10 traits of a good vet

A good vet, which is what? In the work of a veterinarian, it is worth showing certain personality traits, as they can increase the chances of professional success in this field. Usually, most appear fairly naturally, but some are worth improving or practicing over time. What should a vet be like?

Grapes and raisins – new hypotheses about their toxicity

A healthy diet can include both muscle meat and offal, and the addition of vegetables and fruit. Unfortunately, not all products that we consider healthy for humans are safe for dogs. On the list of forbidden delicacies, there are e.g. grapes and raisins. Why?

A dog that lives in the yard – how to take care of it in winter?

There are breeds that are more tolerant of cold weather than others. All northern dogs are among them, but ultimately no animal should be left outside for extended periods when temperatures drop significantly. Not every dog ​​lives in the house with people, but everyone should be given maximum comfort. How to take care of a dog that lives outside in winter?

How do you get your dog used to wiping his paws?

Autumn favors long walks with the dog in forests and fields. Unfortunately, after such a walk, our pet’s paws and abdomen are usually covered with a thick layer of mud. If we do not want it to be in our home, we must thoroughly wash and wipe the dog after a walk. It is also very important in winter when the pavements are sprinkled with salt. If we do not want her to eat painfully on the dog’s paws, we have to wash and wipe them. Well, with this rubbing the paws in many dogs there is a big problem.

On Instagram, more than half of the respondents indicated that their dogs do not like wiping their paws. On Youtube, when asked, “Do your dogs like wiping their paws after a walk?” 69% of people said their dog tolerates it at best, and 23% said their dogs hate wiping their paws.

Why don’t dogs like wiping their paws?

Wiping your paws is not normal for dogs. In nature, no one wipes mud from wild dogs. Therefore, suddenly grabbing the dog’s paws after a walk and trying to rub them forcibly is not the best idea. By doing this, your pooch will at least be surprised by your behavior. In extreme cases, fear and even aggression may also appear. If you want your dog to easily handle rubbing his paws, you must first get him used to this activity.

Many dogs also have quite sensitive paws and don’t like being touched by humans. Perhaps it is also related to the fact that in nature a dog with injured paws cannot get food and is basically doomed to death. If your pooch does not like to lick his paw, even in the form of a trick, he takes it at the last minute so that you do not touch it, stiffens, moves away from you, looks away, licks his nose, yawns, blinks his eyes or shows other signs of stress or threatening signals. like staring at you, snarling etc. you will definitely have to spend more time getting your dog used to wiping his paws.

When to start getting your dog used to wiping their paws?

The sooner we start getting your dog used to wiping his paws, the better. This treatment can be performed in the form of play with small puppies. Don’t wait until fall or winter to get your dog used to wiping his paws. The entire process may take a day or two, but it may also take longer. It is very important to give your dog as much time as he needs. You may find that you do not manage to wipe each paw thoroughly during the first sessions, and this is normal. Therefore, it is best to start getting used to it when it is sunny, dry and it is not necessary to wipe the dog’s paws.

The whole process is best broken down into as small steps as necessary for your dog. Only when the pooch accepts one stage, we move on to the next. You cannot rush or force anything here. We want to gain the dog’s trust and make him feel calm and safe while wiping his paws.

Touching paws

It is worth getting your dog used to wiping his paws by getting him used to just touching them. This is the first, necessary step not only when washing or wiping the paws, but also, for example, when trimming a dog’s claws. It is best to start getting your dog used to touching his paws when he is rushing, tired, full, and when all his basic needs are met. We can gently reach lower and lower towards the fingers by stroking the dog’s shoulder blade or thigh. It is important that our touch is calm and pleasant for the dog. We do not grasp his paw by force, but we also do not tickle him too softly. During such stroking, we praise the dog with a calm voice. You can also reward him with a treat for his calm behavior. Over time, the dog will allow us to touch not only his shoulder blades or thighs, but also knees, elbows, and finally fingers and claws. As soon as your dog starts sending you anxious signals, take a short break. Give him a rest and return to a more pleasant touch.

Raising paws

Once your dog is letting them touch its paws, it can begin to get used to it to pick them up. We put a hand on the dog’s shoulder and slide down slowly. Many dogs don’t like to be grabbed by their fingers, so it’s better to grab a little higher. Then we slightly raise the dog’s paw to a small height, praise, reward and put the paw back on the floor. We do the same with the hind legs. We put a hand on the thigh, slide down, grab the metatarsus and gently lift the hind leg. We praise the dog and reward it for its calm behavior. If the pooch is not behaving calmly, we go back to the previous stage, i.e. getting him used to the touch.

When lifting the dog’s paws up, it is worth paying attention not to bend them in an unnatural, uncomfortable way for the dog. It is often more convenient for us to wipe the dog’s paw when we raise it higher or when we move it closer to each other. However, it is worth taking into account the fact that the dog may have problems with maintaining balance in an unnatural position for him. We should also make sure that the dog stands on a stable, non-slippery surface when lifting the paws. If your floor is slippery, it is a good idea to put a towel or non-slip mat over it.

I like to put a password to picking dogs’ paws. This is not a formal command like “give a paw”, but rather a message to the dog that I will be lifting its paw up. Thanks to this, the pooch knows what awaits him and has time to prepare for this activity. Before lifting the first paw, I always say “first paw,” before lifting the second paw, “second paw,” etc. After saying these words, I give the dog a moment to prepare to raise a particular paw. I always try to pick them up in the same order. Thanks to this, the dog knows what will happen and after some time it starts giving me another paw. It is worth introducing yourself such a ritual after each walk. This will give the dog a more predictable sense of what will happen and make the dog feel more confident in this situation.

