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• Breeding for Dog Owners: Caring for Newborn Puppies

  For the next two months, even if everything went smoothly with the birth, you have a lot of work to do! This includes keeping the whelping area clean and dry, closely monitoring the health of the mom and pups, and assisting with feeding and care of the pups as necessary. It is important to have the mother and puppies examined by your veterinarian within 48 hours of birth. The pups should be weighed regularly to make sure they are gaining weight. The mother can experience serious health problems including mastitis and eclampsia, needing emergency veterinary treatment.

• Breeding for Pet Owners - Pregnancy in Dogs

  This handout is a basic care guide for pregnant dogs, outlining changes in nutritional requirements and physical activity, and pregnancy testing.

• Breeding for Pet Owners - Whelping in Dogs

  This handout summarizes whelping (giving birth) in dogs. Instructions for preparing your pregnant dog for delivery and how to assist her if necessary are outlined. Situations requiring veterinary assistance are also described.

• Breeding for Pet Owners: The Pros and Cons of Breeding Dogs

  Breeding dogs is a great responsibility that should not be done just because an owner wants puppies from their beloved dog. Important considerations are discussed. Many puppies are abandoned at dog shelters because of inappropriate breeding practices. There are usually many dogs looking for homes and an owner can find the dog they are looking for through shelters or rescue organizations.

• Briard

  A sheepdog from France? With his long shaggy locks, curiously perked ears and air of dignified aloofness, the Briard is indeed a French sheepdog with that je ne sais quois - not like his British or German sheepherding brothers, but entirely original.

• Brittany

  These dogs are playful and happy to join their family in anything. Most are friendly and accepting of strangers. They're happy, waggy dogs who always greet their family with an invitation to play.

• Bromethalin Rodenticide Poisoning in Cats

  Bromethalin is a common rodenticide. Cats are commonly poisoned when they find loose bait placed for rodent control. Relay toxicity, where poisoning occurs due to ingesting rodents that died from bromethalin, has been anecdotally reported in cats. Clinical signs can develop as soon as two hours after exposure and as long as 24-48 hours after exposure. There is no antidote for bromethalin, so prompt induction of vomiting by a veterinarian can be lifesaving. Prognosis is poor to grave if severe clinical signs develop such as seizures, paralysis, or coma. Patients with milder clinical signs may recover after several weeks but may have permanent neurologic damage.

• Brushing Your Dog's Teeth

  It is estimated that over 80% of dogs over the age of three have periodontal disease (infection of the tissues surrounding the teeth). Brushing three times a week is the minimum recommendation to help remove plaque and prevent tartar accumulation. To be successful at brushing your dog's teeth, you must make it a positive experience for both of you. Do not use human toothpaste or baking soda. A list of dental products and diets that have been accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Counsel can be found on www.vohc.org.

• Brussels Griffon

  They're perfectly willing to lie beside you (or on your lap) while you're reading a book, but if you invite them to play, they'll join a rousing game of catch-me-if-you-can.

• Budgies – Feeding

  Budgerigars (parakeets) originated in the grasslands of Australia. In the wild, they eat a variety of seeds as well as natural vegetation. Pet budgies fed an all-seed diet may develop a number of nutritional deficiencies. It is recommended to feed a mix of pellets, seeds, fruits, and vegetables.