“Accidents happen” is probably especially true when you live with dogs. One day there's a muddy, slightly irritated paw; the next day an upset stomach; another time you discover a hot spot or realise that your dog has picked up, or perhaps swallowed, something suspicious. Over the years, I've used...
Explore causes of dry and flaky skin in dogs, grooming, fatty acids and coconut oil, and learn when a veterinary examination is needed.
Sleep hours alone do not tell the whole story. Watch your dog’s familiar habits, wellbeing while awake and any signs of weakness or breathing difficulty.
Does your dog keep licking the floor, carpet, sofa, or even your hands and feet? An occasional lick does not necessarily mean anything. Dogs explore the world with their mouths and noses, and a surface may simply smell interesting. But when licking becomes repetitive or intense, or it feels as...
A dry paw pad, an abrasion, a burn and a paw that is constantly being licked are not the same problem. The most useful first step is to look at what the damage actually is and only then decide whether it needs simple care, first aid or a veterinarian. I have...
A dog food bag may proudly declare “26% protein”, but that tells us neither what kind of protein the food contains nor how efficiently a dog can use it. At FendaF, I have often said that not all protein is equal. We could say the same about an animal: muscle,...
As spring arrives, many dogs become very interested in nibbling fresh grass. Some pick out only the longest, softest blades, others eat almost by the handful, while some show no interest in grass at all. And then the owner starts wondering: why does a dog eat grass in the first place? Does their...
With some diseases, it isn't easy to say, “Don't worry, most dogs do well.” If you have seen a dog seriously affected by one, that experience stays with you. Irene's Labrador, Pekwa, suffered severe Lyme disease at about six years of age. It took months to reach the diagnosis, and...
For years, whenever possible, I have preferred natural ways of protecting my dogs against ticks, and Oscar is the main reason behind that choice. When he was a puppy, I used Bravecto tablets because I had seen with Faddy how effectively they kept ticks away. Oscar received the tablet twice....
Canine dementia is being discussed more and more, yet it is still very easy to put changes in an older dog down to age alone. They sleep more, move more slowly, no longer react in quite the same way, sometimes become confused in familiar places or grow restless in the...
