You’d be forgiven for thinking your furry friend is practising good hygiene by wiping his paws after toilet time, but sadly, this is not the case. Kicking the grass behind himself following either urination or defecation is common dog behaviour, regardless of breed, gender, and size. The purpose of this cute little ‘dance’ is to
Unlike us hoomans, your furry friend is unable to sweat through his skin. Therefore, he regulates his body temperature and stays cool via panting, and heat release through the merocrine and apocrine glands in his paw pads. Warm weather increases the risk of heatstroke especially in brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds, and overweight pooches. Symptoms to watch
Tail wagging is an instinctive behaviour that develops in puppies once they reach three or four weeks of age. This extension of the backbone is used to communicate with other animals and hoomans, and varies between breeds in degree of curl, length, size, and how expressive its owner is with it. Early introductions to a
The warmer weather is synonymous with an increase in flying insects. Canines are often curious, and find them to be a source of entertainment, but the main ones to watch out for are bees and wasps; they just don’t want to play. If your furry friend gets stung, you may notice him biting, licking or
Neutering refers to the removal of an animal’s reproductive organs, which are the testes in males (castration), and the ovaries and uterus in females (spaying). Sterilising your pet prevents the birth of unwanted litters, which overpopulate the number of dogs ending up in the rescue system. To avoid any potential issues, it is best to
Dogs reach sexual maturity between six and 24 months, and like hooman females, dams have an oestrus cycle. This completes fully approximately twice a year, and there are four stages. The first of these is proestrus, lasting an average of nine days. The sire is attracted to the dam, but she is non-receptive. She may
A dog’s sense of smell is at least 10,000 times better than his hooman’s, given that he has 300 million scent sensors compared with our meagre six million. These olfactory capabilities are highly tuned in breeds such as the Bloodhound, Basset Hound, Beagle, German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever. But why are canines obsessed with each
When considering the size of your furry friend, it’s all down to personal preference, but the term ‘giant dogs’ generally refers to those whose weight exceeds 45kg. In the UK, this includes Great Danes, St. Bernards, Newfoundlands, and Cane Corsos, with the Dogue de Bordeaux coming in as the most popular. Since these canines were
Have you ever wondered why your dog shakes during a thrilling game of chase? Quivering is common behaviour for canines, and has both negative and positive connotations. When pooches are cold, they may shiver in a bid to warm up. To ensure hypothermia doesn’t set in, especially if the weather is particularly brisk, make sure
Sleep is thought to assist in the general growth and repair of all body systems. But do dogs dream? Studies indicate all mammals do, and this extends further to include vertebrates. Dreams serve the purpose of processing information and daily experiences to build memory, which explains why new-born puppies do it so often; the world
All dogs are omnivores, which means they survive on both plant and animal matter, and their teeth reflect this. Puppies are born with 28 milk teeth; these begin to come through around two weeks after birth and are fully developed by the time they are ten weeks old. The teeth of those little ones can
The domestication of our canine friends from their wild ancestors brings with it the common bark. Dogs use a variety of sounds to communicate with us, varying in frequency and pitch, to help us understand what they are experiencing. Low growls often express aggression or threat, whereas higher emissions are associated with excitement and play.
Christmas is just around the corner, and more than ever we feel the need to be close to our loved ones. But how do we ensure a safe and healthy celebration for our furry friends? Certain foods are definitely off the menu; for a start, be careful with stuffing that contains onions or any member
If your dog is small and fluffy, or a ‘burrowing breed’ such as a terrier, you have probably seen long strands of hair growing out from its ears. Even smooth-coated, larger canines can have tufts, which work like those in our nostrils, blocking debris from entering the body through these delicate cavities. However, the problem
If you’ve ever heard the clickety-clack of your pooch’s nails on a hard floor, chances are they need clipping! Take a closer look – if they are touching the ground or have started to grow to the side, this could be causing your canine discomfort. Overgrown claws run the risk of limiting movement and causing
All pooches in the UK are inoculated against several core diseases, including distemper, infectious canine hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. Distemper attacks the lymph nodes, causing damage to the respiratory, urinary, digestive, and nervous systems, and hepatitis targets the liver, kidneys, eyes, and lining of blood vessels. Leptospirosis compromises the nervous system and organs, whilst
As responsible pet owners, we make sure our furry friends are up to date with their worming treatments. Worms are parasites that can be transmitted through your dog’s faeces and also contaminated soil. People can even contract certain species from their pooches, so it is worth making sure they stay away! There are five main
Every time we do a full groom on your furry friends, we trim the hairs around the lips. This helps keep their mouths smelling as fresh as they can be, and, prevents irritation or obstruction when eating. It also gets rid of the staining. But what exactly causes that change in colour? Porphyrin is a
Those cute little doggy paws can be a nightmare to clip if your pup isn’t used to having them handled, but we still love them! Shaving between the pads prevents debris from accumulating, which could irritate your canine. There are five parts to a dog’s paw – the claws, the digital pads, the metacarpal pad,
As the weather heats up, we take to the country for long walks with our furry friends. But it’s important to keep a watchful eye out for ticks. These little critters look like tiny eggs with legs, and love nothing more than to suck blood, which can spread Lyme Disease and other nasties. If you
Epilepsy describes a series of seizures and is the most common chronic neurological disorder in dogs. During these fits, regular brain function is disturbed, and muscles may move involuntarily. Whilst idiopathic epilepsy is often an inherited disorder, other causes may include liver disease, kidney failure, brain tumours or trauma, and toxins. Prior to a seizure,
Fleas are nasty little parasites that can survive without a host for months, so it is important to keep a close eye on your furry friend and his environment! There are many different species, and they reproduce extremely quickly. Not only do these critters suck blood from animals, making young or frail ones especially susceptible
When deciding whether to feed bones to your canine, it is always useful to weigh up the pros and cons. Some of the benefits include supplying additional vitamins and minerals, assisting with tartar control on teeth, and providing a source of doggy entertainment. However, there are also risks associated with feeding bones, as some canines
Our furry friends are no different to us when it comes to dental hygiene. They too can suffer from plaque, rotten teeth, and gum problems. But brushing their gnashers daily with enzymatic, pet-friendly toothpaste can work wonders! Once your pet is used to the taste and sees it as a treat, you can progress to
Have you ever noticed a ‘fishy’ smell around your pooch’s posterior? Does your furry friend scoot along the ground or lick his behind excessively? Especially if she is a small breed, there may be a problem with your dog’s anal glands. These sacs of fluid are usually emptied when a pooch poops, with the help
