Grab The GoGo Stick: It’s Your Go-To When Fido Go-Goes

by Lydia McNutt

Published: April 23rd, 2015

grab the gogo stick its your go to when fido go goes

Spring is in the air and winter has left us with a nasty #2 mess. It’s poop-scoopin’ season, and if you wouldn’t touch doodie with a 10-foot pole, you’ll want to get the GoGo Stik!

Spring has sprung. Ahhh, smell that fresh air, the blooming buds, the… dog poop? That’s a downright reek that will bring tears to your eyes, after a long winter of bathroom breaks in the backyard leaves layers of frozen bogies buried beneath the ice and snow. Then, come spring, it all melts away and – you guessed it! You’ve got four months’ worth of dog doodie to dodge and clean. That’s a lot of crapola. The GoGo Stik is the one tool you’ll want to have on hand for this dirty job.

The poop problem

Simply put, poop is gross. Bending over, picking it up with your hand – ewww. Does the barely-there, sometimes holey plastic bag stretched over your hand really make it any better? I think not. It’s stinky, it’s unsanitary, and most definitely the “short straw” job when spring-cleaning season rolls around at my house. But someone’s gotta do it.

The super-duper pooper-scooper solution

If the mere idea makes of it you wanna hurl, don’t punish yourself another minute. There is a better way! Touted as the “Totally Clean, Patented Dual-Edged Super Scoop,” the GoGo Stik is your super-duper pooper-scooper, equipped with a short or long handle, for those who want to put as much air between their nose and the offending object. Just load any bag through the hoop (even a paper bag will do the trick), and the integrated double-sided scooper pulls the poop into the bag – for fuss, no muss, no bending, and most importantly, no hands! For big jobs, like the annual spring sweep, just use a bigger bag and you’re ready to hit the dirt, so to speak. A whole yard can be de-funked in minutes.

I think that the GoGo Stik would make a great addition to any property, condo or apartment manager’s arsenal. For whatever reason, people think that the complex’s lawn if a free-for-all poop zone. But that’s not the case… someone has to deal with it. And the GoGo Stik helps them get the job done without worrying about their gag reflex kicking in.

Any time, any place, any poop

You know the sense of dread you get when your dog takes aim, for the third time in one walk, after you’ve already used up the two bags you were sure would suffice? The GoGo Stik is the take-along tool that is ready to scoop when he’s ready to poop. Before you embark on your outing, just load a bag (a larger size, if the above scenario is familiar to you), grab your GoGo, and go! Weighing in at just one pound, this ultra light-weight scooper is easy to take along, on hand wherever Sparky’s urge takes over. Use the rounded edge on grass, sand or snow for easy soft-surface pick-up, and the straight edge works wonders on sidewalks and hard surfaces.

Stop flushing money down the toilet

Have you considered how much money you’re flushing down the toilet (pun intended) on poop bags? GoGo Stik lets you load any old bag, from empty bread and produce bags, to paper bags, to large and small plastic bags with or without handles. Whatever you can get your hands on. And for those big jobs, use just one big bag to collect it all.

I think that the GoGo Stik, priced at $24.95, is a great purchase. Just don’t be surprised if all your neighbors come by asking to borrow it when they’ve got a stinky mess of their own!

Lydia McNutt is an award winning writer, editor, blogger and proud mama of three of the fur-babies: her two cats, Phoebe and Brewster (who think they are dogs,) and her 90-pound yellow lab, Fred – the biggest lap dog you’ll ever meet. When her head’s not in a cloud of fur, you’ll find Lydia chasing her toddler through the neighborhood, reading a good biography, or writing about… Well, you’ll just have to read more of Lydia’s articles to find out!

