Woof Times

The dog looked obviously in discomfort, with his tongue hanging out, panting for breath. After a thorough examination, I told the owner, “Your dog has a heart problem.” Oh!, she said, sounding surprised, “You mean dogs have a heart?” I am not exaggerating, this is true and it happened 18 years ago, at a time when I had gone against convention to study cardiology in dogs. Ok, so maybe this…

Once you adopt a puppy, you are amazed at how fast he grows up and becomes your most trustworthy and lovable pal. Like people, pet also go through life stages of growth, maturity, and aging. But, it is a hard thing to accept that dog’s lifespan is much shorter. The passage from one stage to another is often blurred, and owners must be on guard to recognize the signs that their lil’ darling is…

Excess weight is a common problem for dogs. But, as with humans, it’s better and healthier for a dog to be of normal weight than to be overweight. A quick way to check if your dog is overweight is to feel his ribs with the flat of your hand. If you can only feel the ribs with difficulty, your dog probably needs to lose weight. How dogs become overweight Dogs nearly always become overweight from…

Training can transform an aggressive and possessive dog into a friendly and loving companion. Here’s a real life case file of a dog named Swami who was trained by Rajesh Bhat to become a more suitable companion. Case history Ritika and Rajat, on their way to work, spotted a lil’ pup on the road. They stopped their car to put him aside, but the pup came running back to them. Ritika immediately…

We all love to show off what our lovely pets can do or perform, isn’t it? So why not teach them some simple tricks and add a  dash of fun to their life??? GIVE ME FIVE or SHAKE HANDS!!! By far, this is the most simplest trick to teach your pooch. Here it goes: Get your dog’s most favourite treat and show it to him. Grab his attention with the help of that treat. Ask him to sit in front of you and…

Pets are like family members, and the mere thought of losing him is a nightmare in itself! Here’s a real life story of a family who lost their beloved pet and how Dr. Deepa Katyal helped them find him. It was Sunday?–?an off-day for me. The shrill cry of telephone announced something. “It is an emergency,” said the man over the phone. I was told that a mongrel was found outside my clinic, and he…

Cleanliness is next to godliness and it applies to our canine friends as well. To keep your dog clean, healthy and looking his gleaming best, follow a grooming routine that suits his coat type. Most of the time, people do not know how to groom their pets. Gauri and Urmila of TailWaggers Pet Salon, Mumbai answer some of the frequently asked questions on grooming. Q?:?How can I take care of my dog’s…

January is traditionally a time to make resolutions for the coming year. For many people, one of those resolutions is to exercise regularly. We all know how important exercise is to our health, physically and emotionally. This is true not only for us, but for our dogs as well. However, finding time to exercise may be a challenge – family, friends, work and spending time with your dog may already…

Where animal welfare is prime Established more than a century ago, Karuna Animal Welfare Association of Karnataka is actively working towards prevention of cruelty to animals and to secure their welfare. The need for the suffering stray animals is a shelter over their head and humane control over their increasing population. Bangalore-based Karuna Animal Welfare Association of Karnataka is an…

Neutering and spaying of dogs is a very specialised and sensitive operation, as it sterilises the pet so that he/she cannot reproduce. There are many aspects involved in the process, and Dr. Vasanth M. Shetty, PhD, FISVS, elucidates the various queries and fine points that most owners would like to know. Dogs are considered to be the oldest friend of humans and the most trustworthy companions.…

Kapil Dev or Haryana Hurricane needs no introduction. He is one of the most admired cricketer, who has chartered the course of many a famous Indian victories. But, not everybody knows that besides cricket, Kapil also loves dogs and is always surrounded by a bunch of them at his home in Delhi. D&P recently met Kapil and his wife Romi Dev to know more about his love for canines. Captaining India…

If you are looking for a big dog in a small package, then Beagle is for you. He makes a wonderful companion dog, is easy to maintain and loves his family. Small is beautiful and the phrase perfectly defines a Beagle who has all the qualities you want in your best friend. Take a look at his soft brown eyes and feel your heart going to him. I once met a Beagle at a dog show and the moment, I looked…

Blood transfusion As a result of the growth in veterinary speciality services, the demand for blood transfusion has risen dramatically. However, blood and blood products are not readily available in most of the places in our country. Even in places where it is practical, there is a considerable delay in getting the donor, collecting and then transfusing. Non-availability of canine blood group…

New Year resolutions by tail waggers A new year makes me feel a whole new beginning in my life. One year of our life is equivalent to seven years of human life. And so, a new year holds much more importance for us than for the human counterparts. I am lucky to be in a world, which is reasonably full of people who absolutely love, adore and pamper us?–?so much so that in our very short life span,…

A trip to remember WOOF... A vacation with your pet? Seems a brilliant and bindaas idea! But, the problem lies in identifying dog-friendly places. Sparkle with his family went to Naukuchiatal and had a wonderful time. Here’s an account of their trip … From Sparkle’s diary… Hey guys, remember me? I am Sparkle and some time back, I promised to share my most memorable experience with my family. And…

In the last two articles of this series, you read about how your dog’s internal health affects his skin and coat and the basics of bathing and grooming. If you have been following the pointers given in the last two articles, you will have definitely seen an improvement in your dog’s skin and coat. Dr. Freya Javeri further guides you how to groom your furry angel. Alot of people are ignorant when…

Cleanliness is next to godliness and it applies to our canine friends as well. To keep your dog clean, healthy and looking his gleaming best, follow a grooming routine that suits his coat type. Most of the time, people do not know how to groom their pets. Gauri and Urmila of TailWaggers Pet Salon, Mumbai answers some of the frequently asked questions on grooming. Q?:?How can I groom my dog at…

Come Christmas and everybody looks forward to the gifts Santa Claus would bring for us. This Christmas, Amrita asked her four-legged family member Heera  to pen down his wish list. And here he goes… When I first heard Audrey Hepburn sing “These are a few of my favourite things” in the evergreen movie “My Fair Lady”, I never thought I’d have an occasion to present my own list some day. But you know…

Last issue, we discussed the importance of a balanced diet and proper deworming to prevent skin problems, plus how internal factors affect the skin condition of your dog. In this issue, we will discuss the next most important aspect – bathing and grooming correctly. Most dog owners take the routine of bathing and grooming their dogs very lightly – so much so that they don’t feel the need to…

German Shepherd is perhaps the world’s most popular utility dog. Their robustness, rusticity and intelligence, steals everyone’s hearts. They convey a sense of strength, intelligence and litheness. They radiate a harmonious sense of nobility and self-confidence that commands respect. Nevertheless while rearing a German Shepherd, their specific characteristics should be kept in mind and accordingly…