Heartwarming Video: New Rescue Pup Brings Joy to Dog Mourning Loss of His Brother

Banksy and Hamilton were best canine companions, doing everything together until Hamilton passed away.  Banksy was deeply affected by the loss of his best friend.  His owners became very concerned, as Banksy became depressed and spent most of his time sleeping.

They decided that adding a new dog to the family might be the answer.  Enter Mochi, an adorable fluffball from Jindo Love Rescue, an organization that saves and adopts out dogs from the Korean dog meat trade.

Mochi also just happens to look like a miniature version of Hamilton!  After a successful introduction, Banksy and Mochi have become inseparable, sharing everything from toys to walks to Puppuccino drinks side by side.

Watch the adorable video from The Dodo below.  You can also follow the adventures of Banksy and Mochi (with their new friend Bowie) on their Instagram account!

 

The 8 Most Common Canine Health Problems

A large-scale study of dogs in the UK has identified the most common canine health disorders seen by veterinarians.

The electronic health data of over 450,000 dogs under veterinary care in the UK was analyzed by researchers conducting this study.

Let’s take a look at some key findings.  Be sure to check out the full report, published in BMC Veterinary Research HERE.

The 8 most common canine health problems are:

• Anal sac disorder
• Conjunctivitis (eye infection)
• Dental disease
• Dermatitis (skin problems)
• Overweight or obese
• Lipoma (fatty tissue growth)
• Osteoarthritis
• Otitis externa (ear infection)

The researchers note that some of these health conditions are more prevalent than others, while some tend to be more severe or longer lasting than others.

Most prevalent health issues:

• Dental disease
• Overweight or obese
• Anal sac disorder

Most severe health problems:

• Osteoarthritis
• Otitis externa
• Dermatitis

Health issues with longest duration:

• Dental disease
• Osteoarthritis
• Overweight or obese

Which canine health disorders were found to have the greatest overall negative impact on a dog’s well-being?

• Dental disease
• Osteoarthritis
• Overweight or obese

The good news is that many of the most common canine health problems are preventable!  Regular dental care, both at home and at the vet’s office, is essential to your dog’s dental health.

Keeping your dog at a healthy weight through proper diet and exercise can prevent obesity and other associated health problems.  A healthy body weight can also help ease the discomfort of arthritis.

Be sure to talk to your vet about ways you can work together to maintain your dog’s health and prevent these common health problems.

 

Meet FACE Success Story Zeus!

This handsome fellow is a 9 month old Siberian Husky pup named Zeus.  Zeus and his human dad were unfortunately involved in a car accident recently.  The car was totaled but luckily Zeus’s dad was unhurt.

Zeus initially seemed fine too, although he was tossed about a little in the back seat.  It was only later at home that he began to show signs that he was unwell.  His veterinarian diagnosed Zeus with intussusception, a condition where one segment of the intestines slides (or “telescopes”) into another.

Zeus required surgery to fix his urgent medical problem, and the combination of an unexpected car accident and a veterinary emergency were financially difficult for his family to handle.

With the help of a grant from FACE, Zeus was able to get the surgery he needed and is now back at home recovering with his family!

 

How to Find Quality Pet Nutrition Information Online

Pet owners commonly seek out dog and cat food information online, whether it’s product reviews, advice on alternative diets, or how to manage your pet’s weight.

But how do you know if the information you are looking at is trustworthy and accurate?

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association has created two helpful guides for finding quality dog and cat nutrition information online.

 

Here are a few important tips (be sure to check out the full guides and other great pet resources on the WSAVA website):

• Research the credentials of authors of the materials you are reading.  Advice from a certified veterinary nutritionist is more reliable than information put out by pet owners and pet food companies.
• Be aware if a website’s address is a .com (commercial), .edu (educational), or .org (non-profit).  This can make a difference in the quality of the information.
• Check to see if any statements or claims are backed up by legitimate sources.  Does the article link to any references, and are they quality references?  Research studies are better sources than promotional materials.

• Make sure the information you are reading is recent and up to date, as veterinary medicine is always changing.
• Be especially careful of any anecdotal information, such as pet owners stating that their pets were “cured” by a particular product.

• Many articles about the “best” pet foods or ones that rate pet foods come from websites that get financial compensation if you click on a product link (such as Amazon affiliate websites).  View these sites with plenty of caution.
• When in doubt about any information about pet nutrition you find online…ask your veterinarian for guidance and advice!

 

Pet Tornado Safety Tips

With the unusually high number of damaging tornadoes hitting the US in the past few weeks, many pet owners may be wondering how to best keep their dogs, cats, and other pets safe from harm during tornadoes and severe thunderstorms.

We’ve gathered some of the best expert advice and compiled the following tornado safety tips for pets.  (Be sure to create a disaster plan for your pets, no matter what types of natural disasters your region of the world may face.)

• Make sure all your pets are microchipped and have up to date ID tags.
• Your emergency supply kit for severe weather should also include items for your pets, such as food, water, bedding, and leash.

• Keep dogs and cats indoors during any severe weather event.  During tornado warnings, bring your pets to safe locations in the house.  It’s best to keep cats crated.
• In the event your pet escapes, make sure you have a current identifying photograph, and know the locations of all local animal shelters.
• Small pets like guinea pigs and rabbits should be placed in carriers in a tornado-safe location in the house.

• Birds can be especially sensitive to stress.  Monitor your bird’s health for several days after a severe weather event.  Always keep your birds caged so they don’t escape.
• Aquariums should be moved under tables or covered with padding to keep the glass from breaking.
• If you have advance warning that severe weather is on the way, the best plan is to evacuate with your pets until the threat is over.