What Should My Veterinarian Be Doing At The Annual Visit?
Your Veterinarian’s annual visit is an excellent opportunity to get an overall health report for your four-footed friend. In this visit, they check your pet’s general routine and what risk factors they include. If your pet is struggling with a disease, they diagnose it very early. It also helps make their treatment smoother to help the patient get back to their healthy life. If your pet is young and healthy throughout the year and does not have a special medical condition or history, a single annual visit to a Veterinarian would be enough. However, if your pet is going through a medical condition or is older than five years, you should have a Veterinarian visit at least 2 to 3 times a year. Here, we share what you should expect from a Veterinarian’s annual visit and how they help you keep your pet healthy. 1. Pre-Visit Guide Before visiting a Veterinarian, you should make some arrangements to get the most out of your annual visit. For example, your dog must have a license tag, a little loud, then don’t forget the muzzle. In contrast, if she gets anxious about visiting new places, carry their favorite toys and treats. These are to ensure that she does not interrupt much between the check-up. If you are switching your vets, you should take the health care information from your last visit. Also, carry some of her stool samples to test for intestinal parasites. And most importantly, you should have a list of questions, be honest, and share all information you know, and it will be the thing you can do for your pet. 2. Vet Gathering Information The question-answer session between you and the vet is the most crucial segment of the annual visit. Here, they will ask you questions about your pet and diagnose them accordingly. Therefore, for your pet, you need to be brutally honest here. These questions can vary from vet to vet. However, there are some common questions that we are listing below. 1. From where did you adopt your pet? 2. What is your pet’s daily routine? 3. How much and what your pet eats in a single day? 4. Is your pet coughing or sneezing more frequently these days? 5. Does your pet have any special medical condition? 6. Is your pet comfortably using the litter box? 7. Did you travel to another state with your pet after the previous checkup? 8. Did you notice any visible difference in your pet’s running and jumping speed? 9. Your pet meets your neighbor’s pets too? 3. Routine Exercise and Nutritions Firstly, Veterinarians check your pet’s daily routine. How many calories they consume and what exercises they are doing. Every two out of four pets struggle with obesity or being overweight in the US. These additional pounds can also result in medical problems in the future. Therefore, veterinarians look for why your pet is gaining weight and would ask you to minimize those factors as soon as possible. Other than that, they also focus on how you can stop it with minimum medication. Also, if their weight is not decreasing or getting to the borderline of a disease, they can suggest an effective diet and exercise plan to help your pet get back to a healthy lifestyle. 4. Vaccinating your Pet: No one wants to see their lovely pets suffering from a disease. Therefore, veterinarians check the patient thoroughly and suggest shots/vaccines on annual visits to eliminate the risk of catching a disease. There are several types of vaccines, and each is recommended to prevent different conditions, and if neglected or not treated, they can be potentially deadly. Even though vaccination is important for your pet, Veterinarians usually do not recommend them in general checkups because each vaccine’s lasting time can vary. In most cases, one vaccine a year is enough. However, there is also a difference of opinion that adult dogs should get vaccinated or not. Some believe that too many vaccines may also expose a greater chance of catching a disease. In contrast, most Veterinarians believe that one shot to your dog a year is likely to prevent health diseases. On average, a Vaccine would charge between 75-100$, And if you contact an animal shelter, they charge around 20$ and even free sometimes. Also, the vaccine price for puppies is greater than for adult dogs. 5. Dental Checkup The mouth is like a gate to the body. Therefore, you need to keep extra care of it. And all good Veterinarians would also give additional attention to your pet’s mouth. If their teeth are covered with tartar, they are likely to recommend some regular brushing, chewing treats, toys, and nutrition. All these things will keep their oral hygiene and help you keep their body and mouth healthy. Remember, those unhealthy teeth can lead to many more prominent diseases. Therefore, you should never neglect it and show your brushing technique to the Vet and ask if they need to visit a dental specialist. Conclusion: Do you want your pet ever to suffer from dangerous diseases? If not, then you must pay an annual visit to the Veterinarian. Veterinarians take a look at your pet’s overall health during last year and diagnose diseases at an early stage. For early diagnosis, they take a deep look at your pet’s daily routine and look for room for improvement. Moreover, they recommend vaccines to ensure they stay protected from potential diseases. A good Veterinarian should be aware of your pet’s lifestyle and medical history. After that, they would prevent future health problems for your pet.
