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National Holistic Pet Day: What “Holistic” Really Means for Your Pet
The word “holistic” can sometimes raise eyebrows. It’s often misunderstood—dismissed as “woo woo” or less legitimate than traditional medicine. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. National Holistic Pet Day is all about changing that perception and shedding light on what holistic care really means: supporting your pet’s well-being in its entirety. What Is Holistic Pet Care? Holistic pet care is a comprehensive, whole-body approach to health. While traditional veterinary care tends to focus on treating symptoms, holistic care looks at the root causes—taking into account your pet’s environment, diet, lifestyle, and emotional health. It’s about treating the whole pet: body, mind, and spirit. Holistic practices often incorporate: When…
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Unhoused pets in the ICE age
To actually be witnessing the nation flirt with fascism was never on my bingo card, but here we are. ICE agents are raiding and the National Guard are rounding up untold numbers of people from all walks of life all over the DMV, operating under the false equivalent that “illegal” immigrants and unhoused people are the reason we have crime in Washington DC. That notion is overly simplistic and inaccurate, and its enforcement has been cruel. Families are being upended and torn apart, and this instability impacts their pets, too. Rescues and shelters all throughout the DMV are seeing surges in animal surrenders. Maryland-based Knine Rescue was recently featured on…
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When Life Takes an Unexpected Turn: Lettie and Spain’s Story
After decades of dedicated service as a federal worker, Lettie had envisioned a different kind of retirement. But when a cancer diagnosis changed everything, she found herself making the difficult decision to take early retirement at the beginning of 2025, prioritizing her health and the precious time she has going forward. Through it all, one constant remained by her side: Spain, her beloved cat and faithful companion. As anyone who shares their life with a pet knows, our furry family members don’t pause their needs when life gets complicated. Spain still needed veterinary care, quality food, and all the essentials that keep a cherished pet healthy and happy. Facing mounting…
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Good hydration is the foundation of wellness
We hear about hydration all the time. Those Gatorade commercials have been seared into my brain – a montage of athletes pushing themselves to the brink, sweating up a storm, and taking a big swig from a bottle as if it literally gives them life. Seems dramatic but as it turns out, that’s not far from the truth. Hydration is critically important to survival for us and our animal friends. Humans should drink about half of our body weight in ounces of water, whereas dogs need approximately 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight daily, and cats require about 3.5-4.5 ounces per 5 pounds of body weight. Think…
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June is National Foster a Pet Month
Among other things, June is recognized as National Foster a Pet Month. The goal is to encourage individuals and families to open their homes to shelter pets temporarily. This month-long observance aims to highlight the absolutely critical role foster care plays in easing overcrowding in shelters and helping animals find their forever families. Benefits of fostering: You’re providing a safe and loving home for animals in need, which allows them to decompress from the stressful shelter environment, and lets their real personalities shine which increases their chances of adoption. Some pets have manageable behavior challenges that require some time and the right environment to work through in order to be…
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Dog Allergies and Sensitivities: Understanding the Root
The following is a guest post by Rita Hogan, a renowned herbalist and author of a new book, “The Herbal Dog.” She will be having a Q & A at The Big Bad Woof on Sunday 6/15. Tickets are free. If your dog is constantly scratching, licking, developing ear infections, or reacting to more and more foods, you’re not alone. Many dogs today struggle with what dog owners call ”allergies.” But the truth is, most of these cases aren’t true allergies. A true allergy causes an immediate and severe immune response, like anaphylaxis. That reaction requires urgent veterinary attention, and an epinephrine shot to stabilize your dog’s body. Anaphylaxis…
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Enhance Your Dog’s Home Prepared Diet
Below is a guest blog post by renowned pet nutritionist and Annamaet founder, Rob Downey. Tickets to his upcoming seminar at The Big Bad Woof can be acquired here. Preparing homemade or raw meals for your dog allows you to tailor their diet to specific preferences and needs. However, ensuring these diets provide all essential nutrients is crucial for your pet’s health. Studies have shown that approximately 60% of home-prepared diets are deficient in at least one nutrient, which can lead to health issues over time. Why Supplementing is Essential Even with careful selection of ingredients, homemade and raw diets may lack certain essential vitamins and minerals: Deficiencies in these…
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20 Years
We can hardly believe that 20 years have passed since we first opened our doors. From our first location across the street to the Hyattsville store to where we are now has been quite a journey, and we’ve made so many friends along the way. We are so grateful to be a part of this vibrant, inclusive, compassionate community and we try to give back however we can. Over the years The Big Bad Woof has participated in hundreds of adoption events and hosted dozens of health and grooming clinics, donated untold amounts of pet food and supplies to local rescues and individuals in need, and guided our customers on…
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Pet Theft – Awareness and Prevention
Last Chance for Animals (LCA) created National Pet Theft Awareness Day in 1988. It’s observed annually on February 14th, Valentine’s Day, which sees a considerable uptick in pet thefts. The goal is to raise awareness for the issues of pet theft and to educate the public about how to keep their companion animals safe from thieves. Some precautions are: Since many pet thefts go unreported, it’s impossible to know exactly how many animals are taken, but an estimated two million pets are stolen in the United States each year. That number is astounding and heartbreaking. “We have seen a dramatic increase in this type of crime. In fact, the FBI…
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What’s in a Name: Birch sugar or Xylitol
Wood sugar, birch sugar, birch bark extract are other names for xylitol. Xylitol used to be listed by its name, but lately there’s been a change in what’s listed in an ingredient panel. Xylitol is found in a variety of “sugar-free” snacks and condiments as well as oral care products, over the counter medicines and supplements. This matters because xylitol is toxic to dogs. Cats and ferrets can suffer adverse effects, too, but dogs are particularly susceptible because they have more sweet receptors in their tastebuds, so they’re more likely to consume something sweet. “[Xylitol] is rapidly absorbed, causing insulin to be released from the pancreas and blood glucose levels…
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