May 2019

A stray pup named Ruby recently learned the hard way just how dangerous uncovered wells can be. Nobody knows exactly how she ended up at the bottom of the dark, dank hole in Udaipur, a city in India, but her luck changed when someone reached out to animal rescue group Animal Aid Unlimited. Rescuers arrived on the scene and Ruby greeted them with a chorus of welcoming cries.

Animal Aid Unlimited is a nonprofit in India whose work has touched the lives of countless animals in need. Their mission is in line with the thinking that we are all one and we all deserve love, compassion, and have a life that is valuable.

Our mission is dedicated to the day when all living beings are treated with compassion and love.

They provide rescue operations for “street animals,” sanctuary for strays that are too fragile for life on the streets, spay and neuter services to help control the animal population, and educational outreach to schools and shelters across India.

Image Animal Aid Unlimited Facebook

The work done by Animal Aid Unlimited and like organizations is of paramount importance in a country that has large scale problem with domesticated and wild animals. The stray dog population alone is cause for great concern in India as there are an estimated 35 million of them in the country and an estimated 20,000 cases of rabies each year. A full 36% of the total deaths from rabies worldwide occur in India alone. Education, population control, and sanctuary are all pivotal areas that will positively contribute to the situation.

Image Animal Aid Unlimited Facebook

Witness The Joy of These Dogs Being Rescued – 12 Powerful Pics

Ruby was incredibly fortunate. Not only did her fall not result in any broken limbs or other major injuries, she was spotted by a well-informed and caring human who knew just who to call to rescue her. If you feel compelled to help Animal Aid Unlimited save the lives of animals like Ruby, you can donate to their cause on their official website.

Featured Image Screen Shot Animal Aid Unlimited, India YouTube 

 

The post Stray Pup Welcomes Rescuers with Cries of Joy appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.




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According to Nationwide Pet Insurance, ear infections were the top reason people visited a veterinarian in 2016. This painful condition could be alleviated if dog owners were more consistent about caring for their dog’s ears, such as frequent inspections, and weekly cleanings.

Which Dog Breeds Get The Most Ear Infections?

If your dog has floppy ears, in other words, the ear itself folds down over the ear canal, they are at a higher risk than other dogs for infections. The following breeds (and their mixes) are particularly prone to ear troubles:

  • Doberman
  • Labrador
  • Golden Retriever
  • Portugeuse Water Dog
  • Poodle
  • Schnauzer
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  • Basset Hound
  • Bloodhound
  • Afghan Hound
  • Coonhound
  • Springer Spaniel
  • Cocker Spaniel
  • Dachshund
  • Shih Tzu
  • Bullmastiff
  • Beagle
  • Newfoundland
  • Saint Bernard
  • Great Dane
  • Weimaraners
  • Mixes with any of the breeds above

How Regularly Should I Be Cleaning My Dog’s Ears?

But how often is best when it comes to cleaning your dog’s ears at home? Under-cleaning can allow infection causing yeast and bacteria to build up, while over-cleaning can strip away healthy wax and lead to irritation.

A healthy amount of wax in your dog’s ears actually helps lubricate and protect the delicate skin of the canals from infection. You want that healthy layer to remain, so cleanings should really only be performed when the ears are “dirty.”

The length of time it takes for a dog’s ears to get dirty depends on breed, coat, activity level, wax production, and even humidity. In other words, it varies for every dog. The veterinarians at Banfield recommend once monthly cleanings as a basic rule of thumb for dogs with “normal” ears, however those who swim, roll in the dirt, or have a predisposition to infections (like the breeds listed above) may need weekly or daily cleanings.

Check the ears each time you bathe your pup or after a vigorous play session like a trip to the dog park. A simple wipe of the outer ear and pinna (ear flap) is usually enough for healthy ears that have gotten a bit dirty. Apply a small amount of an appropriate, vet-approved cleanser to a cotton ball and simply swab the easy-to-reach outer folds of the ear. (we sell a veterinarian formulated ear cleanser that also gives back to shelter animals)

To determine if it is time for a good ear flushing, lift the pinna and look inside. Do you notice dirt, debris or excess brown buildup in the outer ear? If so, it may be time to break out the cleanser and do a more thorough job by cleaning out the L-shaped horizontal ear canal.

RELATED: Does Your Dog Have Constant Ear Infections? This Powerhouse Nutrient Can Help

When You Should NOT Clean Your Dog’s Ears

However, before you start scrubbing away, make sure that your pooch is not suffering from an ear infection. If you notice any of the following symptoms along with debris or discharge, do not attempt to clean the ears; consult your vet right away:

  • Odor from the ears
  • Puritic discharge (pus) or blood
  • Excess scratching, pawing or rubbing at the ears
  • Violent head shaking or “ear snapping”
  • Redness and/or swelling of the pinna or ear canal
  • Sensitivity or pain when ears are touched

It is important to make sure that your dog always has positive experiences when it comes to home care so that he or she will trust you with these treatments in the future. When in doubt, it’s best to check in with your vet.

Check out our favorite ear wipe brand on Amazon prime.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional. 

 

The post Is Your Dog’s Breed Listed Here? Then Make Sure You Clean Their Ears WEEKLY appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.




via Whisker Therapy

 

According to Nationwide Pet Insurance, ear infections were the top reason people visited a veterinarian in 2016. This painful condition could be alleviated if dog owners were more consistent about caring for their dog’s ears, such as frequent inspections, and weekly cleanings.

Which Dog Breeds Get The Most Ear Infections?