Touching the towel with the paws

The next step in getting your dog used to wiping his paws should be teaching him to touch the towel with his paws. Thanks to this game, your pooch will not only not be afraid of the towel, but will also positively associate it. To teach your dog to touch a towel with his paws, simply place the treat on the ground and cover it with the towel. Then ask the pooch to look for the hidden treat. As soon as his paw touches the towel, you can mark it with a clicker or a sonorous word “yes” and give the dog an additional reward.

If your pooch knows the command “give a paw” you can take advantage of it. Take the towel in your hand and ask the dog to give you the paw by placing it on the towel. Many dogs do this exercise much more willingly than the classic handing of a paw to an empty human hand. Unfortunately, when training with a dog to pass the paw, we often have a tendency to squeeze the dog’s fingers and wave the entire paw, which dogs usually do not like very much. As soon as the pooch puts his paw on the towel by himself, praise him and give him a treat.

Give your dog a choice

A sense of security and control, especially in a stressful situation, is extremely important not only for dogs, but also for us. Just think how you feel at the dentist when you trust him that he does not want to hurt you and you know that you can ask for a short break in tooth drilling at any time. How would you feel if you weren’t sure the dentist wouldn’t hurt you, and if all your requests for a break while drilling were ignored? It is exactly the same for a dog that does not trust a human being and whose paws are held down or lifted forcibly. Therefore, watch your dog’s behavior. Learn to read the first signs of stress and respond accordingly.

Body language is very important when wiping our paws. It is definitely better to sit on the floor or crouch and invite the dog to come to us than to chase him with a towel or bend over him. Bending over a dog is especially stressful for puppies and little dogs. I would also be afraid if a giant several times bigger than me wanted to grab my leg and lift it up. The dog’s approach to you is the first sign that it is ready to wipe its paws. What if, despite the encouragement, the dog refuses to approach you? In such a situation, it is worth getting back to getting him used to the touch and lifting his paws.

However, when the pooch comes up, you can reach out with a towel and say, for example, “first paw, punch”. If the pooch has been taught this slogan well beforehand, he knows that we expect a paw. The towel with our slogan is therefore an invitation for the dog to wipe its paws. Then we wait for the dog to give us the paw. This is the moment when we give him the opportunity to choose. He can give us a paw and receive a lot of praise and treats, or not give us this paw. Let us respect the choice of the dog here. If, for some reason, he is not yet ready to give us a paw, that’s too bad. We’ll try next time. I think now you can see why it is worth starting the whole process when it is dry and when it is not necessary to wipe your dog’s paws.

Training in which we give the dog the opportunity to choose a given behavior takes more time than force action. However, by force wiping a dog’s paws against his will makes the dog stressful and loses his trust in us. So with time he will avoid this unpleasant situation more and more. When all calming and threatening signals are ignored by the handler, the dog will eventually resort to aggressive behavior. At best, we’ll have to deal with wiping the dog’s paws all our lives, and at worst we’ll be bitten by it. However, in the case of training, in which we give the dog the opportunity to choose and have greater control of the whole situation, we build a relationship based on understanding and trust. Such a relationship will translate into the dog’s behavior not only when wiping its paws, but also in other stressful situations.

Can Dogs Eat Pomegranate? It Is Good, But Is It Good For Your Pup?

0  The question for today’s article – can dogs eat pomegranate? Or is it best to avoid it like some other fruit?!

If your dog has eaten pomegranate, he or she should be all right, no need to rush to the nearest veterinary emergency unit. However, that doesn’t mean it’s recommended that you feed your dog large quantities of the fruit. In fact, most experts recommend not feeding your dog pomegranate at all.

It is believed that due to the high quantity of tannins in pomegranates and / or the high acidity level of pomegranates, it has a tendency to upset your pooch’s stomach. Symptoms from eating pomegranate may include stomach ache, diarrhoea (diarrhea for our readers from the United States of America), vomiting shaking and shivering.

If your dog has eaten pomegranate and starts vomiting, there is no need to panic, just keep an eye on your dog and make sure he / she has access to plenty of clean drinking water. In this instance, vomiting is good thing because it helps the dog’s body get rid of the pomegranate it just ate. However, if vomiting persists, your dog becomes dehydrated and / or loses its appetite, you should ring up your vet asap.

Another concern with pomegranates, is the fact that your dog may struggle to digest the seeds.  Dogs ordinarily won’t spit the seeds out and, due to dogs’ dental anatomy, they are also unlikely to crush the seeds before swallowing. Ingesting too many seeds can cause diarrhoea, as a dog’s intestines are not able to cope with breaking down the seeds. You will likely notice the whole (undigested) seeds in your dog’s poop.

If you have a pomegranate tree in your garden, it is recommended that you should take care to keep the fruit out of Buddy’s reach. If Buddy comes across the pomegranate tree when left alone in the garden, his doggy senses will probably tell him that those fruit are yummy and he will try and eat some.

Some people on pet forums aver that they have been feeding their dogs pomegranates for a long time and their dogs are old and healthy with no ill effects from the fruit. But then again, there are people that smoke and live to be over a hundred years old. That doesn’t mean that the experts will stop telling everyone smoking is bad for your health. The same goes for pomegranate and dogs.

But There Are Pomegranate Based Treats?

Can Dogs Eat Pomegranate

Pomegranates are packed with anti-oxidants, fibre, folic acid, potassium and vitamin C. This makes pomegranates very healthy, not only for humans but for dogs too. As already mentioned, pomegranates aren’t really good for dogs, due to their high content of antioxidants (tannins). Therefore, pomegranate in dog treats are processed into a healthier and less toxic form that is safe for dogs whilst retaining the good nutritional qualities of the fruit.

