What It Means When Your Dog Sniffs Down There

Some dogs are so affectionate that they're not content with licking your face. They also want to share your more private smells which can prove embarrassing for you or an unsuspecting visitor.

Men and women alike are victims of this socially awkward behavior. Dogs do this out of a natural instinct to learn about this person (in the same way they sniff each others behinds) and out of habit. Keep in mind that dogs have a very strong sense of smell so they can learn a lot about a person through sniffing.

This strong sense of smell also leads to another reason canines might sniff that private area - because some dogs can actually sense prostrate cancer. They can detect a problem just sniffing people but, according to a recent study, can actually pick up the scent of chemicals associated with early prostrate cancer in urine.

If you need more information or need a pet sitter for your babies, visit our website at WagWatchers.com  - We promise they will have a GREAT TIME!!!

Find a real home for your dog to stay while you are away OR find out how to become a Wag Watchers pet host.

Browse to see what areas we cover in Florida and New Jersey to find a pet care provider in your area or call us at 1-866-749-1551

Tools to Help Unravel Your Dog's DNA

Many of us with mutts are curious about the breeds lurking in their ancestry. With the invention of Dog DNA tests, it is promised that we can now find out easily. But as many dog owners know, these tests are not always accurate.

I used Biovet to test my Pit Bull/hound mix. Here was her odd result: Akita/Boston Terrier/Schnauzer. Well, at least now I have proof she isn't a Pit if BSL ever comes to my town!

The only way to be certain about your dog's DNA, though, is to do a blood test. This test is over 90 percent accurate and can be done at your vet's. In the meantime, you can make an educated guess.

SPRING Into Parasite Prevention

Spring is here, and that means the warmer weather is bringing us and our pets out of hibernation. Unfortunately, it also means pesky pet parasites are becoming more prevalent.

Did You Know?

Fleas and Ticks are not only a nuisance but have the ability to cause serious illness in your pets and even family! One tiny flea can multiply to over 500 on your pet and in your home in just 3 weeks.

Heartworms are passed by mosquitoes through the bloodstream and into the pet's heart and lungs, causing serious illness and possibly death. Even 100% indoor cats can be become infested with heartworms.

Intestinal Parasites can infest your pet when your pet simply walks through soil that contains worm eggs or larvae or ingests something that carries the parasites. Pets can appear perfectly healthy and still be infected with parasites.

Here's the Good News!

All of these parasites are preventable!
Parasite prevention and treatment can help maintain the health and happiness of your pet. Call your local vet to schedule an appointment, and don't forget to bring a fecal sample for testing.

A Trick to Make House Training Easier

Bringing a new puppy home is a joyous occasion – until the eighth night of whining and the 10th attempt to steam the urine out of the rug. It’s OK to get frustrated with your new family member, just take it out on the treadmill instead of your pup. Besides learning how to house train your puppy, planning when you get your pup can be very helpful.

Before you bring home a puppy, plan to adopt at the beginning of a good weather season. This will vary depending on where you live. Keep in mind that hot weather isn’t necessarily good weather, so fall may be a better choice in someplace like Texas. What you want is to be able to run your puppy outside every time he shows signs of needing a bathroom break.

If you need help in training your new puppy, let Wag Watchers help...

Why Marrow Bones?

At Wag Watchers we like to treat your pooch to a marrow bone. Why you may ask?

Well first and foremost your dog loves them. They are a delicious and nutritious treat. Also, bones are great fun for dogs. They provide a task that is enjoyable to your beloved pet.

Bones are great for your dogs teeth. They help to clean teeth and eliminate bad breathe. Bones are also good for your pooches digestive tract.

Overall, we share a bone with your dog, not only because it is a great treat for them, but also because it is a healthy treat too.

Wrestling with a Matted Dog Coat

Mats and tangles are not becoming to say the least and can cause painful pinching and pulling against your pet's skin. (They also mean an achy wrist for the one doing all the brushing.) Unleash your inner groomer by making daily brushing part of your dog's routine fur treatment.

