If you own a dog you have probably heard this joke: Does your dog shed? Yes, twice a year for six months at a time! Unless you own a Xoloitzuintli (and even some Xolos have fur), you are familiar with dog hair and its removal. We vacuum, we sweep, we brush, we keep those rollers of sticky tape in our cars and offices. But dog hair is everywhere, which is why another commonly heard meme in the dog world is “in our house, dog hair is a condiment.”

I love dog parks. Nothing burns off a dog’s energy like wrestling and running with a like-minded doggie friend. I’m fortunate in that I have three or four dog parks within easy access of my home, and my dog and I frequent all of them. However, I often see people make what I think are very risky choices at the dog park. Here are three I have seen and why they concern me:

Nearly three months ago, we learned about the potential positive impact curcumin could have on aging horses with joint stiffness. Our 18 year-old gelding has been an award-winning jumper for most of his life and was ridden quite hard when he was younger. He has a history of joint stiffness as a result.

I have been giving my dog, Rocco, Calming Formula from Terry Naturally Animal Health for the past 2 months for his separation anxiety. When I leave for the day, he used to run and hide and shake. Since I started giving him Calming Formula, he is completely relaxed and no longer shakes and hides when we go to leave.

Fresh snow can bring out the zoomies in even the staidest senior dog – until the dreaded ice balls build up between the toes. Hair on the feet traps snow, body heat melts it, and ice balls form. These can be painful for dogs. Long haired dogs seem to be particularly prone to this problem. I find keeping the feet trimmed helps a great deal.

Many horse owners purchase an insurance policy to provide monetary coverage for a loss sustained to an equine under certain conditions. They also may buy a policy for coverage on large veterinary bills in the event of an illness to their horse companion, but what if there was a way to purchase a service to help protect your horse from injury, or speed up recovery time on an existing trauma? These are two examples of what massage therapy can provide to your horse. In the following article, I will explain the benefits and importance of equine massage, which plays a critical role in the healthy maintenance of the horse.