These treats still have some anti-oxidants in them as well as the other good qualities of pomegranate, without the risks. Research shows that the right amount of anti-oxidants are good for dogs. In fact, many pet food manufacturers add anti-oxidants to their products.

Whilst on the topic of fruit seed, many of the seeded fruits, (pears, apples, grapes) the seeds contain a small amount of cyanide. As we all should know, cyanide is rather toxic, both for humans and to dogs. Even a tiny dose of this poison will result in complications in canines. Fortunately, pomegranate seeds do not contain any cyanide.

You can also opt for pomegranate extract.  According to recent studies, pomegranate extract is effective in reducing the risk of canine heart disease. In a statement made by Healthy Pets, “pomegranate extract could be effective as part of a multidimensional dietary strategy to reduce the onset and progression of oxidative stress-induced canine disease.”

What if you have access to plenty of pomegranates (for example, you have a pomegranate tree in your garden)? Isn’t there some way you can harness the goodness of the fruit without the harmful side-effects or incurring the costs for special treats? Some veterinary experts suggest that you can give your dog pomegranate seed, in small quantities (relative to the dog’s size).  To do this, remove the fruit’s flesh, then crush up the seeds in your dog’s bowl or mixed with food (see here for more info).

What About Other Fruit and Vegetables?

The latest research shows that, based on their intestinal characteristics, dogs lean more to being carnivores than omnivores. However, dogs have specially adapted to eating grains and some vegetation.  Therefore, it is perfectly safe to feed your dog some dog friendly fruit and vegetables.

One of the key benefits of plants is that they contain much needed fibre. If you see Buddy eating grass regularly it may be because Buddy needs more fibre in his diet. Grating up some carrots in with your dog’s pellets is one easy way to enhance the fibre content of your dog’s diet, particularly if your dog is already on a special diet that doesn’t provide a high fibre content.

Fruit and vegies also are rich in vitamins and other nutrients. In addition, vegetables tend to be low in calories. Thus, replacing a small percentage of the dog’s regular food with some grated veggies such as carrots is a good way to add nutrients for dogs that are overweight or on a calorie restricted diet. If your dog always seems hungry, some veterinarians recommend replacing a small percentage of the dog’s regular food with some grated up vegetables such as carrot. Doing so will bulk up the meal without raising the calorie-count. Fruit however tend to be higher in sugar than vegetables and should be limited in diets of overweight pets

Although the concept of giving fruit and vegetables may be foreign to people who only feed their dogs pellets, dog owners who have their dogs on a “raw diet” will probably be familiar with adding fruit and veg to the canine diet (read more about raw diets for dogs here). Many owners maintain that their dogs appear to be in great health on a raw diet that contains small quantities of fruit and vegetables.

If you like to give your dog treats but your dog is overweight, a small slice of fruit or vegetable could also serve as a good alternative low calorie treat. However, there are lots of dogs that will rather say “no thank you” to a slice of carrot or apple. That is perfectly normal, not all dogs like vegetation as food.

Good and Bad Plants – Some Options You Give You Pup and Some You Shouldn’t

Plants considered suitable to give to dogs include: Bananas, berries (such as blueberries and cranberries), carrots, pumpkin, sweat potato, watermelon and zucchinis.

Plants to avoid, include: Avocados, all citrus fruit, cherries, coconut, garlic, grapes (including , raisins, and currants and their juices; grapes have an unknown toxic mechanism that adversely affects the kidneys of some dogs and cats), some nuts such as pecan, macadamias and wallnuts  (peanuts are fine though and often used as a treat, but then again, peanuts are not nuts as the name suggests, they are actually legumes), rhubarb, starchy foods such as corn, potatoes and unions (see here for some more info – see rule #6).

This is not an exhaustive list, for more detail on what plants you can and cannot give your dog, visit dogsaddict.com.  Also remember to wash the fruit or veggies and remove husks, inedible skins and seeds before feeding them to your dog.

A final reminder, although fruit and vegetables are a good way to ensure a nutritionally balanced diet, they should be given in moderation, even if considered safe. Buddy is after all still a carnivore.

So….Can Dogs Eat Pomegranate or What?

Okay, so what is the final answer…can dogs eat pomegranate or not? The short of it, while they probably shouldn’t eat pomegranate it won’t be the end of the world if your pup accidently ingests a little pomegranate. If you are keen on feeding your little fur-baby some healthy fruit and vegetables, there are some other alternatives that you can give it.

Can Dogs Eat Shrimp And Is It Healthy For Them?

0 Can dogs eat shrimp? The short answer is yes. But there are some technical details that you need to be aware of. And as with all things in life, you should only be giving your dog shrimp in moderation. It can be a nice treat for your dog and beneficial to its diet.

Is It Okay for Dogs To Eat Shrimp?

The most important thing to be aware of, is that the shrimp has to be cooked properly. Raw shrimp contains dangerous bacteria that can cause shellfish toxicity. Your grocer might try to convince you that the shrimp is safe for sushi use, but this doesn’t mean it’s safe for your dog to consume.

Also, keep the amount of shrimp per feeding small. It’s only really an exotic treat for your dog, there are other much better protein sources such as salmon or tuna. But it is low in calories and dogs can digest shrimp quite easily. Shrimp is high in minerals that can help to strengthen bones and teeth, plus speed up a dog’s metabolism. Minerals found in shrimp include calcium, iron and phosphorous.

Another potential danger to be aware of, is that shrimp contains high cholesterol levels. If your dog is already struggling with its weight, rather stay clear of shrimp. It can also negatively affect your dog’s cardiovascular system.

Health Benefits of Shrimp

Can Dogs Eat Shrimp

Can dogs eat shrimp and how healthy is it for them? Although shrimp is not a great source of proteins, it has other useful traits such as being high in antioxidants, including copper and selenium.

