News

Insect stings can be painful or itchy, or may cause more severe skin or allergic reactions. What should you do to care for your pet after an insect sting to keep the animal comfortable and avoid any other possible complications? Insects That Sting A wide variety of insects can sting, including bees, wasps, hornets, fire ants, yellow jackets, mosquitos, spiders, and more. Other insects, such as fleas and ticks, may bite but not necessarily sting, though the reactions can be the same. Many insects, whether they bite or sting, are not typically aggressive, but bite or sting only as a...

Pets Don't Have Holidays It's easy for humans to forget that pets don't have weekends. Their's is a 24/7 job. While they continue to surprise us with what they know - and learn - loud noises, flashing lights and frantic neighbors can signal danger and imminent harm. Smart humans combat this with intelligent planning and pragmatic responses. Practice Daily Intervals of Quiet, "You and Me" Time You would be surprised how many dogs need to learn how to just sit next to you and snooze peacefully.  Practicing regular command sequences of "sit," "down," and "stay," to get dogs used to...

Walking your dog is ideal exercise, reinforces training, and helps you bond with your pet, and summer is a great time for long, rambling walks. If you are walking on hot asphalt and pavement, however, your dog may be getting something you didn’t bargain for – painful burns and blisters. Fortunately, it is easy to protect your dog’s paws from hot pavement without giving up summer walks. How Hot is Hot? Quirky demonstrations of frying eggs, baking cookies, or grilling steaks on a sidewalk can be a dramatic way to understand how hot surfaces can get in the summer, but...

Fleas are a common annoyance to many dog owners, but these small pests can be a much bigger problem when a dog may be allergic to fleas. Recognizing if your dog has a flea allergy and knowing how to treat that sensitivity is essential to keep your pet comfortable and minimize the risk of more severe allergic reactions or complications. Symptoms of Flea Allergies It is normal for a dog to itch when bitten by a flea, as a flea’s saliva will activate natural histamine reactions and cause a minor irritation. A severe flea infestation can cause even more dramatic...

As temperatures begin to rise and you and your family begin to enjoy the warmer weather, it's important to get a jump start on protecting your dog from fleas and ticks. Getting rid of pesky fleas and ticks can be a hassle, but with the right products and if you follow these steps, fleas and ticks will not stand a chance. There are two major steps to take to protect your dog against fleas and ticks. The first step to protect your dog against fleas and ticks is to keep the parasites out of your yard. Ticks can survive the...