Study Shows Pet Parents And Pooches Are Lovin’ Fast Food Restaurants

by Mary Simpson

Published: April 10th, 2015

study shows pet parents and pooches are lovin fast food restaurants

If you’re a pet parent, chances are you’re super sizing that Happy Meal drive-thru order and sharing it with your dog.

I love to share, and I confess that when I used to hit the local Tim Horton’s drive-thru with my boyfriend’s black lab riding shot-gun they would always pop a couple Tim Bits in a little doggy bag for him. It didn’t take long for me to realize that: a) an expectation had been created (think Pavlov’s dog, an order window and lots of drool); and b) the Tim Bits would be gone long before I got my double-double in the cup holder. Smart girl that I am, I soon began ordering a toasted plain bagel for him. It was bigger, chewier and allowed just enough time for me to get back on the road with my opened coffee before he re-surfaced looking for more.

Apparently I’m not the only one who likes to share or to order a little something special for my canine companion (picture of me looking hang-dog while holding my spilled coffee). A recent study on dog ownership and fast food habits reveals that one out of every six U.S. households buys fast food items specifically for their dog when they place their own order at the drive-thru or take out windows. Okay, so Rover isn’t even walking it off!

Seriously, this translates into over 1,000,000,000 (yes, that’s billion with a “b”) trips each year to a quick service restaurant where our little buddy gets to wait in excited anticipation as the odour of fries and burgers wafts through the car.

Relevation Research’s study on dog ownership and fast food habits indicated that just over one third of dog owners hit the drive thru with their pet in tow and of those, four-fifths will order something specifically for him – that’s almost all of them!

The marketing research company’s on-line survey of 1,499 consumers over the age of 18 also showed that millenials (18-35 years old) are the biggest culprits in the bid to super-size Rover and males make twice as many doggie trips as females. Didn’t you just know it!

Apparently McDonalds is visited most often for the dog followed by Burger King and Wendy’s. And in spite of their Puppy Whip/Puppuccino offering, Starbucks just doesn’t score as high as the greasy alternatives.

Interesting stats from another recent survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) suggests dog ownership will continue to grow over the next few years along with pet pampering and the desire to offer up those special treats. Baby Boomers will factor heavily in this regard and while they have the cash and inclination to indulge their little hair heirs, their focus on health means they’ll want to find a way to do so without feeling guilty.

Maybe the restaurant industry and dog food manufacturers should team up to design dog-safe menu items that are nutritionally balanced, offer fast-food pricing and include upholstery friendly ingredients. If that were the case, I’m sure that none of us would leave our cars!

Mary Simpson

Sharing space with three seriously judgy Schnoodles and a feline who prefers to be left alone. #LivingMyBestLife

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Burger-Begging Dog Is Lovin’ Those Golden Arches [Video]

A dog mama from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma caught her brilliant ‘gold digger’ dog begging strangers for food from McDonald’s and shared the hilarious ‘proof’ in a now-viral video. Look, you have to give it to dogs when they’re smart enough to just take matters into their own hands. Take, for instance, Princess, an industrious gal from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Girl loves her some Mcdonalds, apparently…so much so that according to her mama Betsy Reyes, she’d ‘sneak’ out of the house at night and act like a stray so she could trick people into giving her food! Seriously, though, who could turn that face down? Related: Study Shows Pet Parents And Pooches Are Lovin’ Fast Food Restaurants If you see my dog @ the McDonald’s on shields, quit feeding her fat ass bc she don’t know how to act & be leaving the… Posted by on Sunday, October 21, 2018 Reyes decided to follow Princess and catch her in the act, and the hilarity of it all was that Reyes wasn’t wrong–Princess was most definitely working the crowd and pulling ‘puppy dog eyes’ out to her biggest advantage. Betsy caught the burger-begging dog in action, and then posted ‘proof’ so she could bust Princess’s game up. Posted by on Sunday, October 21, 2018 Related: Dog Crashes Weather Report Like She Owns It [Video] She told social media followers to stop feeding Princess because she was just gold digging and acting like a stray to get sympathy (and burgers) from strangers and then she shared the funny video of Princess realizing she’d been busted and acted all, “Hey mama! What are YOU doing here?” Posted by on Sunday, October 21, 2018 The video has gone viral, and rightly so. Even James Corden called Princess his ‘spirit animal,’ and we know why! OMGSGSOSKSJSJDKDK IM FREAKING OUT IN CLASS. I LOVE JAMES CORDEN SO MUCH & WE MADE IT TO HIS SHOW Posted by on Friday, October 26, 2018 It’s not every day you see a dog use her best assets to go after what she wants in life, and we have to give her major props for believing in herself enough to do it. We guess that sweet Princess will have no shortage of burgers whenever she pleases, and so it seems her McSamming was well-played!

