Dr. Becker

Reviewed by Dr. Becker

Dr. Karen Shaw Becker is a proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian.
dogs gesture
Dog Tips

Your Dog Is Being Very Intentional When He Does This

If you were a dog and wanted to get your humans to do something for you, how would you communicate? Turns out dogs' gestures aren't as random as you might assume. These are the ones used most often for four particular purposes. How well do you respond to them?
— 5 min read
reading programs for sheltered dogs
Dog Tips

This Time-Honored Way to Calm Kids Soothes Scared Dogs Too

You probably grew up with this, and perhaps did it for your children too. Helps children downshift from an active to a passive state of being. Now they've found it also works for shelter pets that cower in the back corner of their kennels. And it's great for the volunteers too.
— 5 min read
desensitize puppy to human touch
Dog Tips

This Is How Visionaries Cuddle Their Puppies When They're Very Young

A visionary sees the end from the beginning. You'll fit the definition of one if you do this when your pup is very young. It'll be like giving him his own private chill pill — comfort throughout his life even when he encounters various situations that often lead to tension and stress.
— 4 min read
10 long lived animals
Special Species

The Eternal Creature That Ages in Reverse, yet Never Dies

These creatures never age and never die because of an ability to change one type of cell into another that allows them to grow younger until they start life all over again. You may live or visit a place where you see these creatures a lot, and I promise, you'll never view them the same way again.
— 4 min read
sloths slow motion
Special Species

Why Do Sloths Live Life in Slow Motion?

Sloths are highly specialized animals designed for life in the tree-tops. Research revealed that this is a key reason why they, in turn, spend much of their life sleeping and otherwise moving at snails' speed.
— 5 min read
dog lick granuloma
Dog Tips

The No. 1 Mistake Pet Parents Make with Constant Licking

Does your pet keep licking a certain spot on his body? While you may be tempted to ignore it and hope it disappears on its own, that can be a risky approach. Chronic licking can inflame and thicken the skin and lead to more licking and even a secondary bacterial infection.
— 6 min read
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bark & whiskers disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your own veterinarian or doctor. Specific questions about your pet's medical issues or recommendations cannot be answered without first establishing a client-patient relationship with a veterinarian. Your pet's medical protocol should be given by your holistic veterinarian.

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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.