Brushing helps prevent tangles and clears away loose hair that would otherwise shed, only to end up around the house. Daily grooming helps your dog maintain lush shiny locks and a soft coat by distributing the natural oils that keep your pet's fur healthy.

How to Properly Set Up a Rabbit Cage

Preparing a home for a new bunny buddy? These cute, fun animals have specific housing needs. Follow these tips for the proper setup of a rabbit cage:

• Set up your rabbit's housing before you bring your pet home.

• Unless they're spayed or neutered, rabbits should be housed alone.

• Caging should include a hiding area, food bowl, water bottle, salt lick, and hay manger.

• The larger the cage, the better! Get a cage that has a lot of surface area, rather than multiple levels. Two levels are fine, but there is no need for a really tall cage.

• The cage should have a solid bottom. Avoid a wire bottom, which can irritate a rabbit's sensitive feet (the same goes for exercise wheels).

• Use rabbit-safe litter or shavings to line the litter box. Make the bedding about one inch deep and be sure to change it at least every other day.

• Put the cage in an area that gets a lot of activity – rabbits are very social and love people!

• Use only pet-safe cleaners in your pet's cage. Nature's Miracle is great for cleaning rabbit cages.

• If you give your rabbit access to the outdoors, beware of high temperatures and potential predators (stray or wild animals).

• Rabbits need daily exercise for their health. An exercise pen is ideal for keeping your rabbit safe, but still giving them room to run.

• If you allow your rabbit to roam your home, first rabbit-proof it by:

            Moving all plants out of reach.

             Moving all electrical cords out of reach. Rabbits try to chew them and can be       
             electrocuted.

             Restricting access to furniture & rugs (to avoid chewing and digging behaviors).

A Message From Your Cat: Why I'm Bored and What You Can do About it

Dear Keeper-of-the-Food:

It's me, your adorable feline, and today I want to talk to you about something important—boredom, specifically, my boredom. My life may seem wonderfully relaxing to you, but I can only cat nap for so long. And just when I'm ready to play, you're going to sleep!

You don't play with me as much as you used to, so I've had to come up with my own amusements. Pouncing on you while you're sleeping and other naughty things are all very amusing. There's nothing else to do really, so why am I being scolded?

I think it's time we discuss an upgrade in entertainment options, don't you? Here are my demands requests:

A variety of toys – I've been playing with the same sad toys for quite a while now. Here are some fun options that will keep me busy:

	Wand toys with danglers - I love to pounce on dangling toys, as you know.
	Treat-dispensing toys – Food! In a toy! This is genius!
	Catnip toys– Need I say more?
	Interactive toys – Puzzles or toys with moving parts I can chase. There's a food maze, for example, that sounds delightful.

Curious things – That cardboard box you had the other day was such fun! You know I'm a curious cat. Why not leave those boxes, paper bags and other interesting things around a little longer? They just might keep me away from the drapes.

A window seat – There's nothing I enjoy more than watching my prey outdoors, so I'd appreciate a window ledge or perch. I can dream of my attack as I watch birds and small animals. Better yet, hang a bird feeder outside and I'll be in heaven.

Fun furniture and high perches – I need to watch over my domain and explore. If you give me a high post or some interesting cat furniture (or a jungle gym!), I'll consider staying off the refrigerator.

Flea & Tick Myths

You may have heard a lot of advice about fleas and ticks. But there are surprisingly many untruths or myths about them that are still circulating today.

MYTH: Fleas and ticks are a warm-weather problem
In certain areas, they're a year-round problem. Even in states with cold winters, fleas can survive in microclimates. These areas (under decks, in sheds or elsewhere) are warm enough to keep a population of fleas or ticks alive during the winter.