Forget Doggy Bags: Restaurants That Serve Dog-Friendly Menu Items

What’s on the menu for dogs? A lot more than you think! Here are just a few restaurants that have adapted menu items specifically for your pooch. I haven’t eaten red meat in years and find this tends to influence how I feed my feline housemates. Kibble is always chicken- or salmon-based and wet food is tinned tuna. Yes, the real stuff (or as real as tinned can be considered) and if I’m having a salad, a forkful of Chico’s dinner goes into my salad before onto his plate. No funky smelling canned stuff for my crew. So it was with great interest that I read about a pop-up restaurant in the U.K. called The Curious Canine. It offers menu items for pets that include the same super-food groups as those served on the “human” menus. Apparently their goal is to show that the dog meals served in restaurants don’t have to be the usual dry biscuit and bowl of water, but can be a healthier variation on what we’re ordering for ourselves. Related: Study Shows Pet Parents And Pooches Are Lovin’ Fast Food Restaurants How do we fare with side of the pond? Its seems that in addition to some stand-alone restaurants and cafes, many of the super-chains have already answered the call with mini-sized options of special treats that, like any indulgence, should be enjoyed in moderation by both four-and two-legged patrons. Starbucks offers up the Puppuccino – a small cup filled with whipped cream for poochie so when you’re slurping back your Grande Latte, you don’t have to drink alone. I wonder if there’s a loyalty card for that.Not far behind with their Pup Cup is my all-time childhood favorite, Dairy Queen. Yep, a little vanilla soft serve ice milk with a doggie treat plunged into the top. Best of all, it’s free at participating locations.North of the border, donut giant Tim Horton’s doles out a sugar-free Timbit to visiting pooches. The iconic “donut holes” are limited to one per pooch, but now Rover can get as excited about a trip to the drive-through as you do about a “double, double”. Other offerings include California’s In ‘N’ Out that features a Pup Patty on the menu – a plain, unseasoned burger patty with no salt, while New York’s famed Shake Shack serves up a doggie dessert that includes peanut butter sauce and vanilla custard. Ohio-based Handel’s ice cream has developed a soy based ice cream “Frosty Paws” at their California location and offers vet approved peanut butter or mint treats at all others. Related: No Kids Allowed, But Dogs Welcome In Australian Restaurant All this is great if you and your pup are looking for a quick bite to eat. But where do you dine when you’re in the mood for something a little more top dog? Good news – North American restaurants are quickly getting on board with dog-specific menus, and here are just a few. Art and Soul Restaurant in Washington, D.C. is run by Oprah’s former personal chef so you just know its going to be OTT when catering to four-legged clientele. Yes, dogs can slurp specially brewed non-alcoholic beer, sup on grilled sliced sirloin steak then finish with a frozen peanut-butter-banana Popsicle!At the four diamond Biltmore Resort & Spa in Arizona, travel weary pooches can order up the health-conscious Zen Yo – a hearty vegetable stir-fry served with poached eggs, steamed brown rice, and salmon. Spa gurus say this meal will help pooches adjust to jet lag and altitude.The Nauti Dawg Marina Café in Lighthouse Point, Florida offers a “K9 Cuisine” menu just for dogs, that include items such as bacon, chicken breast, Mahi fillet, and even skirt steak served in a special doggie bowl.California based Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar locations offer up a dog menu that include a heapin’ helpin’ of brown rice, diced hamburger patty or chicken as well as a bowl nicely chilled water for their patrons dining al fresco.In East Hampton, New York, The Maidstone hotel dedicated some of their restaurants specifically to pet parents dining with their fur kids and even feature Yappy Hour from 4 to 6 pm daily where Rover gets a 50 percent discount on any item off the Woof Menu – and so does his escort! Have you been to a restaurant that offers a dog-friendly menu? Tell us your picks in the comment section below so that we can try them out!

