mellitus. The sooner you recognize the clinical signs, the sooner your dog can be treated with insulin and the fewer complications we see as a result.

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So, if you notice any of the signs above, get to a veterinarian right away. Now, continue on for 5 important reasons to test your dog for diabetes:

1. Your dog will live longer

Diabetes mellitus can shorten the lifespan of your dog, as secondary complications and infections can occur. With diabetes, the body is immunosuppressed and more likely to develop diabetic complications which cause long term harm to your dog.

2. Your dog will be able to see

Did you know that the majority of dogs with diabetes eventually go blind from cataracts? Even in well-controlled diabetic dogs, the excess sugar in the body can have secondary effects on the lens of the eye; it causes more water to influx into the lens, which disrupts the clearness of the lens. As a result, cataract formation occurs, resulting in eventual blindness and secondary inflammation in both eyes. While cataract surgery can (and ideally, should) be performed, it can be costly.

3. You’ll save a lot of money

Treatment for diabetes mellitus includes twice-a-day insulin treatment, insulin syringes, prescription diets, and frequent veterinary trips for blood tests. Also, as diabetic dogs can’t go without their insulin, it may mean hiring house sitters or pet sitters to treat your pet while you are on vacation.

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4. You’ll have fewer urinary accidents in the house

One of the biggest signs of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus is excessive drinking, urination and having urinary accidents in the house. Because of hyperglycemia, dogs are also at increased risk for urinary tract infections, wreaking havoc on your carpet. The sooner you can treat your dog with insulin and get diabetes controlled or regulated, the less your dog will drink and urinate, making your dog more comfortable too!

5. You’ll have more peace knowing that your dog is healthy

As a veterinarian and dog owner, I want to make sure my dog is as healthy as possible. You might already be talking with your veterinarian about vaccines each year in a dog that is older than 7 years of age; next, talk to your veterinarian about doing an annual exam and routine blood work too. It’ll pick up on medical problems sooner, so you can rest assured that your dog is going to live a longer, happier, healthier life!

Having a diabetic pet is also a big commitment, as it requires dedicated pet parents who can give twice-a-day injections of insulin. Caring for a diabetic dog does require frequent trips to the veterinarian to regulate blood sugar. That said, dogs can live with diabetes for years with appropriate care and treatment. When in doubt, make sure to monitor your dog carefully for the signs of diabetes, and seek veterinary attention sooner rather than later to help test for this ever-growing problem!

The post Protecting Your Dog from Caterpillar Dangers – Tips and Advice appeared first on The Petster.

What is a Heart Murmur?

A heart murmur is an abnormal sound heard when listening to the heart with a stethoscope. It occurs due to turbulent blood flow within the heart. Normal blood flow between heart chambers makes a “lub-dub” sound. An extra sound like a whooshing or swishing noise in addition to the “lub-dub” indicates a murmur.

Heart murmurs are graded on a scale from I to VI, with grade I being the mildest and grade VI being the most severe. The loudness of the murmur does not necessarily correlate with its severity though. Some mild murmurs can be quite loud.

Causes of Heart Murmurs

There are two main categories of heart murmurs, systolic and diastolic. Systolic murmurs happen when the heart contracts. Diastolic murmurs occur when the heart relaxes between beats. The cause determines which type of murmur and where the abnormal sound occurs.

Congenital heart defects present from birth lead to abnormal blood flow and turbulence. This turbulence produces heart murmurs. Common congenital defects leading to murmurs in chihuahuas include:

• Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) – Failure of a fetal blood vessel to properly close after birth causes blood to abnormally flow between the aorta and pulmonary artery. This results in a continuous murmur.
• Pulmonic stenosis – Narrowing of the pulmonic valve causes a crescendo-decrescendo systolic murmur heard on the left side of the chest.

Acquired heart diseases can also cause murmurs in chihuahuas:

• Mitral valve disease is extremely common. The mitral valve separates the left atrium and left ventricle. As it deteriorates with age or infection, backflow and turbulence create a murmur during ventricular contraction.
• Dilated cardiomyopathy stretches the heart muscle leading to inefficient contractions and leakage between chambers. It produces soft murmurs.
• Endocarditis, an infection of the heart valves or lining, creates turbulent flow from inflamed, damaged tissue.

