www.smashwords.com/books/view/570833.
WHY DOGS? Because DOGS are some of the most beloved creatures on the planet, our goal is to aid communication (sometimes challenging) between humans and their DOGS. We especially welcome comments regarding your canine relationship in the hope that other readers will gain from your experience. Several regular features will appear including "Ask Buddy the Beagle," who will do his doggonest to answer your questions...from a DOG'S point of view. We selectively promote healthy dog products.
Monday, July 18, 2016
Dog Justice FREE!
www.smashwords.com/books/view/570833.
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Talk about relaxed...
 |
| Source: The Holidog Times Contact: nicolas@holidog.com |
The experts at The Holidog Times website give dog lovers some sage advice: If your dog does this, it means ..."They trust you 100%. This is a dog’s most vulnerable position, and they wouldn’t lie like this if they weren’t completely comfortable in their surroundings."
Now that's a no-brainer when it comes to understanding pooch behavior.
Monday, August 24, 2015
Dog Justice
Well, dog lovers, talk about the ultimate dog/human communication. My ebook Dog Justice, a mystery story for young readers (of all ages,) is finally available online.
"Readers quickly discover our born leader, Herman the German Schnauzer, is destined to shock the world. Enter Thomas Thomas, the man with two last names, who rescues Herman from an animal shelter. Due to a car accident, Herman receives a steel plate in his head that renders him able to speak "human." His serene life turns into a roller coaster ride jam-packed with intrigue and adventure.
A famous talk show host saves Herman from the clutches of a ruthless dog-napper. Then the celebrity hides the dog--key witness to a crime--on her yacht. Herman meets a capable snow-white poodle, a new friend and ally. But the poodle becomes bate to snare the valuable talking dog. He faces his greatest fear during a back-stage battle with an old nemesis. In the end, Dog Justice prevails and Herman addresses the astonished public on live TV."
You'll be astounded by what Herman tells the world in a live TV broadcast. Check it out and purchase Dog Justice at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/570833.
Stay tuned for my Dog Justice news.
Friday, July 24, 2015
Water Safety for your Dog
It's a beautiful day and you and you canine friend are splashing and playing in the water. Do you know whether your pooch is safe? She might be trying to tell you she needs help. Below are seven excellent tips from the folks at DogVacay.
Summer is here and it’s the season to swim! Your pup will be eagerly awaiting his adventure at the beach or pool, but first—there are some things you need to prepare as an owner. Here are seven important tips to ensure that your dog has an incredible and safe time!
7 Doggy Swimming Safety Tips to Keep in Mind Before Hitting the Water -
From Dogvacay
Summer is here and it’s the season to swim! Your pup will be eagerly awaiting his adventure at the beach or pool, but first—there are some things you need to prepare as an owner. Here are seven important tips to ensure that your dog has an incredible and safe time!
1. Make sure that your dog can actually swim.
Most important thing to remember is that not all dogs are natural swimmers. If your dog has never been in the water before, introduce him to it properly by coaxing him with toys or wading in with him. Once his comfort level rises, your pup will be doggy paddling like a pro in no time.2. Keep a close eye on dogs who are older.
Eyesight deteriorates over time, so senior dogs will definitely need assistance in the water. Be close to your dog at all times, and support him physically when he’s splashing around like he did when he was a puppy.3. Invest in a life jacket.
For the dogs who are not the greatest swimmers but love the water, it’s a good idea to have a life jacket. Then they won’t struggle to chase you around when you’re playing Marco Polo. You can find some adorable ones on Amazon.
4. Have fresh water on you at all times.
As ironic as it sounds, it’s vital to have fresh drinking water while your pup is swimming around. The heat and all that energy exertion will leave him panting for hydration.5. Take a course in pet first aid and CPR.
This will require some commitment, but it can be totally worth it in the end. If an accident should occur, you’ll be trained and ready to act. You can check out classes in your area through the Red Cross.6. Train your dog to “come” on command.
Being able to come to you when called can be a lifesaver. Whether your pup is swimming too far from you or you feel like he needs a break, “Come” will be a useful tool.7. Do a thorough spot check after every swim.
