As many dog owners know, it is important to keep our dogs happy and healthy.  Similar to people, dogs need a good healthy diet, a lot of water and exercise.  There are so many benefits to keeping your dog in good shape.  The exercise will not only keep your dog healthy, but will strengthen his bones and minimize health issues related to obesity.

Exercise helps eliminate destructive behavior

When a dog does not get enough exercise, he takes all his energy out in other ways, most of which are unwelcome.  If your dog is digging holes in your backyard, he or she is probably not exercising enough and has pent up energy to release.  Does your dog act out by tearing up your couches or barking all the time?  A daily dose of exercise should help combat most of these issues.

Try taking your dog for a run on the beach or on a new hiking trail.  The exercise will help stimulate your dog’s mind and body, keeping him tired for most of the day.  A tired dog is less likely to be aggressive or destructive.

How much should exercise does your dog need?

In general, most dogs need at least thirty minutes to an hour of good aerobic exercise daily.  Of course, so much depends on your dog’s age, breed and condition.  A puppy will need a lot more exercise than an older dog.  But, then again, an energetic, older Labrador could easily need more exercise than a calmer three-year old Lab.  It is important to remember that older dogs still need to go for walks--just shorter ones than they used to enjoy.

Indoor or small dogs need exercise too!

Even if you have a smaller, indoor dog, don’t think that just lying around the house is OK for them.  They don’t need an aerobic power jog but a daily walk is important for their bodies and to release energy. Think how many overweight pugs there are and while some breeds are inherently chubbier, exercise can help keep their weight down.

Exercise can be fun for you and your dog

Similar to most people, dogs take to a little variety and different types of exercise.  Make it fun for you and your dog (and you will get in better shape in the process).

Dog parks are great places for your dog tor run off some steam and meet other dogs to play with and form play dates.   Not all dogs are gregarious, so if you feel as if your dog is a bit on the aggressive side, take him on a run with you.  Go for a hike or meet the neighbors while you run the streets with your dog.

Dogs that don’t exercise have an increase in health risks

Inactive dogs are often overweight dogs which can bring many different health risks. An overweight dog is more likely to end up with diabetes, respiratory disease, and heart disease. Heavier dogs also can add stress to their joints, ligaments, and tendons.

There are so many benefits to keeping your dog exercising daily and in good shape.  If you haven’t done so already, try implementing a daily exercise routine for your dog and you and your dog will reap the benefits!

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My friend, Darlene, has a cat named Ginger whose eye just started tearing and she was a bit concerned.  Eye infections are common in cats and there are many different variations and reasons why your cat might have something wrong with his or her eyes.  If your cat’s eyes are simply tearing and it goes away in a few days, not to worry.

However, if your beloved feline has any discharge in his or her eyes or you think it might be more than just a case of dry cat eyes, you should schedule an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Below are some common eye ailments in cats:

Your cat’s eyes have discharge

The type or thickness of the discharge helps determine the condition. A clear discharge without redness and pain will usually have to do with a problem in the tear drainage system. A clear discharge with a reddened eye could be conjunctivitis which is sometimes a result of a viral infection. A thick, sticky, discharge, along with a red (inflamed) eye suggests possible conjunctivitis as well. Any discharge accompanied by a painful eye is usually associated with the possibility of cornea or inner eye involvement.

Pain in your cat’s eyes

If your cat seems to have excessive tearing, squinting (closing down one or both eyes), tenderness to the touch, and avoidance of light, he or she needs to go to the vet.   Your cat will usually paw his or her eye or try to rub it. The usual causes of a painful eye are injuries to the cornea and diseases of the inner eye.

Cloudy eye

There are certain diseases that change the clearness of the eye, making it cloudy or as if the cat has a blind eye. This cloudiness can vary from a small, localized haziness to the pupil being almost invisible. Loss of clarity or transparency of the eye indicates an inner eye disorder.

This is usually associated with signs of pain. Cataracts are the most likely cause when the eye is not painful.  If your cat has cloudy eyes, you should see your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Changes in your cat’s pupils

If you cats pupils are enlarged or dilated, it usually means that there is an issue with the inner eye. The pupil may become fixed and unable to dilate or constrict. A hard eye with a dilated pupil indicates glaucoma. A soft eye with a small pupil indicates inflammation of the inner eye.

Your cat’s eyes seem either bulging or sunken.

A bulging eye occurs with glaucoma, tumors, and abscesses behind the globe, and with an eye out of its socket. A sunken eye is accompanied by dehydration, weight loss and eye pain.

Abnormal eye movements

If your cat’s eyes start to shift or seem to focus in different directions or jerk back and forth, this could be a cause for alarm.  Of course, the occasional abnormal eye movement is very normal in our felines.

Eye color changes to a yellowish tint

A change in the color of your kitty’s eyes may indicate a melanoma. If the eyes are yellow, it is indicative of jaundice. While I hope your cat never experiences any of the above eye pain or infection, this article can give you a barometer of what to expect.  As always, go see your veterinarian if your cat’s eyes look abnormal or different in any way.