If your dog has floppy ears, in other words, the ear itself folds down over the ear canal, they are at a higher risk than other dogs for infections. The following breeds (and their mixes) are particularly prone to ear troubles:

  • Doberman
  • Labrador
  • Golden Retriever
  • Portugeuse Water Dog
  • Poodle
  • Schnauzer
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  • Basset Hound
  • Bloodhound
  • Afghan Hound
  • Coonhound
  • Springer Spaniel
  • Cocker Spaniel
  • Dachshund
  • Shih Tzu
  • Bullmastiff
  • Beagle
  • Newfoundland
  • Saint Bernard
  • Great Dane
  • Weimaraners
  • Mixes with any of the breeds above

How Regularly Should I Be Cleaning My Dog’s Ears?

But how often is best when it comes to cleaning your dog’s ears at home? Under-cleaning can allow infection causing yeast and bacteria to build up, while over-cleaning can strip away healthy wax and lead to irritation.

A healthy amount of wax in your dog’s ears actually helps lubricate and protect the delicate skin of the canals from infection. You want that healthy layer to remain, so cleanings should really only be performed when the ears are “dirty.”

The length of time it takes for a dog’s ears to get dirty depends on breed, coat, activity level, wax production, and even humidity. In other words, it varies for every dog. The veterinarians at Banfield recommend once monthly cleanings as a basic rule of thumb for dogs with “normal” ears, however those who swim, roll in the dirt, or have a predisposition to infections (like the breeds listed above) may need weekly or daily cleanings.

Check the ears each time you bathe your pup or after a vigorous play session like a trip to the dog park. A simple wipe of the outer ear and pinna (ear flap) is usually enough for healthy ears that have gotten a bit dirty. Apply a small amount of an appropriate, vet-approved cleanser to a cotton ball and simply swab the easy-to-reach outer folds of the ear. (we sell a veterinarian formulated ear cleanser that also gives back to shelter animals)

To determine if it is time for a good ear flushing, lift the pinna and look inside. Do you notice dirt, debris or excess brown buildup in the outer ear? If so, it may be time to break out the cleanser and do a more thorough job by cleaning out the L-shaped horizontal ear canal.

RELATED: Does Your Dog Have Constant Ear Infections? This Powerhouse Nutrient Can Help

When You Should NOT Clean Your Dog’s Ears

However, before you start scrubbing away, make sure that your pooch is not suffering from an ear infection. If you notice any of the following symptoms along with debris or discharge, do not attempt to clean the ears; consult your vet right away:

  • Odor from the ears
  • Puritic discharge (pus) or blood
  • Excess scratching, pawing or rubbing at the ears
  • Violent head shaking or “ear snapping”
  • Redness and/or swelling of the pinna or ear canal
  • Sensitivity or pain when ears are touched

It is important to make sure that your dog always has positive experiences when it comes to home care so that he or she will trust you with these treatments in the future. When in doubt, it’s best to check in with your vet.

Check out our favorite ear wipe brand on Amazon prime.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional. 

The post Is Your Dog’s Breed On This List? Make Sure You’re Cleaning Their Ears Once a Week appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.




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You may have noticed your dog scratching and licking at an ugly, red oozing spot on his skin. A hot spot. Hot spots are a type of skin infection caused by bacteria. The spots will be red, moist, and irritated that started with your dog’s picking at it, and made worse by bacteria.

The patch can get bigger in just a few hours and will be very painful for your pet. You’re likely to find them on your dog’s head, neck, hips and limbs. You might notice matted fur or hair loss around the area, along with scabbing and oozing. They’re more common in long-haired dogs in the summer, when the temperature and humidity get higher.

Symptoms of Hot Spots in Dogs

Watch out for these symptoms if you think your dog may be suffering from a hot spot:

– Itchy, painful patch of skin
– Continual chewing or licking at site
– Abnormal aggression (associated with painfulness of site)
– Possible depression (associated with painfulness of site)
– Inflammation, redness, and swelling in a localized patch of skin
– Crusted scabs or oozing sores
– Dry scaly skin
– Hair loss
– Moist, matted fur
– Foul odor from lesion

Causes of Hot Spots in Dogs

The hot spot is initially caused by your dog’s frequent fussing with the spot, perhaps due to one of the following reasons:

– Flea allergies
– Cuts or abrasions
– Ear infection/anal gland infection
– Foreign objects (splinters/thorns)
– Food allergies
– Matted fur Insect bites
– Chewing or licking due to stress or boredom

Bacteria grows with the help of heat and humidity, and gives your dog the inflamed, oozy spot.

Diagnosis of Hot Spots in Dogs

Hot spots are full of bacteria, painful and ugly. Cleaning it at home will help a bit, but proper treatment will require a trip to the vet.

Schedule an appointment as soon as possible (remember, these can get much bigger in just a few hours.) Your vet will conduct a physical exam to find out what caused your dog to start picking at the spot before the infection began. Let your vet know when you noticed symptoms, and anything unusual that might have led to the irritation so the vet can consider possible allergens or stressors.

To air it out and determine severity and size, your vet is likely to shave and clean the area. They may also take bacterial samples for diagnosis.

Treatment of Hot Spots in Dogs

Cleaning

Matted hair around the area will need to be shaved and the area cleaned. Remember, hot spots can cause your dog a lot of pain, and pain-related aggressiveness, so it’s best to allow a professional to do it. They can use a topical antiseptic to clean the spot, such as these popular VetWELL Chlorhexadine wipes on Amazon.

Treating Bacterial Infection

Topical or oral antibiotics will be prescribed to kill the bacteria in the wound, and may need to be taken for several weeks.

Treating Initial Irritation

Your vet will want to treat for whatever caused the initial irritation, be it allergies, fleas, anxiety, etc. They may suggest a change in diet, flea treatment, or exercise and play in the case of anxiety.

Medications for Pain and Inflammation

Antihistamines might be prescribed to reduce itchiness, and NSAIDS to reduce inflammation. Do not give your dog anything not approved by your vet.

