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You can make doggy ice cream yourself so easily and affordably – we'll show you how. During the summer temperatures, not only do dog owners look forward to a delicious way to cool down, but dogs love ice cream too. Unfortunately, regular ice cream is often made with sugar, chocolate, or other ingredients that are toxic to dogs. To make sure your furry friends can enjoy their ice cream safely and healthily, we present our top three HelloBello doggy ice cream recipes in this blog post. Get your summer deal now! Try HelloBello and save on your first delivery! Doggy ice cream recipes: Enjoy grain-free, sugar-free, and healthy treats! Your little four-legged friend should probably not lick the ice cream shop window. Still, they don't have to miss out on a delicious way to cool down. With just a few ingredients, you can make doggy ice cream yourself and create a summery treat for your furry friend. Read also: Heat and dogs – a dangerous duo Doggy ice cream recipe #1: FRUITY – Yogurt and watermelon We're starting fruity and will show you right away how you can make refreshing yogurt-watermelon doggy ice cream yourself. Because it's very easy and only requires two ingredients – yogurt and melon. 😉 You will need: some plain yogurt or a plant-based alternative (e.g. soy yogurt) 1 watermelon And here's how: To make this summery yogurt-watermelon doggy ice cream yourself, first cut the watermelon into as small pieces as possible, remove all the seeds, and blend the fruit flesh thoroughly until a creamy mixture is formed. Then mix it together with a few spoonfuls of yogurt in a large bowl. Now pour the mixture into any mold, e.g. an ice cube tray, and put it in the freezer. After a few hours, you can surprise your beloved with a super delicious doggy ice cream. Doggy ice cream recipe #2: SAVORY – HelloBello doggy ice cream Make HelloBello doggy ice cream yourself? Served cold, our freshly cooked dog food is perfect for a refreshing way to cool down on hot summer days. You will need: Cowgenuss, Gockelspeis or Ringeltanz from HelloBello some water And here's how: For HelloBello doggy ice cream, first grab a pack of Cowgenuss, Gockelspeis or Ringeltanz from HelloBello. Then mix it with some water and blend it thoroughly. Then pour the mixture into a suitable mold and put it in the refrigerator for a few hours, and the doggy ice cream is ready – bon appétit! Doggy ice cream recipe #3: SWEET – Peanut butter banana ice cream For all the sweet tooths, we recommend peanut butter banana ice cream. This doggy ice cream recipe consists of three simple ingredients that should be in every household during the summer months. You will need: 1 ripe banana 1 cup of plain yogurt 2-3 tbsp unsweetened peanut butter And here's how: For peanut butter banana ice cream, first cut the banana into small pieces. Now blend it thoroughly together with the yogurt and peanut butter, and freeze it in suitable molds. Wait a few hours and the doggy ice cream is ready! Bello's tip: For a little more fun when eating it, the ice cream can of course also be spread on a lick mat or filled in a treat ball.P.S. From the third order onwards, you'll get a HelloBello lick mat for free with your order! Making doggy ice cream yourself: You should still keep this in mind Although doggy ice cream is a welcome change on hot summer days, you should not spoil your four-legged friend with it too often. The cold can lead to stomach problems and diarrhea if consumed frequently. In moderation, however, there should normally be no complaints, so your dog can easily enjoy its refreshing treat. We wish you and your four-legged friend lots of fun trying out our doggy ice cream recipes!