Plus a very special one, namely astaxanthin. This is a potent anti-inflammatory carotenoid. In animal studies it has been shown that this special antioxidant offers support to the nervous system as well as the musculoskeletal system. Research has furthermore shown that intake of astaxanthin decreased risk of diabetes and colon cancer. On average a single 4-ounce serving of shrimp can contain between 1 to 4 mg of astaxanthin.

Other vitamins and minerals contained in shrimp: vitamin A, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin E, iodine, omega-3 fats, pantothenic acid, zinc, choline and protein.

Preparing Shrimp for Dogs

Keep your dog’s dietary needs and restrictions in consideration when preparing the shrimp. Stay clear of seasoning as excessive salt intake can be dangerous for dogs, causing their blood pressure to spike or leading to dehydration. Don’t fry the shrimp or cook it in butter, the fat can cause digestive upset and even inflammation of the pancreas. Do not add any garlic or onion powders.

Shrimp is not a dietary necessity for your dog. It can be a nice snack from time to time, but only in moderation. Check with your veterinarian first before feeding your dog shrimp on a regular basis.

Peel and Devein the Shrimp

Remove the veins before cooking. Use a knife or scissor to cut along the shrimp’s back and carefully pull out all the veins. Unpeeled shrimp can be dangerous for your dog. Try peeling it only after it’s cooked to make sure the shrimp doesn’t lose any nutritional value and to make sure you remove all of the shell.

A trick for pulling off the shell in one piece: slip your fingers under the shell, at the end of the shrimp head and carefully pull the shell away.

Take note: Always feed freshly cooked shrimp to your dog. The cooked shrimp will only last for about a day or two when refrigerated.

Can A Dog Eat The Tail and Shell?

No, it’s not recommended. They can create a stomach blockage or potentially be a choking hazard. Your dog’s ancestors did not have access to shrimp, so a dog’s teeth and digestive system is not equipped to deal with the outside of shrimp. Cleaned shrimp is much easier for your dog to digest.

Also, make sure you buy high quality shrimp. If the shrimp has any rings or black spots on the shell, it means the flesh has begun to deteriorate and break down. Stay clear of gritty or yellow shells. This indicates that chemicals such as sodium bisulfate has been used on the shrimp. If the shrimp smells like ammonia, it is spoiled.

Shrimp isn’t poisonous to dogs when prepared correctly, but your dog might be allergic to it. And if not cooked properly, it can cause shellfish toxicity. Read this article to be aware of dog allergy symptoms.

Your Dog Has Eaten Raw or Too Much Shrimp: What Now?

Can dogs eat too much or raw shrimp? In excessive amounts or when not cooked properly, your dog’s body will reject the shrimp. Your dog will most likely experience stomach discomfort, vomiting and diarrhea. The dog’s body will deal with the shrimp on its own. These symptoms should only last for about 24 hours. If they continue for longer, you will should consult your veterinarian.

You need to keep your dog hydrated while its body fights the foreign substance consumed. Make sure it has continues access to fresh water. Other than that, there’s not really anything else you can do to assist your dog. Read this article before you try inducing vomit in your dog.

Can Dogs Eat Shrimp – The Disadvantages

Shrimp contains lots of healthy vitamins and minerals, but there are a few drawbacks for your dog’s nutritional needs. As mentioned above, your dog’s ancestors did not have access to shrimp years ago, so their digestive system is not truly compatible with it.

One of the biggest drawbacks of shrimp, is the high cholesterol value. Four ounces of shrimp can contain up to 220 mg of cholesterol. So you need to keep it as an occasional treat, not a regular snack. The biggest health risk of shrimp is the potential shellfish toxicity it can cause, so you need to take extra precaution when preparing it. Make sure it is cooked properly before offering it to your dog. Introduce the shrimp gradually as a new treat to prevent stomach upset.

After feeding your dog shrimp for the first time, you need to keep a close eye on it. If it starts acting strange or showing allergy symptoms, immediately go to your veterinarian.Some dogs might love the taste, but others will just pull their noses up and refuse to try it.

Other Seafood That Are Safe for Dogs

Adding a little bit of seafood to your dog’s regular diet can be very beneficial. But emphasis on the “little bit”.

Salmon

A great extra source of protein. But it also needs to be cooked properly to deal with a parasite that causes Salmon Disease.

Tuna

Another great source of protein, but you need to keep in mind its high mercury and sodium content. Read this article to find out more about the health benefits.

Crab

Part of the shrimp family, but it contains a lot of iodine. Some dogs can be allergic to it and you don’t want to overdo it, the verdict is not quite out if it is truly safe for dog consumption.

Lobster, Clams, Oysters

Some more shellfish that can enhance your dog’s diet. But remember to not feed your dog the shells. The shells can cause puncture holes in your dog’s digestive system.

Conclusion: Can Dogs Eat Shrimp?

Feeding your dog shrimp can be a nice little healthy treat. Just make sure you follow the cooking instructions as described above. And remember to first test your dog’s reaction to the shrimp. It’s always best to first chat to your veterinarian to make sure a new addition to your dog’s diet will be beneficial.

Can Dogs Eat Tuna?

0 Can dogs eat tuna? The simple answer: Yes, you can feed your dog fish. But there are various hidden factors to be aware of. Fish bones can be very dangerous and when selecting canned tuna you have to make sure you pick one that has been packed in water and not oil.

There are a variety of fish-based dog foods on the market, so research does show that it’s safe to feed your dog tuna. Dogs can handle both cooked and raw tuna.

Is It Safe to Feed Your Dog Tuna?

Can dogs eat tuna? As always, the golden rule is to do things in moderation. In long-lived fish like tuna heavy metals accumulate over time and the percentage of some metals present in the fish, such as mercury, can raise health concerns.

