DOG OWNERSHIP

Pain after abdominal surgery Q My dog is supposed to undergo abdominal surgery, but I am worried about the aftermath. When my father had abdominal surgery, he was so tender at the spot that it took at least six weeks before he was able to walk again without pain. I hate to put my dog through that, but I know he needs the operation. Hes a very active dog. How will I be able to keep…

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When I was little and didnt have a sister yet, my best friend was a brown, wire-haired mongrel named Mitzi. We shared joyous times, exciting times and sad times. We got scared together when there was thunder and lightening, and together we crawled under the bed until they went away. When I wasnt scared of them any more, Mitzi still was, so I comforted her and felt all the braver.

Eighteen out of every 100 adults in the U.S. smokes. If anyone in your household is a smoker, so is your dog. And her risk for cancer is greater than for other dogs. Research at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine has already shown that cats living in homes with smokers are at increased risk for lymphoma, and perhaps oral cancer, too. In fact, they are almost two and a half times as likely to…

More than one in six children and adolescents in the United States - some 13 million kids - are obese, with many more not quite in that category but overweight nonetheless. At the same time, more than 43 million households in this country have pet dogs, many of whom crave more interaction with their human families and, most definitely, more physical activity with them. Hmm…

Tufts Institute for Human-Animal Interaction Dr. Linders research on whether pet dogs can help overweight children reach healthy weight is being conducted under the auspices of the Tufts Institute for Human-Animal Interaction, launched in February of this year. She is one of the two associate directors of the Institute, which involves professors and researchers across all the Tufts University campuses: the campus of the veterinary school in the middle of Massachusetts, the medical campus in downtown…

That is, we fully support the use of emotional support animals for those people who are plagued by conditions like anxiety, depression, or social phobia to the point that life would be unbearable if they could not live with or fly with a dog. But if too many people start claiming that their pet is a therapeutic necessity when it is not, law enforcement agencies are going to crack down, making it harder for those who have a real need.

You thought you brought home a dog that wouldnt make you allergic. After all, even the American Kennel Club website assured you his breed was hypoallergenic. And things seemed to be fine - for about a year. But now, every time you pet him or come back into your home from outside, your eyes become itchy. Your nose starts running, and your throat burns. What happened?

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…