Guest post by Travall A holiday with your dog by the sea? After a stressful time of lockdowns and travel restrictions, many of us are eager to get away. For most dog owners, this means their four-legged companions are coming along too, as dogs are pack animals and feel happiest when they are close to their people. To make sure your holiday with your dog by the sea is relaxing, we have put together some practical tips and a packing list for you. Table of Contents Proper Restraint in the Car Holiday with Your Dog by the Sea: Fun at the Dog Beach Tips for Dog Hotels and Boarding Kennels Packing List for a Holiday with Your Dog by the Sea Proper Restraint in the Car For a holiday with your dog by the sea, the most important thing is proper restraint. While it is mandatory in some Mediterranean countries to have a dog guard in the car when traveling with pets, there are no specific regulations in Germany and its neighbouring countries on how dogs should be restrained in the car. However, you must ensure that no one is affected or injured – whether human or animal. A safe dog transport system can consist of either an aluminium dog box secured in the boot or a dog guard. A dog guard takes up no space and does not restrict flexibility when using the car. You can easily install the Travall Guard yourself in just a few steps, without drilling or making any changes to the vehicle. It creates a sturdy barrier between the boot and the seats. You can also attach a boot divider and practical rear guard doors to it, making the boot more usable and safer for your dog. If you would prefer to use a dog harness with a seat belt instead of a box or dog guard, make sure it is of particularly good quality, as the carabiners have repeatedly proven to be weak points in crash tests. Due to the enormous forces exerted on the belt in the event of an accident, this restraint option is only recommended for small dogs. Holiday with Your Dog by the Sea: Fun at the Dog Beach A day at the dog beach is like a mini-holiday: you can play thoroughly with your dog, the water promises to cool you down, and after a swim you can make yourself comfortable on the towel. However, for a safe holiday with your dog by the sea, sun protection must come before beach fun. Dogs with light skin and short fur must be applied sunscreen before and during an excursion to the dog beach. There are special sunscreens for dogs, but fragrance-free children's products also work. Always keep an eye on your dog at the dog beach and make sure they do not wander too far from you – even the best-behaved dogs can sometimes get ideas in their heads. If children who are not yet old enough to know how to properly handle animals are nearby, it is better to keep your dog on a leash if in doubt. Also make sure they do not drink seawater, as this can cause water intoxication in dogs and make your dog vomit. Instead, you must provide fresh drinking water and a place to lie in the shade. And after the beach excursion, your four-legged friend should have a shower so that the salt water and sand can be washed out of their fur. Read also: Dogs and heat – a dangerous duo Tips for Dog Hotels and Boarding Kennels Some hotels and boarding kennels offer pet welcome packages with dog beds, dog beds and treats to make your holiday with your dog by the sea a little less stressful. However, as this is not the case everywhere, you should be prepared to take your own dog food, harness and cozy blanket with you. Familiar items also reduce stress levels in anxious dogs. The room should be made dog-safe, which means nothing should be left lying around that could harm your dog. If your four-legged friend (like many others) has a penchant for drinking from the toilet, then keep the lid closed and preferably keep them away from the bathroom, as the cleaning products used in the hotel industry are highly likely to be toxic. Dog-friendly does not mean that animals are allowed in all areas of a hotel or boarding kennel. Dining rooms are usually off-limits to animals. If dogs are allowed there, make sure your dog lies down and does not try to steal food from the table or buffet. Did you know that you can also have your dog food sent directly to your holiday destination if you are traveling in Germany or Austria? Freshly prepared food from HelloBello provides your dog with everything they need for a healthy and long life and will be delivered directly to your accommodation. Packing List for a Holiday with Your Dog by the Sea To make sure your next holiday with your dog by the sea is a relaxing and stress-free experience, we have put together a small packing list of the most important things for you here. Vaccination record and EU pet passport Copy of the dog liability insurance Collar, dog leash, spare leash, harness Dog tag with address at the holiday destination Dog food, if your four-legged friend is picky or needs to follow a special diet; otherwise, you can simply buy it at your destination or make it yourself if you are a barfer Can opener Water and food bowls plus a mat that can be cleaned quickly Medication, first aid kit for dogs Sunscreen and tick remover Address and phone number of a veterinarian at the holiday destination Sleeping blanket or dog bed Dog toy, possibly a clicker Treats and food dummy Protection for the couch and bed (e.g. two old bed sheets) Brush or comb Poop bags or dog walking bags Dog whistle, if you also use it at home quick-drying towels a muzzle, if corresponding regulations apply at the holiday destination. The Travall team wishes you a wonderful holiday and a relaxing holiday with your dog by the sea! Ready to give your dog a healthier and longer life? Order freshly prepared dog food now and save 30% Order now
