A study of the epigenetic clock in Labradors shows calculating a dog’s age is much more complicated than just multiplying by seven
One dog year is not equivalent to seven human years, despite widespread use of the ratio for calculating the age of canine companions. Presumably, the ratio is based on the average lifespan of dogs being 10 years and humans being 70 years, it’s not quite so simple. The formula is not based on any real science and it was debunked by veterinarians years ago.
According to pet insurance companies, ear infections are one of the top reasons people visit a veterinarian. This painful condition could be alleviated if dog owners were more consistent about caring for their dog’s ears, such as frequent inspections, and weekly cleanings. These 21 Breeds Are At The Highest Risk of Ear Infections If your dog has floppy ears, in other words, the ear itself folds down over the ear canal, they are at a higher risk than other dogs for infections. The following breeds (and their mixes) are particularly prone to ear troubles: For more information, click here:If Your Dog Is One of These 21 Breeds, It’s Vital To Clean Their Ears Weekly
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have only been married a few months, but the couple have been non stop since their wedding. Between their public appearances and luxurious vacations, Duke and Duchess of Sussex have had nothing but excitement in their fast-paced royal world. And if they weren't already busy enough, things just got even more interesting for the couple: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle just got a dog together. Earlier today, People confirmed that the two have taken the next step and are now the proud owners of a dog, which is rumored to be a labrador. Reportedly, the couple adopted the dog earlier this summer and it has joined them at their place in Cotswolds area and at Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace in London, a source says. It comes as no surprise that the two have chosen to add a pup to their family—Meghan, 37, is an avid dog lover and adopted a dog named Bogart in the past. The Duchess had to leave the pooch behind in Toronto when she moved to London in November last year, but it's now in the care of a family friend. She is also the fur mama to her beagle Guy, who made an appearance on her wedding day.
Labradors are one of the most loyal of dog breeds, making them quite loveable. But is it possible you love your Lab just a little too much? 1. Do you buy your English Lab puppy at least three toys a day? May be a bit much… 2. If you let your Labrador drink the last of your Australian shiraz, you may love them a wee too much. 3. This guy is in complete control at all times, sometimes rendering his parents useless. 4. Building a resort for Labrador puppies also may be a sign you love these dogs too much. 5. This Labrador’s dad gave him a nicer jersey than even he has! To read more on this story, click here: 14 Signs You Love Your Labrador…Too Much
Where James Isaac goes, Mahe
follows – even into the boy's hospital bed.
The 9-year-old Wellington boy
is autistic and relies on the black Labrador to keep him safe and calm.
James cannot speak, and
recoils from touch and eye contact with his family.
But he will curl up happily
with Mahe.
“And for Mahe, James is his
best mate, he is all about James," mum Michelle Isaac said.
So important is the bond that
Mahe was allowed to join James at the Wellington Children's Hospital as he
underwent an MRI scan to diagnose the cause of his seizures.
As he went under general anesthetic,
Mahe watched with concern, nuzzling his master's face.
"He was just looking at
James, and looking really worried."
As Michelle waited in the
hospital cafe for the scan to end, Mahe sat beside her, calming the mother as
he had calmed the son.
"I was really shaken, it
was pretty stressful watching James struggle."
Life for the Isaac family has
improve immensely since Mahe came into their lives, 2½ years ago.
Michelle said going out into
public with James used to be nightmare. He was likely to run off and lose the
plot in any unfamiliar or over-stimulating involvement.
"We couldn't even go to a
cafe as a family. James would get very anxious and want to leave immediately.
But when we got Mahe, James would just sit there waiting for us to finish our
coffee."
Mahe's presence not only calms
James, but keeps him safe. Out and about, he is attached to Mahe on a tether.
If he strays too far, or starts running towards a busy road, Mahe sits down and
won't budge.
The Assistance Dogs New
Zealand Trust trained Mahe for six months from a puppy to help children with
autism.
The trust trains puppies to
help people with a range of disabilities, from autism to diabetes to cerebral
palsy.
