Sally Jones
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Hi Puppy Love, the Cane Corso breed is relatively healthy compared to many other purebreds, but they do suffer from high rates of elbow and hip dysplasia, as well as heart problems and some other inherited conditions. The best thing you can do to ensure your puppy is as healthy as possible is to find a responsible breeder — the Cane Corso Association of America is a great resource. Responsible breeders ensure they’re breeding dogs who have passed several health and genetic screenings recommended for Cani Corsi (hip dysplasia, cardiac, eye, etc.). You want to make sure you ask the breeders you’re considering if they can provide health certificates. Also, see our guide on how to find a reputable dog breeder for more tips. How exciting! Good luck in your search for a new puppy!
The short answer to your question is yes, as long as they’re licensed veterinarians. But, just to clarify, pet insurance differs from human health insurance. It’s not really a matter of whether a vet accepts pet insurance because, typically, you pay your vet upfront, and then you submit a claim with your pet insurance company for reimbursement. (Although a select few companies have systems to pay vets directly.) In any case, you should have no problems with coverage assuming your vet is fully licensed. Hope this helps!
If you want to go back to kibble, I’d also recommend mixing your pup’s kibble with some bone broth. It’s inexpensive and adds a lot of flavor (and nutrients) to kibble. See my review of the best bone broth for dogs to find some dog-friendly options (e.g., no added salt or other spices). In that article, I also include a homemade recipe that may save you even more money.
Hi Narwal, The short answer is that it depends on the pet insurance company. Some companies include veterinary examination fees in their standard policies (e.g., Fetch Pet Insurance). With many others, you can add vet visit costs to their plan for an added premium fee (e.g., Pets Best, Embrace, Figo, etc). However, a select few don’t offer coverage at all for exam fees, including Healthy Paws and Trupanion. I encourage you to see our pet insurance comparison article to see more details about what the top-rated pet insurance providers offer. And please let us know if you have any other questions!
Yes, dogs can eat pumpkin seeds, and they have a lot of nutrients in them. However, they’re higher in fat than pumpkin flesh. And too many can cause digestive problems. So experts recommend giving them in moderation. They also need to be prepared correctly before you give them to your pup. You can give your pup raw or cooked pumpkin seeds, but they should be cleaned and either hulled or crushed up. Whole seeds can be a choking hazard for small dogs. And make sure you give your pup plain seeds without any salt, sugar, or other spices.
Elbow calluses and balding are pretty common in many large breeds. They usually form from the pressure of lying on hard surfaces. Even if your neighbor’s dog has a soft bed, many Goldens prefer to lie on the floor, probably b/c it’s cooler. They’re not harmful or a cause for worry though.
First, a pre-emergent is a type of herbicide that you apply to your soil to prevent weeds from growing in the first place. If you’re looking for pet-safe herbicides, we at Canine Journal highly recommend Sunday’s products. They only offer non-toxic, entirely pet-safe weed killers, fertilizers, etc. And they have a fantastic pre-emergent called Dandelion Doom. Check out my colleague’s review of Sunday Lawn Care, including her personal experience with their products.
Black gunk in a dog’s ear is typically either an earwax buildup or a sign of ear mites. Excessive wax usually isn’t a problem as long as your friend keeps cleaning his dog’s ears. Otherwise, a constantly dirty or clogged ear could lead to an ear infection. But the signs of ear mites could mean it’s time to see a vet. If your friend’s dog’s ears have a dark buildup that resembles coffee grounds along with discomfort (head shaking or scratching the ear) and perhaps a crusted rash around the ear, it’s likely ear mites. I’d advise your friend to talk to his vet if the problem comes back.
We’re big fans of Wild One’s silicone leash. Not only is it waterproof, but it’s also fantastic for reactive dogs who pull on their leash. It’s on the pricey side, but so worth it. You can see one of our team member’s personal experience with this leash in our article on the best dog leashes. And check out my review of Wild One’s dog products.
You’re certainly not alone. We hear this problem a lot from pup parents of super sleuths. Our team has spent dozens of hours researching the best dog crates for any kind of need. For escape artists, we recommend the ProSelect Empire Cage. Yes, it’s expensive, but it gets amazing customer reviews from pet parents who have been in the same situation as you are. Hope this helps!
Unfortunately, according to their website, USAA’s renter’s insurance doesn’t cover any damage from pets. They do offer pet insurance through Embrace Pet Insurance company, but that’s health insurance for your pet. FYI, if your pet has behavioral problems that are causing damage to your rental, Embrace’s insurance does cover behavioral therapies. Perhaps that’s a solution?
Hi Bobbie – So sorry to hear this. I struggled with a similar problem a couple of years ago when my daughter went off to college for the first time. It took some time for my pup Tiny to get over the absence of his human sister. I gave him extra TLC (on his terms) and increased our play and walking time. Perhaps give Izzy some new interactive toys? And a visit to see your daughter may help — that way Izzy could see that your daughter hasn’t disappeared forever. I also recommend our article on dog depression, which has some great dos and don’ts (e.g., getting a new dog could cause more stress). I hope things get better soon!
There are more toxic garden plants and flowers that are toxic to dogs than you might imagine. I’m a big gardener also, and when I looked into this years ago, I was shocked by how many were in my new (at-the-time) home’s garden. Our article on poisonous plants for dogs is a must-read. For any plants that aren’t included in our article, be sure to research them before you purchase!
CBD doesn’t produce serious side effects in dogs. The most common found in studies have been mild diarrhea and drowsiness. So it’s widely accepted that it’s safe for most dogs. There aren’t many studies out yet that confirm that CBD is effective for anxiety, but there’s a lot of anecdotal evidence from pet owners that it can help with stressful situations like fireworks, thunderstorms, vet visits, etc. I encourage you to speak to your vet about CBD for your pup. Also, see my reviews of the best CBD oil for dogs to learn more about the benefits and how to choose a safe product. You also have the option of CBD dog treats and calming supplements.
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I don’t really understand what “double coated” means, but I have heard that Shih Tzu’s are. Is this true?Yes, Shih Tzus are double coated. Double-coated breeds have a top coat of hair that has longer, coarse fur and an undercoat of softer, short, and dense hair. Each coat serves its purpose. The top coat protects dogs from water and snow, while the undercoat helps to insulate them from cold weather and regulate heat in higher temps. Shih Tzus aren’t major shedders, but to keep their coats healthy, you might want to invest in two types of brushes – a top-coat brush and another one that can remove fur from the bottom undercoat.