Lydia McNutt

More by Lydia McNutt

New Bill Will Eliminate Housing Barriers for Pet Owners In California

View Article

When Indoor Accidents Happen, Erase All Traces Of It With Chem-Dry Tre

Sure, you’ve wiped up your dog’s last indoor accident… but is it really gone for good? Urine can soak into your hardwood and padding – you’ll need more than just soapy water to get it out. Even well-trained pets can have an accident. Unfortunately, typical cleaning methods—spraying a mild detergent and wiping with a paper towel—don’t sanitize the mess. In fact, many sprays designed to get rid of pet odors don’t break down the urine crystals that then seep into carpets and hardwood floors. Gross. And dangerous! According to Jotham Hatch, the home safety and allergen expert at Chem-Dry, “Accidents end up being a food source for bacteria, setting the stage for disease.” He pointed out that children spend more time on the carpet than adults do and often put things from the floor in their mouths, making them particularly susceptible to disease. Related: An Inside Scoop On Running A Professional Dog Poop Scooping Business “The big thing is zoonotic diseases (illnesses that can be passed between humans and animals), diseases that can be carried in the feces of pets,” Hatch said. “The first defense is to get your floor covering and carpets cleaned regularly.” Chem-Dry uses a proprietary technology called Pet Urine Removal Treatment, or P.U.R.T. The process starts with a black light to—yuck—show all the places in your home that have pet accidents. The Chem-Dry professional will isolate problem areas and apply a sanitizer. Related: Grab The GoGo Stick: It’s Your Go-To When Fido Go-Goes “It’s an interesting dichotomy,” Hatch said. “Sanitizer is designed to kill things, designed to kill microorganisms. Then, we have to follow up with a cleaning process to pull up the sanitizers, leaving the home a safe environment.”

Keep Your Distance While Keeping The Neighborhood Clean With PickApoo

It’s a dirty job, but as a responsible pet parent, you need to scoop that poop. Now, you can keep your distance with a new pooper scooper you didn’t know you needed. Very few people—except (maybe) new parents—talk about poop as much as dog people. And when it comes to poop, one of the biggest topics? Scooping. Everyone has that horror story. The ripped bag. The tough-to-pick-up. The icy fingers that slip. Shudder. The obvious solution is a pooper scooper, but the standard scooper has been improved upon by pickApoo. Creator Shir Halifi spent two years of rigorous research and design to come up with the ultimate scoop. It can be used with any type of plastic bag (though they recommend biodegradable to lessen the environmental impact), and it’s a one-handed scoop for any surface. The design makes it usable for children or anyone who has limited mobility. Related: An Inside Scoop On Running A Professional Dog Poop Scooping Business The scoop itself is designed so that it never touches what it’s picking up, so no need to clean it like you would a standard shovel or bin-style scooper. “Ask any pet owner if they’re in love with their current pooper scooper, and I guarantee they’ll tell you there are things they’d change,” said Halifi. “Well, I decided to take all those ‘wants’ of a pooper scooper, and come out with a version that suits every pet owners’ need, regardless of size of dog, mobility or age of owner, and type of surface area they are scooping from.” It’s lightweight and easy to take along on walks, plus it has a built-in flashlight to aid in nighttime scooping. The patent-pending design has been field tested for two years. According to the developer, “We’ve tested the pickApoo with kids, people in wheelchairs, and owners of all dog breeds, and are thrilled with the reviews we’ve received,” Halifi added. Related: Grab The GoGo Stick: It’s Your Go-To When Fido Go-Goes Here’s how the one-handed scooping works: Attach a plastic bag to the end of the pickApoo. Use that one bag to scoop up several bathroom breaks. Then, once it’s full, pull it off the pickApoo and toss. It doesn’t include a claw, so it doesn’t scoop up grass or gravel. The pickApoo also lessens the environmental impact of poop bags. A single plastic bag can be used several times, and dog walkers don’t have to bend down to scoop each time. They further encourage the use of biodegradable plastic bags to diminish the impact even more. Plus, the telescoping handle is made from long-lasting recycled plastic. The reality is, unfortunately, that many dog owners don’t clean up after their pets. It’s Halifi’s vision that, with the pickApoo, people will feel more inspired to pick up their pet’s business because they won’t have to touch anything. In fact, dog owners with a pickApoo can pick up found messes since they don’t have to touch anything to help keep the environment cleaner. pickApoo launched an Indiegogo campaign to obtain the funding needed to go into production. Halifi is aiming to raise $25,000 to manufacture the pickApoo from his prototype. He also plans to add additional features and a second product, the Pocket pickApoo. Visit the official pickApoo site to see the product in action, or to support the fundraising campaign, check out pickApoo’s campaign page.

