Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.
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.…
Xylitol is a type of carbohydrate from the class of sugar alcohols (polyols). Sugar alcohols have a lower caloric density than traditional sweeteners like table sugar. However, they still impart a sweet taste to foods. As well as the bacteria found in the mouth doesn’t break down sugar alcohols, which makes them less likely to cause tooth decay in people.…
In my last post about xylitol poisoning, I mentioned that dogs respond to high blood xylitol levels with a spike in insulin secretion. This spike results in a dramatic drop in blood sugar levels. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to delve into how insulin works. Insulin is a hormone. It is produced by beta cells within the pancreas…
Diseases that require surgery to reach a definitive diagnosis are frustrating to deal with. No matter how persuasive I try to be, owners are understandably reluctant to think that biopsying some internal bit of their sick dog is a great idea. Now the shoe’s on the other foot, so to speak. I recently adopted a pup with just such a…