How Are Heart Murmurs Diagnosed?

Veterinarians detect heart murmurs with a stethoscope during a wellness exam or physical. However, further testing is needed to determine the cause and severity. Diagnostic options include:

• Chest x-rays check heart size and shape for signs of enlargement or fluid in the lungs suggesting heart failure.
• ECG records the heart’s electrical activity to evaluate rhythm and rate.
• Echocardiogram uses soundwaves to create images of the beating heart allowing thorough evaluation of structure and function.

Blood tests check for signs of infection or heart muscle damage. Oxygen saturation monitors can also be used. These noninvasive tests detect worsening function over time.

Managing Chihuahua Heart Murmurs

How a heart murmur is managed depends on the cause and severity. Mild murmurs may just require continued monitoring for progression. But treatment usually involves:

Lifestyle Changes – Restricting exercise and managing environmental temperatures prevents overexertion and heat stress on the cardiovascular system.

Medications – Drugs like ACE-inhibitors, diuretics, and vasodilators treat congestive heart failure and high blood pressure associated with some murmurs. Antibiotics treat bacterial endocarditis. Blood thinners help prevent clots with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Surgery – Procedures can repair structural defects like PDA. Metal implants can rebuild deteriorating mitral valves.

All cases require consistent veterinary follow-ups to monitor murmur grade, cardiac enlargement, fluid accumulation in lungs, and quality of life. Catching progression early allows rapid intervention.

Promoting Cardiovascular Health

You can help support your chihuahua’s cardiovascular system at any age through:

• Proper nutrition with dog food for heart health
• Achieving ideal body condition score to avoid obesity
• Regular exercise that avoids overheating
• Preventative care including heartworm, flea and tick medications
• Annual vet exams to screen for illness and establish baselines
• Learning CPR signs of canine cardiac distress
• Avoiding toxins like tobacco smoke
• Managing anxiety that raises heart rate/blood pressure

A heart murmur diagnosis can be scary. But being an educated and proactive chihuahua owner will give your dog the best chance at a high quality of life. Monitoring cardiovascular function is essential for early intervention if problems develop. With proper treatment and management, many dogs live happily for years after a murmur is detected. Stay in tune with your chihuahua’s health and you’ll be prepared if a concerning heart sound is ever heard. I sincerely hope you find this “Chihuahua Heart Murmurs-Monitoring Cardiovascular Health” article helpful.

The post Monitoring Cardiovascular Health in Chihuahuas – Heart Murmurs Explained appeared first on The Petster.

Some believe that it is due to the pain they feel due to the sensitivity of their ears, but in reality, it is not like that; this is related to the ancestors of dogs.

Apart from the fact that it is a high-pitched sound and that, at times, it can be annoying for some dogs, there are other causes that explain why dogs howl when an ambulance passes.

There are those who think that it could be a matter of sensitivity of the ears, i. e., that the dog felt pain with that high-pitched sound. But really it’s not so. According to experts, there are several explanations for this behavior:

1.- The first theory would be that dogs confuse the sound of sirens with the howls of other dogs, in the same way, that it happens with wolves, which howl when another member of the pack moves away from the group and so that it can find its way back. What would happen to the dogs is that they believe that the police or ambulance siren would be another dog trying to communicate with them.

2.- The second possibility is that they detect a threat, i. e., they do not know that sound and howl to alert their owner that something is happening in their environment so that they are prevented. When the ambulance has passed, the dog will believe that he has moved away from the threat, will stop howling, and will remain calm.

3.- Contrary to what is believed, the sound of the sirens does not hurt the ears of our dogs since, if it were so, they would hide and become nervous as happens when firecrackers sound.

4.- Finally, if the dog’s howl is persistent and occurs even when no type of siren is heard, it may be because the animal is feeling anxiety about separation from the owner or that it feels bad. In that case, you should consider taking him to the vet.

On the other hand, is good to highlight that dogs are known for their incredible hearing range, which is far superior to that of humans. Compared to what humans can hear, dogs’ hearing is superior (around 65,000 hertz for dogs and just 20,000 hertz for humans).

