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Dogs + Preventive Care & Wellness

  • Special attention must be given to a dog's nutrition during her pregnancy to ensure the birth of healthy puppies. It is important to maintain a good body condition throughout pregnancy; this is achieved with regular monitoring. This handout outlines a pregnant dog’s unique nutritional needs and how to meet them, ensuring a healthy mother and pups.

  • Each dog is an individual and one standard feeding plan may not work for every pet, but following a set schedule can be beneficial for a number of reasons. For most dogs, two meals per day is best. The use of food toys or interactive feeders can add interest to your dog's mealtime. Routines help your dog adjust to changes that may occur in your home and allow you to monitor their health.

  • Selecting your dog’s food is a choice you make to support their health and well-being for each of their life stages. Complete and balanced commercial dog foods are designed to have specific nutrient profiles, and different diet types are available for healthy dogs or those with a medical condition. Your veterinarian is always ready to help you make the best nutritional choices for your dog.

  • Once your dog reaches adulthood, his nutrient profile changes from when he was a puppy. Your veterinarian can help you determine what proportion of each nutrient is needed based on your dog’s lifestyle and current body condition. Avoid free-feeding and work on a meal schedule. Following these steps can help your dog lead a healthier life and avoid becoming overweight or obese.

  • The Field Spaniel can be a dedicated hunting companion, an enthusiastic hiking partner, eager agility competitor, ecstatic retriever of anything, and contented lap warmer, all rolled into one.

  • This handout discusses how to find reliable information for your pet on the internet. Recommendations are to always seek out trusted sources, such as your own veterinary clinic, veterinary schools, and those sites with content written by veterinarians. Try to avoid sites offering homemade cures, are heavily weighted with opinions, or offer prescription medications without requiring a veterinarian’s prescription.

  • Despite being loud, alert and agile when on the chase, Lappies are calm, friendly and very submissive with people. Their gentle disposition makes them ideal dogs around small children and the elderly.

  • The Finnish Spitz, the national dog of Finland, loves to bark, and his barking talents are so valued that every year in Finland, officials select a King Barker. Maybe not the breed for peace-and-quiet lovers, the Finkie, as he is known to his friends, is nonetheless a playful and devoted companion.

  • Broken nails are acute, painful injuries that require first aid, and in some cases, a veterinary visit. Bleeding should initially be controlled with pressure from gauze or a towel, followed by cauterizing powder if needed. Any remaining damaged part needs to be removed, which usually requires veterinary care. Broken nails are best prevented by keeping all nails short through regular trimmings.

  • Dogs that fall from heights can suffer sprains, broken bones, head trauma, and chest or abdominal injuries. Toy breeds can sustain injuries from jumping off a couch or chair. If you see your dog fall, monitor him for at least 3-5 days for anything abnormal that may develop. Serious injuries need to be evaluated immediately by your veterinarian, but there are steps you can take at home to prepare your pet to be transported to your veterinary hospital.