Simple Ways to Monitor Your Dog's Health at Home

Only you know what is normal for your own dog.  But would you recognize an important change if you didn't know the baseline for your own individual canine? It is far better to know what is actually normal for your own companion, before you feel something is abnormal! Be informed, and seek your veterinarian's expertise to round out what is needed to protect your dog.

Weight: If you feel that your dog is either gaining or losing weight, get on a scale and keep track of what you feel is your dog's usual healthy weight. Weighing your dog is fairly easy. If the dog is small, weigh yourself first, and then pick up the dog. If your dog is large, stand it on your scale, offering a treat to keep him in place. If you are having trouble weighing your dog at home, do it when you are next at your vet, or just stop by and use their scale. 

Temperature: Use a regular glass thermometer or better yet, a digital thermometer. Lubricate it and gently insert it, about once inch, into the rectum. If you are using a traditional thermometer leave it in for 2 minutes, if you are using a digital, wait until it beeps. Normal temperature for a dog is between 100 and 102. Anything below or above would indicate a potential situation and require an immediate call to your vet.

Respiration: Normal respiration is dictated by the size of the animal. Get a watch with a second hand, or use a stop watch. Place your hand over the left side, behind the front leg. Common practice is to count the heartbeats for 15 seconds and then multiply by 4 to calculate beats per minute. Normal ranges from 60-100 in big dogs, and about 100-140 in smaller dogs. All tests should be performed when the dog is resting, and not recovering from excessive activity.

Activity: One of the easiest ways to monitor wellbeing is by walking. If your dog is eager to accompany you on walks, or play ball in the yard, and moves with eagerness and energy, this is generally a sign that things are good. If the usually eager dog is unwilling to accompany you, or moves with reluctance, this is an indication that something is bothering your pet, and it is time for a wellness check with your vet.

You are your dog's best monitor! If you detect an abnormality, do not second guess yourself.  Drive directly to your veterinarian and seek medical advice.

Not Just A Saying: New Survey Confirms Dogs Really Are Man's Best Friend

Relationships between dogs and their owners are reaching new levels – the 2016Beneful® National Dog Week survey reveals that nearly all American dog owners surveyed consider their beloved pups a part of their family (97 percent) and one of their best friends (93 percent). In honor of National Dog Week (September 18-24), Beneful and its Friends of Beneful partners nationwide are helping dogs and their owners celebrate a happy and healthy week together by sharing inspiring personal stories, tips and giveaways online.

Survey Findings

Does your dog understand you? Do you both appreciate an afternoon snuggle? If so, you're not alone. Here's what surveyed dog owners had to say about their relationships with their four-legged friends:
A Relationship Like No Other. Nearly all dog owners surveyed agree their dogs are part of their family (97 percent) and one of their best friends (93 percent).
You Get Me. Nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of dog owners surveyed agree their dogs understand them like no human could, up from 58 percent in a 2015 survey.
Strike a Pose. More than half of dog owners surveyed (54 percent) agree their dogs love having their pictures taken.

What Makes Fido Happy? According to surveyed dog owners, the activities they agree make their dogs happiest include:

1. Mealtime (95 percent)
2. Going on walks (93 percent)
3. Eating dog treats (93 percent)
4. Chewing a dog bone (88 percent)
5. Snuggling (85 percent)
6. Riding in the car (78 percent)
7. Playing fetch (77 percent)
8. Going to the dog park (72 percent)
9. Running/jogging with someone (71 percent)
10. Being brushed/groomed (63 percent)

Healthful. Flavorful. Beneful.

Topping the list is the moment food hits the bowl, with nearly all dog owners surveyed agreeing that their dogs are happiest during mealtime. Beneful helps keep dogs healthy and happy by offering a variety of dry and wet dog foods that have a perfect balance of wholesome ingredients, quality nutrition and great taste with a variety of textures. The Beneful team recently released new recipes across its dry food line, now offering beef and chicken dry dog food recipes with real beef or chicken as the first ingredient, all with the same great Beneful taste that keeps millions of dogs running back to the bowl day after day.

