A few years ago, I heard about a German Shepherd whose coat had been clipped extremely short for summer. My first reaction was spontaneous: is that really a good idea? At the time, I had not yet studied canine coat thermoregulation in depth, but I wanted to understand why clipping...
My dogs have tried all sorts of fruit and vegetables, but rhubarb has never made it into their bowls. I have never felt much need to offer it. Still, if you have a large rhubarb plant in the garden and a dog exploring it nose first, the question is understandable:...
I do not often hear of several dogs being fed from the same bowl, but it does happen. The idea may sound friendly: if the dogs get along, why should each have their own bowl? For me, the answer starts with a very practical problem: we no longer know how...
At FendaF we often talk about how important it is to keep dogs moving. And that remains true: a dog should not spend its entire life on a sofa or confined to a fenced garden. But one question is asked too rarely. Can a dog get too much exercise?Yes. Not...
I love natural remedies. I've always had things at home that I can turn to for minor concerns: chamomile tea, coconut oil, honey, and some herbal remedies. What I appreciate about integrative veterinarians is that they don't just look at the animal through one symptom, but also notice the impact...
A German Shepherd, Saint Bernard or Great Dane can take up a considerable amount of space at home. Sadly, many large and giant breeds have a shorter average lifespan than smaller dogs. I previously wrote about a study comparing the health histories of tens of thousands of dogs in an...
When a dog begins taking stairs more slowly, getting up stiffly after rest or falling behind on walks, people sometimes attribute it to old age. But joint problems are not confined to senior dogs. Hip and elbow dysplasia, cranial cruciate ligament injuries and various forms of joint inflammation can also...
Dandelion is a curious plant. We call it a weed when it grows in the lawn, yet our grandparents knew it as both a food plant and a medicinal herb. I have written about dandelion before, drawing on an article from Dogs Naturally Magazine, and the topic deserves another look....
I have always believed that our dogs' lives are far too short as it is. That is why I have promised myself to do everything within my power for their well-being. If the day comes when I must make a difficult decision, my dog's quality of life must come first,...
Vaccination is a procedure intended to trigger an immune response. Immunization, in turn, means the development of immune protection. These concepts are related, but they are not interchangeable. Administering a vaccine does not guarantee the same immune response in every individual animal, and reaching a booster due date does not automatically...