Dietary supplements

Essential fatty acids may be suggested for pets prone to skin conditions.

Recovery of Hot Spots in Dogs

Depending on the severity, your vet may or may not want to see your dog for follow up appointments. Most hot spots clear up pretty quickly. A cone should be used to keep your dog from continuing to lick and chew the spot.

Regular grooming can prevent hot spots, but if your dog doesn’t get groomed regularly, clipping (or shaving, if appropriate for your dog’s coat) can also help prevent matting. Remember to keep your dog on a prescribed flea control program and maintain a stress free home.

You may not notice the spot healing for a week or two, but the medication is doing it’s job and fur should grow back in 3 – 4 weeks. In severe cases, scarring may be possible. Take your pet back to the vet if the hot spots continue.

The post Is Your Dog Suffering from a Hot Spot? This $13 Amazon Prime Item Might Help appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.




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Are you stumped on what to give a special Pup Papa this year for Father’s Day? Does the father of your brood already have everything? Is he all tech-ed out, geared up, and well stocked on all the usual fair? If you’re looking for a unique, interesting, and informative gift for any dad in your life, consider gifting him an Insights Microbiome Kit from the folks that deliver fresh pet food to your door, Nom Nom Now. 

What’s a Microbiome Kit?

If your dude loves his dog and science, he is going to totally nerd out over the data he will soon be combing through about his dog’s microbiome. What’s a microbiome, you ask? It’s the environment inside your dog’s digestive system. It is made up of trillions of bacteria that are necessary for digestion and protect your pup from pathogens. In fact, microbiomes have a profound impact on overall health.

The Insights Microbiome Kit is a unique tool that provides an unprecedented look at your beloved pup from the inside out. The kit gives users a detailed analysis of the bacteria present in your dog’s microbiome and suggests ways to improve gut health.

 

Poop Czar and Director of Microbiology

Nom Nom Now employs Dr. Ryan Honaker, an expert in the field of gut microbiology, to lead cutting-edge research to better understand the microbiome of dogs and cats and its role in health, nutrition, and disease. Not only is he super qualified, experienced, and knowledgeable in this area of study, he is passionately interested in it. He didn’t take the title of Poop Czar for nothing! He represents the brains behind the microbiome research and analysis being conducted at Nom Nom Now.

Why Should I Better Understand my Pup’s Microbiome?

The Insights Microbiome Kit is a thoughtful gift for any pet parent who wants to know more about their pet’s health. The microbiome in humans and in pets can affect mood, skin health, weight, digestion, immunity, and much more.

There are many possibilities regarding the impact of microbiome tracking as a diagnosis for illnesses, and its manipulation by diet, prebiotics, and probiotics for treatment and prevention of a wide variety of diseases across multiple fields.

While the gut microbiota typically work to keep your dog healthy, the population may become imbalanced, a condition called dysbiosis. This imbalance often causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal lining, which can become a long-term problem. Chromic inflammation causes a host of health problems, including the possible development of cancer.

Learning how to address imbalances in the microbiome will lead to a healthier, happier, dog. Understanding your dog’s gut helps you inform their future, discover their unique needs, and restore balance to this critical environment.

Do you have pet insurance? Some policies pay for microbiome testing. Check out a list here.

How Does the Kit Work?

After your kit arrives you will take a stool sample and send it back to Nom Nom Now in the provided envelope. You will fill out a health assessment on your pup and register your sample. In 2-5 weeks, your insightful report will arrive providing an excellent baseline for gut health that can be tracked throughout a pet’s life.

The report will show you:

  • The composition and diversity of the microorganisms living in your pup’s gut.
  • The prevalence of particular bacteria to other healthy canines.
  • Identified existing imbalances.
  • Recommendations for expertly formulated pre- and probiotics
  • Recommended changes in diet.

The field of study concerning the microbiome and its impact on health is an exciting and changing landscape. Nom Nom Now is at the forefront of that work in the pet health industry. Staffed by experts, they develop products based on research. Show that special Pup Papa in your life that you get the bond he has with his best friend. Give him the gift of knowing her all that much better. Get it today for a discounted price, exclusively for the iHeartDogs community.

 

 

The post A Super Unique Father’s Day Gift Idea for the Dog Dad in Your Life appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.




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Are you harming your dog by feeding them the wrong food?
 
We all love our dogs and many consider them our best friends. Many of us even treat them better than our own family members.
 
There are 3 dangerous ingredients that no dog should ever eat, and if you are giving them to your dog then you might be slowly harming it.
 
Click here to find out these harmful ingredients.
 
P.S. These 3 dangerous ingredients are in many common pet foods so click here to find out right now.  



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Swedish twin study finds a connection

There have been many studies demonstrating the health and psychological benefits of having dogs, but it’s difficult to disentangle possible genetic factors that could be influencing the results. It is possible that people’s genetics affect their likelihood of having dogs and that those same genes are influencing their decision to welcome dogs into their lives. Twin studies are an important tool for determining the role that genetics plays in all sorts of aspects of human life, and separating the role of our genes from the role of our environment on who we are as people.

The key to this technique is that there are two types of twins and these two types share different amounts of genes in common. Monozygotic (identical) twins share 100 percent of their DNA with each other but dizygotic (fraternal) twins share an average of 50 percent of their genes with each other. If they are raised together, both types of twins grow up in essentially the same environment.




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The law allows it, but few are comfortable with it

A Virginia woman requested that her dog be euthanized, cremated and buried with her when she died. At the time of her death, her dog—a Shih-Tzu named Emma—was perfectly healthy and well, creating a clash between moral and legal issues.

