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4338 results for “how to pet a dog”
Health Checkups by Life Stage for Cats and Dogs
Pets can't tell us when they're ill, so regular checkups catch hidden disease. Kittens and puppies need basics plus parasite and vaccine screens; adults add bloodwork and imaging; seniors (cats over 10, older dogs) need broader panels—blood chemistry, X-ray, ultrasound, heart, and blood-pressure checks—ideally every six months.
What You Must Know About Your Dog’s Coat
A dull, shedding coat usually traces to genetics (unfixable) or daily-care gaps. Fix it with low-salt food, weekly egg yolk and lecithin, regular brushing, pet shampoo only, and sunlight—while avoiding the big don'ts: human shampoo, a monotonous diet, over-bathing, and poor hygiene.
Understanding and Preventing Kidney Stones in Senior Pets
Senior dogs and cats are prone to kidney stones, with causes running from meat-heavy, vegetable-poor diets and low water intake to genetics and breed — purebreds are likelier victims. Once formed, stones are hard to cure and quick to return, so prevention leans on more water, a kibble-based diet with less meat and sodium, and more vegetables; only severe cases need surgery, which carries real anesthesia risk in older pets and requires a pre-op blood panel.
Don’t Let Summer Ruin Your Dog’s Ear Health
Hot, humid summers spike ear disease, especially in drop-eared breeds like Cockers, Beagles, and Basset Hounds. The four usual offenders — outer and inner ear infections, fungal overgrowth, and ear mites — all need a vet's lab confirmation and proper pet medication, never human products; the fix is prevention: dry, clean ears and regular checks.
How to Help a Dog Afraid of Fireworks
Fireworks terrify dogs through their sudden loud noise, unpredictability, and acrid smell, triggering anxiety and a flight response that sends many pets running off. Full desensitization is rarely practical, so the realistic plan is to isolate the dog in a soundproofed room, increase exercise and tire it out before evening displays, and never scold a dog that flees, since running is pure instinct.
How to Get Rid of Dog Smell at Home
Most dog odor at home is the natural skin oil (sebum) your dog sheds onto the sofa, bed, and your clothes — bathing can't stop it, so clean the sources: sun and wash the bed, vacuum often, and wipe floors with baking soda. For urine and waste, an enzyme cleaner breaks down the odor-causing proteins, and a sprinkle of baking soda left 20 minutes then vacuumed tackles soft furnishings (skip leather).
Why Dogs Lick Their Owners
Dogs lick their owners to show love, win attention, groom them the way a mother dog would, taste food left on the skin, or simply coax a treat. Licking is ordinary canine communication carried over from puppyhood, not a behavior to worry about.
What to Do When Your Pet Cries at Night
Nighttime vocalizing usually traces back to illness, a sudden change in routine or surroundings, or mating behavior, so finding the cause comes first. Calming measures include a high-calorie snack before bed, play to burn off energy, steady companionship, keeping familiar items in place, topping up trace elements, and a vet check for older pets.
Is Dyeing Your Dog’s Fur Harmful?
Most pet dyes, even those marketed as natural, carry chemicals that irritate a dog's skin and get swallowed during grooming. Because a dog's skin is only a third as thick as ours, the pigment can reach internal organs and cause lasting damage, on top of the stress the process causes the animal.
Factors That Affect How Well You Train a Dog
A dog's training outcome depends as much on the handler's approach as on the animal itself. Patience without harshness, a single consistent trainer, a gradually busier environment, and methods matched to the dog's temperament all decide how fast and how well the lessons stick.