Behavioral changes are a good indication your pet is stressed by something. Sometimes the changes you notice are caused by a medical problem, but just like us, pets can experience purely mental or emotional stress following a change in routine or exposure to loud or new noises, among other causes. Instead of simply relying on medication to mask symptoms, why not try a few natural remedies to calm your pet’s anxiety? It may take time to figure out which one(s) your pet responds to the best, but is worth trying, for their comfort. TIP: If you know your dog will be placed in a situation that might feel stressful, such […]

A friendly reminder: if I won’t do it to my own dogs, I’m not going to do it to yours. If your pet is experiencing symptoms of illness, or they have suffered an injury, and the vet has not diagnosed them, please keep them home. Can you imagine sitting in the salon chair getting your hair done, while your tummy was upset? Or being forced to stand up if your leg hurt? When dogs come here, sometimes that in itself causes stress and tension in their body, so a sore leg is going to hurt more just by simply coming in the door. If we do not know what the […]

So many things can go wrong on-leash. I can say from experience it’s always my fault if there’s an on-leash incident with one of my dogs. The leash causes tension, can get tangled and creates an unsafe space if there is an issue. Don’t even get me started on flexi leads. If you want to properly introduce your dog to another it should be done in a secure area where they can be free to walk away if they choose. I also want to note, my dogs are under no obligation to meet every person or dog they come in contact with. Just yesterday on the ferry a family insisted […]

This might sting a little. A dog’s nose can smell a Q-tip from across the room. You don’t have to force yourself on any dog, it’s actually rude. They are not obligated to be friends with every human or dog they meet. This is good information. The sniff test – Stop doing this! The sniff test is a badly engrained habit that society has been taught, without a clear understanding of what they’re actually doing. When you reach out towards a dog, you are using body pressure at them, giving them no time to assess whether you are safe and whether they require further investigation to pick up your information. […]

by Carol Bryant Want a client for life? Start expressing their dog’s anal sacs. That’s the exact piece of advice a veterinary technician shared with me while having my first Cocker Spaniel’s anal glands expressed during a routine visit. There is definitely a time and a place for anal sacs to be expressed and have all that fishy-smelling material removed from a dog’s scent glands. The problem is there are: Too many people expressing a dog’s anal glands too often Too many unqualified people manipulating a dog’s anal glands Too many dogs experiencing too much discomfort and undue trauma from improper and sometimes needless emptying of anal glands It’s a […]