Some believe that they are likely to hear the siren before their owner notices it, and therefore their sense of obligation to their alpha – that is, their owner – is to inform him of the unfolding situation.

As you may know, the domestic dogs that we see today have descended from wolves so they share an evolutionary and genetic origin. This means that our dogs have certain behaviors that wolves also have, such as howling. It can be disturbing for you in case you have more than one dog but just be patient.

On the other hand, wild wolves continue communicating through howling to help the lost ones return with the pack members. This means that howling is a very important way that helps them communicate over long distances since, as we mentioned earlier, they have a much more developed sense of hearing than humans. Therefore, dogs tend to act instinctively when they are howling.

In fact, did you know that, in wolves, each member of the pack howls in a different way? Other animals such as hyenas, foxes, or coyotes also howl.

It is very rare to see or hear that a dog does not howl at the sound of a siren but it may be possible to find some dogs that do not do it, although they would be a minority.

Innately, dogs communicate at a distance so it is possible that when hearing a siren, even from a distance, they are trying to communicate with it, mistaking it for other dogs. However, dogs that do not, may understand that it is not another dog and prefer to ignore it.

The dog carries out this behavior in an institutional way, so repressing it would be negative, as well as difficult to avoid. Our advice is that you allow it to express itself, but you can also do a few extra things:

• If you find yourself in the street when it happens, he ignores the howl and continues walking as if nothing, you must act calmly and without paying attention. This will help your dog understand that nothing bad is happening. On the contrary, if you hold him in your arms, pay attention to him or act in a nervous and incoherent way, you are communicating that there are reasons for alarm and may worsen the behavior.
• Of course, if your dog is afraid and looks for you to hide, you can caress him and give him shelter. Remember that fear is an emotion, it is not reinforced. What you should avoid is reinforcing negative behaviors, such as running, barking, or yelling at him.
• If you are at home, the best thing to do is to distract him before he starts howling. As soon as you perceive the ambulance, you can take some quick action, or offer it a long-lasting snack for dogs. This will keep him from barking, keep him busy, and distracted, and reinforce him for not howling at the same time.

In the event that the dog howls for no apparent reason, we recommend consulting a veterinarian. Senile dementia in dogs, for example, can cause fears and insecurities, which lead the dog to howl because he is lonely, for example, in his own home. However, many dogs also howl when they are happy when they want to play, eat or simply attract our full attention.

The post The Science Behind Why Dogs Howl at Sirens appeared first on The Petster.

Yes, a dog can eat popcorn while you watch a movie with your family. If the dog is just sitting around at home on its own, it should not have any problems. Dogs are generally safe from popcorn because they have tremendous willpower and will resist the urge to snack on it due to their strong teeth. Of course, some dogs may be more delicate than others and might not survive a large amount of popcorn in a small time without becoming sick.

Popcorn is delicious and nutritious – so much better than unhealthy snacks like candy or chips! But have you ever wondered how it can affect your pup?

Healthy corn contains natural antioxidants that could even help to clean your pup’s teeth as he chews the kernels.

But, as with anything else, moderation is always best. And it’s very important to know some of the risks of eating too much popcorn. So read on to find out some tips for safe popcorn consumption from your vet.

Popcorn is a whole grain that can be made from corn or other grains such as barley or wheat. It’s a popular snack because it’s easy to make and is tasty – and it’s even good for you! Popcorn comes in a variety of flavors; we like butter and salt, but sometimes we like cheddar and herb. Yummy!

Although popcorn is a healthy snack, there’s a limit to how much your pooch should have. And it depends on two factors: weight and age. But if you still want to give your pup a bowl full of popcorn, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Popcorn can be a choking hazard for pups under 10 months old. So don’t give them any until they’re slightly older.

For those pups who can eat popcorn, three small pieces are probably enough for each meal. The rest of the container should be left as a treat for your pup or given to someone else as a gift.

Be mindful of keeping an eye on your dog. Make sure that he only gets the amount you’ve planned for him. At home, if your dog is pacing around with his bowl of popcorn . . . do not give him more. He will have too much.