Tigger’s Tale
The idea of a new puppy came up shortly before last Christmas. My son felt ready to take on the responsibility, and the dog we already had could desperately use a playmate. So the decision was made, and off to the shelters, we went. We found six-month-old Tigger at Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in Asheville, NC, and knew instantly that he was the one. Though he was a bit skittish, we could see the energy level was high and knew he would be able to keep up with a seven-year-old boy. He was also free with kisses, so we guessed that as he got older he would calm some and settle into slower moments as well. Tigger, it turned out, was aptly named. While we were filling out the paperwork for his adoption, he bounced from the floor onto the four-and-a-half-foot-high counter like it was a single step. It didn’t take long to realize the puppy we found was just as quirky as the rest of the family. Seemingly afraid of his own shadow, the skittish guy was always jumping away from something. The first big obstacle we encountered was his fear of the dark. This became apparent on his first bedtime walk. We put his harness on him, and out the door, we went. He huddled close to me the entire walk, jumping every time the wind rustled a leaf. Another large obstacle we’re still working on is his separation anxiety. Though we call Tigger my son’s dog, I am Tigger’s person. When I leave, he’s seriously upset. We’ve had to replace a lot of chewed-up belongings. Some of Tigger’s things were among these items, such as his bed and bowl. But a lot of them were mine, such as a purse, a beanie, and a hairbrush – all of which ended up in the crate from more than three feet away. He’s still not overly fond of the crate, but he’s at least stopped howling the entire time we’re gone. Hiking is a large part of our family’s life. This is the activity that brought us all together and we try to go at least three times a month, at the very least. Our older dog is a hiking and camping pro. She spent her first year of life living in a tent in Colorado with my boyfriend. The woods are her favorite place to be. We try to only hike in places we can let them off the leash so that they can explore and have a good time doing things wild dogs get to do. So, naturally, this was the first kind of hiking we wanted to take Tigger on. We took along some training treats to encourage regular check-ins, let the dogs loose, and started on our hike. He did amazing. He would come back and check in every five to ten minutes and hardly ever left our sight. His sister taught him to drink out of the flowing streams to stay hydrated, as well as to keep an eye on their people because when their people stop walking, things like beef jerky get shared among them. We were so excited that we had found another hiking dog. Tigger’s first camping trip was a three-night stay in the Pisgah National Forest somewhere near Brevard, North Carolina. We found a great site, away from most traffic as the road we were off was still closed at one end from the winter months. We took his lead with us but hoped to not really need it since he did really well off-leash on hiking trips and we had his sister along for additional guidance. We only had one unfortunate occurrence with him that weekend. Firewood is, of course, a large part of the camping experience. While the guys were gathering larger limbs, the two dogs picked up a game of chase. Just as a limb was falling to the ground, the dogs’ game took them underneath and the edge caught Tigger’s inner thigh. I heard him yelp a bit and it was only seconds later that he was beside me, trying to tell me what happened. Now that he’s all healed and has had many an apology treat, we joke that his first instinct was to run and tattle to mommy. When the weekend was over and it was time to pack up and load the car, Tigger had no intentions of being left behind in the woods. He perched in one car or the other for the entire loading process. As we filled whatever place he was sitting in he would climb to a new spot or on top of the coolers and blankets. Our most recent camping trip lured Tigger a lot further out of his shell. This trip was four days out in the Cherokee National Forest somewhere near Greenville, Tennessee. As soon as we arrived he shot out into the woods with his sister and they played for hours, neither one of them wandering out of sight for more than a moment or two. He cozied up closer to the fire to stay warm. Since our camp neighbors loaned us their chainsaw, the process of gathering firewood was a bit different this time and Tigger had to be attached to his lead instead of roaming free for that time. Next trip we’ll see if we can’t get him over the fear of falling branches. Deciding it was time Tigger got more acquainted with water, we came up with a plan. We would lure him out into the water on the promise of training treats. We were lined up, five wide across the river in our fold-up chairs, each of us with a few treats in hand. Being as Tigger has claimed me as his person, I sat toward the end of the line in hopes that my calling him from so far away would entice him further out into the water. This worked, but not in the way we had hoped. Instead
Five great products on Amazon that your dog will love!