When a representative of the woman’s estate came to the shelter where Emma was being held, the staff there tried to persuade him not to euthanize her. They tried to encourage him to sign over any rights to her and allow her to be adopted by someone else. However, he refused and chose to follow the instructions in the deceased woman’s will. Emma was taken to a local veterinarian and euthanized.




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Darren Harris, a 22 year old man from Yonkers, NY, had never had a dog before. His first was an English Bulldog named Enzo. He absolutely adored and loved him, looking at Enzo like a son. He took Enzo, just 10 months old, to the groomer at PetSmart in Pelham. About 30 minutes later he received a call from the store to “come quickly.” Shortly after he and his mother Tabitha Harris arrived on the scene, Enzo died before their eyes, breaking their hearts and leaving them desperate for answers.

PetSmart Says They Acted Appropriately

PetSmart groomers are allegedly trained to recognize signs of distress in the dogs entrusted to their care, particularly short snouted dogs like English Bulldogs. Dogs like English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, Boston Terriers are Brachycephalic breeds. These and any dog mixed with one of these breeds receive “specialized care” at PetSmart grooming salons.

This specialized care protocol includes:

  • An enhanced Hands on Pet Assessment at check-in and check-out.
  • An Express Groom requirement, meaning very minimal time in a kennel
  • The use of harness-style methods, rather than leads around the neck.
  • Pets are towel dried or hand-held drying is utilized, rather than kennel drying.
  • No muzzles are to be used.

PetSmart says that they followed this procedure and as soon as Enzo showed signs of distress, the grooming was immediately stopped and Enzo was taken to the vet, located in the Banfield Pet Hospital inside the store. They say that they gave Enzo oxygen therapy, sedation, and CPR but the fact remains that Enzo died.

Screenshot Pix 11 YouTube

PetSmart appears to be hanging the blame on an existing kidney condition Enzo was previously diagnosed with by his primary care veterinarian. Dr. Richard Jakimer, the owner of Manor Veterinary Clinic in Pelham, NY, who diagnosed and cared for Enzo contends that is not the case.

He told Pix 11, “Kidney failure usually takes a long time. There are signs of illness. The dogs won’t walk, doesn’t want to eat, will vomit. Enzo was not exhibiting any of those signs. Kidney disease, especially in the state Enzo was in, would not lead to an acute death. It was pretty much incidental at the time.”

The Harris Family Has Huge Doubts

Without a necropsy (an autopsy of an animal) we will never for sure the cause of Enzo’s death, but the Harris family has serious doubts that PetSmart handled the situation appropriately. Tabitha Harris told Pix 11 that everyone she encountered, including the vet, seemed lost and didn’t seem to know what to do.

“Enzo was running back and forth because he was in such a panic because his throat was closing up on him,” Tabitha Harris said. “I don’t know how well equipped they are to deal with English Bulldogs.”

The Harris family is convinced that Enzo’s death was entirely avoidable and have filed a suit against them in small claims court.

Screenshot Pix 11 YouTube

PetSmart Has a Long List of Similar Complaints Against Them

An investigative report by NJ.com published last year shows a host of similar complaints against PetSmart. All told, from 2008-2018 there have been 47 dogs in 14 states that died during or shortly after being groomed at PetSmart stores. We aren’t talking about an isolated incident here. Not by a long shot. Interestingly, 32 of those cases occurred after the chain was bought out by a private equity firm in 2015.

Twenty of 47 deaths documented in the report were English Bulldogs, including Capone who went in to have his nail trims and died on the way home and Scruffles who became unresponsive during a grooming and died on the way to the emergency vet.

Our hearts go out to Enzo, the Harris family, and all of those who have suspiciously lost their dogs after a simple grooming service at PetSmart. We hope that the Harris family finds the answers they seek in their case against the retailer.

Featured Image Screenshot Pix 11 YouTube

 

 

The post Another English Bulldog Dies at PetSmart Grooming. That’s 32 Deaths Since 2015! appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.




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A truck driver turned hero was driving along Interstate 81 on a cold winter’s day in upstate New York when he witnessed an unthinkably cruel and disgusting act. From the window of a rusted out Dodge Durango he saw someone throw two dogs to the side of the highway like trash. He immediately pulled over to render aid.

The pups turned out to be Beagle mixes, one an adult of 6-8 years old and the other an adolescent around 1 year old. The older dog was torn to bits, with a terrible leg injury and obvious points of pain all over his wrecked body. Thankfully, the younger dog only suffered a few abrasions when he met the cold, hard road.

Photo New York State Police via AP

State troopers were called to the scene and an officer trained with the K9 unit responded. He  wrapped the severely injured puppy in bandages to stop the bleeding and placed a splint on his badly hurt leg. The older pup stood by, gratefully receiving comfort and treats from his saviors.

The dogs were taken to the Broome County Humane Society where they were given medical attention, love, and names. The older was christened Trooper, after his State Trooper rescuer and fighting spirit. The younger was named Adam after the truck driver whose decision to pull over saved the both of them.

Photo New York State Police via AP

Amberly Ondria, shelter manager for the Broome County Humane Society, told the Associated Press of the severity of Trooper’s injuries. Due to the cruel act inflicted upon him, he suffered a compound fracture of his distal radius, broken ribs, contusions to his lungs and shoulder, and his leg was so severely injured that it had to be amputated.

Adoption Applications Flooded in for the Pair

After sufficient recovery time with Adam at the Humane Society Shelter and Trooper with a foster family, the pair were opened up for adoption. As you can imagine, applications flooded in with over 100 received in all. In a 12 News exclusive, the Humane Society shared that the pair were being adopted by a couple in Earlville, NY named Connie and Roger. The pups’ new mama Connie told 12 News WBNG “They’re full of energy and you would never think that something this tragic happened to them,” said Connie.

