Rat Bite Disease

Food aggression is dangerous for both dogs and their humans. (Picture Credit: Tatyana/Getty Images) Who owns the dog food in your house once it hits the bowl? Does Rover run you out of the kitchen when he is eating dinner? What happens if you need to take away a tasty bone or chew? If food, bones, or chews turn your sweetie into a growling, snarling monster, then your dog has an issue with resource guarding, or CPA — canine possession aggression. Food aggression is the most common form of CPA. Here's what you should know about food aggression and guarding in dogs and what you can do about it. Does Your Dog Eat Alone Or In Good Company? We tend to teach our children to "leave the dog alone while they eat." This is for good reason, as most dogs view small children no differently than they view other dogs. However, if the adults in the family must also tip-toe around the dog when they're eating, the dog may perceive themselves as the true "owner" of t...

[unable to retrieve full-text content] Woman bit by dog captures video of owner commanding it to attack    NBC 15 WPMI

Dogs lick their paws as part of self-grooming routines, however excessive licking could be a red flag. While paw licking is a common behaviour, some additional reasons your dog is licking their paw include anxiety, stress, obsessive behaviour, flea allergies or boredom. We speak to the experts to find out everything you need to know, including what paw licking means and how you can stop your dog from doing it. Take a look at what you need to know... Why does my dog lick his paws so much? "Licking comes naturally to dogs. It's an important way of grooming, showing emotion and communicating," a health expert at the Kennel Club tells Country Living. "Licking is soothing to dogs and causes them to release dopamine and endorphins that can help make them feel better if they're feeling stressed or under the weather." Some of the other reasons your dog might lick his paws include: Food allergies Environmental allergies Flea allergies Cleaning skin Showing emotion D...

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — A Great Dane named Mia is recovering at her Oceanside home after playing the role of hero during an encounter with a rattlesnake. Two weeks ago, during her lunch break, Megan Montano stopped back at her home and let out her two dogs onto her backyard patio. Montano knelt down to put the leash on her chihuahua, Rebel, when she felt Mia race to her left. "Then all of a sudden, (I) kind of felt her bump into my side and rear back while making a noise," Montano said. "I threw my head to the left and I saw the snake." A mere foot from Montano was a foot-and-a-half long rattlesnake. "I think she thought it was an intruder and was going to probably push it out," Montano said. "I should have been bit. I don't know how I wasn't bit." Mia wasn't so lucky. "She kept trying to hit her mouth with her paw. Instantly, I knew it had bit her," Montano said. As Mia's mouth swelled up, Montano rushed her...

Great Danes are a highly popular breed these days. The gentle giants are friendly, social and not too difficult to train. They come in a wide variety of coat colors and usually do not exhibit many problematic behaviors such as reactivity or aggression. However, as with any dog you are looking to purchase, you should be certain that this is the right breed for your family and your lifestyle.   According to SpiritDog Training , these are the 7 questions you should ask yourself before buying a Great Dane puppy: #1 Are you ready for their short life expectancy? Sadly, large breeds live much shorter lives than small breeds. This is due to the fact that larger dogs physiologically age faster. While small lap dogs can reach the ripe age of 15-18 years, giant breeds pass much earlier. Great Danes live anywhere from 7 to 10 years. It is very rare that they reach their 11th birthday. You should expect to see first signs of aging as early as at 6 years of age – your dog's snout will ...

A guide on everything you need to know about ticks on dogs, including how to spot ticks, how to remove ticks from your dog's fur and the risk of your dog contracting Lyme disease. It's not unusual for dogs to have ticks, as the little spider-like parasites can easily attach themselves to their coat while out on walks. Ticks can't jump or fly, so sit at the tip of grass and plants waiting to brush on to the skin, before crawling to a comfy spot and filling up on mammalian blood. Hedgehogs, cats, sheep, deer and humans can all end up with ticks. They tend to be most active in the spring and autumn months. Checking your dog's fur for ticks after a walk in the woods or long grass is essential. Most ticks are harmless, but can cause discomfort to your pet. Dogs can also catch Lyme disease which is hard to diagnose, but a serious and debilitating condition. Here, everything you need to know about ticks on dogs... ...

SPARTA, New Jersey (WABC) -- For the second time this month, a bear has attacked and killed a dog in one New Jersey town. Police in Sparta say a 5-year-old Yorkie named Tommy died after his owner let him out into the backyard Wednesday night. "He was never deprived from being on the couch, in the bed at night, sleeping with us, everything," owner William Pierce said. "He was part of the family." Pierce said Tommy didn't return when he was called, raising their alarm. "It was devastating," he said. "I was asleep on the couch when he went out. He didn't come back when he was called, and I went outside. I was outside about a half an hour, 45 minutes before I found him." He found his beloved dog laying mortally wounded by the wood line. ALSO READ | New York woman travels 1,000 miles to reunite with dog missing for 5 years He brought Tommy to the animal hospital, but they were unable to save him due to his injuries. There were claw marks on th...

No one likes to think their dog could be capable of biting. One of the most common questions most of us get when someone wants to greet our dog is, "Does your dog bite?" If your dog enjoys meeting people you probably tell them that no, your dog doesn't bite. But the reality is that under the right circumstances, all dogs can bite. What that person is really asking is if your dog will bite in reaction to them reaching down to say hello. If your dog likes people, the answer is probably no. That said, it's important to normalize conversations about your dog's boundaries and to advocate for your dog by being honest about their temperament. Each dog will have a different threshold for what pushes them to resort to biting, and some dogs will need more support to prevent bites from happening. Knowing the reasons behind why dogs bite will help prevent dog bites from happening. Why Do Dogs Bite? With very rare exceptions, dog bites do not come out of nowhere, even ...

Food aggression is dangerous for both dogs and their humans. (Picture Credit: Tatyana/Getty Images) Who owns the dog food in your house once it hits the bowl? Does Rover run you out of the kitchen when he is eating dinner? What happens if you need to take away a tasty bone or chew? If food, bones, or chews turn your sweetie into a growling, snarling monster, then your dog has an issue with resource guarding, or CPA — canine possession aggression. Food aggression is the most common form of CPA. Here's what you should know about food aggression and guarding in dogs and what you can do about it. Does Your Dog Eat Alone Or In Good Company? We tend to teach our children to "leave the dog alone while they eat." This is for good reason, as most dogs view small children no differently than they view other dogs. However, if the adults in the family must also tip-toe around the dog when they're eating, the dog may perceive themselves as the true "owner" of t...