Your Dog Has Diabetes. Here Are The Next Steps:

My dog has what?! Whatever the symptoms were that made you take your pup to the vet, good for you for taking him/her in to see your veterinarian! For most people, the diagnosis is a shock… a HUGE surprise! Who even knew that dogs can get diabetes? The first thing that you do now is breathe. Deep breaths…

To read more on this story, click here: Your Dog Has Diabetes. Here Are The Next Steps:

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These Are the 11 Heaviest Dog Breeds, So Keep the Treats to a Minimum

These are the pooches most likely to be a little husky. (Pun intended.)From Woman's Day

These Are the 11 Heaviest Dog Breeds, So Keep the Treats to a Minimum

Just like humans, too little exercise and too much food can lead to weight gain in pooches. (Dogs! They're just like us!) However, some dog breeds are more likely to pack on the pounds than others. The heaviest dog ever reported by the Guinness Book of World Records was Zorba, an English Mastiff, who weighed an impressive 343 pounds. Your pup may not be in danger of beating Zorba's record, but if your dog is one of the fattest dog breeds (such as an English Mastiff), then you should keep an eye on their kibble consumption.

To read more on this story, click here: These Are the 11 Heaviest Dog Breeds, So Keep the Treats to a Minimum

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It’s a Boy!

Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Giant Panda Cub Is Male

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s 6-week-old giant panda cub is a male, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) scientists confirmed. During the cub’s first veterinary exam Sept. 19, Zoo veterinarians obtained a swab from his cheek for DNA analysis. Outwardly, male and female cubs appear similar at birth, so a genetic test was the most accurate way to determine the cub’s sex. Veterinarians brought the swab to SCBI’s Center for Conservation Genomics, where scientists sequenced a short fragment of the zinc finger protein gene. The X and Y chromosomes both have this gene, with slightly different DNA sequences. Scientists determined that the swab sample taken by the Zoo’s veterinarians has both sequences present—confirming that the cub is male. A painting created by male giant panda Tian Tian (tee-YEN tee-YEN), the cub’s father, was used to reveal the sex of the cub to giant panda keepers and fans online.

To read more on this story, click here: It’s a Boy!

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Hypothyroidism In Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments

Hypothyroidism in dogs is a disorder where the thyroid gland in the neck doesn’t secrete enough thyroxine, a hormone that controls metabolism. This means that a dog’s body is no longer able to convert food into fuel at an appropriate rate.

Age, breed, lifestyle, and exposure to certain substances can all influence the onset of hypothyroidism in canines. Symptoms can range from lethargy and weight gain to seizures and heart problems.

To read more on this story, click here: Hypothyroidism In Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments

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Black Dog Syndrome: Why Black Dogs Are Less Likely To Be Adopted

Black dogs have a difficult time at the shelter than most people realize. It is especially true of larger dogs. Although there is not a lot of research that proves it is true, most shelter workers will tell you that big black dog syndrome (BDS) does exist and the reasons why are beyond sad.

Shelter workers will likely tell you that black dogs, as well as black cats, will not get adopted from the shelter as readily as other dogs and they are more likely to be euthanized. There are some studies that show the opposite is true but since there is not any data pointing toward the scientific facts, I would be likely to trust the people who actually see it for themselves, the workers at the shelters.

To read more on this story, click here: Black Dog Syndrome: Why Black Dogs Are Less Likely To Be Adopted

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Dog's Heartfelt Obituary Goes Viral: 'He Was Best At Unconditional Love'

A very good dog got one last special treat from his favorite human.

Charlie, a beloved golden retriever, was the first dog Sallie Gregory-Hammett of Greenville, South Carolina, ever had on her own. Gregory-Hammett, 30, got Charlie when she was 23, single and had just moved to a new city.

“I know it’s cliché but he was my best friend,” Gregory-Hammett wrote to HuffPost. “He went with me everywhere —work, hiking, trips to Home Depot. He was just a constant source of comfort and companionship and joy. Everyone that knew me knew Charlie and knew how much I loved him.”

To read more on this story, click here: Dog's Heartfelt Obituary Goes Viral: 'He Was Best At Unconditional Love'

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Reality Stars Decide To Keep Rescue Dog Months After He Bit Their Son

When dog lovers Kim Zolciak-Biermann and Kroy Biermann’s son got seriously injured by one of their beloved rescue pups, they thought long and hard about whether or not they should keep him in the family.

Kim Zolciak-Biermann is known for her role on the reality show The Real Housewives of Atlanta, while Kroy Biermann is an outside linebacker in the NFL. Now, the couple and their family star in their reality series, Don’t Be Tardy. But it wasn’t all glitz and glamour on one fateful day in April, when their rescue Husky-Boxer mix, Sinatra (“Sinn”), bit their 5-year-old son Kash in the face.

