Posts in Category: For The Dogs

Some dogs offer a little nip in the arm at cuddle time, while others snarl and snap warnings before they lunge for an attack. Dogs that bite without warning put other dogs and strangers at risk, which can cause major problems from your family. The team at Arlington Animal Hospital wants to help you figure out why dogs bite, and what can you do to prevent your dog from attacking:

Pet training in general is not for the faint of heart. Persistence and consistency are key, and while almost any dog is trainable, it can be an uphill battle at times. Housetraining your pooch is no different. While it may be tempting to just go invest in some dog diapers, there are downsides to this solution. Arlington Animal Hospital is prepared to fill you in on the details.

Reasons Dog Diapers May Be Needed

Sometimes our canine companions make a mess, but for most dogs these are few and far between. For those that have frequent potty problems, though, dog diapers can be a lifesaver. 

Dogs have specific calling cards like barking or digging that are quintessentially canine in nature. Another common behavior among dogs is licking. Puppies learn to lick as a way to investigate everything around them, and this behavior matures as they do. Licking allows dogs to not only taste something delicious, but also to figure out what the object is.

Arlington Animal Hospital would love to explain this sometimes cute, other times gross, behavior in canines:

No two dogs are the same, and yet all dogs share some universal canine behaviors. To some degree, dogs cannot help doing certain things that seemingly defy human logic. Repetitive behaviors, including obsessive licking, can interrupt a dog’s sense of wellbeing. If your dog licks everything in sight, you might oscillate between wonder, curiosity, irritation, and confusion. Because of their individuality, their behavior is unique to them. But there are definitely ways you can address this canine trait before it gets out of hand. 

Dogs can smell like a lot of things, depending on what they eat, their health, and what things they have been exposed to (or rolled around on) outdoors. But if your dog is smelling like last night’s flounder dinner, it can be both offensive to the olfactory system and also concerning. 

Why does my dog smell like fish? That’s what the team at Arlington Animal Hospital is here to explain.

There’s a reason training a pet is such a big deal. For starters, training helps them behave in ways that make it easier to live together. When pets understand what is expected of them in human society, they are safer and happier and can enjoy more experiences overall.

When it comes to house training your pet, it’s essential to realize that it is a process full of roadblocks. But with the right approach, you can help your pet become a happy member of your family.

Training is an essential part of dog ownership, but no one said it was easy. One of the most necessary tasks a dog can undertake is learning where to do their business. As a dog owner, you may wonder if your puppy or adult dog will ever master this basic skill. 

Most dogs can be house trained with the right technique, patience, consistency, and repetition. The team at Arlington Animal Hospital  is here with some effective tips to help you do just that. Let’s begin!

Puppies may be among the cutest things on the face of the planet. Sometimes, it seems like that cuteness may be a bit of a survival mechanism, though. As adorable as they are, puppies can come with certain habits and qualities that are less than endearing.

Potty accidents on your new rug, chewing up shoes, whimpering for attention while you try to sleep; these are all trying, but common, experiences for new dog owners. Most difficult puppy behavior is temporary. Just as a human baby must learn about their world and grow comfortable in it, so must our puppy population.

Some puppy behavior is cause for concern, though. Arlington Animal Hospital wants to be sure that dog owners know what is normal for puppies and which puppy behavior needs to be addressed right away.

You’re riding in the car with your best pal and all of a sudden you hear them retch. Oh no! There’s another mess to clean up, and your pet clearly doesn’t feel their best. 

Car sickness in pets is a common issue that pet owners relate to us. There are a few reasons for this and the team at Arlington Animal Hospital is here to help you deal with a dog with car sickness.

Why Do Dogs Get Motion Sickness?

A dog with car sickness is much like a child with car sickness; they are either anxious about the trip to the point of getting sick or they suffer from motion sickness. 

Parvo. The word strikes fear into most pet parents and for good reason. Parvovirus is a virulent disease that attacks the white blood cells and can cause severe dehydration through vomiting and diarrhea. It typically affects pets between the ages of 6-20 weeks old, since the young have not been fully vaccinated. It can be spread to any pet that isn’t vaccinated, though.

But what is canine parvovirus and, more importantly, how can you prevent it from harming your pet? That’s what the team at Arlington Animal Hospital want you to know, along with understanding the signs of parvo and how to treat it.