DOG OWNERSHIP

Pretty much from the start, a puppy will seek out his bed to snuggle, snooze, or sleep through the night. Thats why every dog should have one. You might choose a bed based on color or material to match your dcor and room dimensions, but theres more to it. Through the years, your dogs bed needs will change along with his size and health, with the likely addition of features that work best for his…

Full disclosure: Constance and I are both allergic to Rosie. We didnt know it when we brought her home. She just seemed like the sweet, cuddly pet she is, falling asleep on my lap after she had run herself ragged chasing a ball or a piece of crumpled up paper. But for Constance, in particular, the watery eyes and scratchy throat soon started. Wherever Rosie had been, the symptoms followed. For me it came several…

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The vet wont treat my dog for Lyme disease Q At my five-year-old Malteses last checkup, I was told somewhat casually that her blood test came back positive for Lyme disease. Having lost a dog years ago to kidney disease resulting from Lyme disease, I was quite distressed. However, I was advised that if the urine test did not show any protein in the urine, no treatment would be required and that I should just continue…

It took almost a century for my father to live with a dog. Having resided practically his entire life in New York City apartment buildings that didnt allow pets, it just wasnt going to happen - until he showed up on Barneys doorstep one day. Celebrating his 89th birthday this month, Dad has moved into an assisted-living facility. And who should have been there to greet him but beagle-mix Barney. …

The wheels on the bus go Ruff Ruff Ruff… Debra Gibbss shih tzu is a little spoiled diva, by Gibbs own account. Boo has always had a very good life, Ms. Gibbs says. Yet you can tell shes growing through her work as a therapy dog. She can even delight children with special needs and thereby help them adjust more easily by inserting ruff ruff ruff where round round round usually goes in the Wheels on the…

Coming under the umbrella of pet therapy, animal visitation can either be Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA) for general visitation by a therapy animal or Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT), during which animals and their owners/handlers work with a human health service provider or other professional as an adjunct to traditional therapies. AAA is a more spontaneous type of visit without an official plan for the get-together. A client may pet and coo over the dog. Its a…

Did you hear about the dog who came to the Foster Hospital for Small Animals at Tufts with acute kidney failure and needed tens of thousands of dollars for treatment in order to stay alive? His owner raised the money through crowdfunding, where you publicize your cause or project through a program on the Internet and people send in small (and sometimes large) amounts of money to help you meet your goal. His pet would…

Its sometimes said that veterinarians are in it for the money, but the numbers tell a different story. There are 136 accredited medical schools in the United States but only 28 veterinary schools. That means, statistically speaking, that its easier to get into medical school than veterinary school. Furthermore, both physicians and veterinarians are in debt for an average of over $100,000 when they graduate, but the average first year-salary for a medical doctor is $160,000,…

Some people engage in comparison shopping for medical care for their dogs, the way you might compare prices for a retail item like an article of clothing. There are even listserves supplying information on which veterinarians in an area are least expensive. Be very cautious about choosing veterinary care this way. As Tufts veterinarian Linda Ross, DVM, says, in a lot of cases, you get what you pay for. She gives the example of someone pricing…

Whether it's unconventional work hours, insomnia, a love of the nightlife, or simply that before-bedtime piddle that brings you outdoors with your dog in the dark, a growing assortment of glowing accouterments will brighten your late-hours time together. Heres a sampling in the categories of leashes, collars, and toys. Leashes. A host of energy-efficient, LED-lit and reflective leashes will light your path, or at least make you and your dog visible to passing motorists. …

While many collars and leashes have lights that flash, flashing lights can irritate some dogs and can sometimes trigger epileptic attacks in people. That's why the Glowdoggie Leuchtie LED Safety Collar, used by search-and-rescue K-9 units in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, doesn't even have a flashing capability, as do many of the products listed here. The waterproof collar has also been used for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska, and it will soon…