Here's a news flash—most puppies will shed. That soft, cuddly coat they have now is their puppy coat, and they'll shed that for their adult coat when they're between 3 and 6 months old, although some breeds take much longer. And puppies, and some adult dogs, may pee or poop in the house during potty training […]

As an emergency veterinarian for over thirty years, I’ve found that despite your best efforts, accidents happen even to the best owners. Your pet may gain access to a potentially harmful or fatal substance. Many toxins are common items in your home and yard. Some poisons are rather obvious and easy to avoid, while others […]

Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking.  Alabama – HB 235 would authorize food service establishments to allow pet dogs in outdoor restaurant seating areas and sets out access, sanitation, and other requirements. It also specifies that emotional support animals are not service animals within the meaning of the Americans […]

This week, the House Judiciary Committee is accepting testimony on multiple bills.  Text of bills are embedded in the links.  AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) strongly encourages Rhode Island residents to take action as follows: Tuesday, March 9, 2021, at the rise of the House: DOGS OUTSIDE AND UNATTENDED - H. 5736 would amend the […]

How do you know if your dog has anxiety? What can you do to treat dog anxiety? We're here to explain everything you need to know.

Learn how to identify arthritis in dogs, obtain a diagnosis from a veterinarian, and explore the various techniques to manage and treat the disease.

We had Jaco less than 10 months when it happened. Jaco was a German Shepherd Dog exported from the Czech Republic when he was 16 months old. I wanted him to be my next scent-detection dog, a partner in the work I’ve done for more than a decade, finding the missing and the dead. He […]

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources has announced that new regulations have been finalized for the operation of animal shelters and animal rescue organizations, together with clarifying amendments to the Commonwealth’s regulations applying to pet shops.   The American Kennel Club (AKC) extends our sincerest gratitude to the Department’s Animal Health Division Director for years of […]

Though everyone has been talking watching and reading about the current health issues, COVID-19, this month, we have to remind ourselves that dogs and cats don’t read the headlines.  At this time while people are anxious, we may not be paying careful attention and our pets can still get into things that can be toxic. As […]

Canine idiopathic epilepsy, defined as recurrent seizures with no identifiable underlying cause, is the most common medical neurologic disease in dogs.   Twenty to thirty percent of affected dogs continue to experience seizures despite treatment with currently available anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs).  In addition, side effects from these drugs, such as increased appetite, sedation, restlessness, or anxiety, often decrease the quality of life for affected […]