"At Beneful, we know all about the strong bond shared by dogs and owners, as well as the joys that relationship brings," saidKristen Edler, of the Beneful team and best friend to her mixed breed rescue named Frigo. "We're dog owners and lovers too and are proud to play such an important role in keeping our best friends on four legs healthy and happy – not just during National Dog Week, but 365-days a year."

Tips for a Well-Behaved Dog

There's a reason why they are called fur babies. From tiny puppies to large hounds, Americans take serious pride in canine family members. In fact, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) there are about 70–80 million dogs in homes across the country. And although they may be a more-than-welcome addition to the family, they may not receive such a warm welcome from the neighborhood — leaving owners to wonder what might be causing some hairs to stick up on end. The answer could be simple: poor social etiquette.

No one likes to consider their dog as a source of disruption in the community. While enjoying relaxing evening walks together or playing in the backyard, people may never consider the behavior of their dog to be a problem, especially if its disposition is friendly around people. But if watched closely, they may notice he or she is coming across as a nuisance — meaning it might be time to correct behavioral issues such as barking, jumping or not staying when instructed.

If you feel like your little pup could cause a commotion in the neighborhood, don't fret! There are tools and steps to follow that will help take your dog from bothersome to beloved.

BarkingOftentimes, the most disruptive action by a dog is also the hardest to control: barking. From sounding the alarm to separation anxiety, dogs use barking as an alert system. But it also is known as one of the most common causes for frustration among neighbors. To get barking under control, consider the following training tips:

• First, identify the factors surrounding your dog's barking. Is it more common during the day or at night? Are there triggers nearby such as people, animals or machines? According to the ASPCA, some barking issues can be resolved by removing problematic objects or noises. If the problem can't be fixed by removing objects, have your dog checked to make sure that he or she isn't suffering from a health issue.
• Using tools and proper training together is often the best way to bring barking under control. Products that feature audible deterrents are oftentimes a good way to stop incessant yapping from a dog. Tools like the First Alert™ Bark Genie Automatic Ultrasonic Bark Deterrent use safe, pet-friendly ultrasonic technology that detects barking and emits sound to help control it.
• To efficiently handle a barking problem, be sure to begin correctly training your dog while using a bark deterrent. First, never encourage or reward a dog for barking. If your dog barks compulsively, try "quiet" training. Allow the dog to bark initially, then instruct him or her to "quiet" and hold its snout for a few seconds. If the dog remains quiet after you let go, give it a treat as a reward. Not all dogs are the same, so training bark control can be difficult. However, with enough positive reinforcement used with training aids like the Bark Genie, excessive barking can be quelled.

JumpingDoes your dog jump on strangers? If instructed to stop, does he or she listen? Jumping and tackling can be perceived as aggressive behaviors and can give off the appearance that you might not have complete control of your dog. However, unlike barking, bouncing or jumping is even more controllable by training. If the problem exists with your pup, the ASPCA provides the following tips to correct the problem:

• In order to successfully train your dog to interact with other people, you need to train him or her one-on-one first. When greeted by your jumping dog, keep calm. The more excited you are, the more excited your dog will be. If it begins to jump, do not reach out to pet or stroke the dog. Instead, keep your eyes raised to avoid eye contact and keep your arms and hands away until the dog keeps its front feet on the ground.
• Once the canine has calmed and is standing on four feet, immediately reach out to show affection. This will emphasize the importance of staying down when greeting. If the dog becomes excited and begins jumping again, restart the process.
• If initial training tips don't help, or if training takes a while, it's important to keep your dog on a short leash while interacting with other people. Products like comfortable no-jump dog harnesses work well in keeping control over your pup and will help other people feel more comfortable around your dog. In addition, always keep treats on hand to encourage your dog to stay calm and by your side.

