The Modern Bark | Dog Training Tips

Henry and Clemmies Red Life Jacket Is A Life Jacket Really Necessary For Dogs? There's no better way to beat the summer heat than a romp in the water to cool down. Whether its a trip to the beach, a lakeside treat or just a dip in the pool, both humans and their canine companions can enjoy strenuous exercise without over heating.  However, pet owners should be mindful of the dangers involved in swimming and boating for their four legged friends. Every year over 4000 dogs drown in swimming pools alone; even the strongest swimmer can become incapacitated in a boating or water and jet skiing accident. Canine Life Preservers can aid dogs several ways.  The buoyancy of a good life jacket can minimize fatigue on extended play sessions, allowing you and your dog to enjoy water activities longer.  Brightly colored life vests improve the visibility of your dog for boaters, jet skiers and those being towed behind water vehicles.  In the case of extreme fatigue, strong currents or

Great Dane and Chihuahua Skeletons Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons While Osteosarcoma represents just 5% of all canine tumors, it is estimated that between 6000 and 8000 new cases will be diagnosed this year in the United States. As the most common type of bone cancer in dogs, Osteosarcoma accounts for approximately 85% of canine tumors that originate in the skeletal system. This is an aggressive cancer where malignant tumors develop deep within the bone; from there they destroy healthy bone and remodel it with tumorous bone from the inside out.  The tumerous bone becomes increasingly painful and is not as strong as healthy bone, potentially causing the bone to break easily with minor injury. Risk Factors Associated With Development of Osteosarcoma In Dogs Osteosarcoma is generally a disease of large breed dogs, and although any size dog may develop the disease, it is estimated that large breeds such as the Scottish Deerhound are 200 times more likely to develop the disease

Courtesy of PDPics.com Cancer is increasingly common in pet animals, and as pets age, the likelihood of contracting some form of the disease increases substantially.  In fact, cancer accounts for almost half of the deaths of pets over 10 years of age.  In breeds like the golden retriever it is estimated that between 60 and 80% will contract a form of cancer. But cancer is not restricted to geriatric canines, dogs as young as 4 years old may be diagnosed with it. While dogs in general contract cancer at approximately the same rate as humans; cats tend to get fewer cancers, perhaps owing to their nine lives. Some cancers such as Hemangiosarcom and Oesteosarcoma have a higher rate of occurrence within certain breeds, suggesting a genetic component is probably at work. If your dog’s breed has a propensity for developing a specific type of cancer, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the early warning symptoms of the onset of the disease.  Awareness of the signs

By  federico stevanin , published on 08 November 2008 Stock photo - image ID: 1001821 As scientists of various disciplines investigate the topic of dirt eating, or more accurately clay eating, they are discovering that it is more prevalent across geographic regions and species than previously imagined.  Humans, primates, dogs, cats, parrots, buffalo, deer and even fruit bats engage in clay eating or geophagia, a subset of pica. Until now it has been assumed that the animals engaging in geophagia were either malnourished or suffering from a form of obsessive compulsive disorder originating from boredom.  New studies indicate that there may be other factors at work in the age old practice of clay eating. In our list of five reasons your dog eats clay, we offer up three traditional explanations as well as two new explanations that are gaining credence in the international dirt-eating research community. Eating Soil From Boredom, Habit or OCD It has been noted that bored dogs c

Comparing dog food ingredients, once you look at the paragraph on the side of the bag, may seem like it requires a PHD to decipher.  Protein meals, by-products and tocopherols abound.  Many authorities on dog food and nutrition recommend that buyers avoid any dog food containing by-products while others eschew grain based products.  Understanding dog food ingredients and their legal definitions as well as the guaranteed analysis will help you to better compare dog foods and find the best value and nutritious diet for your four legged companion. Dog Food Ingredients Comparison 101: The ingredients are listed on the food packaging by their weight, in descending order.  Ingredients are listed on an “as fed basis,” which can make interpretation of ingredient lists difficult, as key ingredients are regularly added with differing moisture contents. Meats contain more moisture which results in greater weight per volume, and therefore they may be listed first on the ingredient list.

According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans spent an estimated $52 billion dollars on their pets in 2012, with an estimated $19 billion of that being spent of pet food.  Clearly Americans love their pets, and as pet food recalls have heightened pet owners’ concerns about pet food safety and nutrition, many “Premium” foods have entered the market, competing for those dollars.  With the typical pet super market containing 6-8 aisles of dog food and 4-5 aisles of cat food, how is the health conscious pet owner to decipher the labels and choose the best food for their pet with a reasonable price tag? The Cover Story: Food, Recipes and Flavors – What’s in The Bag? The FDA and the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) have regulated guidelines for how pet foods products may be labeled and marketed.  Many so called premium dog foods have found creative marketing tactics for dodging these regulations while luring consumers with promises of holistic