Simparica TRIO Canada

25/07/2023

You scream, I scream, we all bark for ice cream! Treat your furry friend to a frosty treat when the weather turns hot. This homemade dog ice cream recipe is easy to make and only uses ingredients that are safe for your pup.

You’ll notice one ingredient that’s missing in this recipe — milk. Although puppies drink milk, dogs no longer produce the enzyme needed to break down the lactose in cow’s milk and other dairy-based products after weaning. Dairy products can also be high in fat and sugar, which can cause gastrointestinal upset. As an alternative, we suggest using kefir or plain fat-free Greek yogurt (as long as they do not include artificial sweeteners like xylitol, which are toxic to your pets). Blend or mix in some of their favorite snacks, but be sure to avoid dangerous foods such as chocolate, coffee or espresso beans, and macadamia nuts when creating this delicious mouth-watering treat.

08/07/2023

With the dog days of summer upon us, there aren’t many things more refreshing than cooling down with a popsicle. Dogs also love frozen treats, but many traditional popsicles — store‐bought or homemade — are either high in sugar or contain ingredients that are dangerous to dogs.

Ingredients to be mindful of avoiding when creating your own homemade dog popsicles include (but are not limited to) fruit juices (which are naturally high in sugar or are sweetened with artificial sweeteners like xylitol), grapes, raisins, and chocolate. Also, be sure to avoid using popsicle sticks, as they can be ingested and cause damage or blockage in your dog’s intestinal tract.

All you’ll need is a blender, silicone trays or ice cube trays, and a few ingredients you likely already have around the house. Here are some ideas to try.

08/07/2023

Lors des chaudes journées d’été, tout le monde adore se rafraîchir avec une friandise glacée. Les chiens ne font pas exception – mais de nombreux produits, achetés en magasin ou préparés à la maison, sont très sucrés ou contiennent des ingrédients nocifs pour les chiens.

Les ingrédients à éviter lors de la préparation de vos propres gâteries glacées pour chiens sont, entre autres, les jus de fruits (qui sont naturellement riches en sucre ou contiennent des édulcorants artificiels comme le xylitol), le raisin, les raisins secs et le chocolat. Il faut également éviter d’utiliser des bâtonnets qui pourraient être avalés et causer des dommages ou un blocage dans le système digestif de votre chien.

Vous aurez besoin d’un mélangeur, de plateaux en silicone ou de moules à glaçons, et de quelques ingrédients que vous avez probablement déjà à la maison. Voici quelques idées à essayer.

28/06/2023

The weather's nice, and you and your dog are ready for a day at the beach! Your dog is up to date on their vaccines, they’ve got their identification tags, and their dog supplies are packed for a day of fun. It is important to note however that a beach environment poses some unique risks for dogs. Be aware of a few things and plan ahead to avoid injuries.

25/06/2023

With sunny days and warmer weather, many people want to grab their dog and head to the nearest beach! Taking your dog to the beach can be fun, relaxing, and a great way to give them some much-needed exercise and enrichment. It is important you’re well prepared to ensure your dog stays safe and you both have some fun by the water.

20/03/2023

Spring is in the air! It’s time for you and your pet to shake off the winter hibernation with fun spring activities. Now that the weather is warming up and days are getting longer, you and your pet can poke your noses outside. Or when spring showers hit, take the time to play and train indoors.

20/02/2023

Dogs can eat cheese in modest quantities, as many kinds of cheese can be high in fat, which can cause gastrointestinal upset or even pancreatitis. When choosing cheeses to give your pup, remember that lower-fat cheeses like mozzarella and cottage cheese are better choices for their tummies. Also, since dogs do not have adequate enzymes to digest lactose well, dairy products like cheeses should be fed sparingly in addition to their regular diet.

A paw-some benefit to feeding your dog these treats is that cheese contains calcium, protein, vitamins, and essential fatty acids. In moderation, cheese is a great way to provide your dog with some essential vitamins and nutrients to have a balanced diet. Here is an easy four-ingredient homemade cheese dog treat recipe for your dog to enjoy in moderation.

01/02/2023

Moving across the country, to a new province or a new city is quite an undertaking, especially when you have a dog along for the ride. There are things you can do ahead of time and on the road to make the journey easier.

27/01/2023

Did you know puppies, like babies, go through a teething stage?

Your puppy’s first baby teeth will start to erupt around 2 weeks of age. By about 4 weeks of age, most of their 28 tiny, sharp baby teeth are in, and your puppy starts to explore through chewing.

From the first baby tooth to the last adult tooth, the entire teething process is about 8 months. It varies slightly by breed.
Puppies chew on everything, but that doesn’t always mean they are teething. Look for these signs.

24/01/2023

All pet owners know that dogs love to chew. Not only is it a pleasurable activity, but there are benefits to chewing (it alleviates boredom, can be a coping mechanism for anxiety and stress, and helps keep their teeth clean).