Green Power Goes Brown With Dog Poo Poo Powered Appliances

Poop, scoop and power up! A concept project is in the works that will convert dog poop into power that runs your household appliances. For those who pooh-pooh the idea of new, off-the-wall technologies that support green power… boy, have I got one for you! With U.K.’s recent introduction of a BioBus that converts human waste into sufficient energy to power a commuter bus for 15 minute intervals, it was inevitable that some dog walker, somewhere in the world, would add number two plus number two and come up with a better way to dispose of doggie doo (so many crappy poop jokes!). Related: Turns Out “Green” Poop Bags Aren’t The Sh*t After All I mean, which of us have not wondered if Rover’s rump could one day power up the coffee maker or the toaster. Not you? Well, hang on to your leash! Geneva-based designer and pet parent Oceane Izard has created Poo Poo Power. While still in the conceptual stages, it seems to deliver on its promise to convert dog poop into electricity sufficient to charge household gadgets. The actual dream machine resembles a Diaper Genie in terms of size and scale. The poop – previously collected into a bio-degradable bag – is deposited into the top of the machine and lots of little sounds tell us its busy doing something with Fido’s feces. Related: Grab The GoGo Stick: It’s Your Go-To When Fido Go-Goes Apparently sludge-eating bacteria belch out methane that is converted to power. The electricity is stored in large batteries which can be detached and used as an outlet for household appliances. Be honest. Around now you’re wondering if your dog has it in him to power up the dishwasher. Well, Izard confirms the amount of power it produces depends on the dog. A German Shepherd produces more “fuel” than a beagle, which would mean the smaller dog could probably run a fan for a couple of hours while the shepherd could potentially run your fridge. It’s estimated the average household would need six to seven (well fed, I assume) dogs per person to operate all electrical equipment. Izard is convinced it will change pet owner attitudes when it comes to sidewalk clean up. “Dog owners pick up their dog turds every day. This is certainly an ordeal. That’s why there’s so much in the streets. But with this machine, people will want to bring [home] this precious gift that their dogs do one to two times a day.” It seems San Francisco agrees (almost) and considered a pilot of this nature back in 2006, but it never shall we say… got off the ground. It’s estimated that in the U.S., dogs produce around 10 million tons of poop each year, and most of that waste goes to landfill – where it pumps methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Dog waste also pollutes watersheds; a study in Seattle found that as much as 20 percent of bacteria in local water came from dogs. This interesting take on “clean” energy has potential, but will people be able to get over the fact that their home is powered by dog poop? Would you ever power up with poop? Leave your comments below!

Plain Jane Dogs Work Harder to Communicate

Studies show dogs without facial markings tend to get the short end of the stick... so to speak.

