Rosemary has become a hot topic in the pet industry, mostly due to misinformation about its safety and uses. The real question is what type of Rosemary is being used? Continue reading
A boy, his dog and their adventures on the dock.
Written by Logan Eure
Logan and Bella show off the spoils of all their hard work!
VetriScience Laboratories has been sponsoring dockdogs teams for the last 8 years. This year the VetriScience sponsorship program through DockDogs grew to 20 teams! If you are unfamiliar with dockdogs, you may be missing out on one of the most exciting dog activities out there! We asked Logan Eure, one of our GlycoFlex sponsored youth handlers to tell us in his own words about his adventures as a dockdogs competitor. Check out his story below and you too will see why, we are so proud to have Logan jumping for #TeamGlycoFlex.
The adventures of Rook! One dog’s road to TPLO recovery.
Written by Tracy Burlingame
There are so many wonderful experiences that we have as sporting and competition dog owners, but always looming in the back of our minds is fear of injury. This is especially true if our dogs are “Weekend Warriors”. We try our best to balance our dog’s energy, drive and genetics with the inherent risk that comes with high-level activity, but sometimes despite our best efforts and intentions – things happen. We feed them the best food and supplements (VetriScience products of course), keep them lean, in tip-top condition and monitor every little detail of their health; but, they can be hurt jumping off the couch just as they can by landing a jump wrong on the agility course.
Unfortunately, our dog Rook ruptured the CCL (cranial cruciate ligament) in his knee while running a few weeks ago. He had experienced minor lameness here and there for a month or so prior with no definitive diagnosis (knee problems prior to a complete rupture can be hard to diagnose without arthroscopy) so it’s likely that the ligament was already damaged.
BlogPaws Nashville 2015 Recap
Whew! Now that we’re all settled in, we’re ready to talk about our fantastic week at BlogPaws in Nashville. Not only did we have amazing conversations with people who truly love all pets and sharing their own pet stories with the world, but we also took home a boatload of knowledge about how we can offer even better support for all pets’ health needs.
We started the week with a BlogPaws Twitter chat and were able to answer a lot of common questions about our supplements and about healthy summer activities for your pets. We also had the opportunity to meet many new friends as we were gleefully bombarded with photographs of beloved pets. The next day saw our team waiting for a delayed flight, but we made it into Nashville just in time to set up for the event. Our living room was a big hit with animals and humans:
The first day of BlogPaws was chock full of the sweetest and most well-behaved dogs and cats. We were thrilled the animals all seemed to get along. (We brought along plenty of samples of Composure Chews for those animals experiencing slightly more stress than their friends, just in case!)
Missing Out on Blog Paws? Join Our Twitter Chat!
We’re thrilled to be sponsoring and attending Blog Paws in Nashville, TN this week. If you can’t make it to the conference this year, but still want to connect and discuss animal health, please join us tonight on Twitter for a start time of 8 pm EDT. (You can jump in any time – we’ll be chatting until 10!)
We’ll be using #BlogPawsChat to talk about how to keep your pets healthy and active all summer long. The Blog Paws team will also be asking quiz questions – so you can win awesome prizes from VetriScience. Follow us @VetriScience and follow our friends @BlogPaws. We’re looking forward to chatting with you!
Is Your Dog an Athlete? Read this Story!
Taho is an athlete and a necessary member of Team Dalton, a DockDogs team well acquainted with VetriScience. When we heard that he had experienced an injury, we wanted to find out more and share his healing process with you. We spoke with Taho’s owner Jen through email to get a better picture of what Taho is experiencing, and how you can take steps to ensure your dog heals quickly in the face of an unexpected injury.
Ah, the Smell of Wet Dogs in the Springtime!
By Tracy Mackey-Burlingame
It’s Dockdogs season here in the Rockies and Team Splashdown can’t wait for our first event of the year! It’s been a long, cold winter and we are ready for some splashing fun in the sun! As I hauled out the trusty dog’s sport-equipment tote from the dark corner of the garage for its annual overhaul, I started thinking back to our years of competing and how much our dogs and this crazy sport have changed our lives.
We adopted our dogs Harley and Kasey back in 2003 and 2004. We were first-time dog owners and really didn’t know much about anything except that we had to feed them, scoop a lot of poop and vacuum a lot of fur.
But we learned.
I joined a few online dog forums (yes, forums are those things we did way back in the stone age before Facebook and Twitter) and asked questions and shared my experiences and pictures (lots and LOTS of pictures) only other dog people would appreciate.
ACL Tears in Your Dog: Why They’re Common and What Not to Do
The ACL is the Anterior Cruciate Ligament, often called the Cranial Cruciate Ligament, or CCL, in veterinary medicine.
A tear of this ligament is by far the most common orthopedic injury in dogs, and while it’s relatively easy to fix with the correct diagnosis and therapy, the best way to deal with a torn ACL in your pup is to avoid it in the first place.
So what are some common causes of ACL tears?
We can often point to underlying causes, rather than acute injuries as the offender in ACL tears. One cause, obesity, is a rampant medical issue that adds extra stress to the joints. Dogs also experience constant flex on their knees, as they are always bent, causing the ACL to bear a constant load.
Another possible underlying causes: genetics.
Does My Pet Have Allergies?
Pet allergies can leave you scratching your head. In fact, dogs and cats, like humans, can develop allergies. But because your pet can’t tell you what they think is bothering them, it’s up to the responsible pet owner to recognize and avoid common allergens, and to respond appropriately during those times your pets do have reactions.
This two-part blog post will highlight some important facts about cat and dog allergies and help you begin the process of dealing with them.
Why Breed Specific Rescues Matter
Between 6 and 8 million pets land in shelters each year.
But did you know that about 25% of all pets in shelters are purebred? It’s true!
And breed-specific rescues have important roles to play in placing many of these animals in their forever homes.