EVERYDAY DOGCARE

[From Tufts July 2011 Issue]

Whether you're taking your dog to the veterinarian for a routine checkup or treatment of a chronic health problem, you want to get the most from the appointment. Follow these 10 simple steps and you're on your way to a successful visit:

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[From Tufts July 2011 Issue]

Warm weather encourages owners and dogs to spend more time outside. While summer offers outdoor fun, it's easy to overlook dangers that could harm your dog, says Scott Shaw, DVM, a specialist in emergency and critical care at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.

Fireworks top the list for risky business. "Dogs shouldn't be around fireworks at all," Dr. Shaw says. "They can chase thrown fireworks and get burned or injured." Some fireworks contain toxic substances that can poison dogs if chewed or swallowed. The explosions also can scare them. "The same dogs that are afraid of thunder will freak out on the 4th of July," he says.

[From Tufts November 2011 Issue]

My 4-year-old Lab-golden mix, Sam, has suffered since puppyhood with severe itching. He would lie around whining and crying all the time while scratching and biting himself. He was living in pure misery. My vets first attempt at help was Benadryl. When this did no good at all, we went to prednisone, still no help.

[From Tufts December 2011 Issue]

Folk wisdom has long held that a warm, dry nose means a dog is sick. Veterinarians frequently hear the comment from owners, says Michael Stone, DVM, a specialist in small animal medicine at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, but the truth is that its a fallacy in most cases.

Q I've noticed that dogs with whom my dog has always been friends have taken to sniffing his private parts over the last few...

As the dog days approach, you already know that if your pet hangs out in the yard a lot, its important to make sure he has a shaded spot and a bowl frequently replenished with cool, fresh water to encourage hydration. You know, too, that pavement can get awfully hot during the summer months. If its hot enough to fry an egg, just think what it can do to your pals bare paws. Thats why,…

To begin with, getting your dog outside to relieve herself twice a day is not enough. Taking your pet out of the house is not just for the purpose of elimination but also to stimulate her, to interact with her, and to help her expend some of her considerable canine energy.

Warm weather is prime season for ticks. The parasites can transmit infectious disease, such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, or even paralysis, because of a toxin in their salvia.

We asked Michael Stone, DVM, board-certified in small animal medicine at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, how owners can protect their dogs from ticks. His response:

Unfortunately, tick control is more difficult than flea control. Even with the use of anti-tick products, youll still find an occasional tick on your dogs coat. Adult ticks most commonly migrate to the ears, around the neck and between the toes.

[From Tufts August 2010 Issue] Its a hot summer day, and you return to your car after shopping at the mall. As you look for your keys, you glance at the car next to you and see a dog inside, panting, obviously in distress. What should you do? First and foremost, a concerned citizen should try to find the owner of the vehicle, says animal law attorney Jonathan Rankin, a graduate of Tufts Universitys Master of Science…

Q I have always cleaned the floppy ears of my bassett hound, Murray, with cotton swabs like Q-Tips, but a friend of mine told me that could hurt him. Is that true, or is it just an urban myth?
Alison Ada
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Q My son recently got divorced and has moved into an apartment by himself. He is now saying he's thinking of getting a dog, and I think it's a bad idea.While our family loves dogs and he had one all through his growing-up years, a dog at this point would just cramp his style. He needs to get out there with friends and start dating again — not run home from work to walk a dog.