Pay attention to your dog’s weight loss or gain. A dog can easily gain 20 – 25 pounds in a month if he does not eat properly! So it’s important to watch your pup closely when giving him the popcorn to make sure that he doesn’t gain weight too quickly after you’ve given it to him.

You should never give your dog large amounts of popcorn. Of course, moderation is the best policy when giving any snack to your puppy. But there are plenty of other snacks out there that won’t put your pooch’s health at risk. Here are some suggestions:

Green beans, carrots, and broccoli are all healthy vegetables that can help keep your dog’s teeth clean by scraping away plaque and tarter. They’re healthy for dogs because they’re low in calories and high in fiber. We bet you’d like to eat these too!

Canned pumpkin – just like humans – is loaded with vitamins A and C, as well as fiber to help digestion. Canned pumpkin is particularly good for dogs who are missing their teeth or who have serious dental problems.

Freeze-dried liver treats are great for training tricks. Your dog will love the taste! And it’s nutritious, too!

Raw meat and fish are the healthiest foods that you can feed your dog. Make sure that they’re fresh and of high quality. You can even use them as training treats or just to give your dog a yummy snack!

Yes, popcorn can cause weight gain in dogs because it has calories.

However, you should not worry because most dogs do not gain weight simply because of popcorn. If your dog is at a healthy weight, you may still give him popcorn as treats. And consider giving them in two small pieces instead of the large ones. Or give your pup healthy snacks that are healthy for him, like vegetables or meat. You can even give him table scraps!

Remember to be careful about how much and what kind of snacks and treats your pup eats to avoid any problems!

One small bag of sweet corn kernels contains 375 calories and a tablespoon of unsalted butter adds approximately 102 calories. One tablespoon of light corn syrup adds approximately 121 calories.

You can just give it to him. Just be sure that he has not eaten anything in the past hour, especially before bedtime. If he has juice, milk, or soda pop with his snack, it could cause intestinal blockage. Make sure that you do not share your popcorn with him because it contains butter and salt.

If you want to give your pup a treat, popcorn is a good option. It is a healthy snack for dogs because it is high in fiber and rich in nutrients. But, give your pup only one or two pieces. This will prevent him from gaining too much weight or from getting sick with too much butter or salt in his belly.

You can mix the popcorn with his regular food to make it more interesting for him to eat, but you must be careful not to overdo it! Keep an eye on your pup’s weight so he doesn’t gain extra pounds after eating too much of the tasty snack.

There are many brands of popcorn available that contain less butter and salt than the ones you buy at the store. And, of course, these brands are all healthy for dogs; they’re low in fat and sodium.

You don’t have to give your pup popcorn to help with upset tummies if your dog’s upset happens outside of his usual eating time. If he is not eating normally, it’s a good idea to know whether he has been eating popcorn! So you might choose not to give him the snack until you can be sure that he is okay or until after making sure that nothing else may be causing his upset stomach.

If your dog is a picky eater, you might want to try using small pieces of popcorn as treats. You can mix the popcorn with his regular food for easier eating. Or you can put the unpopped kernels on the top of his regular kibble so he has to work at getting them!

If your pup is not interested in this snack, try putting his kibble on top of the bowl and hiding the popcorn under it! You can also mix popcorn with yogurt or mashed potatoes or any other treats that he might like.

• Popcorn is healthy because it is low in fat and full of fiber, making it a great digestive tract health booster. But this treat isn’t the most nutritious thing out there!
• It is best to give your pup small amounts of popcorn from time to time as a snack or treat rather than giving him only this food every day.
• This will help keep him from gaining too much weight or from getting sick with too much butter or salt in his body.
• If your pup is a picky eater, you can mix the popcorn with his regular food. Or hide it under his kibble.
• You can even disguise popcorn as yogurt, mashed potatoes, or any other treats that he may like! This snack does not have to be boring!
• If you want to make sure that your dog gets only the healthiest foods possible, freeze-dried raw food is what you’re looking for! It’s the healthiest diet for dogs because it’s all-natural.

This is all we have to say about the topic of healthy snacks and treats for dogs. Your dog will love you for giving him healthy snacks and treats like these!