As soon as you get home, check your dog’s paw pads for any scrapes and cuts. Also, it’s essential to clean out your dog’s ears, since moisture can lead to an infection. Talk to your veterinarian if you need help!
–
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Dog Launch
fantastic photo of what we call a "dog launch." BTW...no dogs (or humans) were hurt during this photo shoot. We here at Why Dogs? do NOT recommend trying this yourselves with your own pooch. It takes a special photographic technique and lots of soft pillows.
Show this photo to your dog and perhaps he or she can tell you how it's done.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Woof,arf, woof! That's Dog Talk for "We're Back."
Boy, it sure has been a long time since anything was posted on this site. But that's going to change starting right now. Here's some advice straight from the horse's...er, dog's mouth.
Check out this neat website for all you ever wanted to know about dogs and more. www.shakepaws.com:
As always, we're here to help promote understanding between dogs and humans.
Check out this neat website for all you ever wanted to know about dogs and more. www.shakepaws.com:
As always, we're here to help promote understanding between dogs and humans.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Several visitors requested info regarding canine itching. The following article seemed to offer some no-nonsense ideas:
Why Dogs Itch
By Virginia Clemans, DVM
Does your dog itch? Scratch? Chew? Rub? Shake? Scoot? Is it driving you and your dog mad? Just like in people, itching in dogs can be caused by a lot of different things. The most common cause is something called atopic dermatitis, also called “inhalant allergy.” When dogs are allergic to dust, pollens, mold, mildew, insects, or animal or human dander, instead of suffering from hay fever, they get itchy skin. When they scratch, the bacteria normally present on the skin becomes driven into the deeper skin layers and causes an infection. Sometimes dogs even develop an allergy to the bacteria itself and this causes even more itching! Those little red bumps you may see on the skin are probably pustules (little pimples) caused by the bacteria.
Fungal infections like ringworm can affect the skin and nail beds, causing itching and chewing of the feet. Yeast infections of the skin and ears also can be very itchy, and cause a very characteristic odor.
Some other causes of itching include “contact allergy” – an allergic reaction to the detergent used to wash bedding, for example, or allergies to materials like wool. But this type of allergy is fairly rare in dogs. Dogs can become allergic to fleas, however, and even one flea bite can become very itchy. There are some skin mites that can cause itching as well. A food allergy (allergy to proteins contained in food) can be the cause of itching in some dogs. Dogs can have several different types of allergies all at once (bacterial, food, inhalant, etc.), making the causes more difficult to determine.
Certain diseases can cause skin problems or make existing skin problems worse. Just like people, dogs can have thyroid problems. In dogs, a condition called hypothyroidism (not enough thyroid hormone produced) can make the skin more likely to have allergy and infection problems. Thyroid disease can cause the skin to become oily or flaky, and the hair coat to be dull, thin, and brittle.
Blood tests, skin scrapings, and fungal cultures all help determine the exact cause of a skin problem. Once we know what the cause is, an appropriate treatment can be prescribed and the dog can be on the way to comfortable, healthy skin. Various combinations of treatments may need to be tried before the right combination is found.
Medications such as antibiotics, antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, and fatty acid supplements may need to be given by mouth until the problem is under control. Some medications may need to be continued long-term.
Bathing is very important to maintain healthy skin. Regular baths with a medicated shampoo can reduce the number of bacteria on the skin. Baths remove dead hair and skin cells that aggravate skin conditions.
If a food allergy is suspected, a diet change may be in order as well. Try switching your dog’s food to one that contains a type of protein that your dog hasn’t been exposed to yet. Beef, lamb and chicken are found in most dog foods, so this means switching to a dog food containing a “novel” protein, such as fish, venison or rabbit. Talk to your veterinarian about which food to switch to and where to obtain this type of food.
