Have you been spending too much time on the couch? Has your dog been giving you the stink eye every time you pass by the leash? It might be time to dust off those running or hiking shoes. There’s nothing quite like outdoor walks with your dog to get you motivated.

The team at Clairmont Animal Hospital has compiled a few pointers to keep your pet safe, as well as some local suggestions for good fun and exercise.

Safety First: Going on Walks with Your Dog

Before you grab the leash and head outside, make sure you brush up on summer pet safety tips. Be a dog walking pro with the following suggestions:

Dogs are fully equipped with many incredible skills and adaptations that keep domestic life fun and interesting. Despite this, they are lacking in one important area. Their individual cooling systems are woefully ineffective when battling high heat and exertion. In contrast with their human owners and other mammalian species, dogs don’t perspire as a function of numerous glands throughout the body. Instead, dogs sweat primarily through their paw pads. Fortunately, this isn’t the only mechanism they can rely on to cool down.

Your family and place of work likely have plans in case of some kind of disaster. You likely also have some basic idea of what to do if there is a fire, tornado, or hurricane. Have you thought about how your pets fit into your plans, though? Clairmont Animal Hospital challenges you to stop and make a plan for disaster preparedness for pets.

Food is a phenomenal tool when housetraining and teaching obedience commands. The offer of a treat after a display of good behavior helps to reinforce it. Also, punishment or scolding is replaced by ignoring unwanted behavior, ultimately teaching dogs that bad behavior has no benefit.  

Originally introduced to marine mammals with a whistle, the idea of using sound to link good behavior has proven highly effective over several decades. If you’ve ever wondered if clicker training your dog would be effective, we’ve got some tips to get started.

Dogs follow their humans everywhere and nowhere is this truer than in the kitchen. Whether they’re underfoot during cooking or waiting to lick plates clean, dogs love to be part of mealtimes. And while many owners love to share food with their dogs, the results can be mixed. Some dogs may have stomachs of steel, while others have tummy troubles after just one bite of table scraps. How do you know if a bite of food is likely to cause a trip to the vet? 

The relationship between people and pets appears to be mutually beneficial, but if we had to guess, we get way more than we give. Responsible pet owners provide food, housing, medical care, protection, enrichment, and affection. But what we receive in return seems to far outweigh our own contributions. Pets give their time, adoration, and loyalty without conditions, which improves our lives and increases longevity. In other words, the human-animal bond impacts our health and makes us happier. 

There are so many incredible aspects of pet ownership. As our best friends and constant companions, they bring so much joy and tenderness to our day-to-day existence. Playing with them, exercising together, and getting a good daily snuggle all lend themselves to an ever-deepening attachment. In return, they depend on us to help them out in many different ways, including providing excellent nutrition, maintaining preventive care practices, and sometimes, tending to their anal glands.

It may be a little like asking why is the sky blue, but it’s perfectly natural to wonder why dogs slobber all over the place. Sure, some breeds are less likely to visibly salivate, whereas others seem to be characterized by a high drool factor. What causes thick, ropy streams of spit to dangle from certain canine lips? And, perhaps more importantly, what can owners do about slobbering?

We all want loving, comfortable surroundings for our golden years, right? So do the wise and wonderful senior animals awaiting adoption in area shelters! If pet adoption is in your future, consider opening your home to a much-deserving senior pet.

Sometimes a dog sneeze is his way of showing his excitement. But sometimes he’s reacting to an allergen. Dog allergies are real and can cause intense discomfort.