Dogs are carnivores, so their digestive system is more geared towards processing meats, which is good news if you want to treat your dog with a bit of tuna. But it is not advisable to feed your dog raw fish. Fish can carry various parasites that are usually killed by cooking. Your dog might have a robust digestive system, but it’s better to not take the risk.

The Health Benefits of Tuna

Tuna is a great protein alternative for dogs with a sensitive constitution. It is easier to digest and less likely to cause digestive upset. You will spot it in the ingredient list of many specialized foods. You could feed your dog salmon or mackerel as well, but tuna has just as many health benefits and is bit more affordable.

When buying canned tuna, check that there are no additional seasonings, especially not onions or garlic. These two ingredients are toxic to dogs. Also, canned tuna based in oil can cause unpleasant stomach upset in dogs. Look out for the water-based ones.

Tuna includes many minerals beneficial to dogs including phosphorus, selenium, magnesium and potassium. It also is a great vitamin source with B12, B6 and B3 as well as omega-3 fatty acids, promoting good heart health. It’s a great option for dogs with food allergies. Read this article to check if your dog is allergic to anything

Disadvantages of Tuna

Can dogs eat tuna?  Yes, but it’s best to keep tuna as a rare treat because of the high levels of sodium and mercury. The main health risk, is the high mercury content. Also note, a tuna steak usually contains more mercury than canned tuna. And canned white albacore contains more mercury than white canned or chunked light tuna.

Canned tuna contains a high level of sodium, which can cause pancreatitis when consumed in high quantities. The salt content can also make your dog excessively thirsty, it will then gulp down lots of water that can lead to a bloated stomach or in the worst case scenario a twisted stomach, which can be fatal if not treated.

How Much is Too Much?

Rather keep pure tuna as an occasional treat instead of working it into your dog’s daily feeding routine. When used in homemade dog food recipes, you will notice that the quantities will always be low in comparison to the other ingredients.

You could spoil your dog with a tuna treat once a week if it is not already present in its daily diet. There are various factors to keep in mind when feeding your dog tuna, such as its age and general health condition. If your dog is leaning towards the overweight side of the weight spectrum, rather steer clear of feeding it tuna.

The Best Way to Feed Tuna to Your Dog

Can Dogs Eat Tuna?

Keep it simple and as close to the tuna’s natural form as possible. When using canned tuna remember to buy the water-based one without additional seasonings. Drain the tuna before feeding it to your dog and don’t give it the leftover juice from the can.

There’s no need to season it or spice it up, you can give it to your dog bland, the dog won’t taste the difference. The tuna flakes can get stuck between your dog’s teeth, give it dry kibble or a biscuit to scrape off the lingering fish from the dog’s teeth.

It is best to first check with your veterinarian before incorporating tuna into your dog’s diet. Can dogs eat tuna? Yes, but some dogs don’t like the taste, so you have to first see how your dog responds to a little bit before incorporating tuna into your dog’s diet.

Warning: don’t ever feed your dog raw salmon. Dogs are the only known species that can catch salmon poisoning disease from consuming raw salmon. If untreated, a dog will most likely die within two weeks of digesting raw salmon.

Other Fish Safe for Dogs

Tuna is definitely the easiest fish to incorporate into your dog’s diet. You can conveniently grab an affordable tin of it at the supermarket. Some other fish types that you will find in fish-based dog foods: Ocean and Lake Whitefish, Flounder, Walleye, Herring, Salmon Pike and Arctic Char.

If you spot any of these in the supermarket and you feel like giving your dog a special treat you can bake, grill or steam these types of fish. Just remember to buy boneless fillets and don’t add any seasoning. Plus, steer clear of excessive greasing with oil sprays, butter or oil.

Homemade Dog Food: Tuna-based Recipes

Can dogs eat tuna? The conclusion is, most definitely, yes. The following are a few recipes that you can prepare at home to spoil your dog on special occasions or to enhance its general diet.

Tuna, Egg, and Greens

Ingredients:

½ cup of canned light tuna, water-based

1 egg yolk

2 tablespoons of sprouts, Alfalfa or Clover

½ teaspoon of Nutritional Yeast

½ cup of cooked brown rice

Directions:

Chop the sprouts up finely. Mix the egg yolk, nutritional yeast and sprouts together and then add the tuna.  Add the mixture to the brown rice. This recipe is enough for one meal for a dog of between 20 to 25 pounds.

Tuna Roll

Ingredients:

1 small can of tuna, water-based

1 tablespoon of olive oil

1 celery stick

1 carrot, large if possible

1 teaspoon of lemon juice

4 tablespoon of cottage cheese

Directions:

Chop celery stick and carrot into small pieces. Mix all the ingredients together, adding the lemon juice last. Place the mixture in blender and blend until fine pulp. Mold and shape the mixture into a tuna roll and cut into small pieces when chilled. Add one piece of tuna roll to your dog’s kibble once a week.

Detox Tuna Recipe for Skin Health

Ingredients:

1 cup of light tuna

¼ cup of Cottage cheese
(alternative: 1 raw or boiled egg)

1/8 cup of sprouts, Clover or Alfalfa (a handful)

½ cup of lettuce

½ cup of cooked barley

½ teaspoon of ginger powder

1 teaspoon of Nutritional Yeast

1 teaspoon of Parmesan cheese

1 Omega 3 fish oil capsule (1 000mg)

1 Evening primrose oil capsule (500mg)

Directions:

Squeeze out the liquid of the Omega 3 fish oil capsule and mix with the evening primrose oil capsule. Add the tuna to the oil mixture. Finely chop the barley, lettuce and sprouts. Mix into tuna mixture. Sprinkle the Nutritional Yeast and Parmesan cheese unto the mixture. Feed ½ a cup per 10 to 15 pounds of body weight to your dog once a day instead of its regular food.