Choosing what treats or toys are the best for your dog has become difficult in today’s world. It isn’t easy to decide what is best for your dog’s health with many options. Luckily, Amazon now features some of the most interactive and healthy options for your furry friends. With easy delivery, color, flavor, and size options, the following great dog products will be a treat for both you and your dog! Greenies Original Teenie Natural Dental Dog Treats Greenies Original Teenie Natural Dental Dog Treats are an absolute delight! These treats will satisfy your dog’s cravings and the required daily intake of essential nutrients. These Dog Chew Treats also benefit from cleaning your dog’s gum line by fighting away the plaque. It owes all this to its unique texture that ensures your dog’s dental hygiene and helps avoid tartar and dog breath! The Greenies treats for Dogs have a big stamp of approval from veterinarians, and it is recommended for at-home oral care advocated by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC). Made in Kansas City, MO, USA, these treats have the best ingredients, all the required daily dosage of vitamins and minerals, and are delicious to boot! Chuck it! Ultra Dog Toy Ball No matter what anyone says, a ball is a dog’s favorite toy and Chuckit! Ultra Dog Toy ball is one of a kind. It is a squeaky ball toy that makes playtime fun with sounds and bounces. With this ball toy, you can also play fetch near the water due to its lightweight and buoyant design. Its durable design seems too good to be true for the price point, but it delivers. It is perfect for aggressive chewers, and it has a textured surface and a thick rubber core. It also cares for your dog’s mouth, and despite its durability, the design is also soft for your pup’s delicate mouth. Chuckit! Dog Toy Ball is made for the perfect bonding time with your dog. The company also creates various dog toys like frisbees, ball launchers, and light-up interactive toys. The colors available in this product and model are made to enrich the human-dog bond through bright colors that help keep your dog’s attention on the task. Outward Hound Dog Treat Puzzle The Outward Hound Dog Treat Puzzle is an intelligent and interactive puppy puzzle toy by Nina Ottosson. This a starting level toy that helps prepare your puppy for the following levels of the interactive puzzle designs by the same brand. It is made for dogs of all breeds and sizes to help engage their minds in intellectual activity. This dog puzzle contains nine compartments covered by nine removable dog bone pieces. The goal is to hide your dog’s favorite treats in the compartments and elevate the bone for an easier grab or leave them flush with the board for increased difficulty. Watch as your dog learns to nudge and paw away the bones to reveal the reward. It is a reward-oriented game that also gives your dog the required fun time. It reduces and redirects destructive behavior and elevates mental wellbeing. Your pet’s health is the brand’s foremost concern, and it is BPA, PVC, and PHTHALATE free. It is made from materials you can trust and is easily cleaned with soap and water. Pedigree DENTASTIX Treats Pedigree DENTASTIX treats come in various sizes and quantities, depending on your dog’s needs. It is a triple-action treat product that works to clean your dog’s breath, clean the teeth, and fight plaque and tartar buildup. The Pedigree DENTASTIX comes in a unique X-shape design perfect for large breeds specifically. Large adult dogs can enjoy this treat interactively. Your dog can enjoy this treat daily, and it will help your dog get the most out of the product. Comes in a wide range of tasty flavors, but the beef flavor is always the bestseller! SmartPetLove Snuggle Puppy Heartbeat Stuffed Toy Last on the list is my favorite dog product which has claimed to have helped over 1,000,000 dogs since 1997. SmartPetLove Snuggle Puppy Heartbeat Stuffed Toy is pet anxiety and comfort aid toy. There are many of the same kind on the market but the snuggle puppy aims to be different from all the knockoffs. It will help your puppy get more sleep, can also be used in crate and kennel training. This reduces barking, and whining and helps YOU to get better sleep at night as well. It is an easy-to-use model, with the feature of a ‘real feel’ heartbeat. Can be used with AAA batteries and comes included with a heat pack. All materials used in the Snuggle Puppy are certified safe and are easy to clean. It is a product by a small business brand and tries to ensure the best quality and unapparelled customer service. All materials used in the Snuggle Puppy are certified safe and are easy to clean. It is a product by a small business brand and tries to ensure the best quality and unapparelled customer service.
