Tag Archives: dog

Is it bad to share an ice cream cone with your dog?

13 Tuesday Apr 2021

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Yes! Microbiologist Dr. Charles Gerba says dog and human mouths contain different types of bacteria. And what’s in a dog’s mouth can cause gum disease in you, or salmonella poisoning. Face it – we love our dogs but, as Dr. Gerba puts it, “They use their tongue for toilet paper.” So keep dog slobber away from your mouth. Besides, dogs don’t have the enzymes to process dairy – so ice cream will give Rover the runs.

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Here’s another reason to love our four-legged friends:

09 Tuesday Mar 2021

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They’re good for our mental health! Researchers at the UK’s University of Manchester found 60% of people battling mental illness say their pets play a significant role in managing their disease. The reason? Because taking care of an animal keeps people on a routine schedule. And when you throw in unconditional love, it can reduce stress and improve quality of life.

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Your dog’s favorite music!

13 Thursday Aug 2020

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You may prefer to relax to The Beatles or maybe Adele or Maroon 5. But your dog has favorite relaxation music, too. And she’d probably prefer Bob Marley. Scottish researchers found dogs seem to prefer reggae and soft rock over other music genres. Because when they played various tunes in a shelter, the dogs were calmer and lay down longer while listening to reggae or soft rock, as opposed to Motown, pop or even classical. And they showed a measurable decrease in stress levels.

So, want your dog to be more relaxed – especially when you’re away? Tune the radio to some reggae or soft rock.

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Does your dog look you in the eye?

30 Thursday Apr 2020

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That’s love. Dr. Brian Hare founded the Canine Cognition Center at Duke University – and he says, when your dog gives you eye contact, she’s quote, “hugging you with her eyes.” Because it triggers the release of the bonding hormone oxytocin – the same hormone that helps mothers and babies bond. If you want to test this out, try to naturally maintain eye contact when you’re interacting with your dog and see how she responds. But only do this with your own dog. A strange dog may consider eye contact aggressive.

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Music soothes the savage beast.

02 Tuesday Jul 2019

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You’ve heard the saying, “music soothes the savage beast.” Well, new research shows that classical music can soothe your cat! According to the Journal of Feline Medicine, classical music has the most calming effect on cats by far – while pop music came in second.

And classical is especially effective because it tends to contain tempos and frequencies that match a cat’s purring.

So try playing classical music in the car the next time you have to take your cat to the vet!

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Before you take your dog swimming…

23 Tuesday Apr 2019

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…know that these breeds don’t do well in water:

Pugs. They have such short nasal passages they can experience breathing difficulties and easily drown.

Don’t swim with bulldogs, either. Their bodies are so dense and compact, they can sink.

Next: Dachshunds and Basset Hounds. Their short legs make swimming difficult.

Finally, keep your Maltese out of the pool. They can paddle just fine – but prolonged exposure to wetness and cold can give them arthritis.

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The FDA says toss the bones from your meals…

12 Wednesday Sep 2018

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…DON’T feed them to your dogs. They can cause broken teeth, mouth and tongue injuries and constipation. Plus, sharp bone fragments can get stuck in a dog’s esophagus or stomach, requiring surgery. And if bone fragments poke holes in a dog’s stomach or intestines, it can cause a severe abdominal bacterial infection – which will require an emergency visit to your vet, because it can kill your dog.

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Xylitol and your pets

27 Wednesday Jun 2018

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We’ve talked before about how toxic xylitol is to pets (cats and dogs)… that’s the artificial sweetener found in a lot of sugar-free foods. But your dog is most likely to encounter xylitol in sugar-free gum that’s been spit out on the street or sidewalk. And if your dog gets it on their paws, and tries to lick it off, they could get really sick. So always check your dog’s paws after a walk… and if there’s gum stuck to their pads, get some vegetable oil and rub it all around. It’ll practically disintegrate the gum within seconds – so you can safely wipe it away.

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Doggy kisses and your health

22 Friday Jun 2018

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If you’re healthy – and your dog is, too – it’s okay to accept doggy kisses. Jan Bellow is president of the American Veterinary Dental College… and she says your dog’s mouth is teeming with bacteria, but her lick’s essentially harmless if you’re both in good health. But keep her from licking any cuts or scrapes. And if her breath could peel paint – avoid her kisses. Because that’s a sign of gum disease, and that bacteria can transfer to you.

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Do you own a dog? If not, it’s time to get one!

02 Wednesday May 2018

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Did you know that dog owners are less likely to suffer from diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure? That’s according to the American Heart Association. They’re not sure if healthier people are more likely to own dogs – or if owning a dog makes people healthier. But it doesn’t matter – just go adopt a furry best friend. The daily walks, and hiking trips on the weekends, will help you be more active. That’s why the American Journal Of Public Health shows that dog owners are up to 77% more likely to meet the recommended daily activity levels. And aside from increased activity, according to Harvard Medical School, the stress relief that comes from hanging out with a dog, and the unconditional love, makes dog owners less likely to suffer from anxiety.

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