Screenshot 12 News WBNG

The perpetrator of this heinous act was never brought to justice but we hope he or she never has the opportunity to feel the love and adoration of a dog again. They certainly don’t deserve the devotion. For Trooper and Adam, all is well that ends well and we hope they live a long, happy, love filled life in their forever home.

The post Trucker and State Troopers Save Lives of Dogs Thrown from Car on Interstate appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.




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Dog bounty hunter

It is almost unthinkable to consider what would happen if your dog went missing. The pain is immense. One York, Pennsylvania man is making it his mission to erase the pain and reunite families and their dogs.

A superhero

Ryan Bulson spends his nights and weekends helping people find their missing dogs. No, it’s not his job. He helps others out of the kindness of his heart. He told WQAD-TV:

“The feeling you get when you return that dog to that owner. Or you call that owner and say, ‘I have your dog.’ It’s a feeling you’ll never forget.”

Eleven years ago Bulson volunteered with a German Shepard rescue group. When he heard one of the adopted pups went missing, he wanted to help. Bulson successfully found the pup and a new passion was born.

Three years after that initial rescue, Bulson went off on his own. His mission: to reunite pups and families. For free. Yes, you read that right. There is no cost for Bulson’s services. He said, “I want people to know that there [are] people out there that they can turn to that will help.”

His mission

It takes a lot of effort to become a successful dog “bounty hunter”. Note: Bulson has been nicknamed a dog bounty hunter, but, of course, he does not ask for anything in return for her services. The nickname refers to Bulson’s superior tracking skills.

Bulson worked with professional dog trainers to learn how different breeds and personalities think and act. He knows to pay close attention to dogs’ body language in photos and videos for clues as to how they might act on their own. Bulson regularly refines his methods. Every rescue is different, customized to the dog who is missing.

Here is one remarkable tale of rescue. Beth and Orlando Ibanez lost their pug, Mia. Bulson studied her behaviors and patterns caught on video. Then he made an educated guess as to where Mia would reappear. Bulson was right. He caught her in ten days by using a remote-close “dog-pen trap”.

Bulson frequently finds dogs quickly. However, one German Shepherd took six months to locate. He typically relies on cameras to track a missing dog, but this pup managed to evade them. So, Bulson started spreading the word. Eventually, a woman mentioned spotting the pup. When Bulson returned her to her mother, the woman was elated.

“She literally hit the ground. Literally fell to the ground in tears. That’s a feeling that you’ll never experience again.”

We are astounded by Bulson’s compassion. He is truly a hero! Learn about this phenomenal, generous man in the video below.


H/T Liftable via The Western Journal
Featured Image Fox 43

The post Dog “Bounty Hunter” Works Tirelessly to Reunite Dogs to Their Humans appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.




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Rescued Chinese dogs

Their captors doomed them to an unthinkable fate…and then…they were rescued. The Humane Society International’s Chinese partner raided a slaughterhouse housing 22 dogs. The workers saved the dogs from becoming meat for a Shanghai restaurant.

Rescued Chinese dogs

The timing of the rescue was eerie. Rescuers saved the dogs from becoming meat for a restaurant located less than 12 miles from the venue of the 2019 World Dog Show.

Thankfully, the dogs survived long enough not to meet this terrible future. Rescuers brought the dogs to a place where they could live their lives without the fear of slaughter.

We are so thankful these dogs were rescued. Do you want to help? Join the International Humane Society’s call for Premier Li Keqiang, to put an end to the dog and cat meat trade. Read the letter to the Premier and add your name to this petition.

Meet the adorable dogs that got a second chance at life below.


H/T I Love My Dog So Much
Featured Image: The Humane Society of the United States YouTube

The post 22 Dogs Rescued from Dismal Fate at Chinese Slaughterhouse appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.




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Gio 2

The saying goes, “patience is a virtue.” For one dog, it took more than patience to survive his stint at a shelter in North Fork, New York.

Unfortunately, the pup named Gio struggled to adapt to shelter life. He lost weight and often paced back and forth. Gio just wanted a human to call his own.

The pup returned to a shelter after a bad adoption experience. According to Gabrielle Stroup of the North Fork Animal Welfare League in Peconic, “He was adopted and then sadly ended up back at the shelter when an older dog in the home would not accept him. [Gio] is not doing well at the shelter at all. He just wants a person.”

Thankfully, some local attention helped Gio find a forever home. Two days after his story ran in Patch, he was adopted.

In the video below, Gio and his human play together. It looks like a match made in heaven to us!


H/T Patch
Featured Image Southold Animal Shelther

The post Sad Pup Was Returned To Shelter After Adoption, But He Never Gave Up Hope appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.




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Dog's name and age: Rosie, 2 years

Nicknames: Rosie Posie

Miniature schnauzer Rosie loves being active whether that's walking, swimming, retrieving or working through agility trials. Her other love is sleeping between these activities! She loves to be with her people is by their side most of the day. Rosie helps her people appreciate the small things in life and her good humor lifts them up when they need need it most.

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Liz Haslam’s life has always revolved around dogs. Growing up, her mother bred West Highland Terriers, and her father owned an animal food business. As she got older, she knew her home wouldn’t be complete without the sound of paws padding down the hall, and she eventually found her passion working with rescue dogs.

Unfortunately, after years of living in a home filled with pups, Liz’s husband wanted to take a break from rescuing. When he gave her the ultimatum of, “it’s me or the dogs,” Liz knew what she had to do.


After a 25-year relationship, Liz’s husband packed his bags and left. Liz told Express.co.uk,

“He’d got to the point where he’d had enough and wanted to slow down. But I wasn’t prepared to give it up. So he decided to go.”

