Dog Care

Most dogs prefer fresh, cool water in a clean dish. Changing water every day and cleaning the water bowl are important to ensuring he drinks well. Credit: Alexei Tn | Getty Images Whether your dog is sick, feeling a little off, or has an acute or chronic illness that makes him avoid water, he still

A dog’s whiskers serve important sensory and protective functions for your dog. Credit: Boy Anupong | Getty Images When you think of whiskers, you probably picture cats, but dogs also possess a set of whiskers on their muzzle, cheeks, and above their eyes that serve important specific purposes. Whiskers, also known as vibrissae, play a

Some dogs think going to the groomer is great fun! Others do not. If your dog is in the latter category, consider time and training whenever possible instead of sedation. In some cases, a dog may need to be sedated for grooming. For example, if you have a new rescue dog who is badly matted,

Cleanliness and being sure the puppies are nursing all the teats can help prevent mastitis. Credit: Fabio Filzi | Getty Images Breeding and raising a litter of puppies can be an extremely rewarding experience. It can also be fraught with complications for the puppies and for the mother herself. One of those complications is mastitis.

Wet food, like canned foods, offers a multitude of benefits for your senior dog. Credit: Monica Bertolazzi As dogs age, their nutritional needs and dietary preferences may change. Dog food recommended for senior dogs is usually soft, wet, or canned. The wide variety of soft foods on the market makes it easy to find one

Daily brushing can improve the overall health of your dog’s coat and help reduce dandruff. Credit: sonsam | Getty Images Dandruff in dogs isn’t a life-threatening disease, but dry skin flakes are messy, itchy, and unattractive. Worse, they can trigger allergic reactions in humans and signal health problems in your pup. What causes dog dandruff,

Double-coated breeds like the Siberian Husky can shed a lot, especially during spring and fall. Credit: Niko_Cingaryuk | Getty Images All dogs shed, but some shed a lot more than others. Shedding removes old, damaged, or excess hair in a natural cycle that regulates body temperature and maintains skin and coat condition. The rate and

: If your dog is chewing or licking his paw, inspect the dog’s nails and his paw to figure out why. If you find a problem, early treatment is best. Credit: Cavan Images | Getty Images Proper care of your dog’s nails and following treatment instructions for any injuries can help keep your dog on

When it comes to identifying whether drool may signal an emergency, it helps to know what is normal for your dog. Credit: Wavetop | Getty Images Dogs drool. Some just drool a little once in a while, while others (we’re looking at you, Newfoundlands) drool a lot. Drooling can happen for structural, behavioral, and medical

Happy dog in a bath while being cleaned in a vet For a normal dog who doesn’t have atopic dermatitis or any other skin irritation, you can use human hair shampoo to bathe your dog.  And, as the TV ads like to remind us, Dawn Dish Soap is safe and cleans animal coats (and feathers!)

Regular brushing keeps a dog’s skin and coat healthy. As an added benefit, many dogs find it relaxing as well! Credit: Su Arslanoglu | Getty Images Beyond just saving time and money at the groomer, doing some of your dog’s grooming at home can provide the opportunity to keep an eye on her overall health,

Getting rid of fleas, which can cause a host of problems including itching and allergic reactions, is often a time-consuming process. Credit: Neonci | Getty Images Fleas are among the most irritating and harmful parasites that attack dogs. They can cause nonstop itching, scratching, skin abrasions, infections, flea-allergy dermatitis, and the transmission of tapeworms and

In addition to its potential for matting coats, tree sap can cause skin irritation, hot spots, and allergic reactions in dogs. Credit: Oline Aukrust | Getty Images Tree sap is called the life blood of trees because it transports nutrients between roots and branches. Pine trees and some other conifers release pitch that collects on

You likely already have the ingredients you need to put together a good homemade flea shampoo for dogs. Credit: Manu Vega | Getty Images A single flea on your dog may not look like an infestation, but it could become one soon. The fastest way to remove fleas from your dog is with a bath,

For many people, a sleeping dog is a happy, content dog—especially if he’s a puppy or high-energy dog. Credit: Kohei Hara | Getty Images Few things in life are as rewarding as the sight of your dog sleeping—seeing him curled up in a sunbeam or sprawled contentedly across the floor brings a sense of peace.

The full length of this adult female’s spay incision was tattooed, but some spay/neuter tattoos are not as long. Photo by Nancy Kerns. Dogs who have been spayed or neutered may have a small tattoo on their abdomen, or “tummy.” Called a “sterilization indicator tattoo,” this short, straight line indicates that the dog has had

Seeing a fox while out walking your dog is not unusual. Backing slowly away from the fox, while making a lot of loud noise is usually your best bet. Credit: Henrik Karlsson | Getty Images If you’ve been seeing more foxes in your neighborhood, you’re not alone. As deer, bear, and fox inch close to

Cheatgrass awns can burrow into a dog’s skin, causing serious, potentially deadly injuries and infections. Credit: MoKa | Getty Images Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is well named. The invasive species—also known as downy brome—overwhelms native grass species, reducing wildlife habitat and livestock forage; increases the risk of wildfires in Western ecosystems; and is dangerous, even deadly,