What is World Spay Day?
World Spay Day is an annual campaign that aims to decrease stray pet populations by increasing awareness of the importance of spaying and neutering programs. It is an opportunity to educate pet owners and caretakers on the importance and benefits of sterilization. It joins everyone around the world in one single effort to help control pet overpopulation and decrease the number of homeless and euthanized animals in our areas.
Who Started World Spay Day?
In 1995, actress Doris Day’s organization, Doris Day Animal League, founded Spay Day USA to bring attention to the pet overpopulation problem in the United States. The movement took off and spread globally, eventually merging with the Human Society to become World Spay Day. It is now celebrated annually across the globe on the fourth Tuesday in February.
5 Benefits of Spay/Neutering Your Pet
- It will help your pet live a longer, healthier life
Spaying and neutering limits your dog’s chance of developing certain cancers and infections, such as testicular or ovarian cancer.
- Curbs unwanted behaviors
Getting your pet spayed/neutered reduces those behavioral issues associated with the mating instinct. Your pet will be less likely to spray strong-smelling urine all over the house and mount other animals, people, and inanimate objects. For females, it eliminates their heat-cycle and males, it help decrease the urge to roam away from the home.
- Reduces long-term pet care cost
The cost of your pet’s spay/neuter surgery, especially with low-cost clinics now available, is a lot less than the cost of caring for a litter or the long-term medical issues that arise in unaltered pets.
- It is good for the community.
Stray animals pose a real problem to many communities. They prey on wildlife, cause car accidents, and frighten children. Spaying and neutering packs a powerful punch in reducing the number of animals on the streets.
- It helps fight pet overpopulation.
Every year, millions of animals are turned away or euthanized at shelters across the country due to overpopulation. Although it is not the sole reason, unplanned litters attribute to these high numbers. Spaying and neutering helps reduce the number of strays and unwanted animals.
How You Can Celebrate World Spay Day
There are several ways you can get involved and support the World Spay Day cause. The first way is to make sure your own pets are spayed and neutered. You can help raise awareness for the holiday by sharing information about the cause on social media and educating others on the importance of spay/neutering. Lastly, you can raise money for various local spay and neutering programs or national organizations like the Humane Society.
What Is Kennel Cough & How Is It Spread?
Canine Cough, commonly known as Kennel Cough, is an upper respiratory infection that is easily spread from one dog to another.
Your dog is more likely to contract Canine Cough in a large group of his peers, much like common illnesses in humans. A simple walk down the street after an ill dog passing or drinking from a communal water bowl can also infect your pup with this serious sniffle.
For more information on symptoms and treatment for Kennel Cough, check out our blog What is Kennel Cough?
How Do We Protect Our Pups From Canine Cough?
Short of keeping our dogs locked inside forever (2020 taught us just how much fun that is!), we can only do our best to be knowledgeable and diligent pet owners.
Tip 1: Keep Up To Date On Vaccinations!
Fortunate for us, there is a vaccine that can help your favorite four-legger fight off this pesky infection: the Bordetella vaccination. This vaccination will do its best to wage war on as many versions of Canine Cough as it can. Although, no vaccine is perfect. There are some strands of Canine Cough that are too strong for even the best of vaccinations.
Most Bordetella vaccinations are effective for a year. Some vets will recommend getting the vaccine every 6 months for a little extra boost. Here at The Dog Stop, our policy is to get vaccinated every 6 months.
Tip 2: Feed A Healthy Diet
A healthy pup starts at meal time! A strong immune system is key to fighting off Kennel Cough. Without proper nutrition, a weaker immune system can leave your pup more vulnerable to communicable diseases.
What foods dogs can & cannot eat this holiday seasons gives a quick look into what a healthy diet may consist of.
Tip 3: Be Mindful Of Where You Spend Your Time
Dog parks can be a great resource for those of us not blessed with a big yard of our own. However, there is no way to guarantee that your pup’s park friends are fully vaccinated and healthy. Dog parks are a high-risk environment for the spread of illnesses in our dogs.
A better outlet for your pup is a walk in a controlled environment, puzzle time at home, or play time at The Dog Stop. Here we make sure all of our visitors are current on vaccinations and maintain high standards for cleanliness.
Tip 4: Listen To Your Pup
As pet parents, we are obligated to learn our dog’s language and their nuances that are unique to them. Ask yourself: Is your usually laid-back pup suddenly pacing? Has their tolerance turned into irritability? Is your wild pup sleeping more often?
The signs that your pup might not feel their best are not always obvious but sometimes it can be a sign of something more and you may need to consult your vet.
Tip 5: Know Your Dog’s Risk Level
Certain dogs are more likely to contract Canine Cough than others.
These consist of:
- Puppies who have yet to develop their full immune defenses.
