Dog Entertainment Archives - The Petster Pets Care partner Mon, 01 Jan 2024 08:11:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 https://thepetster.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/cropped-the-petster-high-resolution-logo-3710195-8625031-32x32.png Dog Entertainment Archives - The Petster 32 32 My Dog Barks a Lot, How Can I Entertain Him? https://thepetster.com/my-dog-barks-a-lot-how-can-i-entertain-him/ https://thepetster.com/my-dog-barks-a-lot-how-can-i-entertain-him/#respond Mon, 01 Jan 2024 08:11:31 +0000 https://thepetster.com/2024/01/01/my-dog-barks-a-lot-how-can-i-entertain-him/ Your dog’s barking is his main means of communicating with you and the world around him. When lifestyle changes occur, it is normal for anyone to feel a little disoriented, anxious, stressed, or afraid, even your dog, who may start to let you know more and more insistently through his barking. What to do when ... Read more

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Your dog’s barking is his main means of communicating with you and the world around him. When lifestyle changes occur, it is normal for anyone to feel a little disoriented, anxious, stressed, or afraid, even your dog, who may start to let you know more and more insistently through his barking.

What to do when my dog ​​barks too much?

You know him better than anyone. The first thing you should do is start observing him be able to identify the cause of this situation, pay attention to recent changes in his environment, although it could also be that he is asking for more food or time with you.

We share some tips to keep everything under control when this becomes a problem:

  • Nobody likes scolding, that includes your dog; By responding to their barking in this way, you are only increasing their anxiety and fear. A little understanding and guidance would help him more, which helps more when it comes from his leader, so you must give him firm indications so that he understands that it is not good to bark so much.
  • Like any child, your puppy likes gifts, especially when they are toys that he can bite at will; These could be a great ally to calm your anxiety and keep you entertained when you are not there.
  • A healthy mind in a healthy body, also applies to dogs, who are less afraid and depressed when their days are full of activities, who wants to bark at night when they are happily exhausted?
  • A little doggy TV can also help. Seriously! You may not have tried it before, but dogs are attracted to seeing other dogs on television, whether in movies, series, cartoons or you can even search for videos on the internet made especially to entertain or calm dogs through pleasant images to them.
  • On the other hand, there will always be situations that can cause fear or stress to your dog, although they are not risky situations for both; try to distract him with something he really likes until he calms down, be it his toy or a snack.

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Remember that dogs also have feelings that cause them some reactions that can get out of control. To remedy some, we recommend that you turn to a veterinarian who specializes in canine behavior (ethologist) so that he can help you find the best solution.

Anyone who has a four-legged friend knows very well how important it is to take care of him: food for dogs and cats is today of fundamental importance to your pet’s health. The unconditional love we feel for our furry puppy pushes us to choose the best because his well-being goes hand in hand with ours. The attention we devote to choosing healthy and balanced food is one of the aspects that most influence the quality of life of domestic dogs and cats. Finding your way around the great cauldron of pet food is not easy, let’s see which are the golden rules to follow.

CAT AND DOG FOOD: HOMEMADE OR COMMERCIAL?

Regarding dogs, first of all, you need to evaluate their size, breed, age, and health conditions: based on these variants and thanks to the advice of your veterinarian, you can determine the daily intake of calories needed. For example, a small dog eats between 90 and 120 grams of food per day, while a large dog, such as the Doberman or Labrador, may need up to 800 grams of “food”.

Regardless of the individual cases, the general principle applies to every one according to which home-made food, the same one we eat to be clear, is not always healthy. Four-legged friends have nutritional needs that do not coincide with ours and the habit of offering them table scraps without discrimination can cause negative effects on their metabolism in the long run.

Let’s not forget that dogs are omnivores, they need the right amount of animal proteins but also fruit and vegetables. Among the prohibited foods are chocolate, sausages, salt, garlic, onion, grapes, and yeast. Beware also of cooked bones because they tend to break easily and therefore to be dangerous. An exclusively “do-it-yourself” diet is however possible as long as you follow the instructions of an expert. The ideal is to alternate a home diet with industrial food, such as croquettes or canned meat, complete and balanced foods.

