Tips & Tricks

Keep your dog away from the following foods:

Onions and garlic can cause anemia. High-fat foods can lead to obesity and digestion problems. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and could lead to death. Poultry bones could splinter and lead to choking or internal bleeding. Grapes and raisins can be toxic in large amounts.

Watch for the following oral disease symptoms in your dog:

Excess plaque and calculus (dental tartar) deposits on your dog's teeth cause bad breath. Without treatment, this could lead to painful gum and bone infections.

It is perfectly normal for young dogs to lose their "baby" teeth, just like children do. After the "adult" teeth have grown in, tooth loss becomes a great concern for canine health. Tooth loss is caused by an infection of the tissues and bones surrounding the teeth. Once this infection starts, it is irreversible.

Bleeding gums could indicate dog health problems known as pyorrhea or gingivitis. Pyorrhea causes inflamed and infected gums that could eventually cause kidney infections or endocarditic in older dogs. Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gum line from food particles.

Your dog should not have difficulty chewing on hard foods or toys. Sensitive teeth or gums could indicate a tendency towards pyorrhea or gingivitis.

Four Tips for Tackling Tub Time

No, not all dogs bound toward the tub when you mention taking a bath.
But you can make tub time less hairy for you and your pooch with these easy tips:

Take care of tangles before bathing. Especially mats; they're nearly impossible to comb through once they're wet!. Choose the right tub. Depending on your dog's size, use your sink or bathtub or, if weather permits, use a plastic tub outdoors.

Use restraints. Have a pup who won't stand still? Try keeping her leashed, or use a leash-like grooming tether that fastens to the tub wall with a suction cup. A rubber bath mat can help prevent slipping or sliding.

Set water on warm. Start by wetting down your dog's coat with cupfuls of warm -- not hot -- water. Or use the low setting on the spray head of your sink or shower. Gently work dog shampoo into her coat, massaging her from head to tail, keeping suds away from her eyes and mouth. Rinse thoroughly to avoid leaving any soap residue that may irritate her skin.

Apply the finishing touches. Give her a thorough once (or twice) over with a towel. If your pup has longish hair, comb her out while she's still damp. If you use a hair dryer to speed things along, keep it on a low, cool setting.

How to Avoid Teething Mishaps

Give her chew toys. Most puppies chew to ease tooth and gum pain, not to intentionally destroy. So your pup will likely enjoy gnawing on a few good chew toys as much, if not more, than your Jimmy Choo slingbacks. But if she keeps sinking her teeth into one, take it away, firmly tell her "no," and replace the shoe with one of her toys. When she chews on the toy, reinforce the behavior with, "You're a good girl."

Keep it interesting. Switch out your pup's chew toys every couple of months so she doesn't get bored and seek out alternatives. Avoid confusion by steering clear of toys that resemble household items -- like those squeaky rubber shoes -- until she gets older.

Puppy-proof as needed. When you're out and about, put your pooch in her crate or an area of the house that's been stripped of all potentially chewable items, except her toys. Move plants and electrical cords out of reach, too.

Run her around. Give your pup plenty of opportunities to be active and get some exercise. This will help prevent two of the leading causes of destructive chewing: boredom and restlessness.