An AI App Helps Vets Diagnose Cats By Detecting Their Pain Levels

Every cat owner has wondered what their cat is thinking about - at least once in a while. You see your feline friend just standing there in the corner, its gaze fixed on something and its expression a true enigma. Sadly, it’s not that easy to read a cat’s emotions, so most of it just remains a mystery. Until now, that is. An Alberta-based company is developing an app that could change the way we see cats and their emotions. The innovative AI app is named Tably, and it aims to help vet clinics assess a cat’s pain more easily. Susan Groenveld, one of the developers of Tably, said that felines visit the vet far less than dogs. "And when you really unpack that, it's because they hide their pain. When a cat is in pain, they go and hide under the bed, versus a dog that'll present to the owner, like kids do," said Groeneveld, the founder at Sylvester.ai, the company developing the  Tably app. "I thought, wouldn't it be cool if everyday people that love their pets would know if their animal may be demonstrating pain."An earlier version of the app already showed remarkable success, with tens of thousands of downloads around the world. Susan Groeneveld said that those early stages of the app acquired around 54,000 downloads in just a week, showing that there is a big need for something like this. "This told us that people were really, really interested in it," she said. "But we really wanted to make sure that it was validated and veterinarians actually supported it because it was a really easy opportunity for us to become a novelty."As the work progressed, the app had been clinically tested by both veterinarians and pet owners in the United States, Canada, as well as in Europe. It is expected that the app will arrive in the digital market in the U.S., Singapore, and France in January. And for Canada, the app should see a release this fall. How does Tably work? The app uses special algorithms that apply standards and facial pain scores that vets previously created. With that, the vets can review the results and better assess the cat’s state. "We believe our technology will make it more accurate because there's less human bias in the subjectivity of the assessment," Groeneveld said.Positive reviews have been overwhelming so far, many of them coming from respected vets. Dr. Liz Ruelle, a vet at the Wild Rose Cat Clinic in Calgary, Alberta, is on the advisory board for the Tably app. Her involvement is very important for the developers, and Dr. Ruelle used the app in her practice. In fact, Dr. Ruelle states that she definitely plans on using the app in her future work and said for  Yahoo: “When a cat experiences pain, its eyes and eyelid positions change and they shift their ear positions. Like if we're in a good mood and we smile, we could think of how our cheeks are uplifted. We see the apples of our cheeks. If I had whiskers on my cheeks, then I would have that same uplifted, happy whiskers," she said. "But when I'm feeling sad, or headache, or painful, then those facial muscles start to sag down … instead of being upright and perky whiskers, they would be kind of dropping down the face."The best thing of all - the app won’t be exclusive to vets. Groeneveld and Ruell stated that a special lite version is planned, which will be aimed at pet owners to use at home. No exact dates have been provided, however. 

How Can I Tell If My Dog Has a Fever?

High fever is no joke, and can be quite serious – both for people and their furry four-legged friends. Yes, dogs can have a fever too, and it can be a much more serious condition for them than it is for us. Unfortunately, fever is not an ailment you can spot with your bare eye. Because of this, you will need to thoroughly observe your pet’s behavior and learn how to spot those little details that indicate a fever. Read on as we go through the basics of dog fever and just how to tell if your pet needs your help.Symptoms of Fever in DogsDogs, like humans, can develop a fever as a response to illness or infection. It’s the body’s natural way to fight off the “intruders” in the body. Fever comes in many forms and for various reasons. You can tell if your dog has a fever by observing their behavior and checking for physical signs. Here are just a few of the most common indicators.Increased Body Temperature: 

Why Do Some Dogs Have Bad Body Odor?

Dogs are cute, no doubt about that, but most of them are not winning awards for their lovely BO – in fact, if we’re being honest, most pooches are a bit stinky. Of course, if you make sure to keep them clean with regular baths, grooming, and teeth brushing, you can eliminate or at least significantly reduce any unpleasant smell. But sometimes, even if you are very attentive about your dog’s hygiene, they can still smell a bit funky. Why does this happen? And what should you do in that case? Lastly, is there a way to prevent unpleasant body odors in your dog? Let’s try and answer all these stinky questions.Why Does My Dog Smell Bad?Are you catching a whiff of something foul whenever your dog enters the room? Are you struggling to keep them clean and smelling fresh? There could be a number of reasons why your pupper is stinky, and it is important to go over everything in order to properly address this issue. Firstly, you want to consider their hygiene. Lack of regular grooming and bathing can lead to a buildup of dirt, oils, and bacteria on a dog's skin and coat, resulting in a bad odor. Make sure you are giving your dog a regular wash or a bath, and that you are using  special shampoos that are safe for pets and smell nice.

Why Does My Dog Eat Poop?