THE BENEFITS OF CANNED FOOD

Speaking of dog and cat food, it must be considered that dog treats, or dry food, have the advantage of being easy to dose and practical to dispense, especially when you are away from home. Furthermore, thanks to their abrasive action, the croquettes contribute to the dental hygiene of our furry friends by acting as a “toothbrush”.

Many hesitations about the use of commercial dog food relate to the idea that they may contain poor raw materials and chemical additives. In reality, you need to know how to make the appropriate distinctions between the infinite proposals on the shelf and choose quality products, that is, those that contain a wide range of proteins and are enriched with digestible elements such as rice. Whether it is complete croquettes (they replace a meal and must be integrated only with water) or complementary feeds to be associated with something else, it is good to put only the right amount in the bowl, avoiding excesses. On the packages, there are nutritional tables based on weight.

However, many four-legged friends prefer wet food, canned meat bites with added vitamins and minerals: they contain more water, are tastier and more rewarding to eat but have the disadvantage of being eaten quickly and they do not play abrasive action on the teeth. A good idea is to mix the croquettes with some morsels of meat, perhaps chicken and rabbit

CAT AND DOG FOOD: WHAT TO PUT IN MICRO’S BOWL

While the dog is omnivorous, the cat has remained carnivorous: its diet must respond to a high requirement of proteins and fats of animal origin. As for Fido, even Micio’s diet cannot be a “duplicate” of ours but must be prepared by informing yourself correctly with the help of a veterinarian. The choice of products without dyes and preservatives, which prefer poultry and rabbit,   is undoubted to be preferred. Cats are fond of beef and offal and usually prefer wet food served in small morsels. In the summer, the choice of croquettes can prove to be a winner for the preservation of the product but it must be kept in mind that the croquettes are not a snack but replace a meal, therefore be careful not to exceed the doses indicated on the packaging.

Some of the ingredients that end up in commercial pet foods are truly shocking. What’s more, many of these will not appear on the label and others are hidden under umbrella terms such as ‘meat meal’ and ‘meat by-products’. How can this happen? The pet food industry is highly unregulated. As Ann Martin, author of Foods Pets Die For, writes in her article The Pet Food Industry and its Questionable Practices, ‘Governments in the USA and Canada regulate the labeling of the food, the name and address of the company, the weight of the product, and whether it is made for a dog or cat – nothing more.’

The meats used in pet food can be extremely low grade and unfit for human consumption. Summarized as the ‘4 D’s’ (dead, diseased, disabled, and dying), these can include roadkill, zoo animals, and infected and cancerous meats.

At the rendering plants ingredients are highly heated and processed, destroying nutrients and enzymes, with strong preservatives added which do not appear on the labels. These include fat stabilizers such as BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), both of which are known to cause liver and kidney dysfunction, and Ethoxyquin, a suspected cancer-causing agent. Semi-moist dog foods may also contain propylene glycol, a relation to ethylene glycol (anti-freeze), which can destroy red blood cells.

Pets in your pet food

Though reportedly not the case today, it is well recorded that dogs and cats have ended up in dog and cat food. In his 1990 article How Dogs and Cats Get Recycled Into Pet Food, John Eckhouse, an investigative reporter, wrote: ‘Each year, millions of dead American dogs and cats are processed along with billions of pounds of other animal materials by companies known as renderers. The finished products — tallow and meat meals — serve as raw materials for thousands of items that include cosmetics and pet food.

Doctor of veterinary medicine Wendell Belfield in Foods Not Fit For a Pet (Earth Island Journal, 1996), reports that ‘federal and state agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration and medical groups such as the American Veterinary Medical Association and the California Veterinary Medical Association, confirm that pets, on a routine basis, are rendered after they die in animal shelters or are disposed of by health authorities, and the end product frequently finds its way into pet food.’

