For decades, owners have relied on identification tags around their canines’ necks to minimize the likelihood of losing their pets. The tags normally hang from collars. If an animal control officer finds your pet, a quick look at the tag will identify you as the owner. A single phone call may be all it takes to be reunited with your canine. Why, then, are so few pets reunited with their owners after becoming separated from them? Some are fortunate enough to be placed within new homes. Others are euthanized.

Ticks feed on your dog’s blood. They can usually be found in wooded areas, or places with plenty of tall grass. They lie in wait for mammals to pass, hoping for the chance to jump aboard and dig themselves in. When your canine passes by a tick (or hundreds of them), it will jump onto him, and attach its mouth to his skin. It will then begin feeding.

One of the only ways your pooch can communicate is by barking. It is his main tool for conveying a variety of messages. He’ll do it when there’s a stranger lurking on your porch; he’ll do it to let you know he needs to go outside; and he’ll do it when he wants your attention. The problem is, excessive barking can rattle anyone’s nerves, including your neighbors. To prevent them from becoming frustrated, and to preserve your own sanity, you’ll need to take steps to curb your dog’s behavior.

Canines respond to food treats better than nearly any other type of reward. This is the reason most professional trainers recommend using them when training your dog at home. By rewarding him with a small piece of his favorite food after he complies with your command, you’ll improve the likelihood he’ll comply in the future. But is this an effective training method over the long run?

In the same way that millions of people cope with diabetes, so too, does the disease affect canines. Specifically, the disorder is called diabetes mellitus (DM). An insulin deficiency prevents your pooch’s body from metabolizing glucose effectively. There are two varieties of DM: Type I and Type II. The former is the most prevalent type (99% of dogs with DM suffer from this type) and occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin. The latter occurs when insulin is manufactured but your pooch’s body isn’t able to use it properly.