Summer, sunshine, splashing fun! For most furry friends, there is nothing better in the hot season than diving into a cool lake, retrieving sticks from the water, or chasing the stream of water from the garden hose. Many dog owners know very well that excessive water loss (dehydration) in the heat can have serious consequences. But did you know that the exact opposite also poses an invisible, absolutely deadly danger? We are talking about water intoxication in dogs. Very few owners are aware that drinking too much water in a short period of time can lead to serious health problems and often even death. In this life-saving guide, we will explain how this intoxication occurs, which dogs are in the high-risk group, which symptoms you must pay close attention to, and how to act correctly in an absolute emergency. Table of Contents What exactly is water intoxication in dogs? Why swelling cells are life-threatening What amount of water is dangerous for my dog? Risk factors: Which dogs are particularly at risk? Symptoms of water intoxication in dogs First aid: Treatment and emergency measures Prevention: How can I avoid water intoxication? Our HelloBello conclusion What exactly is water intoxication in dogs? In medical terminology, water intoxication is referred to as hypotonic hyperhydration. This occurs when a dog swallows so much water in a very short period of time that the body can no longer excrete it quickly enough through the kidneys. If a dog drinks too much, a sudden large amount of fluid enters the bloodstream. This massively dilutes the blood and causes the sodium level (salt content) to drop drastically. However, sodium is an essential mineral that is indispensable for transmitting nerve impulses and maintaining the water balance of the cells. To compensate for this dangerous electrolyte deficiency in the blood, the body reacts fatally: The body cells begin to absorb the excess water like little sponges. They swell up and become larger and larger. Why swelling cells are life-threatening This process becomes particularly dramatic in the dog's head. The brain is surrounded by the hard, bony skull cap and has absolutely no room to expand. When the brain cells swell, intracranial pressure rises massively, which inevitably leads to severe neurological disorders. But the other cells in the body also swell, leading to enormous internal medical problems. The already hard-working kidneys are particularly affected. Animals with weak kidneys are extremely endangered, because the kidneys require a very specific sodium level in the blood to function optimally. If this is not present, paradoxically less urine can be excreted – the water continues to accumulate in the body. An absolute vicious cycle! Test HelloBello and save on your first delivery! What amount of water is dangerous for my dog? From a water intake of approximately 1/3 of the body weight in a short period of time, the first symptoms can occur. ATTENTION: This is merely a guideline and can vary from dog to dog. In addition, it is difficult to measure exactly how much a dog has taken in while playing. Read also: My dog drinks a lot – This could be the reason Risk factors: Which dogs are particularly at risk? Is your dog an absolute "water rat"? Does he tirelessly bring the ball back from the water? Does he never stop biting into the stream of water from a garden hose? If you can answer these questions with "Yes", your beloved is in every case part of the absolute risk group! However, besides behavior, physical conditions also play a major role: Dogs with low body fat: Very slim, athletic, and well-trained dogs (such as greyhounds or active sighthounds) are significantly more endangered. The reason lies in biology: Fat cells can absorb a lot of water and serve as a kind of buffer. In very slim dogs, this possibility of storing fluid in the tissue is missing, which causes the water to travel much faster directly into the brain. Small dogs and puppies: Due to their low body mass, the toxic limit (the aforementioned third of the body weight) is reached much faster. A small misstep with water can end badly in a flash here. Symptoms of water intoxication in dogs A water intoxication in dogs is incredibly insidious, as the symptoms are often confused with normal exhaustion after swimming at first. But in this case, every minute counts! Early warning signs (early stage): First, your dog suddenly seems very listless, apathetic, and extremely exhausted. He begins to gag or vomit heavily (often spitting out pure water). The belly seems hard and strongly bloated (water belly). The mucous membranes in the mouth become noticeably pale and light. Advanced stage: The dog suffers from hypersalivation (he begins to drool and drip extremely heavily). The pupils are greatly dilated and hardly react to light anymore. There are coordination disorders – the dog staggers as if he were drunk. You notice uncontrolled muscle twitching and uncontrolled urination. Critical final stage: The dog is no longer responsive. There are massive convulsions, unconsciousness up to coma, and finally death. Shocking facts: Two out of three cases of water intoxication unfortunately end fatally! In small dogs, death often occurs after 2 to 4 hours, in large breeds after about 7 to 9 hours. Order freshly cooked food for your dog now and save! First aid: Treatment and emergency measures If you have the slightest suspicion that your dog has swallowed too much water after splashing around and shows the first symptoms, immediate action must be taken! 