The skin cycle lasts approximately 21 days – it takes that long for old skin to be replaced by new skin. So, any treatment that you attempt may not show results until a three-week period has passed. This is especially true for diet changes and fatty acid supplements. Be patient! Find the cause, follow the treatment exactly, and get your dog’s skin back on the track to health. Beauty is only skin deep, but healthy skin makes you and your dog feel better!
BEST FRIENDS Animal Society • 435-644-2001 • www.bestfriends.org
Dr. Virginia Clemans was Best Friends’ chief veterinarian from 2001 to 2004. She now resides in Salt Lake City, where she is chief of staff for the Utah County Fix, a low-cost, high-volume spay/neuter and vaccine clinic sponsored by No More Homeless Pets in Utah, Maddie’s Fund and Best Friends Animal Society.
By Virginia Clemans, DVM
Does your dog itch? Scratch? Chew? Rub? Shake? Scoot? Is it driving you and your dog mad? Just like in people, itching in dogs can be caused by a lot of different things. The most common cause is something called atopic dermatitis, also called “inhalant allergy.” When dogs are allergic to dust, pollens, mold, mildew, insects, or animal or human dander, instead of suffering from hay fever, they get itchy skin. When they scratch, the bacteria normally present on the skin becomes driven into the deeper skin layers and causes an infection. Sometimes dogs even develop an allergy to the bacteria itself and this causes even more itching! Those little red bumps you may see on the skin are probably pustules (little pimples) caused by the bacteria.
Fungal infections like ringworm can affect the skin and nail beds, causing itching and chewing of the feet. Yeast infections of the skin and ears also can be very itchy, and cause a very characteristic odor.
Some other causes of itching include “contact allergy” – an allergic reaction to the detergent used to wash bedding, for example, or allergies to materials like wool. But this type of allergy is fairly rare in dogs. Dogs can become allergic to fleas, however, and even one flea bite can become very itchy. There are some skin mites that can cause itching as well. A food allergy (allergy to proteins contained in food) can be the cause of itching in some dogs. Dogs can have several different types of allergies all at once (bacterial, food, inhalant, etc.), making the causes more difficult to determine.
Certain diseases can cause skin problems or make existing skin problems worse. Just like people, dogs can have thyroid problems. In dogs, a condition called hypothyroidism (not enough thyroid hormone produced) can make the skin more likely to have allergy and infection problems. Thyroid disease can cause the skin to become oily or flaky, and the hair coat to be dull, thin, and brittle.
Blood tests, skin scrapings, and fungal cultures all help determine the exact cause of a skin problem. Once we know what the cause is, an appropriate treatment can be prescribed and the dog can be on the way to comfortable, healthy skin. Various combinations of treatments may need to be tried before the right combination is found.
Medications such as antibiotics, antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, and fatty acid supplements may need to be given by mouth until the problem is under control. Some medications may need to be continued long-term.
Bathing is very important to maintain healthy skin. Regular baths with a medicated shampoo can reduce the number of bacteria on the skin. Baths remove dead hair and skin cells that aggravate skin conditions.
If a food allergy is suspected, a diet change may be in order as well. Try switching your dog’s food to one that contains a type of protein that your dog hasn’t been exposed to yet. Beef, lamb and chicken are found in most dog foods, so this means switching to a dog food containing a “novel” protein, such as fish, venison or rabbit. Talk to your veterinarian about which food to switch to and where to obtain this type of food.
The skin cycle lasts approximately 21 days – it takes that long for old skin to be replaced by new skin. So, any treatment that you attempt may not show results until a three-week period has passed. This is especially true for diet changes and fatty acid supplements. Be patient! Find the cause, follow the treatment exactly, and get your dog’s skin back on the track to health. Beauty is only skin deep, but healthy skin makes you and your dog feel better!
BEST FRIENDS Animal Society • 435-644-2001 • www.bestfriends.org
Dr. Virginia Clemans was Best Friends’ chief veterinarian from 2001 to 2004. She now resides in Salt Lake City, where she is chief of staff for the Utah County Fix, a low-cost, high-volume spay/neuter and vaccine clinic sponsored by No More Homeless Pets in Utah, Maddie’s Fund and Best Friends Animal Society.
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