How to Safely Break Up a Dog Fight | PupzCorner Guide
What’s the Best Way to Break up a Dog Fight More than 4.5 million individuals have reported dog bites in the United States alone. Of these lots, over 800,000 people required critical medical attention. But let’s back up a bit. This statistic doesn’t mean dogs are deadly creatures. There’s a reason we know dogs to be man’s best friend. According to Big Think, “Scientists found that dog owners’ aroma sparked activation in the ‘reward center’ of their brains, called the caudate nucleus. Of all the wafting smells to take in, dogs prioritized the hint of humans over anything or anyone else.” However, dogs are social animals with a whole social order. In this order, there’s the occasional urge to establish dominance. Dogs duel to determine who’s the alpha, and these fights can get pretty intense. That’s not to say dogs don’t play-fight. But even play-fights can escalate pretty fast. Whatever the case, you’ll want to break up the fight before someone draws blood. How? Certainly not by shouting “No!” or getting in between the dogs. According to University of British Columbia Psychology Professor Stanley Coren, “If you try to intercede in a dogfight and you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re most likely going to get hurt yourself.” There are safer ways to stop a dog fight so you don’t end up hurt. In this PupzCorner guide, we’ll discuss proven methods and expert tips for safely and effectively stopping a dog fight. Let’s get to it. Prevention Is the Best Way to Stop Dog Fights Wouldn’t it be great to stop a dog fight before it even began? Luckily, you can. Dogs shoot off a lot of visual cues when they’re about to fight. Here are a few signs of an impending dogfight: Lots of growling, whining, and barking Stiff tail wags Controlled paces as opposed to a bouncy movement Staring contests with weights pulled forward Exaggerated yawns Even though this isn’t a comprehensive list, these cues show aggressive intentions. Recognizing them should give you a fair idea of what’s about to go down. Once you identify the makings of a fight, be sure to move your dog away from the area. It’s difficult to tell the difference between roughhousing and fighting in dogs, even for pros. Err on the side of caution and put your dog away. How Neutering Helps Prevent Dog Fighting If you’re not too big on your dog reproducing, you can have it neutered. Neutering your dog reduces its chances of getting into a fight. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, “unneutered male dogs represented 90% of dogs presented to veterinary behaviorists for dominance aggression. They are also involved in 70 to 76% of reported dog bite incidents”. You can think of this as a win-win situation. You get to lower your dog’s aggression and prevent future fights with potential mates. Safe Ways to Break Up a Dog Fight If you have to get involved in a dog fight, then you should have these tips in mind. Stay Calm and Assess the Situation When you see your dog in a dogfight, your first instinct will be to jump in and rescue him. Don’t! What you should do is remain calm. Keep a clear head to avoid getting hurt. Assess the situation and figure out what’s going on. If it’s just barking and snarling, you can turn a blind eye as the dogs may just be trash talking. It’s like Stanley Coren says, “The more flashy and noisy the argument is, the less likely you’ll need to get involved. In most cases, if you leave the dogs to their own devices, they probably won’t hurt each other, or at most will leave a few small punctures around the face, ears, and neck. Distract the Dogs with Loud Sounds If it’s a real dogfight, you can try distracting the dogs. An effective distraction is anything loud enough to cause a momentary pause. For instance, clanging metal lids together or even playing an air horn. That should get their attention. This momentary pause gives you time to pull your dog away to safety. It’s also a great way to help your dog escape if he’s the one on the receiving end. Use Water or Citronella Spray Surprisingly, blasting fighting dogs with water is an effective fight breaker. If the fight is going on outside, you can gauge a garden hose at the fighting dogs to break them up. It distracts them long enough that you can maintain some control. Of course, you may not carry a water hose along for a walk, no problem. You can easily find hoses in the park too. If you can’t go through that hassle, you can always have citronella spray handy. Citronella is used to curb barking in dogs, but it can get the job done. Throw a Blanket Over the Dogs Another proven