The truth is, it’s what your dog chews on that’s important. Bones can present health and safety issues for your dog. Both cooked and raw bones can be detrimental to dogs. It doesn't matter how the bone is presented — they can potentially splinter. These splinters can cause irritation and/or trauma to your dog's mouth and gastrointestinal tract. All dogs should be monitored the entire time they are chewing on the bone, and if any damage occurs to the bone, it should be taken away promptly.

Instead of treating your dog with a bone, opt for a safe chew toy instead, like firm rubber toys, rope toys, durable stuffed toys, or tennis balls, based on your dog’s chewing style and habits.

23/01/2023

Veterinary dentists advise against pet owners using bones for dogs. They recommend using chews with the seal of approval from the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC). All products with this seal have been evaluated to be beneficial to a dog's oral health.

Providing your dog with a bone is a personal choice. Still, as a pet owner, you must take proper bone safety precautions to protect your dog from trauma to their mouth and gastrointestinal tract, and to reduce the risk of food-borne illness to your dog and your family.

19/01/2023

Whining is a natural dog behavior, which means you won’t be able to stop it altogether, nor should you. It’s an important part of communication for your dog. However, if they’re whining because of boredom or have learned to whine to demand attention, you can do some things to reduce nuisance whining.

16/01/2023

The main goals as a pet parent when your puppy is teething are to help relieve their discomfort and satisfy their cravings to chew.

There are a few reasons for increased chewing during teething. Chewing helps ease the discomfort of sore and inflamed gums. That’s why cool or cold objects seem to help. Chewing also acts as a distraction from the discomfort of teething. Lastly, during the teething process, puppies experience some hormonal changes that can cause them to chew more.

Here are a few things you can offer your puppy to help soothe them. Remember, nothing should be offered for chewing without proper supervision. And throughout the teething process, your pup’s chewing preferences may change.

13/01/2023

Dogs show us unconditional love and affection. What better way to return the favor than with a special birthday bash to celebrate the day they were born or their gotcha day?

Dog birthday cakes use many of the same ingredients you normally would when baking. As always, avoid any toxic or unhealthy ingredients for dogs, such as chocolate, artificial sweeteners (e.g., xylitol), macadamia nuts, pie spices, ice cream, frosting, and edible decorations.

When crafting your “pupcake”, consider incorporating their favorite flavors like banana, carrots, or pumpkin, and opt to use whole wheat flour or whole grain flour rather than white flour, which can cause high blood sugar.

For a frosting alternative, simply mix together non-fat Greek yogurt with natural peanut butter (no artificial sweeteners) until you reach a spreadable consistency to top it off. Happy Birthday or Gotcha Day to your pup!

11/01/2023

Bringing home a new bundle of joy is an exciting time, but you also may be worried about how to introduce your dog to your newborn baby. Certified professional dog trainers will advise it’s more important to teach a calm and distanced settle behavior rather than focus on how to teach your dog to be gentle with a baby. By encouraging direct interaction between a dog and a newborn, the chances of your dog becoming startled, or triggered by a sudden movement or sound, are higher and may result in a subsequent bite response.

27/12/2022

There are animal shelters and rescue organizations in just about every city. They do fantastic work and stretch their dollars and supplies as far as possible.

Thinking you’d like to help them out? Maybe volunteering isn’t an option right now, and monetary donations aren’t feasible. There’s another way you can give to your local shelters that are just as impactful and don’t cost a thing — donating items from your home. The key is to look for things that can be washed and/or disinfected — not just as they go from your home to their facility but also after each use moving forward.

26/12/2022

22/12/2022

While dogs rely primarily on body language to communicate, they can be quite vocal with their barking, howling, growling, and whining. The high-pitch sound of whines can be long and drawn out or short and staccato. You may even notice a difference in whining based on the intention behind the whine (and you can use this to your advantage). It’s important to identify the underlying reason your dog is whining, as some require a visit to the veterinarian or connecting with a dog trainer or behavior consultant to address a larger issue. Let’s look at the most common reasons for dog whining.

20/12/2022

Tired of constant puppy nipping and biting? Those needle-sharp puppy teeth can hurt quite a bit, injuring your hands or shredding your clothes. Training your puppy not to bite is easier than you may think, but it does require time, patience, and consistency. When done right, your puppy will learn what’s okay to put their mouth on and what isn’t as they go through their nipping phase. At the end of the day, it is all about being consistent with your reinforcement and consequences so your puppy can learn good habits.

16/12/2022

You cook a delicious meal and sit down to enjoy it, only to look over and find those big puppy eyes watching you. Most dog owners can relate to dogs begging for food at the table. It’s a behavior that many people would like to stop, as it can be disconcerting to have your pup stare at you while you eat. Some dogs are so determined to get some of your food that they jump on you or the table to make it happen! Thankfully there are some easy steps you can take to minimize this behavior.

