PawBench Blog

Dog Gear Guides & Honest Reviews

Buying guides, product comparisons, and honest advice for dog owners.

Showing 32 posts tagged #health

Can You Combine Flea & Tick Products on a Dog? Safe vs Risky
Can You Combine Flea & Tick Products on a Dog? Safe vs Risky

Can You Combine Flea & Tick Products on a Dog? Safe vs Risky

Can you use two flea and tick products on a dog? The safe vs risky combos, why two isoxazolines is double-dosing, and when layering is legitimate.

Hilly Shore Labs
6 min read·June 10, 2026
When to Throw Away a Dog Toy: Wear Signs That Are a Hazard
When to Throw Away a Dog Toy: Wear Signs That Are a Hazard

When to Throw Away a Dog Toy: Wear Signs That Are a Hazard

When to throw away a dog toy: a weekly wear-stage inspection chart, the frayed-rope linear-foreign-body risk, and the signs of a swallowed piece.

Hilly Shore Labs
6 min read·June 8, 2026
How Many Calories Does My Dog Need? The RER Formula
How Many Calories Does My Dog Need? The RER Formula

How Many Calories Does My Dog Need? The RER Formula

Calculate your dog's daily calories with the vet RER formula (70 x kg^0.75) times a life-stage factor, plus a worked chart and the mistakes to avoid.

Hilly Shore Labs
6 min read·June 7, 2026
Dog Exercise Chart by Breed, Age, and Energy Level
Dog Exercise Chart by Breed, Age, and Energy Level

Dog Exercise Chart by Breed, Age, and Energy Level

How much exercise dogs need by breed type, age, body condition, and energy level, with safe adjustment rules for puppies and seniors.

PawBench Research Team
6 min read·June 6, 2026
Dog Body Condition Score: Reading the WSAVA 9-Point Scale
Dog Body Condition Score: Reading the WSAVA 9-Point Scale

Dog Body Condition Score: Reading the WSAVA 9-Point Scale

How to read a dog's WSAVA Body Condition Score at home: the rib, waist, and tuck check, why ideal is 4 to 5 of 9, and what each score means.

Hilly Shore Labs
6 min read·June 4, 2026
Heartworm vs Flea & Tick: What Your Dog Needs
Heartworm vs Flea & Tick: What Your Dog Needs

Heartworm vs Flea & Tick: What Your Dog Needs

Heartworm vs flea and tick: two different parasites, two protections. What dogs actually need, and why one product rarely covers both.

Hilly Shore Labs
7 min read·June 3, 2026
How Much Water Should a Dog Drink a Day? Vet Guide
How Much Water Should a Dog Drink a Day? Vet Guide

How Much Water Should a Dog Drink a Day? Vet Guide

How much water a dog should drink a day, the at-home dehydration checks vets actually use, and why a sudden jump in thirst is a warning sign.

Hilly Shore Labs
7 min read·June 2, 2026
Oral vs Topical vs Collar Flea & Tick: How to Choose
Oral vs Topical vs Collar Flea & Tick: How to Choose

Oral vs Topical vs Collar Flea & Tick: How to Choose

Oral vs topical vs collar flea and tick prevention for dogs: how each format works, why none covers heartworm alone, and how to choose with your vet.

Hilly Shore Labs
6 min read·June 1, 2026
Dog Heatstroke: Warning Signs and What to Do Right Now
Dog Heatstroke: Warning Signs and What to Do Right Now

Dog Heatstroke: Warning Signs and What to Do Right Now

Dog heatstroke signs and first aid: the temperature thresholds, early warning signs owners miss, and the vet-backed way to cool a dog down fast.

Hilly Shore Labs
6 min read·May 31, 2026
Why Your Dog Suddenly Refuses to Walk (and What to Do)
Why Your Dog Suddenly Refuses to Walk (and What to Do)

Why Your Dog Suddenly Refuses to Walk (and What to Do)

Dog suddenly refuses to walk? Learn to tell pain from fear from inexperience, why a new harness won't fix it, and the vet-backed fix that does.

Hilly Shore Labs
6 min read·May 30, 2026
Does Your Puppy Actually Need DHA? The Science
Does Your Puppy Actually Need DHA? The Science

Does Your Puppy Actually Need DHA? The Science

Does your puppy need DHA for brain development? The real science, AAFCO growth minimums, food sources, and why supplements usually aren't needed.

Hilly Shore Labs
7 min read·May 29, 2026
How to Trim Your Dog's Nails at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to Trim Your Dog's Nails at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Trim Your Dog's Nails at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step-by-step guide to trimming dog nails at home with clippers or a grinder. Includes handling dark nails, avoiding the quick, and desensitization tips.

Hilly Shore Labs
7 min read·March 27, 2026