StayingIf your dog doesn't have a jumping or barking problem, he might have a problem with running free. Between the front yard, backyard and entire neighborhood, there's just so much to see! But this can be extremely invasive and bothersome to other neighbors. If your dog commonly attempts to break free during a walk or run, or tries to get loose from the yard or house, try the following steps to control the behavior:

• According to the ASPCA, the hardest to achieve but most effective training tip to control your dog when it attempts to run or chase is establishing a call that works. To train your dog, simply practice the specific call repeatedly for as long as it takes until the dog begins to adapt. Each time you make the call toward your dog, reward him or her with a treat to set firm expectations that coming when called is a positive thing. Try practicing this training exercise while on a walk. If your dog begins to wander, simply pat your legs and call it for a treat to set expectations that your dog should stick close to you when outside. Keeping a training tool with you can also be handy in case your dog decides to ignore a command or call. Using a tool like the First Alert™ Bark Genie Handheld Ultrasonic Bark Deterrent utilizes the same pet-friendly technology and allows for more precise training control over your dog.
• If your dog is attempting to break free from an enclosed area such as a backyard, ensure that your fence is an appropriate height, that there are no gaps in the fence and that your dog isn't prone to digging to escape. Practice the same training tips to calmly control your dog and remember — it might take some time!
• If nothing else works, and if time allows, tire out your pup with extensive play time! An under stimulated dog can get extremely antsy, but enough activity will help to reduce the urge to break free when out in public. You'll have a good time, and your pup will too.

Pet Parents and Furry Companions United in "One Health"

 It's no secret that a large—and growing—majority of U.S. pet owners consider their pets to be part of the family, and this human-animal bond is one of the most important factors behind pet owners' willingness to spend generously on pet products and services, according to Packaged Facts, a market research publisher with a diverse catalog of reports on pet products and services.  It's a trend that pet product marketers and retailers have catered to for several years. And these days the strength of the human-animal bond in which pet parents are willing to spend more to aid in the health and longevity of their companions has even begun to influence activity outside the traditional realm of services designed for pets.

Part of the reason why pet owners are spending more on their companions is because not only do they increasingly view their pets as family, but research indicates that an investment in their pets is also in many ways an investment in themselves.  It's a concept that some experts in the medical industry refer to as "one health," or the idea that human health is connected to animal health and the environment. According to Packaged Facts' Pet Owner Survey data from January 2015, three out of four dogs owners report being healthier and happier because of their canine companions:  38% strongly agree and 36% somewhat agree that their dogs have a positive impact on their physical health, and 44% strongly agree and 36% somewhat agree that their dogs have a positive impact on their mental health.  The ratings for cat ownership are nearly as thumbs up: 34% of cat owners strongly agree and 31% somewhat agree that their cats have a positive impact on their physical health, and 41% strongly agree and 33% somewhat agree that their cats have a positive impact on their mental health.

There are several examples over the past several years that point to the blurring lines between products designed for humans and those designed for pets. The shift extends not only to retail products such as human grade pet food, but also to the veterinary segment. For example, highly regarded Johns Hopkins University recently opened the Center for Image-Guided Animal Therapy. The new center allows Johns Hopkins to provide pets with many of the same advanced equipment and procedures that benefit humans, including imaging tools to diagnose pets and services involving image-guided biopsies and minimally invasive procedures. John Hopkins, renowned for its contributions to human medicine and unaffiliated with any veterinary schools, can now assist various veterinarians from outside practices who need to bring dogs, cats, and more exotic pet patients to the university for advanced diagnostic scans and therapies.

The cost for these imaging procedures is no small sum for pet owners, yet it's no surprise that so many pet owners are willing to foot the bill, especially considering that spending on veterinary services overall has been on the uptick. In the soon to be released reportU.S. Pet Market Outlook, 2015-2016, Packaged Facts estimates that the veterinary services segment (including pet products sold through the channel) is the pet industry's second largest, with $23 billion in revenue in 2014, up 5%.  Solid growth is expected for the future, and the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the veterinary services segment between 2014-2019 is projected to be 5%.