by Sandra MurrayReprinted from: Essential Elements, ShowSight Magazine   Reprinted from: Essential Elements, ShowSight Magazine As a youngster she had won her breed’s National Sweepstakes. Not long after that win, she finished her championship with three 5 point majors, all at large regional specialties. During her specials career she earned multiple Group placements and Best […]

    New York, NY – To celebrate the dogs that do extraordinary things for their human counterparts, the AKC Humane FundSM is seeking YOUR nominations for its AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE).  Nominations open April 1, 2015 and winners will be announced summer 2015.   Each year, the AKC Humane Fund pays […]

by Sandra MurrayReprinted from: Essential Elements, ShowSight Magazine Any animal that lives within a tightly knit social group of its own kind has a “language.” Given that dogs are by nature pack animals, they have a rather extensive language that they use to communicate among themselves. Their language contains both physical and verbal components which […]

  Riley peered through the tunnel, as if he were Alice about to tumble down the rabbit’s hole into Wonderland. Such a small space, such a big dog, it seemed impossible. Yet, on a bright, sunny Sunday morning in May, Riley’s trusted, well-loved human, Jay Cruz, was asking the 14-month-old Mastiff to squeeze his whole […]

Various natural supplements might help your dog avoid potent cardiac medication. Heart disease can occur in smaller breeds as they approach old age. It’s easily diagnosed during a routine exam when the veterinarian listens to the dog’s heart and hears a murmur. When a murmur is detected, the vet should perform a complete cardiac evaluation, […]

There’s a Holistic Alternative to Prescription-Only Skin Care? A holistic veterinarian can recommend natural therapies to address your dog’s allergies and skin problems. Allergies and skin infections are health menaces that typically surface with the arrival of spring weather. Traditional medications help dogs with these problems, but the indiscriminate use of antibiotics and antifungals can […]

Clean Eyes and Ears are Essential to Your Dog’s Health Your dog’s coat is only one part of good grooming hygiene. Eyes and ears require every bit as much attention. It’s a good habit to clean your dog’s eyes with every bath, but you shouldn’t neglect to clean any noticeable discharge from the eyes. Check […]

Your Dog’s Weight Gain and Excessive Shedding Might Indicate Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism is a clinical condition resulting in inadequate production of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism is characterized overall by a general decrease in cellular metabolic activity. Dogs afflicted with hypothyroidism most commonly show weight gain, are lethargic and inactive, have a dull hair […]

Your Dog’s Hair Loss Could be a Sign of Demodex Most dogs can tolerate a small number of mites. However, a mite infestation can pose serious health problems for puppies. Demodex mites live in the hair follicles of most dogs. Most dogs have a small number of mites. Usually, the mites are harmless and are […]

A collapsed trachea in your dog is a serious condition, but it something that they can live with. Here's how to best support your dog with this condition.