Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.
What can the content of your dog’s vomit tell you? Dogs are built to vomit. No, I’m not kidding. A part of the brain named the “vomiting center” is especially well developed in dogs, and they have a layer of skeletal muscle throughout the length of the esophagus that essentially allows them to vomit at will. So, if your dog…
A West Highland White Terrier named Sierra died last month down the road from me in Denver, CO after eating just one penny. Unfortunately, she arrived at the veterinary clinic in the final throes of zinc toxicosis. They couldn’t save her. At this point you might be confused, thinking, “What do zinc and pennies have to do with each other?”…
Watching an itchy pet scratch to the point of self-mutilation is an agonizing and all-too-common experience for dog owners. The veterinary visits that usually (and should!) follow often result in a diagnosis of allergies. While allergies are extremely common in dogs, owners should be aware that this very fact can sometimes lead vets to diagnose an allergy when something else…
The medical establishment, at least on the human side of things, has been preaching the gospel about the benefits of physical therapy for a long time. One of my family members recently had hip replacement surgery. Her doctor went so far as to say that he could perform a flawless procedure, but if my Aunt didn’t hold up her end…
Do you live in or travel to areas that are home to venomous snakes? Do you know how to protect your dog from snake bites? I’ve been neighbors with rattlesnakes, copperheads, and water moccasins, and have treated dogs that have been bitten by some if not all of these species. These cases can be incredibly rewarding or heartbreaking. It all…