Because February is National Pet Dental Health Month and we want to help spread awareness about this topic, we’re going to share 8 reasons why it's very important to take care of dog’s teeth:


1. Healthy teeth mean your dog is going to have better breath and can give you pup kisses without a bad smell.


2. It’s possible for dogs to have retained baby teeth. It’s also common for these type of teeth to cause problems. The issue that arises is some of a dog’s adult teeth come in before all of their baby teeth fall out. The complications this can lead to include tartar buildup and gum irritation.


3. Dental disease doesn’t only affect a dog’s health. It can also result in long-term problems with major organs, including the heart.


4. One of the reasons it’s so important to spread awareness about this issue is 80% of dogs over the age of 3 years have some form of periodontal disease. Plaque buildup is a leading cause of this type of disease, which is why it’s crucial to get regular checkups and cleanings from a dental health professional.


5. Since oral health is a reflection of a pet’s overall health, staying on top of this issue can help protect your dog from a variety of other potential health problems.


6. Dogs are quite good at hiding pain. This can be true for issues with their teeth. So you can’t depend on your pet to give any hints that there’s a problem with its teeth. Instead, you need regular dental checkups to spot any potential or existing problems.


7. It is possible for dogs to lose their adult teeth as a result of oral health issues. Since losing teeth can be painful and cause health problems, it’s not something you want your pet to experience.


8. Even if a dog doesn’t lose its teeth, they can wear out. Dogs often put a lot of strain on their teeth. Having a relationship with an experienced dental professional will allow this issue to be addressed before it becomes a major problem.


Tips for Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth


The best starting point for taking care of your dog’s teeth is to collaborate with your vet. Once that process is on the right track, you can support those efforts by regularly brushing your dog’s teeth at home. It’s important to get a toothbrush designed specifically for pups.


A double-headed brush is a great choice because it will allow you to brush at a forty-five-degree angle and clean below your pet's gum line. You’ll also want to be sure to only use a toothpaste made specifically for dogs, as the fluoride found in almost all human toothpaste, can actually be very toxic to pets.


By making dental care a priority for your dog, you can ensure it stays very happy and healthy    

Does Your Dog Get Hot Spots?

Posted by Dawn Donaldson


Understanding the Causes of Hot Spots



How to Help Your Dog with a Hot Spot




Important Winter Care Tips for Your Dog

Posted by Dawn Donaldson


It's true that dogs have a much more robust natural coat than humans. However, that doesn't mean dogs can handle the really cold temperatures we experience in Cincinnati without any help. Because domestic dogs are used to being taken care of by their owners, the same applies during the winter.

The good news is by knowing a few essential winter care tips, you'll be able to keep your pup happy and healthy through even the worst winter days. So with that in mind, let's take a look at exactly what your dog needs from you when the temperature drops really low:

1. Grooming

Dry skin and flaky coats are common issues during the winter. You can help your dog by using a moisturizing shampoo and limiting the number of bathes it gets during the winter months. Frequent brushing is also a great way to get rid of skin flakes and stimulate good skin circulation.

2. Cold Weather Gear

A good rule of thumb is if it's too cold for you to go out without some type of coat, the same is true for your dog. It's worth looking into different coat and sweater options for your pup. You should also see if any protective footwear options make sense for your dog.

3. Walks

You may ultimately decide that booties aren't the right fit for your dog. If that's the case, there are also cream products that can create a protective barrier on your dog's feet during walks. You'll want to check your dog's feet when you get home and clean off any debris. As you're out for a walk, be sure to keep an eye out for anti-freeze or other chemicals on the ground. And if your dog is whining or showing other signs of anxiety, it probably means it's just too cold that day for a walk.

4. Winter Safety

In addition to avoiding chemicals that may spill on the sidewalk, don't ever leave your dog alone in the car. While this warning is more common during the summer, the extreme temperatures of winter can be just as dangerous. And if you have extra devices like space heaters plugged in around your home, make sure your dog can't get to the extension cords or any hot surfaces.

5. Hydration

Just as the winter is still a dangerous time to be alone in a car, it's possible for dogs to get dehydrated during the colder months. Make sure your dog always has a clean bowl of fresh water easily available.

By keeping those five tips in mind, you'll be able to help your dog manage the cold weather of winter. And if you're looking for a place where you dog can still have lots of fun even when the weather is bad, be sure to take a look at our doggie daycare.

Whether it's to celebrate the holiday season or kick off a new year at the start of 2018, donating to your local Cincinnati shelter is a great way to help dogs that are in need. Since there are actually a variety of different ways that you can donate to a shelter, Dog Day Every Day wants to cover six of them right now:

1. Time

Animal shelters rely on help from volunteers to carry out their mission. Even if you only have a few hours a week, donating this time to a Cincinnati shelter will have a positive impact. You can easily contact a shelter to learn more about the type of help they need.

2. Skills

There's no question that shelters need lots of help with tasks like cleaning and taking care of all the dogs. But they also need assistance with more specialized tasks. If you have a skill, chances are good that a shelter will benefit from you donating it. This can be anything from photography to accounting to online marketing.

3. Items

Most shelters are very appreciative of getting donations of both new and gently-used items. Wish lists often include water & food bowls, toys, leashes, collars, brushes, beds and blankets. Shelters also need a variety of cleaning supplies. Don't hesitate to get in touch with a shelter and ask them which items they currently need the most.

