December is so festive with all of the decorations, bright lights, lit candles, and pine smelling greenery that is often brought indoors this time of year.  All of these things make the holidays merry, but as you decorate please remember that dogs and cats are inquisitive creatures.  They will taste the poinsettias on the table without realizing they're toxic.  A cat will curiously bat at a lit candle without comprehending that this will burn his/her paw or light him/herself on fire.  Our pets might chew on the cord to Christmas lights or an electric menorah without perceiving he/she can be shocked or electrocuted (Who remembers the cat in the movie Christmas Vacation?).  He/she might paw punch a low hanging glass decoration not discerning the decoration can fall and break, leaving glass on the floor that he/she is walking on with unprotected paws.  Thinking ahead about our furry friends can keep them safe and out of trouble so they have a great holiday season too.

Picture this: it's Thanksgiving Day.  You've planned and worked for weeks preparing for this one day with your family and friends.  Your guests are just about to arrive and everything is perfect, except for your dog.  You just remembered that Fido barks and jumps on anyone that comes through the door and he constantly begs when you sit down for a meal at the dinner table.  What can you do?  Well, you can always lock him in the spare room so he's not a nuisance.  Or, you can plan ahead and contact me to discuss some training options for Fido so he can behave like a gentleman and celebrate Thanksgiving with you, your family, and friends.

Depending on where you live, it's probably very hot and maybe very dry right now.  This is the perfect weather for fox tails.  Fox tails are certain kinds of grasses that have bushy spikes that look like a fox's tail, hence the name.  Fox tails can become lodged into a dog's skin, nostrils, or ears and dig deep enough that you can't pull them out.  In fact, sometimes the only indication that there is a problem is if the dog is shaking his/her head, scratching at his/her ears or nose, or showing signs of pain or discomfort.  if your dog is showing signs that something is wrong, see your veterinarian.  This time of year, there's a good chance that it's a fox tail.

Happy 4th of July!  This is a time for enjoying the beach, swimming pools, barbecues, and of course, fireworks.  While our four-legged friends often enjoy the beach, swimming pools, and barbecues (FOOD!) too, they really don't enjoy the fireworks.  If you're close to an area where fireworks are set off, please be sure to take precautions to keep your dog safe.  Many dogs respond well to calming sprays or a Thundershirt which can work on the dog's pressure points to help him/her calm down.  If you know that things do not work for your dog, make sure that your dog is securely inside before the fireworks start.  If you're just not sure about keeping your dog secure, you may want to consider boarding your dog at an indoor boarding facility for the night.  The most important thing is to  keep our fuzzy pals safe.

It's here again; flea season.  Here are so me tips to help you fight the never-ending flea battle.

Did you know that dogs are omnivores?  This means that they eat both meat and plants.  Therefore your dog should be eating a dog food that has both.  There are some really good dog foods out there that are grain, soy, and corn free (to help alleviate allergies in dogs) that contain various meats and plants.  These days, dog food comes as kibble in bags, wet food in cans, concoctions found in refrigerated cases, and even food made specifically for your dog that is delivered to your door step.  Whichever food you choose to feed your dog, check the label on the dog food container.  Make sure that the first ingredient is meat and check for fruits and vegetables.  Just like the food we eat, we want most of the ingredients to be something we're familiar with and can pronounce.

There seems to be a lot  of confusion these days on what is required to be a Service Dog, a Therapy Dog, and an Emotional Support Dog, so let's look at it in simple terms.  Service Dogs go through very intense training and not all dogs have what it takes to be a Service Dog.  Therapy Dogs go through intense training too, but not as extreme as Service Dogs, and just like Service Dogs, not all dogs are equipped to be Therapy Dogs.  Emotional Support Dogs do not have to go through any special training as of now.  The ADA says only registered Service Dogs have a right to go into public establishments with their owners.  Therapy and Emotional Support dogs do not have this right.  Both the Service and Therapy Dogs need to be able to handle a wide range of environments, experiences, and people.  At this time Emotional Support dogs do not.  Service and Emotional Support Dogs are able to live with their owners even if there is a "NO Pets" policy.  Therapy dogs cannot.  The Emotional Support Dog's primary job is to give emotional support to their owner through compassion.  This is not a Service or Therapy Dog's job.  The Service Dog is trained specifically to assist just one person with his/her disability.  The Therapy and Emotional Support Dog is not.  Instead, the Therapy Dog's job is to give emotional support and comfort to many people.  As we said, at this time the Emotional Support Dog is not required to go through any special or specific training, but my bet is that will change in the future.  Too often we see Emotional Support Dogs that are reactive on leash, that bark and snap if someone gets close, or that are unruly and not under the owner's control.  Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.

Did you know that second-hand smoke is just as dangerous to our pets as it is to us?  Cats who live in homes with smokers are more than twice as likely to contact lymphoma.  Cigarette smoke is also connected to an increased occurrence of canine nasal cancer, especially in longer-nosed breeds like German Shepherd Dogs, Collies, and Greyhounds.  Finally, something I recently leaned, cigarette smoke is linked to atopic dermatitis in dogs, which is an allergic skin disease which is a common cause of scratching, itching, and skin infections.  There is so much research and information about how cigarette smoke affects our pets these days.  If you're curious of have questions about the affect cigarette smoke can have on your pets, I suggest that you Google it.  You may be surprised at what you learn.  I was.

Did you know that there are some people foods that are perfectly fine to feed your dog?  For example, green bears are a good source of Vitamins A, C, and K, as well as calcium and fiber.  Spinach is also good for your dog as it's high in iron and  helps fend off cancer.  Blueberries are also a healthy option due to their anti-cancer and heart disease fighting qualities.  If you want to give your dog a special treat, any of these would a healthy option.