When it comes to eating, most dogs will eat just about anything – in fact, if it’s something that’s forbidden for them to eat or something that they really shouldn’t be munching on, their appetite only seems to increase. And unfortunately, that also includes poop. While it is definitely disgusting to see, it actually has a lot of science behind it. The behavior is called  coprophagia, and it is influenced by a lot of major factors. Getting to know them can help you better understand this odd behavior, and help you act accordingly. So let’s learn all about dogs and poop-eating.Why Does My Dog Eat Poop?Believe it or not, eating poop is a fairly common behavior in dogs. In fact, recent studies reveal that it is  in a dog’s DNA to eat poop. It isn’t, however, a behavior that should be ignored completely. Because it can give you insights into the health and mentality of your four-legged friend. If you spot your pet munching on the forbidden fudge, it could signal a major nutritional deficiency. So, basically, if a dog is lacking certain nutrients in their diet, they may seek to fulfill those needs by eating feces. Of course, it can also signal underlying medical issues. It is known that some medical conditions can lead to coprophagia, such as malabsorption disorders or  parasites. Coprophagia can also sometimes stem from behavioral issues, such as stress, anxiety, or boredom. Dogs may resort to eating poop as a way to cope with these feelings or out of sheer boredom. It can also come from simple attention-seeking. Yup, your dog can eat feces as a way to gain attention, especially if they've received a strong reaction from their owners in the past. And, if you notice that your doggo is nibbling on poop in the park or on the street, they could be attracted to the scent. The scent of feces attracts some dogs, especially if it's from another animal. Of course, neglect can also be a viable cause. Dogs that are confined in tight spaces or cages can exhibit unnatural behaviors, such as excessive eating of poop. It can also stem from anxiety, fear, isolation, or from problems related to diet. Either way, it is essential to consult with a veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical issues and to address any behavioral concerns. Of course, ensuring your dog has a balanced diet, plenty of physical and mental stimulation, and positive reinforcement training can help deter this behavior. It can also be wise to supplement your dog’s diet with  quality multivitamins, which can balance their nutritional needs and prevent poop-eating. 

First-ever Canine Parvovirus Treatment Offers Hope for Sick Puppies

Parvovirus - a single word no dog owner wants to hear. Canine parvovirus is one of the most deadly conditions that affect thousands of puppies in the U.S. yearly.Until now, there has been no specific cure for parvovirus, with treatment relying on supportive care. But that changed in May when USDA granted a conditional license for the first-ever canine parvovirus treatment.Developed by Elanco Animal Health Incorporated, the Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody is a single-dose intravenous injection that has been shown to reduce the length of hospital stay and increase the survival rate of dogs diagnosed with parvovirus. In Elanco’s clinical trials, “zero dogs died when treated with Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody,” said Kristen Zersen, DVM, DACVECC, assistant professor of small animal emergency and critical care at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. That’s fantastic news considering that parvo’s mortality rate is around 91% for dogs not treated with supportive care.While the treatment efficiency study focused on eight-week-old puppies, Zersen said that safety studies have shown that the treatment is well tolerated by puppies as young as six weeks old. “The puppies treated with Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody had significantly faster times to resolution of vomiting, inappetence, and lethargy,” said Zersen. Elanco’s Monoclonal Antibody is the first and only treatment available for parvo which affects around 330,000 dogs each year. Administered intravenously in a single dose, this groundbreaking treatment works by binding to the virus directly, preventing it from entering into host cells. Another great thing about this treatment is that it can be given to dogs at any stage of the disease. The effects of the treatment may vary from one dog to the next but according to Zersen, “Overall the treatment makes for less time, less worry, and less labor helping the dog to feel better faster.”That’s a positive change considering how this deadly disease has been treated in the past. “Traditional canine parvovirus treatment can consist of 24/7 care, three to five days of hospitalization, high pet owner costs, and emotional stress with no guaranteed outcome,” explained Zersen. “Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody offers a targeted solution. Dogs are treated with one intravenous dose that’s highly effective and proven to decrease mortality and may provide faster resolution of the symptoms of this potentially deadly disease.”Elanco expects to obtain full USDA approval in 2024, but veterinarians are able to get the medicine in the meantime. An eight-week-old pit bull mix was one of the first to receive this lifesaving treatment and knows exactly how effective monoclonal antibodies are. As soon as Cookie started to show symptoms of parvo, including lethargy, lack of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea, her owner brought her to the Fix Project’s Parvo ICU.There, a test confirmed that Cookie has, indeed, contracted parvo. Cookie received Elanco’s Monoclonal Antibody treatment and was admitted to the ICU for supportive care. “We gave the injection, placed a catheter, and gave her the rest of our protocol. And the beautiful part about the drug was we had her in and out. We parvo tested her on Friday, and she came back strong positive. By Sunday, she was eating. And then by Monday, we parvo tested her, and she was going home that day,” Dr. Andrew Cabrera, veterinarian and medical director at The Fix Project, told People in an interview. Cookie was one of the first pups to be treated with Elanco’s Monoclonal Antibody treatment, but she wasn’t the last. Dr. Cabrera shares he has seen similar results in parvo cases he has treated. “The success rate has been night and day,” he said. “We are able to get them eating a little faster and out of the hospital a little more quickly.”Hopefully, vets around the country will include Elanco’s Monoclonal Antibody treatment in current parvo protocols to increase the survival rate and reduce hospitalization time.