- Senior dogs whose age hinders their ability to fight illnesses
- Dogs with pre-existing conditions that negatively affect their immune system
If your pup falls into any of these categories, you may need to reevaluate their participation in group play. Your answer could be to find a more suitable one-on-one care option (hint hint: we offer that too!)
And please know that no matter what you – or your favorite team of pet care professionals – do, there is still a chance that your pup will come down with Canine Cough or any other illness.
With Thanksgiving and Christmas not far around the corner – it’s time to amp up the food offerings and indulge! While it might seem like a good idea to also treat your dog to some of your favorite holiday season foods, be careful. Some foods can cause serious upset to the health of your pup, so take caution by reading below the foods that your dog can and cannot eat.
What foods your dog can eat
Despite popular belief, dogs are actually omnivores, meaning that they do well on both meat and plant-based food groups. While the following foods are fairly safe to feed your dog, we would advise against overfeeding. For more information on the ideal diet for your dog, check out our blog on the best food to feed your dog.
-
Pumpkin
First on the list as an obvious food for the holiday season, pumpkin! This particular winter squash keeps the GI tract healthy and happy with a rich blend of soluble and insoluble fibers. It also helps with inflammation, urinary tract health, digestive upset, and skin and coat health.
Feeding tip: dogs can eat pumpkin flesh and seeds, just be sure to remove the skin before feeding them.
-
Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene, vitamins A and C, potassium, fiber, and many other much-needed nutrients. They help promote healthy skin, coat, nerves, and muscles.
Feeding tip: Make sure the sweet potato is cooked and the skin is removed. Skins can be hard for your dog to digest – so be sure to remove them.
-
Apples
Apples are full of vitamins A and C and contain lots of great fiber which can help with your dog’s digestion. Aside from this, apples are a great way to clean your pup’s teeth and freshen breath! Perfect timing, especially if they’ll be giving a lot of kisses out this holiday season!
Feeding tip: Best to remove the seeds as a large amount can be toxic.
-
Turkey Meat (no bones, skin, or fat)
Your dog’s ultimate dream dish if it’s just the meat itself! Turkey bones can splinter, causing intestinal obstruction or internal bleeding. The turkey’s skin is usually prepared with added seasoning & ingredients, which can cause gastrointestinal upset. Lastly, fatty meat can lead to pancreatitis in dogs. So remember, when giving turkey to your dog, just give them the meat.
-
Green Beans
Green beans contain plenty of plant fiber, manganese, and vitamins C and K, all of which are good for dogs.
Feeding tip: dogs can eat green beans raw, cooked, or steamed. Just ensure they are plain without any additional seasonings or other ingredients.
-
Carrots
Carrots are full of beta-carotene, vitamins, and fiber. They are also high in antioxidants, which are beneficial for pets with cancer. Some vets even recommend frozen carrots for teething puppies!
Feeding tip: dogs can eat carrots raw or cooked, just cut them into smaller pieces to prevent choking (especially in small dogs).
What foods your dog can’t eat
Most of the foods below are dangerous for your dog to eat. So make sure to watch the kitchen and dining table in case they leap up and eat any of these items. If you realize they’ve eaten any of these foods, get in contact with your vet as soon as possible.
-
Garlic, Onions, Scallions & Chives
Part of the allium family, these are highly toxic to dogs and can cause elevated heart rate, anemia, and general weakness. They can also damage the red blood cells and cause gastrointestinal upset, breathlessness, diarrhea, and vomiting.
-
Baked Goods & Artificial Sweeteners
Xylitol can be found in some baked goods, especially in diabetic and keto recipes. If a dog eats them, it can result in low blood sugar and could cause liver failure. It is highly toxic and can even be fatal for dogs.
-
Raisins and grapes
Even small amounts of raisins or grapes can cause major health concerns such as vomiting, diarrhea, and severe gastrointestinal upset to kidney failure.
-
Chocolate
Chocolate is a well-known toxin to most dog owners. It can cause several health issues within a dog, including overstimulation of their heart and slowing down their metabolic process resulting in diarrhea, vomiting, and seizures. While no chocolate is good for your dog to eat, the variety to be extremely mindful of is darker chocolate as these contain higher concentrations of cocoa.
-
Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts cause severe reactions within dogs such as muscular weakness, disorientation, depression, tremors, and abdominal pain.
-
Raw Yeast Dough
Dough causes various symptoms such as vomiting, disorientation, and abdominal pain in pets. Also, it can ferment, producing alcohol and possible ethanol poisoning.
The holiday season can be a fun and exciting time, but make sure to be mindful of these foods around your dog. Aside from indulging, take some pictures with your dog, maybe even treat them to daycare. Most importantly, be sure to share this article with all your fellow pet parents in preparation for Thanksgiving and Christmas!
Clicker training is part of the positive reinforcement method that uses a marker to let your pooch know precisely when to do the things you want them to. The training uses a marker that creates a sound as a way to mark a moment.