Please note: this mixture is not recommended if your dog is prone to food allergies.

Tuna Training Treats

Ingredients:

2 small cans of tuna, water-based

2 eggs

1 to 1 ½ cup of flour, preferably rice flour

Handful of Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Do not drain the tuna. Mash the tuna in a bowl to remove clumps. Place in blender to liquefy. Add a little bit of water if needed to liquefy completely. Pour the blended tuna into a bowl and add the flour. The consistency should be close to a cake mixture. Spread into a lightly greased or sprayed pan. Sprinkle lots of Parmesan cheese on top. Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes. When ready the edges will pull away and the texture will be like putty. Cut into small squares, about the size of a penny. Can freeze the treats. Use as rewards when teaching your dog a new trick.

Tuna Fudge

Ingredients:

2 small cans of tuna, water-based

1 ½ cups of whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon of garlic powder

2 lightly beaten eggs

¼ cup of parmesan cheese

Directions:

Do not drain the tuna. Mix all the ingredients together with an electric mixer or in a blender until well blended. Spread the mixture onto a lightly greased cake pan. Cover and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes. Cut into small squares. Store in the refrigerator or freeze. Give to your dog as little treats or mix a few squares into its kibble once a week.

Conclusion: Can Dogs Eat Tuna?

In moderation tuna can be a healthy addition to your dog’s general diet. But before adding it, make sure you have checked with the vet if it’s safe to do so. Most dogs will be very pleased with the delicious treat per occasion.

Have you tried adding tuna to your dog’s diet? What reaction did you get?

Read more about other human foods that are pet friendly:
– sweet potatoes
– pineapple
– Brussel sprouts

Why Is My Dog Shaking Its Head So Much? We Investigate Causes And Solutions

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Your dog shaking its head can be a sign of an ear issue. Occasional shaking of the head is fine, but if this becomes more than just an occasional habit, you need to investigate the cause.

Dogs love shaking themselves after being bathed or taking a swim. But your dog shaking its head could also be its way of showing you something is wrong.

Dog Shaking Its Head: What It Could Mean

The following is a list of the possible causes for your dog shaking its head:

Dog Shaking Head – Checklist

• A foreign body such as grass seed lodged in the ear canal
• An ear infection caused by ear mites, bacteria or yeast
• Allergic reaction
• Excessive ear wax
• Fly or tick bites at the ear tips
• An immune disease
• Sign of polyps or masses in the ear canal

Should You Be Worried If Your Dog Is Shaking Its Head A Lot?

Yes, if you don’t treat the cause of the head shaking, permanent damage can be done to your dog’s ears. This can lead to a hearing loss or a ruptured eardrum. Persistent or aggressive head shaking can cause an Aural Haematoma.

Plus, a chronic inflamed infection is very painful. You know how horrible an ear ache can be, imagine how much worse it feels if you can’t do anything to make it stop.

In Doggy World, Hearing Is Very Important

Dogs experience the world mostly through their senses of smell and hearing. This is why you can’t just ignore your dog shaking its head. Your beloved four-footed house member’s quality of life depends on you investigating what is causing the problem.

If it happens only once or twice, you can ignore it, or simply rub your dog’s ears to help get rid of the itchiness. As soon as the dog does it nonstop, you have to take it to the veterinarian to check what is causing the problem. If you want to treat the itch at home before visiting the veterinarian, rather use a proper ear cleaning product for dogs to assist you with the process.

Things to Look Out For

Check your dog’s skin for signs of infection, irritation, dryness, wounds or parasites. When your dog is shaking its head, it can be a sign of an allergy attack and general skin problems can be a further indication of this. Even a mild yeast infection can cause excessive head shaking.

Discomfort can also be caused by an injury, not just infections inside the ear. When your dog starts shaking its head on a regular basis, check his head for any bumps or cuts. Head trauma can also be a cause for the shaking. If the shaking doesn’t stop after a few days, rather visit the veterinarian to be on the safe side. If there aren’t any physical evidence of a bump or cut, that will be an indication that the problem lies inside the ears.

Inner ear infection, head trauma, a stroke or vestibular syndrome can all be reason for excessive shaking of the head. If your dog seems to be off balance, that can be a further indicator of problems inside its ears.

Has your dog been exposed to any unusual chemicals or medications? These foreign toxins can have an effect on the dog’s nervous system. Abnormal behavior such as the dog shaking its head or other neurological symptoms can occur. If you know what harmful chemicals or medications your dog has been exposed to, call the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center on 888-426-4435 for immediate assistance.

How to Determine the Problem

A dog’s ear canal is shaped like an L, making it difficult to spot a problem hidden out of sight deep down in the canal. Plus, irritations in the ear canal can cause the epithelium lining to swell, reducing the size of the dog’s ear canal. This combo often causes discharge to become stuck in the inner ear, never making its way out to the external part of the ear you can view.

On top of the obvious sign of your dog shaking its head, look out for the following signs:

• Foul smell or a discharge leaking from the ear
• Excessive ear scratching
• The dog holding its head in a strange position
• Sensitivity and irritability when you touch the dog’s ear
• A redness or swelling of the ear flap
• Difficulty hearing you

WARNING

Do not poke around in your dog’s ear with a cotton bud! You can cause more damage than you realise.

How to Treat the Problem

Firstly you can try to alleviate the discomfort by administering an ear cleaning product for dogs as mentioned above. But this should be a temporary solution while you wait for your veterinarian appointment. Your dog’s ears need to be examined with a professional instrument.