Liz and her husband married in 1991 and moved to a home in Suffolk seven years ago. Determined to make caring for dogs a big part of her life, Liz decided to use their half-acre of land to start a dog boarding business. That idea eventually evolved, and she’s now the proud owner of Bedsforbullies, a sanctuary for rescued Bull Terriers.

Liz takes in as many rescue dogs as she can and does whatever it takes to help them find better lives. She fosters the dogs with nowhere else to go and keeps them healthy and happy while they wait for forever families to finally find them.

Can you give a desperate dog a home for a time? We Urgently need fosters PLEASE contact us! http://bit.ly/30DFMRd

Posted by Bedsforbullies dogs ready for their forever home on Monday, October 21, 2013

There’s a lot of joy and reward that comes with running an animal rescue, but it isn’t all tail wags and belly rubs. Liz told reporters that she doesn’t get days off, and she’s usually on her feet until 11:30 every night. It’s hard work caring for a large pack of rescue dogs, but Liz sees it as her responsibility. She said,

“I took the dogs in, I can’t just stop.”

When her husband left, Liz knew she made the right decision. The former couple hasn’t spoken in the year and half since the ultimatum, and in that time, Liz has taken in even more dogs. Her pack is always growing, and she often brings in dogs that need special homes or came to her badly injured or mistreated.

There’s Shelby, a Bull Terrier that struggles to trust men and is also deaf, and Ted, a 10-year-old senior that prefers to be the only pet in the house. There are several dogs currently looking for new homes, and Liz is determined to help them even if it means doing it without her husband.

Soon it might also mean doing it without a place to call home. Bedsforbullies recently received notice from their landlord that the land where Liz and the dogs live will soon be sold with plans to redevelop the property. The Beds for Bullies team is scrambling to find a new place where the dogs can receive specialized care. They’ve started a GoFundMe page to help the nonprofit with relocation costs.

If you live in the UK and are interested in giving one of the Bedsforbullies dogs a good home, check out their Facebook page.

Do you think she made the right decision?

h/t: Express.co.uk

Feature Image: Screen shot / Daily Express via Facebook

The post Given Ultimatum – ‘It’s Me Or The Dogs’ – Dog Rescuer Ends 25-Year Marriage With Her Husband appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.




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Liz Haslam’s life has always revolved around dogs. Growing up, her mother bred West Highland Terriers, and her father owned an animal food business. As she got older, she knew her home wouldn’t be complete without the sound of paws padding down the hall, and she eventually found her passion working with rescue dogs.

Unfortunately, after years of living in a home filled with pups, Liz’s husband wanted to take a break from rescuing. When he gave her the ultimatum of, “it’s me or the dogs,” Liz knew what she had to do.


After a 25-year relationship, Liz’s husband packed his bags and left. Liz told Express.co.uk,

“He’d got to the point where he’d had enough and wanted to slow down. But I wasn’t prepared to give it up. So he decided to go.”

Liz and her husband married in 1991 and moved to a home in Suffolk seven years ago. Determined to make caring for dogs a big part of her life, Liz decided to use their half-acre of land to start a dog boarding business. That idea eventually evolved, and she’s now the proud owner of Bedsforbullies, a sanctuary for rescued Bull Terriers.

Liz takes in as many rescue dogs as she can and does whatever it takes to help them find better lives. She fosters the dogs with nowhere else to go and keeps them healthy and happy while they wait for forever families to finally find them.

Can you give a desperate dog a home for a time? We Urgently need fosters PLEASE contact us! http://bit.ly/30DFMRd

Posted by Bedsforbullies dogs ready for their forever home on Monday, October 21, 2013

There’s a lot of joy and reward that comes with running an animal rescue, but it isn’t all tail wags and belly rubs. Liz told reporters that she doesn’t get days off, and she’s usually on her feet until 11:30 every night. It’s hard work caring for a large pack of rescue dogs, but Liz sees it as her responsibility. She said,

“I took the dogs in, I can’t just stop.”

When her husband left, Liz knew she made the right decision. The former couple hasn’t spoken in the year and half since the ultimatum, and in that time, Liz has taken in even more dogs. Her pack is always growing, and she often brings in dogs that need special homes or came to her badly injured or mistreated.

There’s Shelby, a Bull Terrier that struggles to trust men and is also deaf, and Ted, a 10-year-old senior that prefers to be the only pet in the house. There are several dogs currently looking for new homes, and Liz is determined to help them even if it means doing it without her husband.

Soon it might also mean doing it without a place to call home. Bedsforbullies recently received notice from their landlord that the land where Liz and the dogs live will soon be sold with plans to redevelop the property. The Beds for Bullies team is scrambling to find a new place where the dogs can receive specialized care. They’ve started a GoFundMe page to help the nonprofit with relocation costs.

If you live in the UK and are interested in giving one of the Bedsforbullies dogs a good home, check out their Facebook page.

Do you think she made the right decision?

h/t: Express.co.uk

Feature Image: Screen shot / Daily Express via Facebook

The post Given Ultimatum – ‘It’s Me Or The Dogs’ – Dog Rescuer Ends 25-Year Marriage With Her Husband appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.




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05/22/2019 – UPDATE

Once again, Hill’s Pet Nutrition is expanding the list of its canned dog food found to contain elevated levels of vitamin D. According to a company statement made by Hill’s, this update includes only one new date code that was associated with a SKU that was already included in the previous recall. This new list came from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration announcement made on May 20, 2019.

Here is the latest list of Hill’s Pet Nutrition foods that are affected.

 

UPDATE: Hill’s Pet Nutrition has announced that it is voluntarily expanding a recall of its canned dog food due to the elevated levels of vitamin D previously found.

The following products and lot numbers are affected. If you have any of these, stop feeding them immediately and return them for a full refund.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Science Diet has voluntarily recalled select canned dog food products due to potentially elevated levels of vitamin D.