This clicker can be anything from a noisemaker device to snapping your fingers to blowing a whistle. However, it should be a sound that is distinct from what you used to communicate with your pooch. Something that your furry friend is not familiar with yet.
The click sound should always be followed by a reward. In doing so, your dog will understand that the sound will grant them a reward. An example would be when you teach them the basic commands such as to ‘sit.’ Instruct your dog to sit, and at the exact moment their butt hits the ground, do the click, and follow it up with a reward.
Bite inhibition refers to the dog’s ability to control the pressure of their mouth when biting.
Canines bite for many reasons, and we all know that they do it often. Pups can bite when they’re feeling threatened or when they’re playing around. Teaching your dog proper bite inhibition can help keep them safe and others around. When your pooch has already mastered the bite inhibition technique through training, they’ll know how much force to use when they bite in different circumstances. In other words, they’ll know when it is okay to bite hard or soft to the subject of the bite.
Both positive reinforcement and negative punishment are commonly used when training your Fido bite inhibition. Both reward and punishment are used to encourage good behavior and prevent bad ones.
Lyme disease or Lyme borreliosis is one of the most common canine illness that is caused by ticks. The illness can be transmitted to both humans and animals. The bacteria agent that causes the infection, called Borrelia Burgdorferi, can transmit to dogs via an infected blacklegged or also known as the deer tick, commonly found in tall grasses, thick brush, and woods. The tick can latch onto the different parts of a dog’s body.
Lyme disease symptoms include fever, general discomfort, lack of energy, loss of appetite, and joint pain. Dogs may not feel the symptoms for weeks or even months after getting bitten. Some canines may also show no symptoms.
Lyme disease can be diagnosed by physical signs and tests such as the C6 blood test and Quant C6 test, which uses urinalysis to detect antibodies. Test results may take weeks.
Treatment for Lyme disease is primarily antibiotics and therapies to relieve some of the symptoms. You can prevent your pooch from getting Lyme disease by visiting the vet regularly to check for ticks, inspect your dogs after walks in the woods or grassy spots, and get vaccinated.
Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by the Leptospira bacteria, which can seriously injure the liver and kidney. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease(can spread from animals to humans), which are found in soil and water. The most common reservoirs of the disease are wild animals such as rodents.
Dogs can be infected by contact of their abraded skin and wounds with infected water and soil, through a bite from other animals, and by eating infected source.
Signs of Leptospirosis in dogs vary. Clinical signs usually show in the first week after infection. Some can show mild to no symptoms, while others may experience severe illnesses and even death.
Common symptoms are fever, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, Jaundice(yellowing of the skin), dehydration, or inflammation in the eyes. If not treated, the disease can lead to kidney and liver failure and severe lung disease.
Treatments for Leptospirosis are antibiotics and supportive care.
Rabies is a zoonotic disease caused by a virus of the Lyssavirus genus. This viral infection attacks the nervous system, causing inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. It’s said that domestic dogs are the most common reservoir of the rabies virus, although many countries, including the United States, have mostly eliminated the virus in domestic dogs. However, rabies can still be found in the wildlife in animals such as foxes, bats, and raccoons.
The disease is transmitted mainly through the saliva by direct exposure such as bites. Rabies can be preventable by vaccines.
Symptoms of rabies include lethargy(low energy), fever, excessive drooling, vomiting, and odd behavior such as aggression, disorientation, and hallucinations. There are two forms of rabies: furious form, also known as the mad dog, where dogs get vicious, and the paralytic form(dumb rabies), a non-vicious form, where paralysis of jaw muscles and throat are presence.
The diagnosis of rabies requires a laboratory test, and there is no particular treatment, just isolation to prevent from injuring others. The incubation period for dogs varies from two weeks to four months.
Crate training is all about teaching your pooch to accept a crate as a safe location for them to spend time in. Dogs are known to be a den-dwelling animal, which means that they need a place for themselves where they can feel secure.
When used properly, crate training can be useful in calming your pup and teaching them some responsibilities.
Some important aspects you need to consider before starting the training are:
- Choose the right crate for your beloved pup. Their crate needs to be comfortable and safe. Take consideration of the size of your doggy.
- Associate the crate with something positive. Use the positive reinforcement method.
- Crate training will take some time. Seek professional help if progress if time isn’t at your disposal.
It’s also crucial that you don’t use crates as a means of punishment. You don’t want your furry friend to be afraid of the crate.
Behavioral training, also known as behavior modification, is geared to tackle your pup’s many behavioral issues. This type of training is ideal for canines that already show behavioral problems but have the ability to unlearn them.
There are many approaches to behavioral training. It all depends on what bad behaviors your dog exhibits and what may be the causes. For example, if your puppy is biting at everything, you can train them by using chew toys and some exercises, as well as applying Crate Training.
Applying obedience training at a young age may decrease the chance of developing behavioral problems.
Open 6:30 AM - 7 PM