To read more on this story, click here: Reality Stars Decide To Keep Rescue Dog Months After He Bit Their Son

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7-Foot-Tall Great Dane Is Often Mistaken For A Horse

Big dogs are impressive, especially when they’re so large they get mistaken for other animals. Take Thunder for example, a 7ft tall Great Dane who regularly gets mistaken for a horse whenever his owner takes him out for a walk. This big boy easily could pass for a pony since he tips the scale at more than 210 pounds. However, in typical big dog fashion, he thinks he’s a lapdog and often tries to cuddle on his owner’s lap.

35-year-old Jenny Saccoccia and her husband, 37-year-old home developer Chris, live with Thunder in their family home in Ontario, Canada, which is a four-bedroom house that they all share with their other smaller dogs: a Pomeranian named Chichi, a Malamute named Tulu, and a Yorkshire Terrier named Peanut. Turns out, the large and monstrous Thunder is actually afraid of the small dogs, who all have the run of the household.

To read more on this story, click here: 7-Foot-Tall Great Dane Is Often Mistaken For A Horse

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Dog Lovers Are Heated Over Dangerous Trending “Food Challenge”

The internet has introduced a large number of bizarre trends and video “challenges.” Most are just harmless, like a weird dance move or a prank you pull on your parents. One disturbing “food challenge” however, involves force-feeding dogs human foods on camera.

To read more on this story, click here: Dog Lovers Are Heated Over Dangerous Trending “Food Challenge”

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Texas Woman Rescues Shelter Dogs To Become Service Animals For Vets Struggling With PTSD

Cherry Jenkins is a big believer in second chances. This conviction has led the Texas woman to devote her life to rescuing and retraining shelter dogs to become service animals for veterans struggling to cope with the effects of PTSD.

The San Antonio, Texas, woman founded In Dog We Trust in 2012 after learning that veterans often adopt shelter dogs to become service animals, only to surrender those pups after learning they don’t possess the temperament for training. “I met someone who said they had seen so many veterans bringing dogs back to the shelter because they were rescuing dogs, going to a trainer and then finding the dog wasn’t suitable,” Jenkins

To read more on this story, click here: Texas Woman Rescues Shelter Dogs To Become Service Animals For Vets Struggling With PTSD

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Nationwide Recall On Real Pet Food Brand Due To Salmonella

On September 22, 2020 Real Pet Food Company issued a voluntary recall of Billy+Margot Wild Kangaroo and Superfoods Recipe because of the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is a risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

To read more on this story, click here: Nationwide Recall On Real Pet Food Brand Due To Salmonella

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Finland Deploys Coronavirus-Sniffing Dogs at Main Airport

While researchers in several countries, including Australia, France, Germany the United States, are also studying canines as coronavirus detectors, the Finnish trial is among the largest so far

Finland has deployed coronavirus-sniffing dogs at the Nordic country’s main international airport in a four-month trial of an alternative testing method that could become a cost-friendly and quick way to identify infected travelers.

Four dogs of different breeds trained by Finland’s Smell Detection Association started working Wednesday at the Helsinki Airport as part of the government-financed trial.

To read more on this story, click here: Finland Deploys Coronavirus-Sniffing Dogs at Main Airport

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If Your Dog Swallows Any Of These 7 Common Household Items, Head To The Vet

Dogs “see” the world through their noses, and taste is closely tied into their sense of smell. Some veterinarians and animal behaviorists feel that this may be why pups eat items that are most certainly not food. Whether they swallow a dangerous substance out of curiosity, excitement or just by accident, seeking veterinary help quickly can make all the difference.

Here are some common materials pups have been known to eat that definitely warrant a visit to the vet.

To read more on this story, click here: If Your Dog Swallows Any Of These 7 Common Household Items, Head To The Vet

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Animal Hospital Owner and Staff Evacuate Every Pet Before Wildfire Burns It To The Ground

The Almeda Fire swept through southern Oregon faster than many residents could react. Memories, homes and entire neighborhood blocks have been burned to the ground by the fast moving blaze.

Phoenix Animal Hospital owner Glen Winters remembers when he first heard the fire was moving through Ashland. He didn’t think there was anything to worry about at the time.

“I started receiving calls that there was a fire going on in the Ashland and Talent area, and we said eh it’s a couple of miles away, we should be fine,” Winters told KTVL. “As the day went on a little bit, we started getting more and more frantic phone calls and that it was getting closer and closer, and so early afternoon we decided to evacuate.”