Toxic Grains

The very use of grains in pet food is questionable as grains are ill-suited to the digestive physiology of carnivores. This is especially so for cats who are obligatory carnivores and meet their glucose requirements through amino acids in their diet. Further, the grains used in dog and cat foods may contain mycotoxins, fungi that can cause chronic conditions and even death in both humans and animals. As the grains used in pet food are low grade, they are dealt with last in the handling process and because of this are often left in storage where insects, mites, and mycotoxin molds can grow.

The consumption of dead mites can cause skin allergies. If your pet has skin allergies, change their diet first before turning to steroids which can be seriously detrimental to your pet’s health.

Aflatoxin poisoning, a common mycotoxin that grows on corn as well as other foods, has been reported for over 50 years. Vomitoxin is another mycotoxin found in wheat products. Where large doses of mycotoxins can cause cancer and even rapid death, small continuous amounts may suppress the immune system and damage organs over time, leading to long-term chronic health conditions.

Just recently at the end of 2005, over 100 dogs were killed in the United States because of aflatoxin found in pet food, with some 19 brands of Diamond dog food being recalled. It is likely there were many more deaths than those reported, and as aflatoxin attacks the liver it is likely surviving dogs may develop chronic liver disease or liver cancer in the future.

Toxic Chemicals

The toxin sodium pentobarbital, a chemical is used to euthanize animals and pets, has been found in commercial pet foods. The US Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine performed two studies (1998 and 2000) to test for pentobarbital.  Of the 74 samples analyzed, over half were found to contain pentobarbital. What’s more, none of the 43 brands and product lines that tested positive warned of its presence on their labels.

The FDA researchers also tested the food for the presence of dogs or cats but reported none present. It was believed the pentobarbital residues were entering pet foods from euthanized, rendered cattle, or even horses.

The FDA says the small amounts of the drug found in these foods were harmless, but not all veterinarians agree. Long-term continual doses, even at small levels maybe increase the onset of chronic and degenerative diseases.

Aside from the toxins and base ingredients of commercial pet foods, these harshly processed and high-carbohydrate products in no way match the natural diets dogs and cats would have eaten in the wild. They are species-inappropriate and ill-suited to canine and feline physiology. I recommend healthy, homemade, raw diets or optimum natural, holistic alternatives for the health and well-being of your dog and cat. Before embarking on a raw food diet (otherwise known as BARF – ‘biologically adequate raw food’), thoroughly research the area first as nutritional balance is essential.

Some activities are necessary to maintain an optimal state of physical and mental health of your dog and, although they can be seen as complicated, these should not stop. Next, we share some hygiene measures that will help you when returning home with your dog and maintaining good hygiene.

According to the amount and type of dirt, we can define two cleaning options:

For light soiling, use damp towels.

If they made a quick exit and you think your dog did not come into contact with any substance that was harmful to him, you can use a wet wipe to clean his paws, but be sure to read on the packaging that they are safe and approved for use on pets.

A simple and inexpensive variant is to use paper towels dampened with a little warm water and dog shampoo to clean their paws before entering the house.

For a lot of dirt, do a foot bath.

If your dog’s departure was very active and crossed several surfaces or if you think that he stepped on any substance that could affect his health, deep cleaning will be necessary, at least on his legs.

With small dogs, you can use a sink, and with large dogs, you can do it in the bathtub. In both cases, use warm water and dog shampoo to scrub the dirty areas very well and clean from their pads to above their ankles. Rinse very well to avoid leaving soap residue.

Aspects to take into account when cleaning the dog’s paws:

  • Cleans very well around fingers and nails. Do this by separating and rubbing each of your fingers and don’t forget to gently but firmly rub your pads as well.
  • Dry their paws with a clean towel. After washing, take a clean towel to dry all parts of your dog’s paws very well, this will prevent him from slipping or leaving traces of moisture around the house.
  • Check for wounds on your dog’s paws. Depending on the intensity of the route or the terrain you have walked on, your dog may generate injuries to its legs, so when you return home you should check very well for any damage such as cuts, scrapes, or blisters. If the wound appears serious and may be infected, take your dog to the vet right away. If, on the contrary, the wound seems slight, you should wash it to prevent it from becoming infected. Carry out the same washing process doing it very carefully and at the end apply a light amount of diluted antiseptic, use one that is suitable for use on pets.