While vitamin D is essential for dogs, consuming elevated levels can lead to potential health issues such as vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, and weight loss. Vitamin D, when consumed at extremely high levels, can lead to renal dysfunction.

Pet parents with dogs who have consumed any of the products listed below and are exhibiting any of these signs should contact their veterinarian. In most cases, complete recovery is expected after discontinuation of feeding.

In the United States, the affected canned dog foods were distributed through retail pet stores and veterinary clinics nationwide. No dry foods, cat foods, or treats are affected.

The Affected Foods

Which Lot Numbers Are Affected?

Lot numbers and expiration date of Hills and Science Diet Recall January 2019

 

Important Message from Hills

Hill’s Pet Nutrition learned of the potential for elevated vitamin D levels in some of our canned dog foods after receiving a complaint in the United States about a dog exhibiting signs of elevated vitamin D levels.

Our investigation confirmed elevated levels of vitamin D due to a supplier error.

We care deeply about all pets and are committed to providing pet parents with safe and high quality products.

Hill’s has identified and isolated the error and, to prevent this from happening again, we have required our supplier to implement additional quality testing prior to their release of ingredients.

In addition to our existing safety processes, we are adding our own further testing of incoming ingredients.

This voluntary recall only impacts canned dog food and primarily in the United States.

It is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

For further information, please contact Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. at 1-800-445-5777 Monday-Friday during the hours of 9am-5pm (CST) or at contactus@hillspet.com. Information can also be found at www.hillspet.com/productlistdisclaimer icon

Please share this recall notice!

The post BREAKING: FDA Announces Expanded List of Recalled Hill’s Prescription Diet & Science Diet Dog Food appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.




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I love puppies!  I absolutely LOVE puppies.  In some ways, I LIVE for puppies.  I have made a career out of puppy and dog training for the past 25 years.

I even love being smothered at the bottom of a litter of delightful, lovable puppy pile.

When my breeder friends breed a litter of literally any kind of puppy, I am one of the first to beg to come and play with them at all life stages.

I love everything from bottle feeding, to building obstacle courses, and taking puppies out to socialize.

I have even worked with a couple of Assistance Dog organizations that raised numerous litters of puppies.  Teaching puppies new and exciting things is thrilling and rewarding.

What I don’t love is the idea of inexperienced humans and pet owners adopting or buying littermates or two or more puppies.

Why?

Why on earth would I not want two puppies to be adopted or sold together? 

Because it compounds the difficulty and investment of raising a good canine companion exponentially!  A good breeder also would not want you to take littermates, they have seen the carnage.  A good dog trainer will also dissuade you… it may give us extra work but it isn’t worth it to our clients.

When I was a child, I wanted two dogs.  My mom allowed us to have one Chow Chow but as a human that loved animals I wanted two dogs.  My mother’s excuse was always that if we had two dogs, that they would bond to one another and not to us as a family.

At the time, I was angry and I thought my mother was making excuses.  And, in some ways I think that she was 😉, but interestingly after 25 years of experience of watching the dynamics of (littermates specifically) she was partially right.

As an adult, I have almost always had two to three dogs in my home as pets.  Most often they have been spaced a few months apart and therefore we (my human family and I) have had an opportunity to spend time with and bond with those puppies.

Littermates, however, spend 90% of their time or more spending time bonding with each other.

These littermates then become dependent on one another for almost literally EVERYTHING.  After a short period of time they literally think they can’t function without one another.  This is called “littermate syndrome.”

Be sure to get them separate crates.  I might even consider crating in different rooms to give them more independent.  I like plastic crates because they are darker and more den like.  Check them out here, these are even airline approved.

Dispelling the Myths

First off, before the hate mail piles in; no scenario is 100% full proof.  There are people out there who mutt-led through the puppy stage and their puppies did alright.  There are even people out there who think their puppies are better off together.  However, I would argue that last point.

2 Puppies are Easier to Train

You may think that you will have to spend less time by adopting littermates, but nothing is further from the truth.

Many people think that it will only double their work load, but unfortunately, they are wrong it is probably ten times more work.

Following one puppy around and making sure that they get outside and potty appropriately, every 2 hours, after meals, after drinking, after playing, and after sleeping is maddening with one puppy.  Now try keeping an eye on TWO puppies.  You may think that they will just go potty at the same time, but they won’t. 

They will gain bladder control at different times.  Their bladders will fill at different times and they will consume different amounts of food and water, even if you try and control it.  One puppy will wake before the other and begin playing with the other before you can catch them and get them outside.

And, when one has a potty training accident in the house, even if the other was doing really well, they are both likely to backslide.  Plus, you will have two potty training accidents to clean up.

And, that is just “potty training”, imagine for a moment, trying to teach competing puppies to do “down stays”?

Puppies are like toddlers, they are sweet and kind, but they have short attention spans and they often compete with one another for everything that they get.  And, if one gets something the other doesn’t there is likely to be a temper tantrum.

Just training two puppies efficiently requires separating them.  And, most dog owners complain that whichever puppy is not being worked is SCREAMING in his or her crate, or outside or from another room.

All of these things are much easier if you have an adult dog, or even an older puppy that has already worked through them by themselves.

For instance I once had puppies that were about 6 months apart, but by the time I brought puppy number two home, puppy number one knew most of her obedience, was potty trained, and happily crate trained.  She had also already bonded well with me because I had devoted this time to her.

Certainly, they got into a bit more trouble and required a little more time because they were both young together but it was nothing like having two puppies the same age, or littermates, or siblings without training.

Siblings are Easier to socialize?

The truth is often the opposite.

Think about it, they have each other, why would they need to let someone else into “their pack”?  This is often seen as they grow and reach sexual maturity (around a year to 2 old) even if they are spayed or neutered.

