Pawsitive Healing

13/12/2025

11/12/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14PrVXdG55x/?mibextid=wwXIfr

In Germany, some new dog owners really do have to pass a test before taking a dog home 🐾🇩🇪

In several German states, first time dog owners are required to complete the Hundeführerschein, or dog owner’s license. It includes a written exam that checks whether owners understand essential topics like nutrition, behavior, stress signals and responsible care. The goal is simple… to make sure people know what a dog truly needs before bringing one into their life. While not a nationwide rule, regions that use it have seen better welfare outcomes and fewer neglect cases.

After the written part, many areas also require a practical test. This means owners must show they can safely walk, handle and communicate with a dog in real situations. Trainers observe how the owner reacts to distractions, how they guide the dog and how calmly they maintain control. The exam isn’t meant to intimidate… it’s meant to protect both the animal and the community by ensuring dogs receive proper care and training from day one.

Germany’s approach shows a deep respect for animals. Instead of treating pet ownership as a casual decision, it asks people to understand the responsibility that comes with a living, feeling companion. And when owners are better prepared, dogs get safer homes, happier lives and fewer end up in shelters.



References
BBC News: Germany’s dog owner licensing rules.
Deutsche Welle: Explanation of the Hundeführerschein system.
American Kennel Club: International dog ownership regulations.
The Local Germany: How the dog owner test works in different states.

07/12/2025

03/12/2025

Indoor-only living is the best way to keep cats safe 🏠, but without the right enrichment and care, it can often lead to boredom and less activity. 😿 That’s where enrichment tools like food puzzles come in! 🧩 These tools help spice up your cat’s indoor life, keeping them engaged both physically and mentally. 🐈🧠

Learn how to create a fun, easy food puzzle for your cat – link in comments!

02/12/2025

The All Party Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) have released the Innate Health Assessment (IHA) tool - a new evidence-based tool to help breeders, owners and puppy buyers identify dog body features linked to health and wellbeing, supporting responsible breeding and healthier future generations.

Easy to use on any device, the IHA provides clear visual guidance to support responsible breeding decisions, puppy purchasing, and healthier future generations of dogs.

👉 Explore the tool here: https://innatehealthassessment.petproov.com/buyer-check

Together, we can continue to uphold high standards of hauora for our companion animals throughout Aotearoa 💙

01/12/2025

A pet-safe recipe to bring holiday scents into your home.🎄☃️

With the holiday season here, many of us want that cozy, festive smell, without the VOCs, synthetic fragrances, and other chemicals found in most candles and air fresheners. A simple, nontoxic alternative we love is a stovetop simmer pot. It fills your home with an incredible natural aroma…no harsh chemicals and nothing that compromises your pet’s health.

Here’s one of our favorites from The Forever Dog LIFE...

Winter Holiday Home Scent Recipe
* Water and/or Apple Juice or Cider
* 1/2 to 1 cup fresh cranberries
* 1 orange, sliced with peel
* 3-4 cinnamon sticks
* 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
* 1 tablespoon whole cloves

1. Add ingredients to a small pot of water (or juice/cider) and bring to a soft boil (or slow boil in a slow cooker)
2. Reduce heat to simmer for 2-3 hours, allowing the aromas to fill your home. Add additional water and/or cider if necessary. Your home will smell like pure holiday cheer...no chemicals required!

We’re all about reducing toxic load at home, especially since our dogs interact with their environment far more closely than we do. That’s why the Forever Dog LIFE merch collection is made with non-toxic, pet-safe materials we genuinely trust in our homes and with own pets.

🎁There’s still time to grab some pup-safe essentials during our biggest sale of the year: 25% off the entire Forever Dog LIFE collection (excluding tees). Sale ends tomorrow, Dec 1st.

👉 Drop THANKS25 below if you’re looking for the perfect dog (and cat) lovers gifts this holiday season…we’ll message you the link !

30/11/2025

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3303983/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Itch is the major symptom of atopic dermatitis (AD). Acupuncture has been shown to exhibit a significant effect on experimental itch in AD. Our study evaluated acupuncture and anti-histamine itch therapy (cetirizine) on type-I-hypersensitivity itch ...

29/11/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14TJD94P6vk/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Researchers recently conducted a specialist-led disproportionality analysis of musculoskeletal adverse event reports (MSAERs) in dogs treated with bedinvetmab (Librela™) compared to six comparator drugs with the same indication. They also reported the findings from a subset of dogs whose adverse event (AE) data underwent independent adjudication by an expert panel. The European Medicines Agency’s EudraVigilance database (2004–2024) and 19 client-owned dogs made up the sample population in the case–control study and case series analysis. An EBVS® Veterinary Specialist in Surgery individually reviewed all MSAERs to Librela™, Rimadyl®, Metacam®, Previcox®, Onsior®, Galliprant®, and Daxocox® (2004–2024). The primary null hypothesis was that Librela’s MSAER rate would not exceed that of comparator drugs by more than 50%. The secondary hypothesis was that MSAER would surge and taper following the launch of new drugs. The results showed the disproportionality analysis did not support the hypotheses. Ligament/tendon injury, polyarthritis, fracture, musculoskeletal neoplasia, and septic arthritis were reported 9-times more frequently in Librela-treated dogs than the combined total of dogs treated with the comparator drugs. A review of 19 suspected musculoskeletal adverse events (MSAEs) by an 18-member expert panel unanimously concluded a strong suspicion of a causal association between bedinvetmab and accelerated joint destruction. This study supports recent FDA analyses by demonstrating an increased reporting rate of musculoskeletal adverse events in dogs treated with Librela. Further investigation and close clinical monitoring of treated dogs are warranted.

28/11/2025

✨ Did you know dogs’ acupuncture points are closely linked to their nervous system? 🐶🈶

Even though acupuncture has been used in animals for thousands of years, modern science is now showing why it works!

🔹 Acupuncture points are tiny areas full of nerves and blood vessels.
🔹 Stimulating them helps the body release natural healing chemicals.
🔹 Many meridians (the energy pathways in Chinese medicine) follow the same routes as major nerves.
🔹 Over 99% of acupuncture points sit right next to important nerves!
🔹 Studies even show that injected tracers travel along meridian paths — not along nerves or blood vessels — suggesting these ancient pathways have real biological effects.

💡 Bottom line: Traditional meridians and modern anatomy overlap far more than we once thought. Acupuncture may help dogs by influencing the nervous system in powerful ways.

🐾 Science is catching up to what ancient healers knew all along.

27/11/2025

Meet this golden‑aged superstar, getting an acupuncture treatment today. 🐾✨
Just like us, older dogs can feel stiff joints, sore muscles, and a little extra stress. Acupuncture is a natural, drug‑free way to boost circulation, ease discomfort, and keep them wagging happily for years to come.
💚 Why Choose Canine Acupuncture?
Relieves arthritis & joint pain
Reduces anxiety & improves mobility
Enhances overall well‑being without medication