Study Says That Pet Type Says A Lot About You

Being a dog, cat, bird or other kind of pet owner says a lot about you. Perhaps more than you expected – do any of these things ring true with you? Growing up, we always had pets. A dog, a cat, painted turtles and even a couple of classroom gerbils my mom allowed me to bring home one weekend (stress on the one). When I started to work and was out on my own I found that I still wanted to come home to a living being so hit the local humane society and picked up feline “Snuff” who remained a part of my life for close to 17 years. I would love to have been able to bring home a dog but the lifestyle of a working girl in an apartment didn’t support canine companionship. To this day, I would love to share my home with a terrier of some sort but one of my felines is deathly afraid of dogs, so the pooch plans are on hold for the time being. Related: Study Shows Pet Parents And Pooches Are Lovin’ Fast Food Restaurants This begs the question: Am I a “dog person” because I really want one or a “cat person” because I already have them? It seems that how, or even if, our choice of pet reveals anything about our inner personalities was deemed worthy of research by those clever folk at Scientific American MIND who did a little digging to come up with some interesting findings. Related: Study Finds That Dogs Think Mean People Suck The data they used came from a mixed bag of sources including market surveys taken by pet industry stakeholders such as the American Veterinary Medical Association who track demographics, spend and pet ownership over a period of time. Some of the commonalities from the 2,000 respondents? Pet ownership is highest amongst: People with households of five or morePeople who work full timePeople who are home ownersPeople who are social or empathetic Non-pet ownership is highest amongst: People who live in urban areasPeople who value a neat and tidy homePeople who describe themselves as independent If you share your home with a pooch, you are more likely to: Have picked up Rover from a shelterHave not completed collegeConsider your pet part of the family If you share your home with a cat, you are more likely to: Be divorcedLive in an apartmentBe college educatedEat TV dinners (okay, I just added that one cuz this thread was looking kind of spinster-y) But more interesting than stats and demographics is how pet owners actually perceive themselves based on their choice of pet. While I have been quite successful at blocking the “crazy cat lady” image from mind, do others do the same? Well, no. The survey shows that overall we feel our animal companions are integral to how we see ourselves. No surprise that guys who like to be seen as tough may get a tough-looking dog to help them project that image. Those who keep less common pets such as spiders or snakes seem to feel they are creatures who are misunderstood, much like themselves. While the survey sample was small when compared to the millions of pet owners out there, it did capture some interesting responses to the question: Are you a Dog or a Cat person? Of note, “When you finally win over a cat, it’s so worth it”. And “Dogs are living Buddhas – compassionate beings who live completely in the present moment”. So the one thing we can all agree on is that whoever shares our pillow at night, has gained our love and respect. [Source: Scientific American]

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Can Counterconditioning Help My Reactive Dog?

Caring for and managing a reactive dog can be incredibly frustrating. Your dog may be a sweet angel at home, but they suddenly evolve into a barking, growling, lunging whirlwind when out in public.Luckily, there is hope!Overcoming reactivity is a process that will not happen overnight. However, dog trainers and behaviorists have seen great success with positive reinforcement techniques like counterconditioning.This article will explore how counterconditioning works, the steps involved in the process, realistic timelines and expectations, and tips for a successful journey toward a calmer, more confident dog. Get started today!What is Counterconditioning for Dogs?Let’s start at the beginning—what exactly is counterconditioning, and why is it recommended for managing and treating reactive dogs?Counterconditioning is a behavioral modification technique that focuses on changing your dog’s emotional response to a specific stimulus.For example, some dogs feel fear and anxiety at the sight of another dog. This could be due to a lack of socialization, meaning they weren’t taught that other dogs can be friendly. It could also be a reaction to a past trauma, like having been attacked by another dog. In these situations, counterconditioning can be used to teach your dog that the sight of another dog leads to a positive experience.Why is this an effective approach for addressing reactivity? Reactivity, by definition, is an overreaction to a trigger. While this is often associated with fear or anxiety, some reactive dogs become overly excited. An overexcited dog may jump all over strangers not because they are trying to cause harm but because they are so excited to see them that they can’t control their response.If you have identified your dog’s triggers, you can use this training approach to teach them to respond in a new (and better) way.What Can Counterconditioning Be Used to Treat?Reactivity isn’t the only behavioral condition that can be treated with counterconditioning. This technique can be used to address a wide spectrum of situations in which a pet may be responding to a situation or trigger in an unwanted way.Some situations where it is commonly recommended include helping dogs overcome specific fears or phobias as well as managing or overcoming behaviors related to obsessive-compulsive disorder.Common fears that may be addressed with counterconditioning include: Fear of car ridesAnxiety when visiting the vetNoises (fireworks, thunder)Babies (especially the sound of crying)Strangers or other dogs in publicAllowing guests to enter their homePhysical triggers like cars or bicyclesDogs who dislike grooming, like brushing or having their nails trimmedIf you believe this approach may be helpful in your dog’s unique situation, we recommend speaking with a behaviorist.You can find professionals in your area by browsing the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists website list or the Animal Behavior Consultants Directory by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.