13/12/2022

The main thing to watch out for in chocolate is the chemical compound, theobromine. Theobromine is the ingredient in chocolate that causes the most problems for dogs. It is most dangerous to a dog’s central nervous system (brain) and heart.

The darker the chocolate, the more theobromine. As a rule of thumb, the more bitter the chocolate tastes, the darker it usually is, and therefore the worse it is for dogs. And the more chocolate a dog eats, the more theobromine they ingest.

Additionally, the toxicity depends on the size of the dog and the type of chocolate (as well as any chronic medical conditions the dog has or medications the dog is on). For example, 2 ounces of milk chocolate might be mild for a 20-pound dog, 2 ounces of dark chocolate would result in moderate toxicity, and 2 ounces of baking chocolate would be severely toxic.

12/12/2022

Dogs, like humans, can suffer from broken bones. There are times when broken bones will be obvious and other times when they’re harder to recognize.

Open fractures, for example, mean the bone protrudes through the skin, so they’re easy to see. On the other hand, a closed fracture occurring under the skin and other soft tissues may not be visible to you.

If your dog is experiencing any of the signs listed and you suspect your dog may have a broken bone or they’ve been involved in an accident, it’s vital to speak with a veterinary professional right away to have them assessed and to avoid complications.

10/12/2022

While you may expect your pet to happily adjust to having a newborn around, it’s important to understand that many dogs become stressed by a new baby in the home. The sights, sounds, and smells of a new baby are a big change for your dog, and they will continue to experience changes as your child grows in the coming years. To help lessen the stress of having a new baby at home, one thing you can do is create safe spaces for your dog.

08/12/2022

It's important to have a pet preparedness plan ready in the event of a crisis or emergency. A preparedness plan will help you and your pets remain calm and eliminate unnecessary stress. Remember, the simple act of petting and snuggling can reduce anxiety for both people and pets during an evolving crisis.

01/12/2022

Bringing a newborn home can cause stress for your dog. A stressed pet is more likely to bite or scratch when they feel overwhelmed or unsure. Therefore, there is an inherent risk in allowing your dog to interact directly with your baby. Before your baby’s birth, slowly introduce your pet to the different things they will experience when your baby comes home. During this entire process, offer your pet lots of positive reinforcement in the form of verbal praise, treats, petting, play sessions, or whatever they love. You want to reward their calm behavior and build positive associations with all these new baby-related experiences.

16/05/2022

Nipping, mouthing, and biting are normal and natural puppy behaviours that happen for different reasons. Without consistent management and training, a puppy will have a hard time learning that playing with you is different than playing with another dog.

Before we get into training, we must first ask ourselves, why do puppies bite? Here we break down five reasons why puppies bite.

08/05/2022

Like humans, our pets can experience negative emotions. While we cannot assume our dogs experience depression in the same way we do, our dogs can experience many of the same emotions, such as sadness, fear, anxiety, and sometimes even grief. You want your dog to be happy and healthy, so paying attention to their mental health is important.

The signs listed below can also be signs of illness or injury, which is why a veterinary exam is necessary to rule out other causes as part of addressing your dog's behavioural changes. You know your dog best — if their behaviour seems off to you, that's enough to bring it up to your veterinarian.

03/05/2022

If you realize that you forgot to give your pet their medication on time, don’t panic — but do call your veterinarian to find out your next steps. Depending on the medication missed and by how long, they’ll be able to advise you when to give the next dose and any other steps you might need to take.

They’ll also let you know if they need to write a new prescription for a different formulation or medication, or if your pet will need any additional blood tests before restarting treatment.

It can be easy to forget your pet’s medication, so plan ahead and set up some reminders to avoid the risks of missing your pet’s medications (and the hassle of having to restart treatment). By taking a few minutes now, you’ll save yourself lots of time in the future and keep your pet healthy and protected. Sign up at www.mypetreminder.ca/

29/04/2022

Having pets in the home with children is a wonderful opportunity to teach responsibility and show the unconditional love pets can bring to our lives. From the basic care that keeps your pet healthy to the enrichment that keeps them happy, there are many ways that kids can help care for their furry family members and learn some special lessons in the process.

19/04/2022

Do you suffer from anxiety? Dogs have long played a role in helping with the physical and mental well-being of humans, but what should you look for in a dog to help with your anxiety? Whether as formally trained support animals or simply as loving pets, dogs can provide beneficial effects for people with anxiety.

There’s much more to consider than breed alone when selecting a dog to help with anxiety. A dog's ability to act as a support for an owner suffering from anxiety depends on their individual temperament and their owner's specific needs. When choosing a dog to help with anxiety, consider the triggers of anxiety and how a dog might be effective (or ineffective) in providing assistance.