Dog

Fleas are small insects that survive by feeding on animal or human blood. Their bites can cause discomfort, itchiness, and irritation. Sometimes, fleas can infect people or pets with the germs that cause flea-borne typhus, plague, or cat scratch disease.

The dogs of today have been bred by people into hundreds of different breeds that come in a wide range of sizes, from toy dogs that weigh a few pounds to large dogs who top the scales at over 100 pounds. This disparity in dog sizes is very different from what nature would have created — that is, extra small sizes are not found in the wild. The result is that people with pet dogs need to be aware of some safety issues.

Some people with weakened immune systems may be advised to give up their pets to avoid getting diseases from the animals. If you have a weak immune system, having a pet can put you at risk for serious illness from diseases that can spread from animals to humans. Learn what you can do to protect yourself and stay healthy.

There are many good-quality dog foods for sale; read the labels and talk with your veterinarian if you need help deciding what to feed your dog. Many people only feed their dog dry food, since it’s more convenient to serve, has less odor, is less likely to spoil in the bowl, and can reduce the build-up of tartar on the dog’s teeth. Remember to have fresh, cool water available for your dog at all times.

There are many good-quality dog foods for sale; read the labels and talk with your veterinarian if you need help deciding what to feed your dog. Many people only feed their dog dry food, since it's more convenient to serve, has less odor, is less likely to spoil in the bowl, and can reduce the build-up of tartar on the dog's teeth. Remember to have fresh, cool water available for your dog at all times.

This article continues the top 10 tips from our CIA K-9 trainers that we hope you'll find useful, as well as some examples highlighting how these methods are used to teach some of the best explosives detection dogs in the world.

Did you know the CIA has its own dedicated staff of dog trainers? K-9 officers are an important part of our Security Protective Service (SPS), which ensures the CIA and its employees are kept safe.

Chasing is a natural instinct for a dog, but it is not appropriate behavior in your home when directed toward your cat. The following guidelines can help you deal with this behavior through management (preventing the problem) and training (motivating the dog to change his behavior). Management means arranging the environment to prevent the behavior.

Chasing is a natural instinct for a dog, but it is not appropriate behavior in your home when directed toward your cat. The following guidelines can help you deal with this behavior through management (preventing the problem) and training (motivating the dog to change his behavior). Management means arranging the environment to prevent the behavior.

Whether or not to vaccinate pets and how often to vaccinate are among the most debated questions in veterinary medicine in recent years. It used to be so easy: You took your dog or cat to your veterinarian once a year, your pet received the recommended vaccinations and whatever other things he or she might need, and you went on your way. Now, the standard of care in veterinary medicine has changed. No longer are we vaccinating every animal every year with every vaccine available.