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Study Reveals Older Dogs Who Sleep Badly May Have Dementia

It’s hard to watch a beloved dog get old, as it seems like only yesterday your senior pooch was a teething puppy with a penchant for chewing your slippers. The American Kennel Club, the expert on all doggy things, says that most small breeds become seniors between the ages of seven and 10. Larger breeds age faster than their small counterparts and are considered old when they are six years old. Like old people, senior dogs can get dementia.As they age, dogs can develop canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS), a condition that is very similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans. Scientists have long known that people with dementia can find it harder to get to sleep. Now, researchers from North Carolina State University have discovered that senior dogs with dementia experience the same sleep problems as people with dementia. “Just like humans with Alzheimer's disease, dogs with CCDS, experience sleep disruptions, such as insomnia, and sleep fragmentation,” said senior study author Dr. Natasha Olby, a professor of veterinary neurology, neurosurgery, and gerontology at North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine. To discover whether sleep problems are a sign of early dementia in dogs, as they are in people, Dr. Olby and her team used a group of senior dogs who were part of an ongoing trial testing antiaging supplements. Scientists selected 28 dogs between the ages of 10 and 16 to participate in the new sleep study. To be included in the antiaging study, the dog must have lived more than 75% of the expected lifespan for their breed. The dogs also couldn’t suffer from arthritis or be blind, as they needed to complete tasks designed to test their cognitive abilities. Scientists evaluated each dog’s cognitive abilities by having them perform a series of tests and asking their owners to fill out a list of questions, known as the Canine Dementia Scale Questionnaire.In the new study, researchers used polysomnography, a form of electroencephalogram (EEG) used to diagnose sleep problems in people. The researchers affixed electrodes on the dogs’ skulls using a water-soluble gel and recorded brain activity during a two-hour nap. “Past sleep studies in dogs often involved surgically implanted electrodes,” said Alejandra Mondino, a postdoctoral researcher at North Carolina State University. “Non-invasive studies are relatively new. We are one of a handful of groups doing this work.”When results from cognitive testing were compared to sleeping brain waves, researchers discovered that dogs with more advanced dementia took longer to fall asleep and spent less time sleeping. “These dogs have dementia and sleep disruption is a part of that,” said Mondino. “In addition to the shorter time spent sleeping, when we look at the EEG, we saw their brain activity during sleep was more akin to wakefulness. In other words, when they do manage to sleep, their brains aren’t really sleeping.”These results don’t explain the link between sleep and dementia, but studies like this one may help scientists to better understand the process and find ways to treat it. “There’s a possibility we might be able to identify an early signature of change on the EEG that can tell us ‘Hey, things are starting to slide’. Because with a chronic neurodegenerative process, of course, we’d love to be able to intervene sooner rather than later,” said Olby according to CNN Health.Until that happens, veterinarians can prescribe medications for anxiety and melatonin for sleep to senior dogs with cognitive decline. Diet and exercise also appear to be a factor. Studies have shown that diets rich in flavonoids, antioxidants, and medium-chain fatty acids could potentially slow the development of dementia in dogs. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

What Are the Symptoms of Dementia in Dogs?

As the years go by, health issues tend to pile up, even in canines. Old age can bring a range of problems – some doggos have troubles with arthritis and limited mobility, while others suffer from cognitive decline and experience issues such as dementia. That’s right, even dogs can suffer from dementia, which is also known as canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD). This illness can bring about some troubling changes in your pet’s behavior, and it would be wise to be familiar with all the symptoms of dementia, especially if you are a senior dog owner. Let’s go over them and get familiar with the challenges of canine dementia.Doggy Dementia: Symptoms and What To ExpectAs your pet reaches their golden years, some issues are bound to pop up, including dementia. Known as canine cognitive dysfunction, it has similar symptoms to Alzheimer's disease in humans. The main cause is the aging of the dog’s brain, which results in many troubling issues. Of course, CCD doesn’t happen to all old dogs. Latest studies revealed that it only happens to roughly 50% of dogs that are over 11 years old. Of course, if you own a senior doggo, it is wise to get to know the symptoms of dog dementia. Here are some of the most common ones:Confusion and Disorientation:As dementia sets in, your pet might seem suddenly disoriented and awfully confused. They could get lost in spaces that should be all too familiar to them (the house for example), or could just stand and stare blankly into space. Major Sleep Pattern Changes:Dogs tend to have a solid sleep routine. But with dementia, this can suddenly change. They could experience alterations in their sleep-wake cycle, sleep a lot during the day, and become restless and sleepless throughout the entire night.Loss of Interest:Your dog, with dementia, could suddenly become a totally different pet. They could lose all interest in common interactions. They could have zero interest in playing with you or interacting with the family members. The same goes for interacting with other pets, or playing with toys - even if they were their favorites. Forgetting Housetraining:

Does My Dog Need Winter Boots?