1. Stop water intake immediately: Get the dog out of the water and keep him away from all drinking sources. 2. Feed salt: To briefly compensate for the extremely dangerous drop in electrolytes (sodium) in the blood, you can immediately offer highly salty foods. Simple salt sticks or salt crackers work well here, which you should ideally have in your bag on every swimming trip. 3. Off to the vet – immediately! Dogs that are feeling unwell must be taken to an animal clinic immediately and without detour. Important: Please always call while you are already on the way! Report your arrival and clearly communicate your suspicion of water intoxication in dogs. It is absolutely useless if you go to a veterinarian who does not have a laboratory to measure the electrolytes in the blood immediately. In the clinic, the veterinarian will try to carefully compensate the electrolytes via infusion and administer special medications for controlled water reduction (diuretics). Nevertheless, even with fast help, late consequences in the brain (osmotic demyelination) can occur, which can still cost the animal its life even after several days. Prevention: How can I avoid water intoxication? So that this nightmare never happens in the first place, fortunately, you as an attentive dog owner can do a lot. With the following precautions, nothing stands in the way of splashing fun: Make sure to take breaks: Do not let your four-legged friend play in the water for too long at a time. Take him out after 10-15 minutes. Exercise on land: Always go for a little walk between swimming sessions. This greatly promotes kidney activity and encourages the dog to urinate, which is life-saving. No diving: Never let your dog dive to the bottom of the water for stones or toys. In doing so, a lot of water is involuntarily swallowed. The right toy: Be sure to pay attention to the shape of the toy when retrieving from the water! Especially when carrying round tennis balls, the dog swallows a lot of water because he has to keep his mouth extremely wide open while swimming. Better here are "flat" toys like frisbees or special water dummies. Caution with the hose: Consistently forbid biting into lawn sprinklers or the hard stream of the garden hose. Supervision: Never take your eyes off your dog when he is playing in the water. Emergency kit: Take salt sticks with you just in case when you are near the water, and save the number of the nearest animal clinic in your phone. Also read our general guide on Heat and Dogs – A Dangerous Duo to ensure you protect your four-legged friend optimally all summer long. Our HelloBello Conclusion Water intoxication in dogs is a potential, often underestimated and very rapid death trap. Don't let it spoil your beloved summer fun! With a little caution, the right floating toy and regular pee breaks on land, nothing stands in the way of splashing around in the cool water. Dr. Eva Isabella Schmal-Filius
Can dogs eat cherries? Yes, dogs can generally eat cherries. They are even healthy and you can make a really good snack for your four-legged friend out of them! The difference between sweet and sour cherries is also not important in this case. What do I need to pay attention to when feeding my dog cherries? Is your favorite eating cherries for the first time? Give your dog a few cherries at first (1-2) and check if he reacts allergically to them. You can recognize a cherry allergy by swollen mucous membranes and/or itchy areas on the skin. Do not give your dog cherries too often. If he eats fruit occasionally and tolerates it well, your dog is already taking in healthy ingredients. Always feed cherries pitted. Make sure that the cherries are fresh, ripe and well washed. The only dangerous thing are the pits. Cherry pits can be toxic. They contain cyanide, also known as prussic acid, which can lead to cyanide poisoning with severe symptoms if ingested (the same applies to peach, plum and apricot pits).But here too there is a relief: Cherry pits are only toxic to dogs if they are bitten and then swallowed. Whole cherry pits are not digested and are therefore excreted as such, so the prussic acid cannot enter the body. Bello's tip: Our HelloBello dog food was developed by veterinarians and contains high-quality, fresh ingredients, which are gently prepared at low temperatures in an elaborate production process. This keeps the valuable vitamins, trace elements and nutrients intact. Order freshly cooked food for your dog now and save! Are cherries suitable for young dogs? Cherries are a real superfood. They contain vitamins A, B, C and E, as well as folic acid, calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron. In the body, they support the immune system, connective tissue and the skin, stimulate digestion and help build teeth and bones.Anthocyanins, the pigment of cherries, act against free radicals and help to a certain extent against cancer and cellular aging. How can I tell if my dog does not tolerate cherries? Cyanide is a very fast-acting acid and enters the mitochondria in the body, which are responsible for energy production. These require oxygen among other things to provide energy. If prussic acid reaches the mitochondria, the respiratory chain is stopped and the cells suffocate internally. The dog's body reacts to the lack of oxygen with an increased breathing rate, among other things. However, for this case to occur, your dog would probably have to eat a lot of cherry pits. Cherry pits can therefore also be toxic. 