Canine Heartworm Treatment

Canine heartworms, also known as dirofilariasis disease, can be extremely dangerous or fatal if left untreated. Heartworms are spawned from mosquitoes, which carry the parasite and infect other dogs. A veterinarian can prescribe heartworm preventatives to decrease the chances of your pet getting this disease. To restrict mosquito contact, natural methods can be used to keep these insects at bay.

Canine heartworms are dangerous parasites that live in the lung arteries and the right side of the heart in dogs. If left untreated, these long, thin parasitic worms can cause lung or heart damage, or death. Microfilaria immitis (heartworm) parasites are carried by mosquitoes. Read more »

Crate Training Dogs

Training your dog for the crate is very beneficial for your dog and for you. It’s a safe and comfortable space for your dog, actually it is less stressful for your dog. It gives your dog a space of his own so he can relax and give you a little time to relax too, knowing that he is safe and comfortable.

When training your dog, you should never force it, gradually introduce your dog to the crate and let him know it’s not punishment or a way to seclude him. It’s a place to keep him safe when you are not home, as well a place of his own. It’s very beneficial for when your dog has surgery or you need to travel. Read more »

Pet Vaccines – Are You Helping Your Pet or Hurting It?

Every responsible pet caretaker wants to take the best possible care of their companion. This includes preventative care including a proper vaccination schedule.

Once animals are given their core vaccines they are typically given a yearly booster. In the case of horses, a twice per year booster is usually recommended.

Have you ever wondered why people get vaccinated only as children for most diseases, yet animals need to be revaccinated every year, sometimes twice a year, for life? Read more »

Pet Euthanasia – How to Make a Difficult Decision with Ease and Grace

I’ll never forget the sorrow I felt the day my beloved dog Jessie didn’t go on the nightly walk with us. Instead he lay in the driveway barking and waiting for us to return. It was in that moment that I knew the quality of his life was deteriorating to the point where we should consider humane euthanasia.

The first obvious sign of Jessie’s hip problem was when he tried to jump up a bank and couldn’t quite make it. Instead he tenaciously hung there until he had to give up and realize that he couldn’t follow his dog companion after that particular rabbit. After that his mobility became steadily worse. Read more »

Dog Bite Cases and Private Insurance of the Dog Owner

Private Insurance

Oftentimes the dog owner has a homeowner’s insurance policy. Most homeowner’s policies will provide coverage for damages or injuries inflicted by the owner’s dog. However, most coverage questions are dictated by the terms of the insurance policy. And many times you cannot get access to the dog owner’s insurance policy until you actually file a lawsuit against the owner. Thus, a lawsuit may be necessary just to find out if there is an insurance policy, and if so, whether that policy will provide coverage to pay a settlement or verdict. Read more »

Eliminate Dog Food Allergies

There are a couple of things to look for when trying to decide if your dog’s allergies are caused by food, or something else.

Dogs that are intolerant to certain foods may have physical problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, gassiness, or bloating of the stomach.

Food allergies are caused by an immune system reacting inappropriately to the present food that is being ingested. This is when we try to find the offending food to decrease or eliminate the problem. Read more »