EVERYDAY DOGCARE

Dog-walking injuries caused by dogs pulling on the leash increased by roughly 300 to 400 percent between 2001 and 2020, according to researchers reporting in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Women are “overrepresented” in the statistics, the researchers say, particularly if they are at least 65. The investigators made their findings when they evaluated a number of studies on emergency room visits.

Which bones are safer than you might think; which are dangerous for your pet.

If only we could translate our dogs’ communications with more precision so we could better tend to their physical and emotional needs. It’s coming.

You’ve found a wonderful place to live, and though the lease says “No pets allowed,” you’ve been back to the apartment building a few times and have seen another renter walking their dog on the grounds. You’ve even seen a dog in a window, so you figure it won’t be a problem—kind of like the dog owner’s equivalent of jaywalking. But it very well could.

Have you ever seen the words “new” or “improved” on a dog food label? If so, it shouldn’t be there for more than the first six months of production. “It’s not new forever,” says the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), whose guidelines are generally written into law by each state legislature.

Dogs seem happiest when they stink. Who among us hasn’t had—or at least seen—a dog happily rolling her body back and forth over something positively rank?

Your dog loves to go to the beach with you—and why shouldn’t she? Not only does she get to frolic in the water, but she also gets to play in the sand—digging, retrieving toys that you have tossed for her, licking objects with interesting scents that have come ashore (like crabs and seaweed), and eating food that has landed off your picnic blanket. The thing is, all that sand-to-mouth contact means she’s probably going to swallow some sand.

People tend to think of cats as the pets whose human family members move a laser beam around the floors and walls for them to chase, but some people do it for their dogs, too. It’s understandable. Lots of dogs have a very high predatory drive, so creating an easy game for them to go after something seems like just the right kind of fun.

August 26th is National Dog Day, and the entire month is National Dog Month. To show your pet how much you appreciate them, why not treat him or her to a nice cold pup treat during these dog days of summer? Options abound, from a Starbucks “Puppiccino” to a Dunkin’ Donuts “Puppy Latte” (a small espresso-sized cup with whipped cream) to Dairy Queen’s 4-ounce cup of vanilla soft serve in its “Pup Cup.”

For dogs, the scariest day of the year isn’t Halloween. It’s July 4th. It’s estimated that animal control officers see a 30- to 60-percent increase in lost pets from July 4th to July 6th, with July 5th being noted as one of the busiest days of the year for shelters.

Sunburn can especially affect thinly-furred dogs and is sometimes also a precursor to canine skin cancer. You can put a T-shirt on your pet, but certainly during the summer hours when sunlight is at its strongest—from about 9 AM to 3 PM—sunscreen may also be necessary on parts of his body that the cloth won’t cover, like the bridge of his nose and the tips of his ears. Some dogs, like those with short hair and pink skin (think Dalmatians or Chinese cresteds), would benefit from a sprayable sunscreen applied pretty much all over their bodies, with an SPF of at least 15. There is a commercial sunscreen approved for dogs called Dermoscent Sun Free.

Baby shampoo or actual dog shampoo? Hot water, warm, or cool? What part of the body not to spray? And how often? Do you know the right answers to these questions about giving your dog a bath? Take this quiz to find out.