Humans Are Getting Their Pets Sick – Here's What You Need To Know

Zoonosis are diseases that can be transmitted from other vertebrate animals to humans, such as rabies or Lyme disease, and has been around ever since we started domesticating animals. However, recent studies reveal that a new and lesser-known form of zoonose is becoming increasingly common: the reverse zoonose. This is the latest phenomenon, where disease can be transmitted from humans to their pets. Dr. Benjamin Anderson from the University of Florida was amongst the first to warn about the increase of reverse zoonoses. He said that more attention should be paid to disease transmission “in the opposite direction”, and that both pets and their owners can be threatened by it, especially when sharing close quarters with one another.“We’re starting to see a lot of examples of reverse zoonosis. Pets are more susceptible than, maybe, we previously thought,” he said. “Typically, the viruses that I will have as a human are not going to fit into the receptors that a dog or cat has.”This means that reverse zoonoses typically appear when a pathogen in humans mutates and then adapts to a new animal host. In the past, however, it was much rarer for this to happen, because humans and animals have a totally different biology.But now, the viruses like  coronavirus or influenza have a much higher chance of cross-species transmission. This is mainly due to their RNA-based genetic material, which is more likely to mutate or have replication errors. According to Dr. Anderson, there are several diseases that have been documented to transmit from humans to their pets. These include COVID-19, tuberculosis, swine flu, dengue, human-norovirus, and other viral, fungal, parasitic, and bacterial infections.To make matters worse, the highest chances for this to happen is with pets such as dogs, cats, horses, and ferrets, as they have the most genetic similarity to humans, being mammals. “We have to first ask how the pathogen gets into those animals in the first place,” said Dr. Anderson for  Phys.org. “The pathogen doesn’t develop out of thin air in animals before suddenly spilling over into humans. While pathogens certainly can move from animals to other animals and can be picked up from the environment, exposure to humans also plays an important role. It’s this constant back and forth exchange that happens over time, increasing the probability of a mutation taking place that allows the pathogen to infect a new host.”Dr. Anderson also noted the difficulty in tracking reverse zoonoses, as it is a big challenge to link the transmission of diseases between humans and animals. Because of this, Dr. Anderson advises pet owners to be cautious around pets, particularly if they are sick with communicable diseases, like COVID-19 or the flu. Maintain good hygiene around your pets, and avoid direct contact.

Here Are the 10 Rarest Dog Breeds in America

View Gallery

GPS Tracker Saves the Life of a Vancouver Island Pooch

New technology helps us find our pets when they wander into trouble.