The dogs can be taught to
distract their owners, warn other family members of an impending medical event,
or track down missing people and objects.
Wendy Isaacs, the trust's
funding development manager, said Mahe had been picked for autism training
because of his calm demeanor.
"There is such a magic
that happens between a child with autism and the dogs, they just calm the kids
down. The kids will maintain eye contact with the dog, but often not with their
own parents and siblings."
If James' seizures persisted,
Mahe could also be trained to pick up on early warning sign and whine or bark
to alert his parents, she said.
To learn more about assistance
dogs, visit the trust's website.
Broken legs in dogs are common. Dogs generally experience
broken bones due to some kind of force or stress that their skeletal frame is
unable to handle. If you are wondering how to tell if your dog has a broken
leg, we’ve lined up all the signs that can help you figure it out.
How to tell if your dog has a broken leg:
How can you tell if your dog’s leg is broken? If you
are wondering how to tell if a dog’s leg is
fractured or broken, watch our informative video on the six symptoms that you
should look for:
If you see any of these signs or symptoms (or a combination
of these signs), you should take your dog to the veterinarian immediately for
an examination and x-rays.
Visible Bone or Trauma: If you
can see any actual bone sticking out or if your dog has a leg that is obviously
in the wrong angle or position, there is definitely a bone-related issue (most
likely fracture) that needs to be addressed.
Unwillingness to Bear Weight:
When a dog has a leg injury, they often will be unwilling to bear weight on the
hurt leg. Sometimes, they will pick up the leg and attempt to walk as a tripod.
Refusal to Play/Walk/Go up
Stairs: A dog in pain may refuse to walk altogether or engage in normally
playful activities. In such instances, there is a possibility that your dog is
in pain because of a broken leg.
Watch for Unusual Aggression:
A dog with a broken leg will often not allow you to touch their leg and will
try to snap or bite if you come near their limb.
Howling or whimpering: If your
dog is making unusual sounds, they may be in pain.
Loss of appetite/isolation: If your normally friendly dog
starts to isolate himself and refuses to eat, there is usually some underlying
medical issue. Combined with any of the previous signs, it could indicate pain
from a fracture.
Causes of Broken Legs in Dogs:
Broken bones in dogs can be caused for a number of reasons.
When a situation arises where an unusual or atypical amount of stress is
exerted onto the bone of a dog, it can result in a break or fracture. Some
common examples that can result in a broken leg in a dog include:
Jumping from a Height - Dogs often suffer from fractures
when they attempt to jump off of furniture such as a couch or tall bed. Just
like with humans, your dog’s size and physical strength will determine whether
this is something you should be concerned about. For example, a 90 lb. Labrador
may be able to regularly jump off a bed or sofa without injury, while a 4 lb.
teacup Chihuahua or Maltese could very well suffer a broken leg from such a
fall.
Pre-existing Injury – Dogs that have had a broken leg
before can often reinjure or hurt themselves in the same spot because the limb
is already weak. Even normal activities can cause problems if the dog’s is not
properly set or strengthened after the initial injury. Make sure to speak with
your veterinarian about preventive steps you can take to ensure that you are
providing proper bone and joint support for your dog in such cases. Also
check out our blog on 5 Ways to Strengthen Your Dog's Bones to see if you've
been doing all you can do to keep their bones strong!
Landing on Hard Surfaces - When a jump from a height is
combined with a hard surface, such as concrete or wood flooring, the impact can
be much greater. Carpet or a rug can sometimes prevent a fracture, while wood
or tile can cause one.
Getting Hit By a Car - Neo, the rescue dog who inspired
Boneo Canine, suffered from a compound fracture after getting hit by a car.
Dogs that get out of the yard or are somehow unsupervised on the street can
break their legs by the impact of a car, and in many cases, even get killed.