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I know that a lot of pet owners are ambivalent about whether they should purchase pet insurance for their dog or cats.  As with any insurance, there are many different types, plans and costs.  Dog owners more frequently purchase pet insurance as dogs more often than cats are prone to more injuries and other health ailments.   The costs vary with the type of dog and age, and similar to car insurance, you should price each policy out and determine what is best for your dog.

The purpose of pet insurance is to help cover the costs of unexpected accidents and illnesses that may occur in the future. Unfortunately, it will not cover any current conditions your pet may have which are known as pre-existing conditions. This means that the ideal time to insure your pet is as early as possible so that anything that happens in the future will be covered.

Health insurance for dogs is recommended

The main reason to have pet insurance for your dogs is to cover your vet’s bills if your dog is sick or injured in an accident.  It is virtually impossible that your dog will go through his whole life without a single disease or injury and even one treatment can cost a lot of money.   Dog pet insurance policies vary enormously as to what levels of coverage they provide so you need to compare each carefully and see what best meets your needs.

Some breeds are more prone to injury or illness

You should also consider the breed of the dog or puppy that you own.  For example, Labradors tend to have problems with their legs and in many cases, need surgery later in life.  Talk to other pet owners or breeders to see if they have any thoughts or ideas whether it is mindful to purchase insurance for your particular breed.  If you have adopted a pet, you might not know the exact breed of your dog but you can try to find out the origin of your pet or his or her medical history.

Pet Insurance can also be used for accidents

There are some other reasons to purchase pet insurance.  For instance, if your dog runs out on the road and causes a car accident, you will need insurance to cover you for legal advice and compensation payment. You are responsible for your dog, so if the other party sues you, you will most likely be covered. If your dog bites another person or dog, pet insurance can help prevent the medical bills that can be caused by this.

Pet Insurance for cats?

If you are a cat owner, should you buy pet insurance?  I have to admit, this is a tough one.  I have not bought health insurance for my cat, Sammy, and have been lucky thus far.  Most indoor cats are not prone to injury or as many health issues as outdoor cats or dogs.   However, unforeseen incidents or health issues can occur, so it is probably a good idea to get a standard policy that can cover health issues, especially as our felines get older.  I think of health insurance for cats as similar to home or rental insurance, better safe than sorry.

In summary, if you have a dog or cat, it really is a good idea to have pet insurance.  It gives you the peace of mind that if something were to happen, it won’t break the bank.  You’re putting money into your pet’s ‘health fund’ so you can assure that you are covered for almost any health issue or injury that might occur.  

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As we all know, our puppies love to run around and explore everything in their new world around them.  Everything they encounter is new and exciting for them, even their own tails.  Puppies love to run around in circles after their own tails as it seems like a new toy to them and it is fun to spin around.  While puppies generally grow out of this behavior, some continue to do this as they get older.

For the most part, a dog chasing his tail is a perfectly normal behavior for playful dogs.  They are simply trying to expend excess energy and express their desire for exercise and play.   Mot dogs love the sensation of free-wheeling, happy playfulness in a fun prey-like mode.  Some cats even like to chase their tail.    And, we dog owners, love to watch them and sometimes, for better and for worse, encourage them by laughing at them.

If your dog chases his or her tail excessively, than there could be a medical or behavioral issue at hand.

Medical Causes

If you think the issue could be a medical issue, make sure to go to your veterinarian for a physical.  Some of the medical issues that could cause your dog to chase his or her tail are dermatological, neurological or something with his or her eyes.  Further, this behavior could also be caused by an anal gland infection, trauma to the tail or intestinal parasites.   High cholesterol may be another factor in behavioral problems.

Behavioral Issues

If medical issues have been ruled out, there are two different behavioral issues that could be causing your dog to chase his tail.

1.  Compulsive Disorder

The first is a compulsive disorder. As with most compulsive behaviors, it is really difficult to stop the behavior and can sometimes cause your dog to be aggressive to a dog owner. These types of dogs require a full behavioral treatment plan, and in some cases, medication.  Your veterinarian should be able to determine if the frequency in which your dog chases his or her tail is a compulsive disorder.

2.  Seeking Attention

The second behavioral reason which is pretty common in our dogs is that they get a lot of attention when they chase their tails.  A lot of dog owners give their pups attention or even clap or laugh when their dog is chasing its tail because we think it’s funny or cute.  Try not to give   your dogs attention if they chase their tails often and ignore them.

Make sure your dog gets exercise and toys

If you think your dog’s tail chasing is simply behavioral, give your dog other things to expend his energy.  When he starts to chase his tail, bring him a toy to play with instead to divert his or her attention.  And, always reward your dog with attention and praise when he grabs the toy instead of his tail.

Further, make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise so that he doesn’t have so much energy that he goes into a spin or tail chasing mode.  Take him on walks or play with your pup in the yard.  

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