Study Shows Shape of a Dog’s Head Can Actually Affect Their Sleep

If you have noticed that your dog’s sleep quality is reduced, or that they have begun to snore heavily, there might be an unusual reason behind it – the shape of your pet’s head! Snoring problems can be quite common for many dogs, but they are most often seen in brachycephalic dogs – basically, dogs with flat faces. For example, this is the key characteristic of the  French Bulldog, one of the world’s most popular breeds. In the USA, and in Hungary where the research for these claims was conducted, the goofy little French Bulldog holds the place of the number one most common pet dog breed. And that means that some health-related issues, stemming from their flat-face appearance, are coming into the foreground. Their shortened skulls and brachycephalic morphology result in sleep problems, snoring, difficulties with breathing, and deteriorative brain morphology changes. According to the latest  study by a Hungarian research team, flat-faced dogs tend to sleep more because their breed suffers from sleep apnea and thus their daytime sleepiness is increased. Thus, their REM (deep) sleep phase is much longer than their non-REM sleep, while the EEG patterns in their sleep indicate signs of white matter loss. And while some owners across the world see these Bulldogs and their extremely flat skulls as an attractive or unique feature, it is, nonetheless, a major health hazard. These breeds, for example, the French Bulldog, the Pug, and the English Bulldog tend to live around 3 to 4 years less than other dogs, and in many cases, they don’t even live to adulthood.Some will even have to undergo surgery to correct their musculoskeletal, respiratory, and eye problems, which can cause them a lot of problems throughout their lives. To make matters worse, the rounded and short skull of these dogs results in a distorted and rounded brain, which could affect neural functioning.All this resulted in the Hungarian team’s extensive research into the sleep of these breeds. They studied the sleep of 92 dogs, using EEG. "In the sleep lab, dogs spend about three hours with their owners. As nothing exciting happens, the dogs fall asleep quickly. Meanwhile, we conduct the electrical potential generated by the brain activity with electrodes glued to their scalps," says Anna Kis, who is considered a pioneer in the study of sleeping dogs and a researcher at the HUN-REN Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology. "We wanted to investigate whether flat-faced dogs sleep differently from other dogs, as they are known to suffer from oxygen deprivation due to respiratory problems and therefore have poorer quality sleep. We found that the flat-faced dogs slept more in the three hours given to them during the study. More daytime sleep is probably compensation for insufficient sleep at night.”Ivaylo Iotchev, the first author of a study of dog sleep patterns that was published in the Journal of Brain Structure and Function, adds "In the present study, we found that brachycephalic dogs had decreased beta waves and increased delta compared to dogs with longer noses. The frequency of sleep spindles increased. This pattern has previously been associated with poorer learning in dogs and loss of white matter in humans."He also adds "There may be several reasons for our results. The most interesting of these is that it seems as if the flat-faced dogs have retained the sleep pattern of puppyhood, similarly to newborns who spend more time in REM sleep.”If you own a brachycephalic dog and have been seeing a lack of quality in their sleep, these studies might provide the answers you are looking for – your pooch’s genetics might be to blame for their poor sleep.

Amazon Took Some Heat with 2023 Super Bowl Ad

Rescues and dog experts alike felt solution to separation anxiety was a total fumble. Can they recover this year?

Do Dogs Experience Grief?

Anyone who has ever shared their heart and home with a dog can attest to how deep the emotional connection we form with our best friends is. It is this bond that makes saying goodbye so difficult. But are we the only ones experiencing this pain?If you have recently experienced the passing of a pet or family member and noticed your dog acting a little differently, you may be wondering – Do dogs experience grief, too?In this article, we will dig into the truth about canine emotions and canine grief. This includes understanding what grief means to your dog, learning to recognize the signs that they may be mourning and tips for helping your best friend navigate this difficult time.Do Dogs Experience Grief or Mourning?The short answer is yes, dogs do grieve the loss of a person or animal in their lives. In a 2022 study led by Dr. Federica Pirrone, a veterinary physiologist at the University of Milan, 86% of dog owners reported that they saw a change in behavior in their surviving dog after losing a companion.Our dogs form close bonds with one another and with us. This can be seen both in wild dogs, with the relationships that exist between pack members, as well as the domesticated dogs of today.While they can’t tell us how they are feeling (although we wish they could), dog parents often witness physical and behavioral changes that indicate something is “off” for their dog following a loss. This occurs when a family member (human or pet) passes or even if a family member moves away like a child moving out of the family home.Recognizing that our dogs also go through a grieving process allows us to take steps to help our beloved furry friends deal with this difficult time.

How Often Do Dogs Need to Go Out to Pee?