Tips for maintaining a recurring cleaning on your dog’s paws

  • Keep their fur well-trimmed. Having their legs with short fur will facilitate their cleaning.
    Use special balms for dog paws. Apply it on their feet and pads before going outside, the balm will work as a protective layer.
  • If your dog accepts it, turn to dog booties. These will help reduce dirt on your legs, as well as extra protection against certain surfaces or substances.
  • Place a cleaning station at the entrance of the house. To get in the habit, you can create a cleaning station for each time they return from the street. Some ideas are a clean rag, a bucket of clean water, wet wipes, and dry towels.

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Cleaning the dirt from your dog’s legs, in addition to hygiene, will allow you to see if they are not hiding a wound that if not detected in time can progress towards a greater problem.

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Activities for Dogs and Cats While at Home https://thepetster.com/activities-for-dogs-and-cats-while-at-home/ https://thepetster.com/activities-for-dogs-and-cats-while-at-home/#respond Fri, 08 Dec 2023 06:00:55 +0000 https://thepetster.com/2023/12/08/activities-for-dogs-and-cats-while-at-home/ We know that sometimes it can be difficult to go out with your pets and carry out their daily activities. Taking care of your health and that of your pet is very important, so we share with you the following recommendations to stay active both physically and mentally even at home. 3 activities for dogs ... Read more

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We know that sometimes it can be difficult to go out with your pets and carry out their daily activities. Taking care of your health and that of your pet is very important, so we share with you the following recommendations to stay active both physically and mentally even at home.

3 activities for dogs at home:

Tug of War: Grab one of their favorite toys like a bone or rope and, without letting go, allow your dog to chew on it to start the battle. Let your dog win every now and then to make it more fun for him. This is good physical exercise.

Scavenger hunt: show your dog a treat and instruct him to stay put, then go hide it somewhere else in the house and ask him to go in search of it. This will help strengthen your dog’s smell and intelligence.

Agility training: design a small circuit with homemade obstacles of all kinds for your dog to travel over and over again, you can take advantage and do the route together with him so that you are also active.

3 activities for cats at home:

Chase the prey: drag a toy on the ground using a rope near your cat, stop every now and then as a small animal would. This will encourage your cat to stalk following its instincts, as well as promoting its speed and agility.

Catch the red dot: use a laser pointer and play with the red dot around your cat, imitating a small insect. The trick is to keep your cat from reaching the light.

Hide and stalk: Cats love to be hidden (in a box or behind the wall) and chase prey, you can play prey or swap roles. Here the intensity of your movements is what will work best for your physical activity.

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Finish the activities while both of you are still having fun and be careful not to abuse playtime, as it can cause overstimulation in your pet causing exhaustion and discouragement.

The excitement of finding a perfect companion can be great when looking for a puppy, kitten or exotic animals and pets of a specific breed, and this makes people often turn to online sales sites. Surely you have observed that more and more people are opting to buy in an online pet store, and it is that it is a very interesting alternative that brings great benefits to the buyer, AnimalsSale.com is the website where you can buy or sell animals in the US, UK, Europe and other countries. You can find on their website full information about all dogs’ breeds, advice from experts on how to take care of puppies and kittens and other interesting information.

So here we are going to discover some of the most peculiarities of buying a pet from an online store. Featured.

Advantages of buying from a pet store

Today more and more people decide to have an animal in their family. For this reason, the opening of stores where they can buy any product or service dedicated to pets is becoming more and more frequent. According to some statistics, between 40% or 50% of families have a pet, so we must know well the offers in the market to be able to give our pets the best for their health and comfort.

