Many dogs experience petting as a form of affection from humans, which makes these interactions not only pleasant, but even supportive of your dog’s mental health. In fact, research shows that dog brains release the love hormone Oxytocin when they’re petted and given attention from a human. When you first encounter a dog, your instinct … Read more
Will Smith is known for his love of dogs. He has two dogs of his own, a Rottweiler named Zeus and a French Bulldog named Sophie. In an interview with David Letterman, he said that he often takes Zeus for walks around his neighborhood. He has also said that his dogs are like his children. … Read more
My dog was diagnosed with arthritis last year at the age of 3, and to say I was surprised is a little bit of an understatement. Even with an arthritis diagnosis, your dog can still be active; you just need to adjust your routine. Here are some straightforward guidelines for exercising a dog with arthritis. … Read more
I took my dog Dottie to the vet last month for what I called her “big girl procedure.” ” My baby was getting spayed. Of course, she entered the waiting area with her trademark tail wagging and kissing every last technician and stranger, completely unaware of the days of recovery that lay ahead. I, on … Read more
Urine marking is a natural, instinctive behavior in dogs, but it becomes inappropriate when dogs urinate in the house to identify their territory. Urine marking is most common with sexually intact male dogs, but intact female dogs and neutered dogs may also mark. Maintaining a clean and organized household can be challenging, particularly when there … Read more
Do female dogs have periods? Well, yes, but they are a part of what is properly called an estrus cycle. You may have also heard of a dog as being “in heat” or “in season” during this time, and the estrus cycle is sometimes called a “heat cycle.” If you recently considered adopting a dog … Read more
In short, your dog cannot become pregnant when not in heat, but many dog-owners have a hard time identifying and keeping track of when their pet is fertile. When a bitch is in heat, 11 to 13 days after the first stage of the heat’s first bleeding, when her reproductive cycle is at its most … Read more
“In many cases a bloody vaginal discharge is the first sign that a pet owner will notice when their dog comes into heat.” The vaginal discharge will change in color and appearance as the cycle progresses. At first, the discharge is very bloody, but as the days pass, it thins to become watery and pinkish-red … Read more
In an intact female dog, the ovaries produce hormones, including estrogen. It is this estrogen that triggers your dog to go into heat. When your dog is spayed, the entire reproductive tract (including both ovaries and the uterus) is surgically removed. My Chesapeake Bay Retriever, who is four years old, may be having incontinence issues. … Read more
In short, dogs do not go through menopause. Because their reproductive cycles are different than in humans, dogs can continue to go into heat and subsequently become pregnant throughout their lives. As a pet owner, you may have wondered if your female dog will ever stop going into heat. After all, it can be a … Read more