When nature calls, dogs answer. And when dogs answer, so do you – by taking them outside to do their business. In other words, if you have a potty-trained dog, they will rely on you to know when their bladder is full or at least to take them out frequently enough so it doesn’t get full in the first place. This leaves most owners with the question – how often do dogs need to go out to pee? You don’t want them to have an accident inside the home but you probably don’t want to take them out for a walk every hour or so (even if you did have the time for it) so it’s important to find the right balance. Here’s what you need to know so you can make it work for you and your dog.How Often Do Dogs Pee?The frequency at which dogs need to go out to pee can vary depending on several factors, including their age, breed, size, activity level, and overall health. In general, you can use the following guidelines as a starting point, but it's important to pay attention to your individual dog's needs and adjust accordingly. Sometimes, it’s enough to just observe the signs your dog gives you, like nudging you or standing by the door. But at other times, it requires a bit of “intervention”. When it comes to the connection between a dog’s age and their peeing habits, the younger the pooch, the more they need to go out. Puppies have smaller bladders and higher metabolisms, so they typically need to go out more frequently. A general rule of thumb is to take a puppy out every 1 to 2 hours, especially after eating, drinking, playing, or waking up from a nap. Make sure to let them know why you are going out so they’ll gradually relate walkies with peeing time.Adult dogs, on the other hand, can usually hold their bladders for longer periods. Most adult dogs need to go out every 4 to 6 hours. Some larger breeds may have more bladder capacity and can hold it longer, while smaller breeds may need to go out more frequently, so have that in mind too. Of course, as dogs age, their ability to hold their bladders may decrease. Senior dogs may need to go out more frequently, potentially every 3 to 4 hours. What is more, some senior dogs may suffer from incontinence, meaning that they can’t really control when or where they pee. In this case, you could  use disposable dog diapers until their condition improves or in periods when you’re not there to take them out more frequently and prevent accidents.

UK Wildlife Park Rehabilitates Potty-Mouthed Parrots

The struggle is real! Profanity-laced parrots may turn park's aviary into an adult-only zone.

Enigmatic Respiratory Illness Targets Dogs – These Are The Symptoms

A mysterious and seemingly quite dangerous dog respiratory illness is spreading across the United States– and has veterinarians perplexed. This illness is compared to pneumonia, as it starts with coughing and gradually worsens. To make matters even worse, the illness seems to be resistant to common antibiotics.Officials are now releasing  statements that say dogs are most likely to contract this enigmatic illness directly through contact with other dogs. What this means is that the danger lurks in dog parks, grooming salons, kennels, and any other place where a lot of dogs can be found.While there are some enigmatic aspects to the disease, there are ways, luckily, to recognize it quickly. The most common symptoms to keep an eye out for are coughing, trouble breathing, wheezing, sneezing, nasal and eye discharge, fatigue, lethargy, and so on. According to the Oregon Department of Agriculture, dogs who exhibit these symptoms may also test negative for common causes of respiratory illnesses. Needless to say, owners who spot these symptoms in their dogs should go to the vet immediately. In the meantime, vets are advising owners to avoid places with a lot of dogs for the time being, and also to make sure that their pets are “up to date” with all the necessary vaccinations. And although it is a new illness, officials at the Oregon Department of Agriculture have said that three main categories of cases can already be observed.Chronic mild-moderate tracheobronchitis with a prolonged duration (6 to 8 weeks or longer) that is minimally or not responsive to antibiotics. Chronic pneumonia that is minimally or not responsive to antibiotics.Acute pneumonia rapidly becomes severe and often leads to poor outcomes in as little as 24-36 hours.Checkups are advised, of course, and vets urge owners to schedule visits before exposing their dogs to potentially dangerous environments. According to officials, the illness had been reported in the following U.S. states: Washington, Idaho, Illinois, California, Indiana, Florida, Georgia, Colorado, Oregon, and New Hampshire.“Reduce contact with large numbers of unknown dogs.” the officials advise. “Just like with other respiratory pathogens, the more contacts your dog has, the greater the risk of encountering a dog that’s infectious.”While experts advise dog owners to be careful, but not to worry too much without a reason. Needless to say, you should avoid contact with dogs that look sick or exhibit symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, or runny nose and eyes. Do your best to keep your dog away from them. Another thing to avoid is communal water sources from which many dogs drink. And if your four-legged friend exhibits these symptoms, make sure to keep them at home in order to keep other dogs safe – and of course contact a vet to make sure they get the right treatment on time.

Top stories

Grab The GoGo Stick: It’s Your Go-To When Fido Go-Goes

New Bill Will Eliminate Housing Barriers for Pet Owners In California

Ghosts of Dead Pets May Help Owners Deal With Grief, Study Finds

Top stories

Grab The GoGo Stick: It’s Your Go-To When Fido Go-Goes

Related articles