1-2 mg/kg of body weight can be fatal. This means, the smaller your dog, the lower the amount of cherry pits your dog can tolerate.In any case, cyanide poisoning in dogs is an emergency and should be treated by a veterinarian as quickly as possible. Symptoms of poisoning and misdiagnosis Typical symptoms of poisoning are shortness of breath and gasping, bitter smell of breath, redness of the mucous membranes and conjunctiva, dilated pupils, vomiting, seizures, unconsciousness and sometimes epileptic seizures.The symptoms vary depending on the amount of cyanide ingested and do not all have to occur simultaneously. Especially the bitter smell of breath is a sign of prussic acid poisoning. However, 30%-40% of people do not perceive the bitter smell due to genetic reasons and thus do not recognize cyanide poisoning.Therefore, you should also check the other symptoms in case of suspicion and act quickly and go to the veterinarian as a precaution. Read also: Stay away from toxic foods for dogs Healthy summer snack: Dog ice cream with cherries If you follow these points, you can treat your dog with cherries anytime. Just like us humans, our four-legged friends also love a cool refreshment in summer. This is exactly the right time to make a cherry ice cream for your dog: Put some cottage cheese, quark or plain yogurt in the blender (depending on what your dog likes to eat) Add 2 pitted, ripe and washed cherries You can also add some oats and/or coconut flakes Blend everything until you get a more or less uniform consistency and the red color of the cherries is well distributed Portion everything into appropriate units. For this, a Kong is particularly suitable. Conclusion: Can dogs eat cherries? In the end, it remains up to every dog owner to decide. Generally, dogs can eat cherries. But too many cherry pits can be toxic. If you notice that cherries do not harm your dog, you can be sure that he is taking in valuable and healthy ingredients with the cherries.
Let's get this straight. No, dogs must definitely not eat grapes! Even small amounts of grapes and raisins can be fatal to dogs! It doesn't matter whether the grapes come from your own garden, are seedless, red, or green, or whether they were grown organically – simply put, all types of grapes are toxic to dogs, and can even be fatal. The same applies, by the way, to all foods that contain grapes or raisins. Raisins are even more toxic than grapes in the same quantity. In dried form, the fruit contains less water and more toxic content. Order freshly cooked food for your dog now and save! Why are grapes toxic to dogs? Unfortunately, there is no single opinion on this. There is also no consensus on how grapes affect the dog's body. However, it has been observed that grapes can cause acute kidney failure. It is safer to keep grapes and raisins out of your dog's diet. Bello's tip: Our food was developed by veterinarians and contains high-quality, fresh ingredients that are gently prepared at low temperatures in a sophisticated production process. This preserves the valuable vitamins and trace elements and provides your furry friend with all the important nutrients. At what quantity do grapes become toxic to dogs? There is no safe amount, as even small quantities can cause serious health problems, such as kidney failure, in some dogs. As a guideline, however, even 10 grapes can be toxic for a 5 kg dog. However, grape poisoning varies from dog to dog. If your dog accidentally eats 1–2 grapes, nothing serious should happen in most cases. Read also: Can dogs eat cherries? Can dogs eat bananas? How to recognize grape poisoning! The insidious thing about grape poisoning is that the symptoms occur in three phases. If dogs eat grapes, action is definitely required in the following symptoms: Phase 1: The critical first 24 hours! Vomiting is the most common and first sign of grape poisoning. The symptom occurs within the first 24 hours. The dog's body tries to avoid more severe poisoning by excreting the remaining grapes. Vomiting is often accompanied by loss of appetite and lethargy , listlessness (apathy), as well as diarrhea. Phase 2- The following 24 hours After the described signs, no further symptoms often appear. You might think that the dog has already metabolized the poison and there is no longer any danger.However, this is where the greatest risk of serious illness exists. Phase 3 - Signs of fatal kidney failure From day 3, symptoms can occur that indicate fatal kidney failure. These include: Reduced to no urine production The breath smells like urine Vomiting Diarrhea Cramps Trembling In kidney failure caused by poisoning, the blood is no longer filtered sufficiently. The blood pressure rises sharply and there is a lot of urea in the blood. If the dog stops urinating, the blood becomes so contaminated that the survival of the animal is highly unlikely. The listed signs already indicate acute kidney failure, but it is not said that it is already too late. In any case, you should seek a veterinarian immediately at the latest now. This is how to treat grape poisoning properly! If your dog has eaten grapes within the last one to two hours, your veterinarian will induce vomiting. Subsequently, activated charcoal is often used. This absorbs the toxins and is excreted by the dog. In some cases, the veterinarian gives infusions, which can also last two to three days. A longer stay may be expected.
