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On the Horizon: Dog Cancer Screening Via a Urine Sample

The molecules in a dog’s urine have a unique fingerprint, and researchers are finding that it can be used to detect—in minutes—whether a dog has cancer. There are blood tests for canine cancer, but they can be expensive, and you have to wait for a lab to come back with the results. Moreover, the results might be only about 60 percent accurate. With a urine test, researchers are finding results that are more than 90 percent accurate.

When $35 of Prevention is Worth More than $10,000 of Cure

Inoculation against a bacterial disease called leptospirosis is not considered a core vaccine, meaning you should discuss with your vet whether your particular dog is at risk. The offending bacteria particularly thrive in relatively warm climates with high average rainfall.

Which Sunscreen, and for Which Dogs?

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.

If You and Your Dog Are Traveling by Air

More than 2 million pets travel by air each year, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. If your canine family member is going to be one of them, it’s good to get him acclimated ahead of time.

When Eye Gook is Normal; When It’s Not

There’s whitish or clear gook in the inner corner of your dog’s eye. Should you be concerned? Nope. It’s a normal dog thing. Just put warm water on a cotton ball and wipe the lower lid to remove it.

Prison Puppies

We’re not talking here about canine prisons—puppy mills where dogs are kept in deplorable conditions. We’re talking about a program called Prison Puppies in which incarcerated men and women train puppies to become guide dogs and thereby help people in need. The program currently operates in prisons in Michigan and Minnesota.

Telemedicine for Fido, or In-Person Care?

The COVID pandemic led to more Zooming and FaceTiming, including for veterinary care. And it may be easy to assume that most people have come to prefer such virtual vet visits because it’s more convenient than taking your dog to the doctor. But they don’t.

Dogs Dig It

Different breeds of dogs dig for different reasons. Terriers, originally bred to dig for varmints that burrow into the ground, might dig fast and furiously in the dirt — or bed linens — to work through their hereditary instinct. They’re figuratively engaging in the so-called appetitive phase of preda-
tory behavior.

A Psychological Reason Behind Your Dog’s Excess Weight?

More than 50 percent of dogs in the U.S. are estimated to be overweight. Part of the reason may be a psychological problem — yours. In many households, people turn food into currency for love. They fear that withholding as much food or as many treats as their dog wants will fray the bond they have with their pet. It won’t — if you show your pet love in all the other important ways.

dog anxiety

When an Older Dog Develops Separation Anxiety

If a dog who has never minded your leaving the house without her suddenly develops separation anxiety when she is older, get her to the doctor. Much of the time, it’s a medical issue that triggers the problem. The dog is in pain for some reason, and she now becomes anxious and insecure in your absence. If the pain interferes with her physical functioning, it can undermine her security all the more. Often, but not always, such a dog had sub-clinical separation anxiety in her younger years that simply was never picked up.

Nope, tennis balls are not the greatest choking hazard. But they’re up there.

If Your Dog is Choking

A choking dog is an emergency. An animal has to be able to breathe. Before rushing to the vet, first try the following.

How You, Personally, Can Get More Shelter Dogs Adopted

Taking a shelter dog for an outing of just a few hours or fostering the animal for a night or two significantly increases the dog’s chance of being adopted — and not by you. When dogs are seen in the community and their short-term caregivers share these animals’ stories, people step up to take home the canines as permanent pets.