This process will determine what is causing the discomfort and your veterinarian can prescribe the most effective solution to deal with the problem. These can include anti-inflammatory or antibiotic tablets, ear drops or ear wash, or an ear mite treatment.

If the dog shaking its head indicates an allergic reaction, a dietary adjustment needs to be done. Read this article to be aware of the most common food allergies in dogs. In the worst case scenario surgery might have to be scheduled to fix the cause of the ear irritation.

When it comes to dogs any minor itch, tickle, irritation, or sting is enough to prompt them to shake their head a little in order to bring relief. When you see your dog shaking it usually isn’t a big deal. But if the shaking persists it should be a cause for concern.

Cleaning Your Dog’s Ears At Home

If you feel brave, you can attempt to clean your dog’s ears on a regular basis at home. This is more of a preventative measure, though. When your dog is shaking its head excessively, that means there is a serious problem to attend to.

There are three important things about dog ears you need to be aware of

• The ears are very sensitive, regular maintenance can prevent infections
• Dogs don’t like it when you clean their ears, so it will be a tricky job
• If you do it wrong, you can cause severe damage

Make It a Positive Experience

It’s best to get your dog into the habit of cleaning its ears from a young age. Do not force your dog into submission, it will only give you more resistance if it doesn’t feel comfortable with what lies ahead. Try to give it a treat every time it cooperates with you, this way the dog will be more inclined to relax during the process.

Use the Correct Tools

No, cotton buds are not suitable for your dog’s ears. Rather use cotton balls or gauze wrapped around your finger. The type of ear rinse you use is very important. Find a product that doesn’t contain any alcohol, antibiotics, steroids or other toxic materials.

Keep Everything Close At Hand

Make sure you’ve got everything set up before you start the cleaning process. There won’t be time to fiddle around and find what you’re looking for once you’ve started. You want to keep your dog as calm as possible once you have gotten it in a secure position.

Stick To the Rules

Start on the outside and gently work your way in. No forcing, only clean until you start feeling resistance. This is crucial, if you push further, you can cause damage. Rather stay on the safe side than trying to clean too deep. Wet your gauzed finger or cotton ball with the ear rinse and start wiping the outer flap which is visible to you. For the inner ear, replace the gauze or cotton ball and wet a new one in the rinse.

If you want to undertake this cleaning process on your own, try to do it at least once a week. When you notice that the gauze or cotton ball is excessively dirty, schedule an appointment at the veterinarian for a check up to see if everything is in order.

Conclusion – Why Is My Dog Shaking Its Head So Much?

There are a number of reasons that can cause excessive head shaking. It is best to keep a close eye on your dog to see if the symptoms disappear within a day or two. Otherwise you will have to visit your veterinarian to ensure that your dog is not in any pain and to determine what is causing the problem.

When it comes to your dog’s hearing, you should rather stay on the safe side and take your dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible for a checkup. Hearing loss is a terrible impairment for your dog to suffer from.

Has your dog ever started shaking its head excessively? How did you manage to determine the problem?

Is Gatorade Good For Dogs?

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Top athletes in all different types of sports adorn the commercials for the sports drink we all know as Gatorade. The beverage, which comes in dozens of different flavors, was originally created as a way of replenishing the fluids lost by football players for the University of Florida. In time, all kinds of major sports teams started to adopt this drink to give to their players to also replenish their fluids.

Over the years Gatorade has even grown into something that people drink when they are not feeling well. Getting this fluid back into your system can help a person who has been experiencing symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting. Since it tends to help out so much for human beings experiencing those types of symptoms, some have wondering if Gatorade is good for their dogs as well.

Dehydration In Dogs

Dogs don’t sweat like human does, but they can still be dehydrated. They still lose fluids through other means and they can start to feel ill the same way that human beings do when we do not have enough water in our bodies. Thus, it is a good idea to check on your dogs from time to time to ensure that they are getting the proper amount of water in their diet.

In some cases dogs simply over exert themselves while playing, particularly in hot Summer weather. They can start to fill sick if they are not given the opportunity to cool down and regain their composure so to speak. It can lead to other health problems down the road if they are exposed to being dehydrated on a regular basis.

Is Gatorade A Good Idea For Dogs?

Since Gatorade is so commonly used to help humans who are experiencing dehydration wouldn’t it stand to reason that this would be something that we should also give to dogs who are experiencing the same thing? After all, replacing water and electrolytes in a dog is very important too. That is what Gatorade is known to do, so shouldn’t we give this to our lovely fur babies when they are not feeling so well?

The quick answer to this is “Yes”. You can in fact give your dogs Gatorade without fear of adverse impacts. Dogs are able consume Gatorade just fine, and it may in fact be one of the best things to give them if they are dehydrated. Water is perfectly fine to give to a dehydrated dog as well of course, but if there is no easy access to water but you have some Gatorade on you for some reason, then this is something that can be given.

What To Watch Out For

The Gatorade is going to do the same tricks for your dog that it does for you in terms of replenishing fluids. However, there is a big difference between a dog drinking Gatorade and a human drinking it. The major difference comes in the fact that Gatorade has a lot of sugar and sodium in it. That is not that big of a deal for a human being to drink, but the dogs has a much smaller body. What may be a reasonable amount of sodium or sugar for a human to consume could be way too much for some particular dogs. Always be mindful about portion control with anything that you might give to an animal.

How To Safely Give Your Dog Gatorade

It is best to try to dilute the Gatorade that you give to your dog in order to reduce some of the potential harm of the sugar and sodium in the beverage. The mixture should be fifty-fifty between water and Gatorade if at all possible. You can also throw in some ice cubes to help dilute the drink a little bit more.