Physiotherapy is now an integral part of human medicine. It plays an important role in rehabilitation after surgery, in geriatric patients, and in the treatment of chronic conditions. However, this important field is often still neglected in veterinary medicine. Many people never think that these minimally invasive treatment methods can have an enormously positive impact on their beloved pets. In some cases, the dosage of other medications can even be reduced. Sanja Polz, veterinarian, physiotherapist and osteopath ( CityVet Veterinary Practice Gersthof) will tell us a little about her area of expertise. This is a question I am often asked. And if I am honest, I must admit that I was also rather skeptical when I first encountered this topic. It was only my training as a CCRP (Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner) that opened my eyes to how much research is already underway in this field and how frequently and successfully it is already being used. Even after this intensive study of the topic, I was still somewhat skeptical about whether it would also make sense and, above all, be successful for the non-athletic "normal" family dog. But my doubts soon vanished. A small Maltese dog named Billy was one of my first patients. He was seven years old and had been referred to me by a colleague because he was limping again and again and had HD (hip dysplasia), a congenital hip deformity that unfortunately occurs frequently in purebred dogs. The little fellow had only recently started experiencing pain because arthrosis—small bony growths—had developed. Anyone who has ever had physiotherapy themselves will discover many similarities. It is primarily about restoring joint mobility and building muscle. I usually start with a short massage of the whole body to win my patient's trust and induce relaxation. After that, the joints are moved through their full range of motion before strength exercises begin. For patients like Billy, mentioned above, proprioception exercises are particularly important. One of the best-known is probably the wobble board or wobble cushion. Billy stood on the wobble board, rocking in all directions and suddenly having to use muscles he didn't even know he still had because of his protective posture. Yes and no! Of course, there are always "overachievers" who are particularly motivated. However, treats are usually involved, in large quantities! We often also schedule patients to come before meals, when they are really hungry and motivated. Billy was more of a treat-motivated type. After his muscle-building exercises, he received electrotherapy. Small electrodes specially designed for animals and their fur are placed on the particularly painful areas. These electrodes deliver different frequencies and intensities to the affected area, relaxing the muscles and directly relieving pain. Depending on the problem, the duration and frequency of treatment must be adjusted. As a rule, at least one treatment per week is necessary over a period of approximately 8-10 weeks. How much and how diligently the owner exercises their four-legged friend at home is also important. In Billy's case, his owner admitted that she knew it was important but simply couldn't manage it. So we treated Billy once or twice a week for three months. To our great joy, he eventually managed a three-hour mountain hike without limping afterward. In everyday life, the owner also no longer noticed any impairment. In the end, she—and we too—were surprised by how much a little targeted training achieves and, of course, incredibly happy that Billy could lead an unrestricted life without medication. Nowadays, there are many ways to treat animals manually. Physiotherapy, but also osteopathy and chiropractic, are at the forefront. The use of devices for electrotherapy or laser therapy, combined with various exercise routines, can also alleviate or even prevent many musculoskeletal conditions, or at least bring them under control without the use of heavy medications. Older dogs can also be wonderfully supported with physiotherapy, enabling them to enjoy well-being and the longest possible pain-free life. Of course, other important factors are also involved, such as exercise, fresh air, and healthy food. Balanced, fresh food and regular weight checks are also essential for successful therapy.