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This is the case with hiccups, which are compulsive, rapid, and involuntary contractions of the diaphragm at more or less regular intervals. The lungs are forced to expel air in small amounts and abruptly, which generates the familiar and characteristic sound that gives the hiccup its name: hip, hip! It is very common in all mammals, including humans and, of course, dogs.

In general, we shouldn’t worry when our furry friend hypes. As in the case of people, the hiccups will usually last only a few minutes and will have no consequences beyond the fun of the situation. However, it is inevitable that we ask ourselves the question: why do dogs get hiccups? The causes can be very diverse, so it is better that we go through them one by one.

As we said, hiccups in dogs can have different causes. Most of them are trivial or easy to solve; in fact, the most common is that the hiccups resolve on their own. However, in some cases, hiccups can be a symptom of a more serious problem, so it is worth reviewing all the possible causes to understand why our dog has hiccups. Let’s go there!

• Eating or drinking water too quicklyIn both humans and dogs, this is the most common cause of hiccups: by eating or drinking too fast, the dog ingests not only food or liquid, but also excess air that is released during digestion, either as hiccups or in the form of flatulence.Many dogs eat with more anxiety than they should, but it is a problem that can be solved with patience and training. We must teach our dog to control himself when there is food in front of him, and it may also be a good idea to divide the food into several doses with smaller amounts. In this way, his level of anxiety about food will decrease, since the dog will end up learning that not by being more nervous and eating faster, he will receive his next ration sooner.
• Digestive problemsHiccups in dogs can also be caused by digestive problems of various kinds: food allergies, ingestion of toxic foods, excessively heavy digestions, etc. In many of these cases, the hiccups will be accompanied by other symptoms.If our dog hiccups very frequently and even more so if he also vomits food or bile, we should take him to the vet, nobody better than him to identify the problem and put a treatment.There are two types of dogs that are more prone to hiccups from digestive problems: puppies and hunting dogs. In the case of puppies, it is usually a temporary problem that appears especially when the feed is changed (their gut is more delicate and is growing). Hunting dogs, on the other hand, have a certain tendency to develop digestive problems of which hiccups can be a symptom, but this does not mean, of course, that it happens to everyone.

   

• Cold, anxiety, stress, nervousness, or fearAll of these are situations that can cause hiccups in a dog. That the dog hypes when he feels cold may be curious, but it is so: especially in the case of puppies and small breed dogs, the cold usually causes frequent episodes of hiccups. To make sure that the cold is the cause, we must look for the appearance of other symptoms, such as tremors.Anxiety, stress, nerves, and fear also cause hiccups in dogs, in addition to the flatulence mentioned above. If our dog is very excited or afraid, the first thing to do is try to understand why: are we making him nervous with too rough games? Has he heard a sound that has frightened him? There can be many reasons. When we solve a situation that causes discomfort to our dog, the hiccups will eventually subside.

How to Remove the Hiccups From Dogs?

In most cases, as we have already said, hiccups are totally harmless and will go away on their own. However, if we see that our dog is especially uncomfortable when hiccupping –of course, he does not understand what is happening to him– we can try some of the remedies that we mention at this point. When the hiccups are not due to a more serious problem, the same thing happens to dogs as people: they don’t stop hiccupping because they are too focused on it. Almost all solutions will, therefore, pass by distracting the animal.

• It is not about scaring them as we do with people, as that will not only work, but it can also confuse him or even cause him to react aggressively. We mean to distract him with games, a ball, etc in short, something that makes his breathing change.
• Give him some food or drink. The result will be the same as in the previous point: the dog’s breathing will change and the hiccups will surely disappear.
• Take him out for a walk. A third variant of the same solution: make the dog do some activity, and thus get distracted and breathe differently. If you love to walk, hit the streets!
• Bathe him. Whether your dog loves baths or he hates them, the fact is that taking him to the bathtub will be a major distraction that could end the involuntary hiccup reflex.
• If the hiccups are due to cold, this solution is obvious: as soon as we warm the dog and his body temperature begins to rise, the hiccups will disappear.

Conclusion:

You must pay attention that your dog’s hiccups disappear after a few minutes otherwise if it lasts for more than an hour, they may be a disease symptom.

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