A lot of dogs tend to like cubes anyway, so this may encourage them to come check out what those ice cubes are doing in their Gatorade beverage. Since Gatorade is going to be a brand new drink for the vast majority of dogs, it is nice to let them warm up to the idea of consuming it at all. They may have some reservations about it in the beginning, but with time most dogs come around.

Make Sure To Treat Dehydration Right Away

Dehydration is not something that you should just ignore. One of the worst things to do if your dog is in destress with this is to ignore it or hope it passes. It is also not the time for you to do Gatorade experiments just to see how it goes. Your dog can have Gatorade and you already know that now. Don’t wait until your dog is experiencing dehydration to see how it goes on your own.

A dog that remains dehydrated for too long can go into shock in some cases. If left to go on for too long, the dog can even die from this. The canine is similar to human beings in this way. Since you would certainly not leave a human being to see how they fared with dehydration, you should also not do this with a dog. Make sure to take care of them as quickly as possible.

Keep stored in your memory bank somewhere the fact that you can give a dog Gatorade to help with dehydration. It may just help to save a dog’s life at some point.

My Dog Sleeps With Its Eyes Open – Should I Be Worried?

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Should dogs sleep with its eyes open? Seems like it can’t be possible, but you might have noticed your dog deep in dreamland but yet with eyes a little open. Before you get completely freaked out and race to the vet with your dog, let’s investigate what causes this.

Why Does It Happen?

Basically it’s a type of defense mechanism that dates back to your doggy’s wild heritage. Back in the day, dogs needed to be on constant alert to ensure their survival. So evolution gave them the ability to sleep with their eyes open, and some dogs still have this super power.

Are There Any Other Reasons For This?

Why does my dog sleep with its eyes open? Open eyes and severe twitching can be a sign of a seizure. But if your dog is simply twitching lightly, the dog is probably just having a dream of chasing the neighbor’s cat or digging for some bones. There’s a big difference between twitching and convulsing.

The big difference can be spotted by carefully looking at your dog’s eyes. If the dog is simply dreaming, its eyes may be open a little bit, but the dog will look peaceful and relaxed. This happens when your dog moves into the REM sleep phase. If you feel concerned, call your dog’s name in a quiet voice. If the dog is simply dreaming, it will snap out of it and continue sleeping normally.

You need to become concerned when your dog’s twitching becomes severe and it is staring blankly into space and not responding when you call its name. When a seizure occurs, there’s nothing you can do to help your dog, except make sure that it is comfortable. You have to wait for it to pass over. Your dog might also start moaning or howling when a seizure occurs.

Related: Why Is My Dog Shaking Its Head So Much?

What to Do When a Seizure Occurs

If the open eyes plus twitching seems like a seizure there are a few steps you can follow to help your dog. Firstly, do not try to wake your dog up, you won’t be able to. Rather make sure that there are no objects close by that could hurt your dog during the seizure.

Once the seizure passes over, make sure you keep your emotional reaction neutral. Overreacting in this moment will simply worsen the situation. Gently soothe your dog, giving it lots of TLC. You will need to make an urgent appointment at the vet to investigate what caused the seizure.

A Seizure vs A Dream

The main way to tell the difference, is looking at your dog’s eyes. As mentioned above, a dreaming dog will simply look peaceful. If it’s a seizure, the dog will have a scary blank stare. When your dog’s eyes are open during normal sleeping, the eyes will only be open partially. During a seizure, the eyes will be wide open. If you suspect your dog is having a seizure, make sure that you monitor it until the seizure passes.

While dreaming your dog might make a few small yips or a short bark. A seizure will cause your dog to moan, howl or even make a screaming sound. If you start feeling concerned about your dog’s behavior, rather make an appointment with your vet for a checkup.

During a dream you will notice your dog twitching or shaking, almost as if it is running in one spot. A dog’s movements are much more rigid and stiff during a seizure. You will be able to easily wake up your dog from a dreaming session by simply calling its name. If it’s a seizure, you won’t be able to wake your dog from it.

Once your dog wakes up from a dream, the dog will be fully alert. After a seizure your dog will seem disoriented and confused. During a seizure you will see foam at your dog’s mouth, it will be drooling excessively and possibly also bite down on its tongue. While sleeping you will notice your dog’s breathing remaining normal. With the onset of a seizure, your dog’s breathing will become heavy and difficult.

Trust your gut feeling when you are trying to figure out whether your dog is simply dreaming or if it is having a seizure. A dog’s dreaming state is similar to a human’s, peaceful. To see your dog having a seizure is a frightening experience.

Conclusion: Why Does My Dog Sleep With Its Eyes Open? 

If you regularly notice your dog sleeping with its eyes half open, this is simply a sign that your dog is one of the special ones that still has a strong link to its primal heritage. You can gently wake up your dog if you feel worried that it might be a sign of possible seizure disorder.

But in general it only means your dog is enjoying dreamland. This said, it is best to not ignore troublesome signs. Rather stay on the safe side and take your dog for a checkup at the vet to rule out the possibility of a seizure disorder.

Why does my dog sleep with its eyes open? Most likely because millenniums ago it was a fierce hunter that had to be prepared for anything, at all times. This is a much less scary reason for the behavior. Luckily not all seizure disorders are life-threatening. Once you have visited your vet, you will be able to deal more effectively with the problem.

Your vet will be able to assess whether your dog needs chronic medication to keep the seizures under control. It is important to take your dog for a check-up after it had a seizure to rule out the possibility of a dangerous disorder.

It will feel very frustrating to not be able to help your dog during a seizure, but the best thing you can do, is to simply stay calm and assist your dog afterwards to recover from the scary moment. Read this article to find out how to help a dog after a seizure.

Does your dog sleep with its eyes open? Is your dog one of the special ones still in tune with its primal nature, or did you discover a more troublesome reason for the habit?