MYTH: Indoor pets don't need protection Think your indoor puppy or cat is safe from fleas and ticks? Think again. These pests can hitch a ride indoors on other visitors, both human and animal. MYTH: Fleas live best in carpeted spaces Believe it or not, wood and tile floors can also harbor fleas. In fact, it may be harder to treat these areas as flea larvae and eggs can survive in small crevices, along baseboards and under furniture. MYTH: It's best to remove ticks with burning matches, nail polish or alcohol These and other common folk remedies claim to solve the tick problem. But they may worsen it by leaving the tick's head embedded in the skin or releasing disease-laden fluids into your pet's blood. Focus instead on removing the tick as quickly as possible. MYTH: A few fleas are not a "serious" problem Once you spot a few adult fleas, you can expect there to be hundreds of eggs, larvae and pupae on your pet and in his favorite areas. Act quickly to treat your pet, home and yard with flea and tick control products. Better yet, use a flea preventive to protect Fido year-round. MYTH: A flea infestation can be eradicated in a few days It's more likely to take three to eight weeks. That's because new adult fleas are emerging every day as part of their lifecycle. Keep cleaning and treating each area consistently to combat the problem and see results.

For Anyone with Pets!!!

Who has pets that have had an accident in the house? This is a Eco~Friendly & $$$ Saving Tip to help clean urine out of your carpet or upholstery. 

Just take a container of regular old table salt and pour a generous amount on the wet area of your carpet. Let is set for several hours and then vacuum it up. The salt absorbs the urine. Anytime I have used this there is no stain or smell that remains. 

A Dog's Purpose? (from a 6-year-old)

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.  

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.

He said, ''People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?'' The Six-year-old continued,

''Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

How to Keep Your Cat from Having Cling-Ons

Although it’s embarrassing to admit, our cats sometimes have problems keeping their bottoms clean. This is particularly true of obese or long-haired cats. Here’s how to minimize the smelly impact:

Keep the litter box clean. Scoop waste at least twice a day. If you have a covered litter box, remove the cover.

If your cat has messy britches because of diarrhea, talk with your vet. If there’s no disease-based reason for diarrhea, consider switching food brands.

And, of course, when you do clean your kitty, it’s easiest to take care of the mess before it hardens up. If you tug on his fur while trying to remove the cling-ons, your cat won’t appreciate your assistance.

A Headache of a Question: Can Cats Take Aspirin?

When your cat has a headache, can he reach for the aspirin? According to Vet Info, it is possible to give cats aspirin in very low doses. It is recommended that 10mg/lb of body weight or one of the 81mg adult chewable aspirin tablets be given, whichever is less medication.

Aspirin stays in a cat’s system for 72 hours though, so dose infrequently. Too much aspirin can be toxic, as can any amount of Acetaminophen, so skip the Tylenol and Excedrin. And, as with every medication, make sure you talk to your vet first.

A Canine Hero named Gabe

Gabe has done 210 combat missions in Iraq. He is a decorated military hero. He is 10 years old, and he is a dog.

Gabe was a rescue dog, found in a shelter just one day before he was set to be put down. This lab mix was enlisted in the US Army, and trained to siff out weapons. He has spent most of his career in Iraq sniffing IEDs and saving the lives of soldiers.

Gabe has recently become a celebrity of sorts. He caught the attention of Betty White and Whoopi Goldberg, and has been on national television. Gabe is now retired. He spends his days as a house pet and is occasionally used to teach soldiers how to work with sniffing dogs.

We Tip Our Hats to the Working Dogs

Working dogs have played an intregul role in history. Here are some fun facts…

During the Vietnam war 4500 working dogs were sent to aid the troops.

The first guide dogs for the blind and visually impaired were trained in Germany to provide assistance for those blinded in the war. German Shepherds were used for their protective and strong sense of loyalty to their owner.

In Roman times, Mastiffs donned light armor and were sent after mounted knights.

Dogs can be trained to detect epileptic seizures.

A dog by the name ok Laikawas launched into space aboard the Russian spacecraft Sputnik  2 in the year 1957.

Dogs are truly amazing.