To read more on this story, click here: Animal Hospital Owner and Staff Evacuate Every Pet Before Wildfire Burns It To The Ground

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US Military Working Dogs Should Be American-Born, Senator Says

A Democratic lawmaker wants the Pentagon to buy American when it comes to its Military Working Dog program.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut included an amendment in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act that would require the U.S. Air Force, which oversees the Pentagon's program, to conduct a business case study on what it would take to purchase dogs from U.S. breeders instead of European sources.

"I was surprised to learn from the Air Force that the vast majority of our working dogs are actually born and bred in Europe, which raises costs and puts us in competition with other countries," Blumenthal said in a statement to Military.com on Wednesday. Bloomberg News was first to report the story.

To read more on this story, click here: US Military Working Dogs Should Be American-Born, Senator Says

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Animal Welfare League of Arlington Takes in Beirut Rescues

Thirty-three pets rescued from the devastation in Beirut, Lebanon are now in Arlington, awaiting adoption.

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington posted a video (below) of the Beirut blast rescues arriving at the airport and at the shelter near Shirlington. AWLA is now seeking new homes for the nearly three dozen dogs and cats.

More from an email sent to AWLA supporters on Thursday:

To read more on this story, click here: Animal Welfare League of Arlington Takes in Beirut Rescues

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Determining the Best Age at Which to Spay or Neuter a Dog

In many parts of the world, due to cultural or economic prohibitions, bitches and dogs are not spayed or castrated unless they have reproductive tract disease. However, in the United States, virtually all bitches and dogs are rendered sterile by surgery at some point in their life. This better allows for reproduction control in animals no longer capable of or not considered desirable for breeding, and eliminates behaviors and physical changes related to presence of reproductive hormones that dog owners find objectionable. The surgeries most commonly performed are ovariohysterectomy (removal of the uterus and both ovaries), commonly called spaying, and castration (removal of both testes and the associated epididymes). Castration is commonly also called neutering, although that term most correctly can be used for surgery of either gender. Collectively, these surgeries can be referred to as gonadectomy, removal of the gonads or reproductive organs.

Removal of the ovaries eliminates secretion of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Removal of the testes eliminates secretion of the hormone testosterone. Elimination of these hormones obviously leads to decreases in behaviors and physical changes associated with their secretion, such as heat behavior, swelling of the vulva, and estrous bleeding in bitches, and mounting and roaming in dogs. However, reproductive hormones have effects on other tissues in the body and removal of those hormones may inadvertently impact those systems negatively. Other, less obvious, hormone changes also occur after gonadectomy, including persistent elevation in hormones that control the secretion of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Whether these other hormone changes affect other systems positively or negatively often is unclear.

To read more on this story, click here: Determining the Best Age at Which to Spay or Neuter a Dog

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Bat Tick Found for the First Time in NJ; Could Pose Health Risks to Humans, Animals

A certain tick species linked to bats was found for the first time in New Jersey -- posing possible health risks to people, pets and livestock, according to a Rutgers-led study.

The study, which appeared in the Journal of Medical Entomology, identifies the tick species, known as Carios kelleyi (or C.kelleyi), as a "soft" tick. According to Rutgers, deer ticks, carriers of Lyme disease, are an example of “hard” ticks.

To read more on this story, click here: Bat Tick Found for the First Time in NJ; Could Pose Health Risks to Humans, Animals

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Anonymous Tip Leads To Rescue of 42 Battered Animals, Including 36 Dogs, from DC Home

 

WASHINGTON (ABC7) — A total of 42 animals, including 36 dogs and six rabbits, were rescued from a D.C. home Wednesday after an anonymous tip led to the discovery of alleged animal abuse, according to the Humane Rescue Alliance.

The critters were reportedly rescued from the 2900 block of Branch Avenue in Southeast D.C. by the HRA's Law Enforcement division.

To read more on this story, click here: Anonymous Tip Leads To Rescue of 42 Battered Animals, Including 36 Dogs, from DC Home

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Why Your Dog Should Learn to Wear a Muzzle? - Teaching Your Dog to Wear a Muzzle

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says, that if you teach your dog to accept one, a muzzle can be an effective, humane tool for managing your dog’s behavior. For most situations, we recommend a basket muzzle. Although a dog wearing this kind of muzzle looks more frightening than a dog wearing a snug-fitting nylon muzzle, the basket style is safer because it allows the dog to pant (which is how dogs regulate their body temperature) and to drink water. The wire basket muzzles sold at www.morrco.com are sturdy and come in a wide range of sizes and shapes to fit any breed.








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