The days are growing colder and colder, and your pet is more and more hesitant when it’s time to go out for a potty break – who could blame them? It’s not like we owners don’t need to give ourselves a pep talk when it’s time to take our dogs out for a walk when it’s snowing outside or the icy wind is whipping everything in sight.While winter can be very unpleasant for your dog, there are ways to keep your pooch toasty and more comfortable when the temperatures drop, ranging from  cozy winter coats, warm blankets, and protective winter boots. Yes, those cute little booties are more than a fashion statement – if you’ve been questioning their efficacy, read on to find out if your pet could use a pair of nice winter boots to keep their paws snug and warm.Does My Dog Need Winter Boots?You might think that paws are naturally protected from the cold ground and rough terrain thanks to their unique properties, but that’s only partially true. Not all doggos are built the same. As they come in different shapes and sizes, and with different coat lengths, it means that they will experience winter and cold temperatures in different ways. But even so, no dog’s paw should be left to endure the snow, the ice, and the  rock salt on the asphalt streets. That means that dog boots in winter are far more than a simple piece of the outfit. They protect, keep warm, and ensure that your dog’s paws are safe from injuries, irritations, and dangerous substances. Of course, some dogs need winter boots more than others. Small and toy dogs are much more vulnerable to cold and low temperatures, and they will need protection from the elements without a doubt – that means both a winter jacket and boots. The same goes for senior dogs, whose aching joints and paw pads are much more vulnerable to the elements than they were when they were young.Ultimately, however, dogs of all ages and sizes should be accustomed to wearing dog boots. They protect your pet’s paws in any weather, and come with a range of other advantages, too – these are the main five benefits of dog boots:#1 TractionThanks to dog boots, your pet will no longer have trouble walking on icy or slick surfaces. Boots provide grip and traction, and your next wintery outing will be much safer and faster thanks to them. This is especially important to seniors, who can seriously injure themselves and endanger their mobility due to slips and falls on icy surfaces.#2 InsulationThe boots are there to protect from extreme temperatures. This goes for both winter and summer. So whether it’s ice and cold, or the hot summer asphalt, the boots are there to provide safety – no frostbite on the paw pads, no burns on their delicate little beans.#3 HygieneCleaning your dog’s paws after every walk can quickly become a tiring chore – kudos to you if it doesn’t. Winter brings mud and slush with it, and without the boots, all that mess remains on the paws and gets inside your house, so you need to  clean your pet’s paws every single time you come in from outside. `thanks to dog boots, this can be a thing of the past.#4 Comfort and careDogs can have very sensitive paw pads, especially if they are older and cracked. Thanks to dog boots, winter doesn’t have to exacerbate these issues. Padded and comfy, dog boots ensure that walking on various surfaces is smooth and pain-free.#5 Prevention of injuriesWhen it comes to the protection of paw pads, nothing beats dog boots. In winter, there are a lot of hazards on the walking surface. Ice shards, frozen rocks, icy puddles, and rock salt – the list is endless. Thanks to the protection of the boots, your pet will be safe from abrasions, cuts, and frostbite.

Study Finds Link Between Having a Dog and Girls' Physical Activity

A new study finds that having a furry companion at home could help promote healthy physical activity in children, especially young girls. According to research from the Telethon Kids Institute in Australia, getting a new dog or losing a furry companion is linked with a child’s level of physical activity. This new research shows that having a dog could help promote healthy movement behavior in children. The study's lead researcher, Emma Adams, highlights the positive influence of dog ownership on children’s activity levels, pointing to potential benefits that start from early childhood.“We saw a significant jump in daily physical activity in children whose families acquired a dog over the study period, while those whose families experienced the loss of a dog recorded a steep drop-off in activity,” added Adams.The research teams from Telethon Institute and the University of Western Australia followed 600 children aged between two and seven years old, over a three-year period to determine the impact dog ownership (or loss) has on physical activity levels.The results showed that getting a dog or losing a family companion is associated with significant changes in children’s activity levels. Surprisingly, young girls showed the most significant response.“The results were particularly noticeable in girls, with girls who acquired a dog increasing their light intensity activity and games by almost an hour a day (52 minutes).”“On the flipside, there was a marked drop in light intensity activity and games in girls who experienced the loss of a dog, with their activity dropping by 62 minutes a day,” said Adams according to Independant. Children wore accelerometers during waking hours for seven days at a time to measure sedentary time, screen time, and physical activity. Parents were also asked about their childrens’ activity levels. Half of the children participating in the study didn’t own a dog at any point during the study period, 204 children had a dog for the entire three years, 58 got a dog during the study period, and 31 children lost their furry companion during the course of the study.Data showed that girls who got a dog increased their light intensity activities and games by almost an hour a day (52 minutes). At the same time, girls who lost a dog experienced a decrease of 62 minutes a day in the same activities. Researchers observed that unstructured physical activity, such as walking with the dog or playing in the garden saw an increase for both boys and girls who got a dog during the study. “If we excluded dog walking and playing, there were no changes in the unstructured physical activity, so we could see the changes in physical activity were actually from the addition of those dog-related activities,” said Adams. On the other hand, children who lost their dog decreased their unstructured physical activity by 10.2 sessions a week for girls and 7.7 sessions for boys. “Regular physical activity from an early age is essential for children’s physical and mental health development, but few children or adolescents are meeting recommended daily levels. Our findings indicate that having a dog in the family could help promote healthy movement behaviors in children and reduce their short- and long-term risk of chronic disease.”Although this study discovered a positive link between dog ownership and increased physical activity Adams stresses that it’s not a call for everyone to get a dog. “It’s important to note that we’re not telling families to just go out and get a dog - having a dog comes with many responsibilities and won’t be right for everyone.”Instead, this study encourages dog owners to use canine companionship to increase physical activity. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Is it OK to Give Dogs Raw Bones?