Retractable Leashes - Retractable leashes may seem like a
convenient way to give your dog freedom while maintaining control but they can
be extremely dangerous for your dog, you, and anyone around you, especially if
you have a rowdy or uncontrollable dog. Retractable leashes have the potential
of wrapping around limbs and causing very serious leg injuries, from breaks to
even amputations.
Rough-housing - If you have multiple dogs or take your dog
to the dog park, they often can get outsized by other dogs. For example, if you
have dogs that just go crazy to greet you at the door they can often jump over
or on each other to be first in line. This can result in injury and even
fracture.
Surgery– Certain orthopedic surgeries, such as a TPLO
surgery, require the bone to be cut in order for the orthopedic issue to be
addressed. A bone leveling or cutting procedure is supervised by a
veterinarian, but is still considered a broken bone for healing purposes.
Is My Dog’s Leg Broken or Sprained?:
Sometimes, what may meet the signs of a broken leg
(especially when there is no visible trauma) could actually be a sprain. If
your dog is still willing to put a little bit of weight on the leg, or is
limping after a particularly active day but otherwise no injurious activities,
you may want to keep an eye and see if the situation improves over a day or so.
It may be that your dog had a sprain/strain instead of a fracture. If you have
noticed that your dog is suddenly limping, but can't tell whether it is
serious, check out the following blogs: 15 Causes of Dog Limping and What to Do
if Your Dog is Limping.
There are some key differences between a sprain and a
broken leg but unfortunately, many of the signs look the same. Furthermore,
sprains can also be serious, as sometimes they require surgery when there is a
tear that cannot be treated with rest and a brace. Instead of attempting to
self-diagnose, the only way to tell whether a dog has a sprain or a broken leg
is to take the dog for a complete visual exam and x-rays at the veterinarian.
What to Do if You Think Your Dog has a Broken Leg:
If you think your dog may have a broken leg, read our post
on How to Help a Dog with Broken Leg for specific instructions on how you
should react. The key to a healthy recovery later on often
lies in early detection and prompt treatment by a veterinarian.
Bone is a constantly remodeling and dynamic organ (yes,
it's an organ!) and dogs have instincts that will allow them to adapt even when
the bone is set improperly. But when a fracture is not addressed properly, the
malformed bone can eventually result in infection, require surgery, and
sometimes even amputation.
It appears not everyone is happy with Budweiser’s “Lost Dog” Super Bowl commercial. The Center for Biological Diversity has started a petition urging Anheuser-Busch CEO Thomas W. Santel to pull the spot because it’s “demonizing an endangered species” — namely, the wolf.
In the commercial, a Labrador makes a perilous journey to his home — a farm that was featured in “Puppy Love” and “Brotherhood” Budweiser Super Bowl spots. But when the puppy gets close to home, a wolf blocks his path. Fortunately, the dog is saved by the farm’s Clydesdales, who force the predator to flee.
Are dogs really mans best friend? For years dogs have been used by man to accomplish many goals for mankind. For instance, did you know that Search and Rescue (SAR) dogs where used in 9ll to look for victims buried underneath the rubble? This was considered the largest deployment of search dogs in U.S. history, using between 350 – 500 search dogs. Dogs are currently being used by the military in Afghanistan to detect roadside bombs. The dogs of choice are usually Belgian malinois, German shepherds and Labradors, and are called bomb-sniffing dogs. These dogs even have service numbers tattooed inside their ears. While they are considered working dogs…they still enjoy getting treats and playing with the Soldiers! Additionally, dogs are used in prison settings to search for weapons, drugs and cell phones. They are also used in prison based dog training programs, called “Rehabilitation for Canine and Human”. This program allows the inmate who has received training the responsibility of raising and training dogs from animal shelters. Some of these dogs are used for people with disabilities or available for adoption. So, as you can see dogs play an important role in our lives, not only as pets, but they serve as: Police dogs, Fire dogs, Bomb sniffing dogs, Guide dogs for the disabled, Search and Rescue dogs, Guard dogs for home and property, Military dogs, Therapy dogs, and loving companions!
