ASK DR. SCHELLING


DEAR DR. SCHELLING,

What is heartworm disease and can you please tell me in a very simple manner a little about it? It just seems so confusing. And what I need to do to prevent my dog from getting heartworm disease? – I Heart Dogs.

Dear I Heart Dogs,
Heartworms are parasites that are transmitted to animals via mosquitoes. They cause disease in some species, such as dogs and cats.

Heartworm disease is a serious disease, with clinical signs including coughing, wheezing, exercise intolerance, and weight loss. The great news is, it easy to prevent. There are many easy-to-administer preventatives that your vet can prescribe.

I have an article – hopefully it is easy to follow – that goes into more detail: HEARTWORM DISEASE IN DOGS

Click here to read full article

Dear Max,

My family and I recently got a new addition, a loving dog named Freddy. Freddy is the first pet we've had and he gets along great with everyone, but he seems to prefer me over my husband and the kids. Is it common for dogs to pick a favorite person in the family?

- Preferred by the pup

… … … …

Dear Preferred,

As a dog who is surrounded by a lot of loving humans, I can tell you that I enjoy being around all of them, but I do have my favorite human who is the leader of the pack. Freddy has recognized you as the leader of pack. As the leader, Freddy sees you as the one who provides safety, shelter and food. This should

come to no surprise to you if you are the one who is feeding, grooming and playing with Freddy the most. If your husband or the kids are feeling neglected by Freddy, allow them to play a bigger role in Freddy's routine.

Let someone take over one of his daily feedings; we dogs love food and the humans who give it to us.

Try having your husband or the kids practice training Freddy or teaching him a new trick and rewarding him with a treat for a job well done. If Freddy is new to training, try an obedience class; that way Freddy and the lucky human who gets to take him to class will learn something new together.

Get everyone involved in exercise. When taking walks, go on family walks – the more the merrier, and it will allow for greater time to bond.

Encourage your husband and kids to play with Freddy every day. (You may need to supervise the kids when they're playing with Freddy if they're young.) If Freddy has a favorite toy, make sure everyone incorporates that toy into their playing periods with him. Anyone who wants to play fetch with me and my favorite ball is all right in my book. Pay attention to which activities Freddy loves, and have every family member join in on the fun.

Make time every day to groom. There is nothing more relaxing than getting a nice long pet and some good brushing. It doesn't matter who pulls out my brush – I'll come running no matter what.

Car rides happen to be one of my favorite pastimes; I love the feel of the wind in my fur. If Freddy isn't leery when it comes to the car, have your husband take him on a few rides to strengthen their bond. The kids can ride along, to share in the experience.

We dogs love going on trips, whether it's to the dog park for a great game of fetch, a camping trip full of new exciting smells, or a long wet walk on the beach. We want to go wherever you're going, and being included on family outings will strengthen our relationship with every family member. Don't forget, we're a part of the family too!

I hope these tips keep Freddy's tail wagging for every member in your family.

Max

Max's Mini-Reviews


MUSIC MY PET CLASSICAL CD: Who would have thought that a simple dog like me would turn out to be a classical music buff? Well, my humans bought me the Music My Pet Classical CD*, and it expanded my musical horizons. Now I like to kick back and put my paws up whenever it's playing. It mellows me; takes the edge off. Thunderstorms are more tolerable with Beethoven and Bach in the background. I wonder if these great composers tried out their music on their own dogs until they got it just right. Anyway, Max is all cultured now. Although I still like to howl at the fire engine when it passes by.

* Produced by the Baby Einstein™ guy

… … … …

ATOMIC TREAT BALL DOG TOY: My Atomic Treat Ball is a blast! It combines two of my favorite things – playing and food. I admit that some questionable behavior has occurred (in the past) when I've been home alone, but now my Atomic Treat Ball leads me from temptation as I wile away the hours rolling and throwing it to get my goodies out. Well, if you'll excuse me, I've have to go beg my nuclear family (ha ha) for a ride to the store, so we can get some more snacks to fill up my Atomic Treat Ball!

… … … …
What topics would you like to see covered in future issues of the Dog Health Newsletter?
Let us know at: comments@doghealthnewsletter.com
TIPS FOR A SAFE EASTER

Easter is a great way to celebrate the coming of spring, but among all the celebrations there are potential hazards for your pets.

Plants often pose a threat to pets. Remember to keep these plants out of your pets' reach:


•   Easter Lily    •   Easter Daisy   •    Easter Cattleya

Planning on having an Easter egg hunt? Remember where you place those eggs and keep count, leaving hard boiled eggs in the yard for your dog to find later could be hazardous. Or use plastic eggs – but keep track of and retrieve them also, as the plastic may be harmful if chewed and splintered.

Keep all those delicious Easter treats out of your dogs' dishes. Sweet treats, especially chocolate, can be toxic to dogs (and many other animals).

Be sure to keep an eye on all your Easter decorations like ribbons, bows and fake Easter basket grass. These decorations could potentially cause choking and bunching or obstruction of the intestines.

TO QUOTE:
"There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face."
Ben Williams
Music My Pet Classical CD visit superhappypets.com Atomic Treat Ball