method to break up a dog fight is to toss a blanket over the dogs. This usually startles them and breaks off the fight. Why does this work? Well, the blanket covers the dogs’ line of sight, reducing their aggression levels. It’s also an excellent containment method for fighting dogs. Additionally, the blanket decreases the effects of scratches and bites from the fight. It also lowers your chances of getting bitten if you get into the mix to separate them. ➜ Explore All Kind of Dog Foods & Essentials – Shop Now at PupzCorner Try the Wheelbarrow Technique (Last Resort) The wheelbarrow technique should be your last resort. It’s risky and requires many people to do the separation. Each person grabs hold of a dog by the hind legs and raises it into the wheelbarrow position. Then you move the dogs further away from each other to stop fighting. This position makes it difficult for the dogs to keep fighting. But, the dogs can turn on you as well. You’re holding a vicious tiger by the legs. It would be best to remember to turn in circles
First Encounters
I still remember the first day my little sister summoned enough courage to pet our dog. I was surprised that it hadn’t happened earlier, seeing as our dog, Bunny is a small Maltese who wouldn’t hurt a fly. My sister, Lara, was only two years old at the time and was beginning to discover the world around her. Lara was still hesitant. She knew, of course, that Bunny wouldn’t hurt her; she was trained very well since puppyhood not to bite, scratch, or bark at kids. Bunny is generally a very hyperactive five-year-old dog, which acts more like a puppy. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen her stay in one spot longer than ten minutes, other than the time we spayed her, and she had no other choice than to sleep. You can clap your hands twice, and Bunny will run five laps around the living room, looking for a playmate. If you pat your chest, she’ll jump up into your arms, whether you’re sitting, standing, or lying down. She stands patiently by the door if she needs to relieve herself, waiting for somebody to let her outside. Bunny has never bitten or scratched any of us hard enough to leave a mark, yet despite all this, my younger sister was afraid to touch her. We used to try constantly, even putting her in Lara’s crib at one point to see if she would give in and pet her then, but still – nothing. I remember them; Bunny sitting quietly in one corner of the small crib, and Lara in the other, and they just stared and stared at each other. Neither of them wanted to make a move first. Eventually, we gave up. My parents and I decided to leave them be and that it would happen on its own when the time was right. And it turns out that’s precisely what happened. I was sitting in the living room that day, watching a movie. My parents were out of the house, and it was just my sister and me, and Bunny, of course. In my peripheral vision, I could see Bunny walking around, sniffing the floor for any crumbs she could find (she loves to eat), and then stopping by the large patio window to look outside. At that exact moment, I had a voice in the back of my mind, a nagging gut feeling telling me to get up and see where my sister was. I knew she was playing with her toys, but I realized I hadn’t heard her say anything in a while. When I looked to theside, I saw my sister on her hands and knees, slowly crawling towards Buddy. It wasn’t like Bunny hadn’t seen her. She had, but she decided to stay still and watch Lara as she got closer. Thankfully, I have my phone on me at all times, so I quickly opened my camera and took a picture of the perfect moment, just as my sister was reaching her hand out to pet Bunny. I knew my parents wouldn’t believe me if I told them, so I needed proof. After that initial moment of Lara reaching toward her, I saw Bunny take a careful step toward her, and to my surprise, Lara didn’t back away! She placed her fingers on the top of Bunny’s head and pet her gently. When Bunny realized Lara was comfortable enough, her tail started wagging from happiness, and she started licking Lara’s hand. This licking made Bunny laugh harder than I’d ever seen her laugh, and I couldn’t believe my eyes. Bunny jumped on her, almost knocking her onto her back! Even my parents couldn’t believe it until I showed them the picture, and they were even more surprised than me when they saw Lara sitting next to Bunny on the couch, resting her hand on her back while they both watched cartoons. After that day, the two of them have become inseparable. Lara is five years old now, and she always tells everybody that Bunny is her best friend.
