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Your puppy will be entering a new environment—probably for the first time—so they want to feel safe and reassured. By preparing ahead of time and following these suggestions, your puppy’s transition into a new home will be as stress-free and uneventful as possible. BEFORE PUPPY’S ARRIVAL Inside: Walk the house, viewing your place from a puppy-eye level. Child-proof doors, check for electrical cords that can be chewed, move objects to higher positions such as household plants, and put away anything they should not be putting into their mouths. Outside: Walk your yard and garage thoroughly. Put away any hazardous materials...

We all like the idea of adopting a dog from a rescue group. It is our chance to give a dog a second chance at a good life. While adopting a rescue dog can give a great sense of satisfaction, a random or ill-considered choice can result unhappiness for you and the dog. Here is a checklist of some things to consider. Understanding Why Why do you want to adopt a rescue? What are you looking for? Are you looking for an immediate cuddly companion? Are you looking to save a dog that has had a difficult beginning and will...

Much like teenage boys, some horses seem to be able to devour every bit of feed in sight, and still not gain weight. Unlike the teenage boys, however, and unfortunately for the owners of these hard keepers, this generally isn’t just a stage that the horse is going through. So, what is the best way to feed a horse to increase weight gain to the desired level, and then maintain it there? First, start by taking a Body Condition Score and determining the current weight of the horse, and tracking those two elements over time, so you can know for...

The use of fat in the equine diet has a long history. A very old book, Horse Secrets by A.S. Alexander, published in 1913, points out that horse traders knew back then that adding fat to the diet was beneficial for gaining weight and improving hair coat. They may not have known why it worked, but they knew that it worked! Corn oil was an early oil source as it was available and palatable. Flax seed, boiled to both soften the husk and to eliminate anti-nutritional factors, was also used to provide both fat and protein. The use of vegetable...

A horse owner recently contacted us about changing her horse’s diet. She stated that they are ¾ of the way through show season and he is just “off his game”. It seems that the horse was showing a lack of appetite and not finishing his grain. In addition, his disposition became rather grumpy and his performance level was suffering. In addition, a few times he had shown signs of mild colic over the past two months. We suggested the owner contact her veterinarian, as it sounded like the horse may have an ulcer. The percentage of horses with ulcers continues...