DOG OWNERSHIP

Everyone in the family, including children, should play with their dogs. Even young children can be suitable playmates for many dogs, with some important caveats. Assuming your dog likes to play, the more humans she gets to play with, the more humans shell think are wonderful because they make good stuff happen, and the better socialized shell be. Dogs who are will-socialized are far less likely to bite or otherwise engage in behaviors that are…

Sooner or later, your dog will get chewing gum, tar, tree sap, burrs, or some other sticky or tenacious substance in her fur. To get rid of sticky stuff without cutting the hair, work some vegetable oil into the goo with your fingers. The oil will help break up the goo into smaller pieces, which you can gently pull out of the fur. When youre done, bathe your dog with a mild dog shampoo to…

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I was not thrilled. Our border collie Franklin had an infection that, after blood tests and medications and the requisite cone around his head so he wouldn't lick the affected spot, cost us almost $500. But then I read an article that demonstrated Franklin and the other 80 million or so dogs in the United States (along with other pets) are helping to save …

Any reader of this newsletter has got to like a woman who writes a book about animals in general but entitles a chapter near the beginning, The Dog: I Have to Admit, Hands Down My Favorite. That woman is Tracey Stewart, who followed her heart more than 15 years ago and left the field of design to become a veterinary technician, or animal nurse. Her love of animals started with dogs - well, one dog in…

1. At the beginning of the twentieth century, pit bulls were among the most popular family dogs, even given the moniker nanny dogs. In the 1980s, they became the dog of choice for drug dealers, dogfighters, and gangs, living in deplorable conditions and becoming aggressive as a result of their circumstances. Much of their …

For some 50 years, there have been guidelines in human medicine for what constitutes a level I trauma center and what constitutes a level...

Veterinary trauma centers come with equipment and staff not found at the typical vet's office: the ability to give blood transfusions, surgeons who can...

Patti Moran chided us in a recent letter about something we printed in the November issue on finding a pet sitter when youre going to be away from home:

I was very pleased to see the article exploring pet-care options for traveling pet owners….However, I was very concerned - and quite surprised - that a publication like yours did not encourage pet owners to seek professional pet-care options or…

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No small number of manufacturers of pet carriers and crates claim their products have been tested for crashes and therefore offer protection for your dog in the event of a collision, but how safe are these items, really? Not very, according to results of the 2015 Crate and Carrier Crashworthiness Studies, which were the combined work of the Center for Pet Safety, a non-profit research and consumer advocacy organization, and Subaru of America, Inc.

While many crate and carrier manufacturers claim their products are crash-tested and safe for use in a vehicle, there are currently no test protocols or performance standards in the U.S. to substantiate these claims, says a joint press release from the two …