Posts in Category: For The Dogs

During the holidays, many of us think of friends and family first and foremost. Those less fortunate also are never far from our thoughts during this season of gratitude and giving, of course, and even during our own holiday hustle and bustle we tend to smile more at strangers, bake for the neighbors, and even sometimes volunteer our time for a holiday charity.

Pet owners know that our pets give us unconditional love, and the holiday season seems like a perfect time to spread that love. Volunteering with your pet during the holidays is an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others while spending quality time with your furry family.

Here are a few ways to get started!

Most pet owners develop a certain mindset regarding their pet’s overall health and safety. The concept of “whatever can go wrong, will go wrong” might not necessarily be the healthiest or most sustainable, but it can serve to keep pets as safe as possible. Regarding antifreeze poisoning in pets, being able to assess a pet’s risk of exposure is an important key. It’s also essential to know what the symptoms are and what to do if your pet ever shows signs of poisoning.

In some ways animals and humans are very similar. Unfortunately, this means they are affected by many of the same disease processes that humans face. One of these shared experiences is the development of diabetes mellitus. About 1 in 500 pets is affected by diabetes. So what do you need to know about diabetes in dogs? Keep reading to learn about how this disease affects our pets and how to recognize it.

Walking on a leash with some manners is an essential skill for any well-groomed pup, from a tiny shih tzu to a gargantuan great Dane. How to get a puppy to walk on a leash like a civilized being isn’t always apparent, though. Based on our years of experience, your friends at Dupont Veterinary Clinic have the tips you need on how to leash train a puppy successfully. Read on to learn our secrets.

The canine species is pretty well known for its excellent sniffer. From drug detecting police dogs, to search and rescue dogs, to your family friend who always seems to know when dinner is ready, the evidence is clear. But what can a dog smell exactly, and why is their sense of smell so sensitive? 

In the absence of an efficient cooling system, dogs require special attention to fluctuating internal body temperatures. This is especially true during the hottest summer days, and even more so in dogs with dark fur coats, or thick double coats. Since they are covered with thousands of hair follicles, dogs sweat through their paws, nose, and tongue. 

If you have never encountered a pet who is suffering from a reverse sneeze episode before, it can be pretty disconcerting. Is that dramatic display of snorting and gagging something to consider a pet emergency, though? Dupont Veterinary Clinic has the answers to your burning questions about the dreaded reverse sneeze. 

An older dog may start to show signs of aging in the ways they move. Or, rather, by restrictions to their movements. Osteoarthritis is a very real threat to the health and well-being of senior pets. Among other symptoms, limping can become part of their new normal. Luckily, changes to their nutrition, treatment, and lifestyle accommodations can go a long way toward easing their aching joints.

There could be other explanations behind a sudden or gradual disruption to a dog’s gait. If your dog has a limp, we encourage you to take steps toward understanding why and what you can do to help.

Puppies exhibit certain (and harmless) behaviors like biting and growling that allow them to discover how to fit in with the family. We teach our pups manners, and they grow to become happy members of the household. Unless they don’t. 

Dogs that become increasingly aggressive as they mature out of their puppy years can lead to a lot of problems, especially if they display aggression towards humans or other animals. If your dog is becoming more and more aggressive, the team at Dupont Veterinary Clinic can help.

Since dogs explore the world around them through their nose and mouth, it makes sense that they try to taste as much as they can. Socks, table food, feces, and more round out the canine palette. Some of their choices are, well, less than “choice,” but as long as they aren’t harmed by their explorations, it’s usually okay (provided you can get beyond the gross factor). At the top of the list of brow-raising antics is eating plant matter. Dogs eat grass (and other green things) for many reasons, but does that mean it’s safe?