While dogs can be picky eaters, they’re not really known as pets with the most refined pallets. Pooches tend to be voracious and their appetites are indiscriminate, so they’ll munch on anything – anytime.However, as a responsible owner, you should make sure that whatever they’re snacking on is something that’s safe for them to eat – which can be a bit stressful. For instance, the image of a dog with a bone is all but ingrained in people’s brains, but do dogs really need to chew on bones? And, if so, are raw bones fine or do you need to cook them first?Many owners are fearful that bones are not entirely appropriate for dogs, both because of potential bacterial contamination and the risk of bone splintering. Because of this, feeding dogs raw bones can be a controversial topic, and it's important to consider various factors before deciding whether or not to offer this natural snack to your pet. Before you make your decision, here are some important aspects to take into account.Is it OK to Give Dogs Raw Bones?Whether it’s a childhood memory or a scene in an old cartoon, you’ve probably seen a dig happily gnawing on a bone (and a cat drinking cow milk), but are bones really good for dogs – or is it just a myth that they enjoy them? While raw bones for dogs can have some benefits, such as offering important trace minerals, or a way to naturally  remove plaque buildup from a dog’s teeth, there are some risks to giving your pet raw bones. Mainly, two things about raw bones concern dog owners – their tendency to splinter and potential bacterial contamination. When it comes to splintering, it is much less likely for a raw bone to splinter than a cooked one, but still, it is wise to choose bigger bones to minimize the risks even more. As for the chance for the bones to be contaminated with salmonella or E. coli, the key is to source the bones from a trusted, responsible supplier.With those things in mind, if you are still interested in giving your dog raw bones, here are some key steps to follow to make sure that your pet is safe and enjoys their natural chew treat without any adverse effects:#1 Always supervise your petIf you decide to give your dog a raw bone, it's essential to supervise them closely. This helps prevent potential choking hazards, broken teeth, or possible injuries if splintering does occur.#2 Pick the right size

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Adopter Visits a Dog Every Day for 2 Months to Earn the Pet's Trust