You take the ball out of the bag and your dog already knows exactly what happens next. He looks at you expectantly with wide eyes. His whole body trembles with joy. You take aim, throw the ball as far as you can, and your dog takes off. With all his might, he pushes himself forward, keeping the flying ball firmly in sight. You receive it with a beaming smile when he brings the ball back, praise him enthusiastically, and throw the ball once more. And again. And again. Because your dog loves playing fetch. At first glance, playing with the ball makes the dog incredibly happy – naturally. For ethological reasons, every dog has a hunting instinct. Humans have bred dogs to suit their wishes over many generations, which has made this instinct more pronounced in some breeds than in others. Nowadays, there are dogs that like to chase a ball every now and then, but simply have little interest in toys and fetch, and there are dogs that become literally addicted to it. Table of Contents The Addiction to the Ball How Much Is Too Much? Exhaustion and Recovery The Right Ball Meaningful Fetch Play The Addiction to the Ball Uncontrolled fetch play can quickly turn almost any dog into a ball junkie. However, the dog is not dependent on the ball itself, but on the neurotransmitters released in its brain. Excessive fetch play can trigger a real hormone cocktail in the dog's body. From the dog's perspective, the process is as follows: The ball is fixed, then chased, and finally successfully caught. If the dog already knows what is about to happen, the stress hormone adrenaline is released just by the sight of the ball. Its whole body is excited with anticipation – many show it by jumping around excitedly, barking demandingly, and preparing to take off. In principle, this is "positive" stress, since the dog is looking forward to the upcoming event. However, longer play sessions can lead to an extremely prolonged and unnatural release of adrenaline. Over time, this can also lead to health problems. The ball flies and the dog takes off. Like when hunting prey, the dog's body activates all its maximum strength to reach its goal. Even while running, exhilarating endorphins are released. The dog catches the ball: a successful hunt. The reward system in the brain is activated and releases dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine in particular acts like a drug on the body. The function of this hormone is to direct the dog's attention to stimuli whose satisfaction leads to a good feeling. It leads to a "kick" that the dog wants to experience again and again – it becomes a ball junkie. The Prerequisites for Addiction As already described, the hunting instinct is not equally pronounced in all dogs. But genetic prerequisites are not the only factor. Dogs that have not been sufficiently socialized and grew up in an environment with very few stimuli often react much more extremely to playing with the ball. Due to the lack of stimuli, the dog may suffer from chronic dopamine deficiency. This means that the brain did not have enough opportunities to release important neurotransmitters such as dopamine or adrenaline and to train the reward system. If suddenly a particularly large amount of these neurotransmitters is released through fetch play, the reward system overreacts, and there is a high potential for addiction. How Much Is Too Much? So, how much fetch play is okay, and from when is there a risk that it could become an addiction for the dog? Just like with humans, an addiction does not develop from one second to the next. But you still have to decide how long and how often to play. Do not let your dog control you by repeatedly throwing the toy at your feet and whining. Occasional fetch play, where fun is the main focus, is generally completely harmless. There are several signs that tell you it's time to stop throwing the ball for today: enthusiasm for bringing it back subsides the breathing rate is high and the dog pants abnormally much the eyes become glassy In addition, you should pay attention to whether your dog can easily transition to other activities after playing fetch. How quickly does its breathing return to normal? Can it sniff around or play with other dogs in a relaxed way as soon as the ball has disappeared into the bag? It becomes dangerous when it simply cannot distinguish between play and seriousness. This means that it transfers the situation of playing fetch – fixing, chasing, and catching – to other things. Everything that moves quickly is a potential object. Chasing a ball is harmless, but it looks very different with a car, jogger, or children. Exhaustion and Recovery Endorphins not only make the dog feel good, but also prevent it from noticing the exhaustion of its muscles and any pain in its muscles and joints. Many dog owners think that playing fetch is sufficient exercise in everyday life. After all, it is very convenient. The dog obviously has a lot of fun, moves around a lot, and the owner hardly has to do anything. But beware! Dogs whose only physical activity is chasing a ball can become generally less focused, less attentive, and more irritable. Muscles and organs can also be strained, as the organism is simply overloaded and the recovery phases are far too short. Order freshly cooked food for your dog now and save! Be Considerate There is one basic thing you should always keep in mind: Only throw the ball to your dog when there are no other dogs nearby. You never know how another dog will react to the flying ball. It might also take off to catch it, and in the worst case, a resource conflict could occur. The Right Ball The choice of ball is not as unimportant as some dog owners probably think. The size of the ball must fit the size of the dog. Table tennis balls and bouncy balls, for example, are far too small, and there is a risk that the dog will swallow them. Tennis balls are also rather unsuitable. Due to the coating and the rough surface, the dog's teeth wear down quickly. Meaningful Fetch Play You can also use fetch play as a useful training session. The keyword is impulse control. Do not let your dog take off immediately as soon as you have thrown the ball, but let it sit quietly and only then chase after it when it is relaxed. This way, it learns to control its own impulses and pay attention to your commands – which can also be helpful in everyday life. Also try calling it back when it is on its way to the ball. Of course, it is important to reward it then when it lets go of the ball and comes back to you on command. Wolfgang Maurer