You often also end up with one very dominant littermate and one more submissive littermate and neither is typically good for the psyche.

Studies have been done on lots of human twins (slightly different than “littermates” of course).

But when raised together there is often a very dominant twin, or the outgoing twin and the submissive twin.  The dominant twin handles all life’s complex behaviors while the submissive twin follows.  This certainly isn’t the greatest situation if the dominant twin or dominant puppy can’t have life the way he wants, or if the submissive puppy has to make decisions or spend anytime alone.  

Twin Escalation Syndrome is an actual “syndrome” seen in human twins, that I believe can also be seen with sibling dogs or littermates.

This behavior is characterized by misbehavior tantrums that can exponentially escalate between the two siblings.  In this case, both twins or littermates are trying to be the dominant and one puppy’s bad behavior escalates to the second puppy throwing an even bigger fit to get the attention.  As with humans, I believe that this back and forth in bad behavior can degenerate quickly until the behaviors are unbearable.

Eventually, children can be reasoned with, however we can never communicate with our dogs in the exact same way because they don’t speak our language.

Like mentioned before, this makes for more than double the work in a normal situation, if you end up with two puppies or even two adult littermates who are constantly vying to out due one another with negative behavior, you will end up miserable.

It is recommended to separate twins or littermates with this problem, to employ distraction, and try to reduce competition (which is much more difficult in dogs because, of course they cannot be sat down and reasoned with).  Dogs are often very competitive mammals.

As with any bad behavior, remain calm.  Some of these dogs will feed off of your anger or the escalation in the situation.

Dogs often don’t understand “human anger” but they do realize that their human doesn’t look or act the same so they feed off this energy with more often than not negative or excited energy.  As hard as it is to remain calm it is essential for your sanity, eventually.

I am a big believer that dogs mirror our behavior, when we are calm they tend to be more calm, when we are upset, angry or sad they don’t recognize our pheromones and can act out in an attempt to make us feel better.  Try not to put your dog in that situation.

Recently I was in a car accident, and my dog recognized that something was just “wrong”.  She wanted to nest on top of me and pounce my kidneys for a week (not exactly conducive to healing).  However, in this situation, as with some mourning and loss situations our out of our control.  I felt horrible, but I still felt bad that my behavior was causing my dog distress.  Remember that trying to control our behaviors and mental states is best for them and us!

Littermates will Learn From Each Other

This one is a double edged sword, because it is both true and false at the same time.

Yes, littermates will learn from each other, but often they are imparting negative behaviors and sharing shenanigans together.  

They will eat your carpets or walls together, they will dig up your flower bed, or they will dig under your fence together; but rarely will they learn what we consider good behavior from one another.

Dogs are dogs, and dogs have a different guideline of rules and ethics and codes that they follow that has simply nothing to do with humans.

Dogs do things that are fun and feel good.

Lying still for hours, avoiding chewing naughty objects, and not playing too hard don’t even enter into their thought process.

They are going to do things that feel good to them as dogs, like stealing food and shredding your underwear, or chasing the cat together.

Littermates will Entertain Each Other

This one is probably true most of the time, but it isn’t always healthy.

Dogs need to learn to be independent to be successful in life.

Imagine NEVER leaving your mother or your husband, or wife?

Having some alone time is crucial to any animal or human’s psyche.

Yes, they can play together and they should play together but they should learn that they can also play alone or play with just you.

We recently had one of two littermates in our veterinary clinic to be tested for a very specific disease.

Financially two Siblings Isn’t Much More than One

Siblings Always Love Each Other

Often times the worst dog fights and aggression I have ever seen is from littermates.  Sibling rivalry is a very real and very deadly condition.

Once dogs reach sexual maturity (even if you spay or neuter them), they can often retaliate about who can be in charge.  Of course staying sexually intact makes this much worse, but I have also seen littermates that go from being best friends to wanting to kill one another at the sight of each other.

Think about it… twins can also suffer from a form of this; the difference is that most twins only work through some resentment issues and few if any become homicidal.  How would you like to have to share EVERYTHING??

There were times I didn’t want to share with my older sister and vice versa, but thankfully we had a few years between us so the resentment was a bit less.  I didn’t have to share all my clothes, all my toys, all my food, and all of my attention.

Littermates are expected to do all of that, and sometimes their beds.  Some people even make the mistake of kenneling their sibling dogs together.  This means, they literally never get a break from each other.

Can you imagine getting frustrated or even angry at a person or even your significant other that you literally never got a break from?  Either you would form an unhealthy dependent relationship, or you would likely form unhealthy anger and aggression.  Neither are healthy, of course!  Healthy Pet also published an article on littermate syndrome. 

But, often these cases need the assistance of a boarded veterinary behaviorist after one or the other has incurred numerous fights and stitches.

I had a potential client who heard me talking about being a trainer at a restaurant last week, he followed his story about sibling German Shepherd Dogs with photos of the bloody mayhem and that one dog had lost an ear.  This had been the latest of half a dozen dog fights.  Both were 2 years old and of course got along fabulously occasionally.

The truth is, few dogs fight 100% of the time.  There are a few dogs that will do anything they can to get to one another, with the desire to kill the other.  But most dogs will get along the majority of the time, until they don’t.  It is still not healthy and can still end with the death of one of the dogs.

Because he was in denial about needing to separate these dogs until they were evaluated, put on a behavior modification program, under go basic obedience through advanced obedience, and consider medications to help ease the process; I referred him to a boarded veterinary behaviorist at the closest veterinary medical school.

Sure, there are success stories out there.  I know of people who have littermates who have been able to handle some of these problems as they arise, but most people do not have the time or inclination to deal with the carnage of two pups at one time.

The post Littermate Syndrome appeared first on TheDogTrainingSecret.com.




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