Health & Wellness

If you have a dog, you’re probably familiar with the scene: your furry friend is intently licking his paws as if they’re covered with cake batter. Much like licking cake batter, paw licking is a natural impulse and totally okay in moderation. But if your dog is licking his or her paws excessively, it could be a sign that something is wrong.

When emergency strikes, having a plan can make all the difference. If you live in an area that’s prone to inclement weather, it’s a good idea to have a few steps in place to make sure you’re prepared for the worst, including having a plan in place for your canine pal. Here are some of the preparations you can make now so your dog is safe later.

Bulldogs have wrinkly skin that requires a bit extra care than your average dog. Because of their skin folds, they are prone to infection and must be wiped on a regular basis to maintain good health and prevent itching, odor, hair loss and discomfort.

A sprain or strain is a soft tissue injury that causes damage to the muscle or tendon. This is common in very active dogs. When your dog is running or jumping around, the sudden change in direction can cause them to pull or strain and muscle.

Has your dog been prescribed amoxicillin? This is a common antibiotic that many vets use in dogs and cats. It is very effective at treating multiple conditions and is a very safe and inexpensive choice for treating an infection in your dog.

Antibiotics have a complex relationship with the gut of our furry friends, while probiotics support a healthy gut and overall wellness. Probiotics may just be the missing element needed to help moderate the relationship between antibiotics and the gut.

No matter how much you love your dog, you probably don’t love all of their smells — especially if he or she is emanating an undersea odor. If something smells fishy with your dog, here are a few possible explanations.

They can manage to get into all sorts of places on your dog, from their face, to their genitals, to the cracks in between their toes. But the discomfort doesn’t end there. Foxtails can actually burrow into your dog’s skin and become a painful splinter and even cause an infection.

As you probably know all too well, it’s perfectly normal for your furry friend to shed on a regular basis (just ask your couch cushions for verification). But a dog losing a noticeable amount of hair around his eyes may be suffering from an underlying health condition.

Ideally, you should be brushing your dog’s teeth on a regular basis, but sometimes that can be hard to manage — especially since your dog is likely to resist the process. It sounds like wishful thinking, but with regular attention and a gentle touch, your dog may even grow to enjoy the sensation.