I must admit that toes are something that I rarely thought about. Once I started really thinking about my dog’s toes, I can see why they form a vital foundation for your dog’s performance. Toes are important! Missed or poorly treated toe injuries result in decreased performance or even retirement of your canine athlete. As […]
Canine athletes, working dogs or even active companion pets that : accelerate quickly (like sprinters to fetch the ball!) jump (either in a trial or on and over a couch) brake abruptly (during a dumbbell retrieve or fetching his ball) make tight turns (during a retrieve, blind searches, weave poles or just returning his ball […]
Exercise programs for dogs. You may be thinking: “What next?!” Would you guess that the gym is one of the most hazardous places for your health? Think about it. A gym has every single piece of equipment that can effectively pull a muscle, tweak your back, sprain a joint, the list goes on. This is […]
Prebiotics work in harmony with probiotics and supports healthy guts and good digestion. A healthy gut supports the immune system and general health. When considering prebiotics and probiotics for dogs, it is often easier to deliver the prebiotics as a supplement. In effect, prebiotics reaches the gut intact and provide a feeding ground for […]
We know that probiotics are friendly forms of bacteria that live in the intestines and can improve our health as well as our doggo’s, in many ways. Veterinarians recommend probiotics for everything from treating digestive conditions to boosting the immune system. However, experts advise that in order to fully reap the benefits of probiotics for […]
Most dogs have a full set of gnashers! But hey, my dog’s teeth don’t look much like mine! Have you ever wondered about them? Here are 5 fun facts about your dog’s teeth 1. They have two sets, (just like us) Young human children have baby teeth just like young dogs have puppy […]
The short answer: Yes, you can help reduce the risk of developing hip dysplasia in your puppy. Recently I came across the following enquiry: Which x-ray protocols is best to use to determine if your dog has hip dysplasia? My comment: I prefer to x-ray my young dog later rather than earlier. I […]
What does it mean when people talk about the “drive” of their dog. It is a term commonly used among working or performance dog handlers and trainers. Working and performance dogs are selectively bred and trained to have a high drive. This “drive” is in simple terms, a desire to do a task. […]
“Angulation…. Withers… Croup… – Never heard of her!” (This is Structure lingo!) “In any case, what do I need that for? Fido is my beach buddy! We don’t go near a show ring!” Any average, loving pet owner has almost no concern for “assessing sound angulation” and its benefits for their dog. This is […]
“Walking my dog is the worst!” Yes! I’ve said it myself! The main reason why owners do not walk their dogs is probably that it is not fun. This might be because the dog pulls on leash like a maniac or because the dog takes off once he is off-leash. Having a dog leave you […]
This is a super video from The Vet Society. It explains the progression of oral health in dogs, how easily their oral health can go downhill and why it is SOOO important to keep your dog’s mouth clean and healthy! PlaqueOff Animal is a VOHC registered supplement and because of this registration, it […]
Hip dysplasia: a significant cause of pain and disability in dogs. This remains true even after decades of research into its causes and diligent efforts by breeders to reduce risk through selective breeding. A new review article aimed at veterinarians (Witte 2019) provides a useful summary showing our current understanding of its causes. According […]
Dogs are good at hiding signs of oral pain, but cats are even better – cats are experts at hiding dental pain! Cats will continue to eat and act normally regardless of some serious dental disease forming in their mouths. This is why it is so very important that we have our cat’s teeth checked […]
7 Reasons Why You Need To Strengthen Your Pet ~by Dr Megan Kelly of Holsiticvet We all get told the benefits of exercise and strength training for ourselves but how many of us see the same importance for our pets? So lets see what the benefits are: 1) Helps to keep the weight off Besides […]
This is so true when we see dogs with arthritis. So strange that this degenerative joint condition is eased by the one thing it inhibits – movement! Regular movement helps manage muscular and joint pain. It keeps muscles and joints flexible. We see this happen in both dogs and humans alike. Do your dog’s joints […]
I have seen a dog have to retire from sports due to injury from simply playing ball. An I must admit that I was guilty of zealous ball throwing too. “In the past two days, I have worked with two dogs injured from overzealous ball playing, fetching, retrieving at quick paces” ~Dr. DG Torraca* According […]
Study finds overweight dogs live shorter lives. Although this is a New Research published Feb 13, 2019, it’s not new news. Pets, like people, have a shorter lifespan if overweight. But let’s see the research: Banfield Pet Hospital found that the lifespan of overweight dogs was, on average, up to 2 1/2 years shorter than […]
A puppy is not a little big dog. Their growth plates and bones are made up completely differently to an adult dog. Fact: A puppy’s immature, young body cannot endure excessive amounts of exercise stress. They will suffer long-term negative effects! Puppies have “puppy bones”. This means that the bones are still developing and […]
Some of you may know that I am actively involved in sports and competition with my dogs – I love it!. This includes obedience at a competitive level. For those that don’t know what this looks like: the dog walks on your left-hand side with his head tilted and looking up at you for the […]
Sporting dogs are mostly high drive or athletic dogs! Pet owners would just call them really active! Most high drive or energetic dogs compete in sports such as flyball, agility, dock diving or sledding. Because of their activities and energy, these dogs are unfortunately more prone to injuries. These injuries can take them out of […]
Is your dog in pain? What are the signs? Is it a muscular injury? How can I avoid muscular injuries in my dog? Jackie Crawford of Canine Muscle Works, Australia helps us address these questions below. Dogs that exercise regularly live longer and are happier. We also need to be wary of over-exercising our […]
Lack of mobility is a common cause of euthanasia in senior pets. It can also be easily avoided by helping your fur buddy live a healthy lifestyle. Young dogs easily remain active but older buddies can stay fit and strong too. By helping senior dogs stay strong and flexible, you improve their overall mobility. […]
Old age – It’s only for the brave – both human and animal! Our pets, once in their golden years, don’t run as fast and jump as high as they once did. They get a bit of grey around the muzzle and enjoy their afternoon naps more. Sometimes it’s hard for us to see or […]
The most common mobility issue in dogs is osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease (DJD). Arthritis can affect all dogs of all ages and sizes, male and female. Most pet owners only see the visual effects of arthritis in their older dogs and more often in large and giant breeds. Unlike people with arthritis, dogs […]
This is a big question: My dog has had surgery/an injury. Will his muscles return to normal – by themselves? According to Michelle Monk, leading Pet Rehab specialist with a Masters Degree in Animal Physiotherapy, the short answer: NO, THEY WON’T! This is a common question to canine physiotherapists. Most people think that muscles […]
Soft tissue injuries include injuries to muscle, tendons and ligaments. They come in the form of sprains or strains and tears or ruptures. 1. Sprains and strains. Dogs spend most of their days standing on their toes, with their ankles raised and their knees often bent. Sounds awkward, but normal for them. This […]
You know that having a strong core is good for you. The same applies to your dog! A strong core goes beyond the doggy “6-pack”. Daily tasks like sitting, standing, bending to pee and poo, all need core muscles. The stronger the core muscles are, the more comfortable your dog and the less likely he will […]