Immense variety in offers

These premises, often have a huge variety of items for pets. For this reason, we can use them to obtain bags of feed for dogs of different sizes, sweets, food products, clothes for dogs, toys, cages (in the case of rodents), etc.

Unlike shopping centres and supermarkets where we find a limited amount of items for our pets. In a pet store, we can find different things more specific to your needs.

In addition, there are also offers on pets and we can find a wide variety of animal species (if the establishment is a large company). In these places, the animals are usually kept in good condition and the employees are in charge of cleaning the cages daily.

Quality Products

Also, the advantage of buying in a specialized pet store is that we can find good quality products at their price. And it is that the prices themselves are usually quite accessible.

Quality is still an important detail when purchasing a product and/or service. In these places, there are usually articles of a quality more than enough to fulfil their function.

In addition, we have the products organized according to the type of pet and this helps to find what we need and more quickly. This saves time and unnecessary wandering in the store.

Something important to note is that the products that are sold in specialized stores are usually from recognized brands and that they will also give us a guarantee. More if it is something that our pet has to ingest.

This really is important, because we cannot give anything to our pet. They could get sick if what they eat is in bad condition and if so, we must quickly claim it from the place of purchase. But in these places, the quality of the products is taken care of.

Preparedness for customer service

Another advantage is that we can have personalized attention based on our requests. There are always people around the premises who can guide us in our purchase and tell us which product suits us best for our needs.

This is extremely important since many times we can go to these stores and not be clear about what brand or what characteristics in the article can be better for our pet. This is a great advantage of buying from these stores.

Personnel in charge of customer service are often people who love animals and spend their time learning about pets. The best advice to buy is from people with a lot of experience.

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5 Games for Dogs to Entertain Them at Home https://thepetster.com/5-games-for-dogs-to-entertain-them-at-home/ https://thepetster.com/5-games-for-dogs-to-entertain-them-at-home/#respond Mon, 20 Nov 2023 03:52:55 +0000 https://thepetster.com/2023/11/20/5-games-for-dogs-to-entertain-them-at-home/ We know that playing or going out with your dog can sometimes be more difficult than expected, but you must not forget how important it is to keep him active. There is no doubt that their health and yours are paramount, so we show you some simple activities that both of you can do at ... Read more

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We know that playing or going out with your dog can sometimes be more difficult than expected, but you must not forget how important it is to keep him active. There is no doubt that their health and yours are paramount, so we show you some simple activities that both of you can do at home to stay physically and mentally agile. Your best friend will thank you!

5 recommendations for activities and games for dogs at home

1. In which hand is the prize?

Take food or object that your dog likes. Then put it in one of your hands without him being able to see which one it is in. Put your hands in front and let your nose sense where the object is. If you tap the right hand with your paw, you’ve won the prize! If not, try again until you guess. This activity will stimulate his intelligence and make him appreciate the thing that he likes the most.

2. Surprise ice

Especially during hot seasons, you can use your ice tray to freeze water with a dog snack inside. Your dog will have a new hobby licking the ice until he reaches the delicious surprise snack.

3. Bring my hat

Our classmates love interacting with us and doing simple tasks, so you can choose to teach him a word like cap and then ask him to bring it to you. You will boost their intelligence, in addition, they will feel the owner of the universe, even if the universe is only our home.

4. Up and down

Being inside the house you should take advantage of all the corners of your home, so if you have stairs use them to entertain your dog by throwing one of his toys to the end of the stairs so that your pet can go for it and return up the steps. Repeat it over and over to exercise your dog.

5: Let’s take a dip

If you have a garden in your house, an excellent idea is to place a pool so that you and your best friend can take a dip. What better way to entertain your dog than swimming and playing with the water? Make a meal for both of you to enjoy at the end of the game, she will love to relax a bit!

One tip is not to exceed the playing time, as this could exhaust your pet; it would be very difficult to do the same activity with him again if he relates those games with discouragement, instead of fun. Try to make all your activities fill him with happiness rather than distress him. And remember, not all dogs are the same, choose activities according to their tastes and physical condition.

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.

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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.

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!

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