Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.
A lipoma is a soft, round, moveable lump or bump of fatty tissue under the skin. Lipomas are common benign tumors in dogs. However, never assume or let your veterinarian just feel a lump and tell you that it is a fatty tumor. The only way to know for sure is fine needle aspirate. Not even a veterinary oncologist can…
Is there a good way of breaking bad news to dog parents? That is a hard one. But what if there is a lack of certainty? How would you like your veterinarian to discuss such news with you? Penny Recently I received a distressed email from a friend regarding her dog. I wanted to reach out to you and tell…
Squamous cell carcinomas are cancers that arise from squamous cells. Squamous cells are one of the three cell types that make up epithelial tissue—skin cells. These cells are flat and appear throughout the body. They are present in large numbers on dogs’ skin, nose, mouth, ear tips, and nails. They also form the lining of many body cavities. Image Online…
Do you know what is most likely to frustrate your veterinarian? We love our vet dearly and treat him with love and respect. But we often refer to him as a Saint. I have to face it. Dealing with me isn’t exactly a walk in the park. I get concerned about every little thing that could potentially be a symptom,…
Anemia is a deficiency in red blood cells (RBCs), resulting in a decreased oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Potential causes of anemia include blood loss, insufficient red blood cell production, or increased destruction (hemolysis). In immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), the dog’s immune system attacks the red blood cells. IMHA is a life-threatening disease that strikes fast and hard. Acting fast…