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Dogs are known for their indiscriminate eating habits and will eat some unusual things. Some dogs have even been seen ingesting fecal material (their own or from other animals). The medical term for this act is coprophagia, and its underlying causes are numerous. In this article we will focus on coprophagia due to deficiencies in digestive enzymes. REASONS FOR COPROPHAGIA For some dogs, eating feces is a behavior learned from the littermates and/or mother. Watching other animals pick up feces and ingest it becomes a curiosity that can turn into an ingrained behavior. However, dogs that are fed a low-quality food (or an insufficient amount of food) may also resort to eating feces in an instinctual attempt to balance out a dietary deficiency. This may be further exacerbated if your dog has a digestive enzyme deficiency, because it prevents any of the food’s nutrients to be properly absorbed by the body. Basically, your dog is attempting to eat feces in the hopes to forgo starvin...

If you’ve ever taken a trip with your dog and checked into a hotel that claims to be “pet friendly,” there are a few things to keep in mind that might not be advertised. As a pet traveler of 20 years, I have encountered mostly amazing experiences at pet friendly hotels and bed and breakfasts, but occasionally one falls through the cracks. Pet friendly does not mean red carpet in all cases, so keep these pointers in mind the next time you book a room for you and Fido: Fees are usually imposed on travelers who are staying with pets. Always ask ahead if there are fees involved, how much, and if there is a fee for each pet or a one-time deal. Often, hotels will hold a security deposit and then refund it or not charge your credit card prior to checking out. Pet friendly has its pets allowed limits. You can bring three kids, just not three dogs, as an example. Ask first how many dogs are allowed. Nothing ruins a trip or vacation than hearing, “sorry ma’am, but three dogs are not we...

Furry pets are a big part of American households and, as any pet parent knows, cats and dogs make excellent company. But inevitably, their hair winds up everywhere. Pet hair and dander can be more than just annoying, it can be dangerous if anyone in the household has allergies. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that as many as three in ten people with allergies have allergic reactions to cats and dogs. Fortunately, vacuuming and preventive maintenance can help reduce allergens in your home and improve the overall air quality. FIND THE SPOTS WHERE PET HAIR COLLECTS The places in your home that tend to collect the most pet hair are those that have a high static charge, says Garvin Mark, owner of Pet Pros Services, a company that specializes in cleaning homes that have pets. “The less air flow in an area, the more pet hair there will be,” says Mark. These places might include the area around laundry baskets, floor lamps, and in your pet’s crate or carrier, as...