Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.
What happens after surgery is as important to a successful outcome as the surgery itself. Don’t ever allow the surgeon let you walk out of the hospital without detailed instructions on how to manage your dog’s post-op recovery. The stakes are high—the situation is stressful. You can anchor yourself with our FREE Veterinary Visit Checklists. Too often, dog parents are…
Are pain and itch just intensified versions of the sense of touch? Are Pain and Itch the Same—or Different? Pain and itch play an important protective role. They alert dogs to harmful stimuli and irritants. When these sensations become chronic, however, they cause suffering. For years, scientists have tried to determine how closely itch and pain are related. Historically, researchers…
Leptospirosis a zoonotic bacterial disease that affects many species, including dogs. The infection can cause mild flu-like symptoms or can turn into a life-threatening disease. Leptospirosis responds well to antibiotics—if treatment starts early. The real problem is recognizing it in time. Early symptoms often look like a mild flu—lethargy, poor appetite, vomiting—so diagnosis is frequently delayed. By then, the bacteria…
A melanocytoma is a benign tumor of cells that produce pigment—melanocytes. Only a histopathologist can determine the difference between a melanocytoma and a malignant melanoma. As a general rule, tumors of the pigment-producting cells are usually benign where the skin is covered by fur and malignant in bare-skin areas such as lips or nail beds. The one exception are eyelids…
A lipoma is a soft, round, moveable lump of fatty tissue under the skin. Lipomas are common benign tumors in dogs. Awesome—we can all go home now, right?Wrong. Never assume your dog’s lump is just a fatty tumor. Never let your veterinarian diagnose a lump by feel alone. The only way to identify a tumor is a fine needle aspirate—even…