EVERYDAY DOGCARE

Who among us hasnt felt at least a twinge of guilt when leaving the house to go shopping and watched the beseeching, or even forlorn, look of a dog about to be left alone? Wouldnt it be great, you might think to yourself, if stores would just loosen their policies so your well-behaved pet could come along with you?

First the bad news. The geographic distribution of ticks that can infect dogs (and people) with Lyme disease is spreading. The Northeast has had the problem from the outset, and no area of the U.S. is completely Lyme disease-free, but the Companion Animal Parasite Control Council now says theres going to be an increase this year, with Lyme disease making its way to areas that have not been of particular concern, like the Midwest and the Southeast.

My 11-year-old Lab mix was having trouble breathing, so I took him to the vet, who diagnosed pneumonia. But now the doctor is saying he has to have an operation to correct some trouble in his voice box, which caused the difficulty breathing in the first place and also led to the pneumonia. Does that make any sense? How could a problem with the voice box lead to labored breathing or pneumonia? I have gone to this vet for years but now fear she is trying to bilk me.

Exceedingly few people die from dog bites or other types of canine attacks. In fact, very few people die because of altercations with animals of any kind. In a study released in Wilderness & Environmental Medicine this year, researchers combing data from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention found that during the eight years spanning 2008 to 2015, only about 200 people a year died from unfortunate interactions with animals. Farm animals like horses, cows, and pigs, along with other mammals that included cats and raccoons, were responsible for the most deaths to people - 72 per year. Next came deaths from venomous animals - not snakes so much but, rather, hornets, wasps, and bees. They resulted in an average of 60 deaths each year.

Plan a trip to Bavaria, and perhaps visions of Hansel and Gretel-style houses, Black Forest Cake, and cuckoo clocks will dance in your head. But dachshunds?

Cant think of new fun things to do with your dog this summer? Why not take her to Barnes & Noble with you? Or Macys? Or Tiffanys, for a little bling?

The number of dogs who died in overheated parked cars during the last week of May 2015: 11, according to Veterinary Pet Insurance.

A Massachusetts man who abused his dog so viciously that the animal had to be put down will serve eight to 10 years in prison for his offense, followed by a two-year probation upon his release. He also is never allowed to own a dog again.

Guys in search of a relationship, forget spending grueling hours at the gym in an attempt to make your body more buff and therefore more attractive to women. Just get a dog. Research published in the journal Anthrozoos: a multidisciplinary journal of the interactions of people and animals, found that men with a dog have an easier time getting a womans phone number.

Watch just a few episodes of House Hunters on HGTV, and youll start hearing a particular refrain repeated by the shows narrator from one episode to the next: On the couples must-have list, a big back yard for Max [or Bella, or Trixie]. Thats right. Along with a double vanity in the master bathroom ensuite, open-concept living with no wall between kitchen and family room, and proximity to downtown, young couples spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on their first home together are making clear that adequate space for the dog to play outdoors is a non-negotiable. In fact, one in three pet-owning clients will refuse to make an offer on a house because it is not ideal for their animal, according to real estate agents responding to a survey by the National Association of Realtors.

My 13-year-old Labrador, Bear, has been a faithful companion all the way through. He is on three different medications for arthritis, and we need to boost him into the back of our Suburban (he refuses to use a ramp), but he is still doing okay. The one problem is that for about the last 10 months now, he will frequently get up from lying down and head for the door, pooping all the way. It doesnt happen every day, but it happens often enough. Bear weighs about 110 pounds. Our local vet has no clue as to the cause but has recommended Neutricks, a drug for dementia, as a potential solution. I have also been advised to try acupuncture and cold laser therapy. Bear is the best dog we have ever had, and I feel I owe him the opportunity to solve this problem before taking that final step. Do you have any advice for resolving this issue?

Dogs might not sport flip flops to get from the hot sand to the ocean waves or to get across the blacktop of a steaming parking lot. But there is summer footwear for their tender soles as well as our own. There are also a number of other items meant to keep dogs safe and comfortable in the summer sun, many of them mimicking products we use to protect ourselves. Here are five of the most important ones.