Dogs

Most stings are a non-event: a yelp, some swelling, a sulky dog for an hour. The reason a sting is worth a second thought at all is that the small minority of dogs who react badly tend to do it quickly, and the early minutes of a serious reaction look identical to a normal one….

Your dog just snagged a few grapes off the counter. Or helped themselves to the fruit bowl. Or got the raisins your kid dropped on the kitchen floor. And now you’re searching online, hoping to find out it’s not a big deal… It is a big deal! Come in now. Why are grapes so dangerous…

Ottawa is genuinely one of the best places in the country to hike with a dog. The Rideau Trail, Gatineau Park, the Greenbelt, the National Capital Greenbelt paths along the rivers… there’s something for every energy level, human and canine. And then there are porcupines. Beyond porcupines, Ottawa’s trail system comes with a reliable collection…

The Ottawa River, Mooney’s Bay, the Rideau Canal, local lakes… Summer here basically means wet dogs. Most of the time, everybody comes home happy and soggy. But if your dog comes home coughing after a swim, it’s worth paying attention. Sometimes it’s nothing. Sometimes it’s the first sign of something that can turn serious over…

Ottawa summers can catch people off guard. A beautiful July day turns sweltering by noon, and what started as a morning walk through the Glebe or along the canal becomes something your dog can’t handle the way you’d expect. Heatstroke in dogs moves faster than most owners realize. The early signs are easy to miss…