Alva, a fearful dog who spent over 500 days at Austin Pets Alive! shelter has found a loving home thanks to an adopter who believed in her. According to Dr. Ellen Jefferson, a veterinarian and the CEO and president of Austin Pets Alive! (APA!), Alva first arrived at the shelter in 2019, as a puppy. Alva was transferred to APA! from another shelter after it was discovered that she had cerebellar hypoplasia. This congenital neurological condition affects the part of the brain that controls movement, leading to mobility issues. “We’re a shelter that generally takes animals from other shelters when they can’t afford long-term medical treatment,” said Jefferson, according to PEOPLE. The shelter quickly found a home for the young puppy, but problems emerged as Alva grew up.A common issue for dogs with severe mobility problems is that they don’t get out as much as healthy dogs. They spend most of their time inside a loving home with people who take good care of them. Unfortunately, these dogs miss a vital part of socialization as they aren’t exposed to new people, animals, and situations during puppyhood. As the home Alva grew up in became busier, she attempted to bite the people who came over for a visit. This type of fear aggression is common for dogs with mobility issues because they can’t get away. Sadly, Alva ended up back in the shelter because she became territorial, defensive, and fearful. While the shelter looked for a perfect adopter for Alva, the behavioral support team and volunteers worked with the pooch daily. “She got the best care she possibly could, with so many people taking her out every day,” Jefferson shared. “She had a wheelchair made for her.”Although Alva made immense progress with her mobility and behavioral issues, no one showed interest in adopting her for more than 500 days. Luckily, Alva wasn’t destined to stay in the shelter forever! Alva’s future changed when Joe Rotunda saw her on Instagram in July. Although he wasn’t looking for a new pet at that time, he immediately knew that he wanted to give Alva a loving home. “She shined. She had this almost tangible will,” Rotunda said. “I saw all these videos of Alva running, playing, and falling down. And every time she fell, she pulled herself back up. Every time a challenge presented itself, she did not go around it; she went over it. And I was very inspired.”It was love at first sight! Rotunda didn’t hesitate for a second, instead, he drove to APA! to schedule a meeting with Alva. “She was very wary of me. She was very nervous, concerned, and anxious,” said Rotunda about Alva’s initial reaction to him. “But, you could tell she was so loving and affectionate around the people that she knew.”To earn Alva’s trust, Rotunda kept coming back. That meant visiting the shelter every day for two months! “She needed someone who would not give up on her. And I never questioned that decision,” he explained.Over time, Alva who lounged and nipped at him at first, started to approach Rotunda and feel safe in his company. By October the APA! and Rotunda agreed it was time for Alva to spend the night outside the shelter.Before Alva arrived, Rotunda transformed his home to make it inviting and as comfortable as possible. He blocked a large section of the living room to make a private play area and added several crates to give Alva room to decompress.Alva arrived on Friday night, and when the APA! caretaker came to collect her the next day, it was obvious the dog wanted to stay. “She did not want to leave the house. She did not want to go back to APA. And she’s been here ever since.”Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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Dogs Could Be Wagging Their Tails Because Ancient Humans Loved Rhythm

Doggos love to wag their tails and we love to see it. It is their way of expressing emotions, from unwavering joy and happiness to see you again after a long day at work to a shy greeting to a new face – there are many things a pooch can convey with a simple  tail wag. But have you ever wondered why they do it exactly? Why didn’t dogs evolve to, let’s say, use their ears for nonverbal communication with us? Researchers were wondering the exact same thing, and their latest studies could provide a key insight into why dogs started wagging their tails in the first place.Believe it or not, the origins of this action could potentially be traced to ancient humans who first domesticated dogs. And the study connects the human love of rhythm, with selective breeding and domestication!Dogs were first domesticated by humans sometime between 15,000 and 50,000 years ago. It was a long time ago when dogs first emerged from domesticated wolves and similar canines but some of their ancestral traits, like tail wagging, remain the same. And researchers could finally have an answer for this behavior.“We may not be able to take a time machine back to the beginning of the dog-human relationship, but we can look at dog behavior today in tandem with human behavior to try and understand what that domestication process looked like,” said Dr. Taylor Hersh from Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in the Netherlands. “Tail wagging is a very apparent and interesting behavior to start with.”Of course, this is not the first such study, and in the past, many have questioned the wagging of tails. Previously, it was found that hand-reared dog pups will wag their tails far more often than hand-reared wolf pups, showing the clear difference between domesticated and wild animals. Likewise, it was discovered that dogs wag their tails to the right mostly in response to positive experiences, usually when seeing their owners. And they’d wag them to the left in potentially aggressive situations. And now, researchers linked this behavior to the ancient process of domestication. This means that dog tail wagging has developed because dogs have an inherent genetic link towards behaviors that humans want - like tameness and docility. “We put forth a new hypothesis that humans consciously or unconsciously selected for tail wagging during the domestication process because we are very attracted to rhythmic stimuli,” said Silvia Leonetti, another member of the team.Ancient humans had a very distinct attraction to rhythm and rhythmic actions, so there could be a very logical link here. Dr. Holly Root-Gutteridge, a dog researcher at the University of Lincoln, also proposed that tail wagging was developed during the long domestication process as an adaptation by the dogs, as humans likely found barking irritating. “We’re a highly visual species and may appreciate the rhythm, it’s an interesting thought that should be explored, though I’m not sure we’re really responding that much to it,” she said. What is more, she added that wolves too wag their tails in certain situations in the wild. “I suspect ancestral humans saw tail wags as a positive, easy to read sign in wolves, and developed it the way we talk with our hands – as a communicative gesture that we can easily understand.”

Why is My Dog Vomiting White Foam?

