Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.
What does the canine spleen do and how come a dog can live without it? The spleen just doesn’t get any respect. From the point of view of a veterinarian, this occurs for two reasons: We can completely remove it and our patients typically do just fine, and When we do have to deal with the spleen, it’s generally because…
You may have heard the phrase “defensive medicine” used during the recent health care debate in the United States. Defensive medicine describes the situation where a doctor decides a patient’s care not simply based on what is best for that patient but also considers a perceived need to cover his or her white-coated backside in case things don’t go well.…
In my last post, I talked about difficulties diagnosing dermatological and hormonal diseases in dogs. Now, let’s take a look at conditions affecting the bones and other parts of the musculoskeletal system. Limping If a dog has a painful musculoskeletal condition, he will usually favor his affected leg. However, if multiple legs are affected, limping may not be so obvious.…
Veterinary (and human) medicine is at least as much of an art as it is a science. What does this mean for dog owners? You should consider any diagnosis that your dog receives to be a “work in progress.” No vet would intentionally misdiagnose a dog. However, certain diseases are notoriously difficult to pin down. If your dog is not…
Cortisol is a vital hormone from the glucocorticoid family of steroid hormones. Cortisol is primarily produced by a dog’s adrenal glands. In health, cortisol plays a critical role in the dog’s ability to cope with stress. It stimulates glucose production and the breakdown of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates to provide fuel for the body. Cortisol also suppresses the immune system.…