This might sting a little. A dog’s nose can smell a Q-tip from across the room. You don’t have to force yourself on any dog, it’s actually rude. They are not obligated to be friends with every human or dog they meet. This is good information. The sniff test – Stop doing this! The sniff test is a badly engrained habit that society has been taught, without a clear understanding of what they’re actually doing. When you reach out towards a dog, you are using body pressure at them, giving them no time to assess whether you are safe and whether they require further investigation to pick up your information. […]

by Carol Bryant Want a client for life? Start expressing their dog’s anal sacs. That’s the exact piece of advice a veterinary technician shared with me while having my first Cocker Spaniel’s anal glands expressed during a routine visit. There is definitely a time and a place for anal sacs to be expressed and have all that fishy-smelling material removed from a dog’s scent glands. The problem is there are: Too many people expressing a dog’s anal glands too often Too many unqualified people manipulating a dog’s anal glands Too many dogs experiencing too much discomfort and undue trauma from improper and sometimes needless emptying of anal glands It’s a […]

Sometimes I have to make a judgment call for your pets and their grooming. Sometimes it is in conflict with the information your vets give you. I see most of my clients every 4-6 weeks. I know every square inch of their bodies. I know every like, dislike. I see things on my grooming table you or the vet will never see. When I am determining the best course of action for your pets grooming I always consider, if it were one of my dogs, would I do the grooming? Quite often that means you, as the pet parent, don’t get what you want. While I want you to be […]

You can make sure your dog has a healthy, well-balanced diet by feeding him a quality dog food. But that doesn’t mean you can’t sometimes give your dog people food as a special treat. Only give him a little. Be sure the foods are cooked, pure, and not fatty or heavily seasoned. Here are some ideas. Lean Meats Most dogs are fine eating lean cuts of meat and fish that have been cooked well. Salmon, chicken, turkey, cooked chicken or duck eggs, bison, ground venison, chicken heart, liver and gizzards. Remove all visible fat — including the skin on poultry. Make sure there are no bones in the meat before you give it to your dog. […]

It’s hard to resist a dog’s big eyes gazing mournfully at us while we eat a meal. How bad can a little treat from the table really be? Well, that depends on what it is and what’s in it—there are a lot of people foods a dog should never consume. And, it’s not simply because of concern for their weight, some foods are downright dangerous for dogs—and some of these common foods may surprise you. Xylitol Candy, gum, toothpaste, baked goods, and some diet foods are sweetened with xylitol. It can cause your dog’s blood sugar to drop and can also cause liver failure. Early symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, and […]

July 5th is the busiest day of the year for pet shelters. Please keep your pups safe this weekend. ❤️🐾🐶

It’s is that time of year. I can leave my car running and lock it. It’s rare my dogs are in the car in the summer. If they are, I’ll take the ticket and they can have AC. Leave them home if you can. Please.

I completed an online short course today. Sharon will be taking the same course. We want everyone to feel confident we are putting your health above all else. 🐾🐶❤️

Here is another reminder why it’s a good idea to take collars and harnesses off your pets when they are home alone.  In case you missed my first post about this topic, you can find more details here.

Please keep your pets safe tonight. There is nothing wrong with crating scared dogs. I have read stories of dogs breaking through closed windows on nights with fireworks. Please keep scared dogs secure! Happy New Year!