Sometimes, our dogs can exhibit behavior that can cause great panic in any owner. After all, they can’t talk to us and tell when something is hurting them, or when they feel ill, scared, or angry. So they let their bodies do the talking. One of these scary behaviors is vomiting white foam. It can happen all of a sudden, and frighten you to no end. But is it really a reason to panic? And what causes a dog to vomit white foam in the first place? Let’s find out more.Why Do Dogs Vomit White Foam?The reasons for white foam vomiting can be many, and the cause might not be clear to you immediately. What’s even more frustrating, there are several possible causes for this occurrence. In some cases, the reason for the vomiting can be complex, but often enough it is super simple. It could end up being a sensitive tummy irritated by a new brand of food on the menu, or just a passing belly ache that’s nothing to stress over. However, you should always consult with a vet to eliminate any underlying health issues, as there are many conditions whose symptom is vomiting. One of the conditions that manifests as vomiting foam is bilious vomiting, which is caused when a dog's stomach is empty for an extended period. This leads to the production of gastric acid, so the stomach contents may include a foamy, white substance. Feeding smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day may help prevent this.  Gastritis, or the inflammation of the stomach lining can also cause vomiting. This condition may be triggered by various factors, such as dietary indiscretion, changes in diet, ingesting foreign objects, or infections. The vomit can likewise be white and foamy. The same can happen in the case of gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach and intestines, which is often caused by infections, dietary changes, or the ingestion of inappropriate or spoiled food. Be careful of the expiration dates and the quality of food you give to your dog, as an innocent mistake can cause a lot of digestive issues for your four-legged bestie. Another possible reason for white foam vomit can be the  ingestion of foreign bodies. Dogs may ingest non-food items that can cause irritation or blockages in the digestive tract, leading to vomiting. If you notice them dry heaving, this could be the reason why. The same goes for the ingestion of  toxic materials. Ingesting toxic substances can lead to white foamy vomiting. Common toxins include certain plants, human foods (like chocolate, xylitol, or onions), and household chemicals.

Stray Dog Becomes Surrogate for Abandoned Puppies at Texas Shelter

A stray Great Pyrenees dog, found wandering the streets of Fort Bend County, Texas, became a surrogate mother to a litter of six abandoned puppies.In late October, a concerned citizen found an abandoned litter of puppies. After failing to locate the pups’ mother in the surrounding area, the person brought the puppies to Fort Bend County Animal Services. “They were tiny, needing immediate bottle feeding and care, they were just about a week to 10 days old,” said Rene Vasquez, the director of Fort Bend County Animal Services, to PEOPLE.Although the puppies arrived at the shelter in good condition, they were starving and needed nourishment ASAP. The Fort Bening County Animal Services took to social media to look for fosters to take in the puppies and provide them with around-the-clock bottle feedings. Around the same time, another local found a stray Great Pyrenees, named Nova, who was full of milk. While it was clear that Nova had a litter recently, her puppies were nowhere to be found. The woman who found Nova saw the shelter’s online call for help and decided to contact them with a different idea. Instead of using volunteers to do the bottle feedings, she suggested bringing Nova by to see if the dog would accept to nurse the puppies. The shelter loved this idea and decided to give Nova a chance. A few seconds after Nova met the puppies it became apparent that the shelter made the right decision. “Nova was so happy to see the puppies! She took to them right away, and they were very happy to have a mama and food,” Vasquez shared. Although the abandoned puppies aren’t Nova’s biological litter, she accepted them as if they were her own. Acting like a true momma, Nova quickly allowed the pups to nurse and cuddle close to her for warmth. Thanks to Nova’s maternal instincts the puppies are doing well and growing quickly.“We were so happy that Nova was able to step up and be a mom for them. Sometimes, it is difficult to find bottle feeders and fosters for when the puppies or kittens are so little, so to have a nursing mom available to accept the babies is definitely a good day,” said Vasquez. Nova and the puppies, five boys and one girl, are currently living in a foster home. The fosters caring for the four-legged bunch plan to adopt Nova once the puppies are weaned. “The puppies will stay with Nova until they are weaned, and then we will start looking for homes for them. They will also be vaccinated, microchipped, and fixed before going to their forever homes,” the shelter’s director added. The case of Nova and her adopted litter has a happy ending, but not all stories end on a positive note. “As an industry, we are facing a real crisis in animal welfare across the country with an abundance of stray animals and not enough adopters or fosters to help the overcrowded shelters and rescues. Nova and her puppies illustrate the importance of spaying and neutering,” said the Fort Bend County Animal Services director.Shelters around the country are struggling to take in new animals due to a lack of forever homes and overcrowding. Each year, millions of pets end up in shelters across the nation, most of which are never adopted into a forever home. If you’re looking for a four-legged companion, visit your local shelter or rescue organization to see which of their residents would make a perfect addition to your home. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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