Health & Wellness

They can manage to get into all sorts of places on your dog, from their face, to their genitals, to the cracks in between their toes. But the discomfort doesn’t end there. Foxtails can actually burrow into your dog’s skin and become a painful splinter and even cause an infection.

As you probably know all too well, it’s perfectly normal for your furry friend to shed on a regular basis (just ask your couch cushions for verification). But a dog losing a noticeable amount of hair around his eyes may be suffering from an underlying health condition.

Ideally, you should be brushing your dog’s teeth on a regular basis, but sometimes that can be hard to manage — especially since your dog is likely to resist the process. It sounds like wishful thinking, but with regular attention and a gentle touch, your dog may even grow to enjoy the sensation.

Do not under any circumstances administer human pain relievers to your dog. They could be fatal — and while over-the-counter medications for dogs may be lacking at the local pharmacy, there’s plenty you can do to help your dog feel better, faster.

Noticing any cloudiness in your dog’s eyes? Do they seem to be having trouble seeing things? This could be a sign of cataracts. The good news is that cataracts can be easily treated with surgery, and some dogs can live a long and happy life without having these cataracts removed. 

Constipation is characterized by hard, pebble-like stool — frequently paired with crouching and straining during defecation attempts, blood in the stool, and a day or two without bowel movements. However, while straining may be due to constipation, it could also be a sign of urinary tract issues or other internal complications.

When you have multiple furry friends in one household, it’s not uncommon for one to get a hold of another’s toys and treats. Luckily, the curiosity is relatively harmless, and if your dog eats catnip they should be fine. In fact, a small amount of catnip may even have some health benefits for your canine friend.

Doxycycline. A mouthful to say, but much more common than it sounds. As a routinely prescribed antibiotic used in veterinary medicine mainly to fight off or prevent infections, chances are you’ll encounter doxycycline at some point in your dog’s life.

If you’re reading this article because you’re currently having an emergency with your dog, please call your vet immediately. If it’s after hours, try calling Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or your local emergency veterinary facility. 

Lipomas— or fatty tumors — are those soft moveable lumps we sometimes discover under the skin of our pups. These benign, non-cancerous growths appear on dogs of all shapes and sizes, especially as they age. The good news is, most of the time they’re painless and don’t pose any health issues.