You’ve Got a Friend in Me
One of my favorite things in life is friendship. Friendship that’s unconditional, consistent, and accepting. That kind of friendship is such a gift, but it’s pretty tough to find this kind of friend. Thankfully, by the grace of God, I managed to do it, and I think you can too. Let me share a little about my best friend, I hope it leads you to yours. In March of 2020, at the height of the COVID pandemic, I moved into a new apartment in Dallas, Texas. The complex was one of the most well-known and well-loved in the city. Its trails and dog parks were consistently packed with residents and their pups. At the time, I wasn’t a dog person. I hated the feeling of greasy fur, slobbery licks, dirty hair and all the rest that comes with owning a furry friend. I loved the way that dogs looked though. Every time I’d pass one on the trails, I thought they were beautiful, unique, and I secretly always wished I would have one someday. I wished that I could get over my fear of the “uncleanliness” that came with being a pet owner. Who knew that a year and a half later, after the hardest year of my life, my wishes would come true. In August of 2020, I started my senior year of college and I was diagnosed with chronic depression and anxiety. I struggled with it all of my life, but it finally got to a point where I sought help and was directed towards medication as a solution. With all medicines, come side effects, but unfortunately I’m especially prone to them. A lot of the first ones I tried, I reacted very poorly too. My depression was at an all time high. I could get out of bed, but I was extremely lonely. I had no motivation for work, school, being social, and everything I used to enjoy felt pointless. To top it off, I was often physically alone in my apartment, which isolated me even more. At the time, my counselor had asked if I’d ever considered getting a pet to keep me company and I had quickly replied no. I couldn’t take care of myself, how could I take care of a pet? Plus, they were dirty, and that still bothered me. A year’s time had passed and I was doing slightly better mentally. I’d found a medicine that drastically reduced my anxiety, but depression was still a struggle. One day, in August of 2021, I was sitting alone in my apartment and a thought struck me. What if a dog could really help me not feel this way? I don’t want to be alone anymore. I’m tired of it. If you knew me, you’d know that I’m a very hyper-focused person when it comes to ideas. So I took off running with this thought. I looked up a local animal shelter and began looking at all the available dogs who needed homes. Some free advice, if you don’t really want a dog, let’s just say you should definitely not go looking at all their adorable faces online. It will pull on your heartstrings and you’ll cave. And yes, I’m speaking from experience. After looking at all their photos, I decided I was in fact going to get a dog, but there was one problem.How could I choose? A day later, I got a phone call from my mom. She had seen a post on the NextDoor website about a white American Pitbull named Taco. Taco was in a shelter and rescued by a local Dallas resident, but after a month, she couldn’t keep him anymore. She was looking for someone to take him, as he would have to return to a shelter if she couldn’t find anyone willing. I was hesitant at first, because I’m a pretty small girl and I’ve heard that pitbulls have a bad reputation, but once I saw one photo of him, I fell in love. I immediately messaged the women and three days later, I brought Taco home. The experience of bringing home a new friend was surreal, especially because of the situation. Taco was estimated to be about three years old at the time. I wasn’t given any information about where he came from, except the fact that he was probably abused by his previous owner and other dogs. It was pretty obvious too from the scratches, cuts and bruises that were on his body. Once I got him settled in my apartment, he was extremely shy and skittish. Afraid of every little noise, cautious to the touch and he stuck very close by the door in a corner where he felt safe. It was really sad to watch. However, as time passed, day after day, he began to warm up to me. We would wake up together in the mornings, go on long walks, play with new toys, cuddle on the couch and even sleep together at night (I was opposed to this at first, but come on, how can you say no to this face?). He slowly, but surely, became my best friend. Not only was Taco’s life-improving by the minute, but mine was too. The unconditional love that he showed helped me feel seen and cared for. I no longer felt lonely, as I was never alone! He didn’t leave my side, and he still never does. He is truly a loyal companion and he changed my life for the better. I never realized how much of an impact an animal could have on my life, but Taco saved me. He taught me responsibility, and how to care for myself so that I can care for another. He gave me a reason to get out of bed and to get out of the house. He made me smile with his goofiness even on the hardest days. I’ve had Taco for almost a year now, and everything’s the same. He’s my best friend and we