4. Food

Given all the animals that occupy a shelter, it shouldn't come as a surprise that they consume a lot of food. If you have a way to obtain or purchase animal food in bulk, a shelter will be able to put this donation to good use right away. The same is true for cat litter. It's worth noting that many smaller pet food brands offer donation programs where they will match the amount of food you donate pound for pound.

5. Awareness

Shelters in Cincinnati do an incredible amount of positive work for local animals. With everything going on in the world, it's easy to forget about that impact. One way you can help with this issue is by spreading awareness. This donation can be as simple as using your social media profiles or as elaborate as organizing a fundraising event for a specific shelter.

6. Money

While we've already covered five different ways to donate, no list about this topic would be complete without mentioning money. Shelters definitely need financial support, so if that's what works best for you to donate, don't hesitate to do so!


1. Hunt for Treasure


2. Stacking Rings


3. New Trick


4. Naming Toys


5. Red Light Green Light



7 Foods You Should Never Feed Your Dog

Posted by Dawn Donaldson



Since you want to take great care of your dog and provide it with the highest quality of life, we want to share seven foods that you should avoid ever feeding to your dog:

1. Chocolate

Although most dog owners already know that chocolate is bad for pets, we wanted to include it as a reminder. Since chocolate treats are especially common during the holiday season, always be careful to keep any of these items around your home fully out of reach of your dog.

2. Chewing Gum

While there's a lot of awareness about not letting dogs eat chocolate, many people aren't aware of the dangers that chewing gum presents. The issue with this item is it contains xylitoyl. This substance is also the reason why you should never let your dog use any dental products that are made for humans. In the event your dog ever eats chewing gum, it's important to go to an emergency vet right away.

3. Bulb Plants

This category include flowers like tulips and daffodils, as well as vegetables like shallots and onions. The good news is most bulb plants aren't immediately poisonous to dogs. But very high doses or long-term consumption can cause red blood cell damage, which is why you'll want to keep your dog away from plant that falls in this category.

4. Coffee

The chemical that makes chocolate very dangerous to dogs is Theobromine. What makes this chemical so problematic is how similar it is to caffeine. Because coffee is highly concentrated with caffeine, it's important to keep beans, brewed drinks and other any other forms of coffee away from your dog. This rule applies to all forms of caffeinated beverages.

5. Raisins and Grapes

As of now, scientists aren't aware of exactly what makes grapes poisonous to dogs. However, there's no question that this fruit can be quite toxic to them. Be sure your dog isn't ever within reach of a bowl of grapes or raisins. In the event that a dog does eat this fruit, prompt treatment by a vet can protect the dog's kidneys.

6. Mushrooms

Not all mushrooms are dangerous to dogs. The challenge is it's very hard to tell the harmless ones from those that are highly toxic. As a result, it's best to keep your dog away from any type of mushroom.

7. Avocados

While this food may come as a surprise, there are actually two dangers with avocados. In addition to the pit posing a choking danger, avocado can cause heart damage in dogs.

Avoiding the seven foods we covered above will help keep your dog safe. In addition to feeding your pup a healthy diet, regular exercise will also play a big role in its overall wellness. A great option for keeping your dog active is to bring it to dog day care in Cincinnati.

Preparing Your Pet for Thanksgiving

Posted by Dawn Donaldson



Preparing Your Dog to Host Thanksgiving





Safely Traveling with Your Dog for Thanksgiving




Helping Your Dog Lose Weight

Posted by Dawn Donaldson


The Ideal Weight for Dogs


3 Ways to Help Your Dog Slim Down




October is Adopt a Dog Month

Posted by Dawn Donaldson



1. Save a Life


2. Start a Wonderful Journey


3. Adoption is Affordable


4. Lots of Benefits to Having a Dog


5. Gift That Keeps Giving



Why Dogs Smell Just About Everything

Posted by Dawn Donaldson

Although smells can trigger a variety of memories and feelings in humans, dogs' incredible sense of smell is something else entirely. Of the five different senses that dogs have, smell is the one they rely on the most. Depending on the breed, dogs have anywhere from 125 to 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses. To put that in perspective, humans only have 5 million. The presence of so many more of these receptors means they can pick up far more information from smells than humans.

Dogs Use Their Noses to See the World

The best way to put yourself in the shoes of a dog is to think of how you visually process information. When you see a table with several items on it, you can identify each of those items. But when you smell dinner cooking, the scent you pick up is a mixture of all the ingredients. For dogs, their strong noses means they process all the individual components in a scent. Being able to pick out all these different things is why dogs want to smell everything and often spend quite a bit of time doing so.

Given that dogs are mostly farsighted, have less binocular vision, less ability to perceive depth and limited color vision, being able to process such rich information through smell is essential for a dog to make sense of the world around it.

Why Are Dogs So Drawn to Bad Smells?

Just about every dog owner has wondered why their pet seems so drawn to the worst smelling items during a walk. According to experts, this behavior has roots that go far back to before dogs were pets. Finding something smelly and then rolling in it was a way for dogs to mask their scent and become better hunters.

As far as why dogs want to stick their noses right up against other pups, this is all about finding out lots of information. This sniffing allows dogs to learn age, gender, mood and current health. Dogs are even able to get all this information simply by smelling a spot where another dog previously peed.

Let Your Dog Have a Blast Sniffing All Around

If you want your dog to have fun and stay busy smelling around while you're away at work, our Cincinnati doggy day care services in provide a positive and safe environment for dogs to explore their natural instinct as pack animals. Your dog will get to socialize and put its nose to good use in large, open play spaces that are conducive to both high energy stimulation and quiet play. Take a look at our dog day care rates and call us at 513-860-DOGS with any additional questions.