Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.
Despite its name, ringworm (also known as dermatophytosis) is caused by a fungus, not by worms. Fungi, known as dermatophytes, can infect your dog’s hair and dead skin, leading to bald, scaly areas with broken hairs. These areas can show up simply as patches or as rings. What does it look like Ringworm most often appears on the feet, face,…
To vaccinate or not to vaccinate is one of the big questions. However, even the experts who believe that we are over-vaccinating our dogs agree that there are at least three infections for which vaccination is a must. These are rabies, parvovirus, and canine distemper. Canine parvovirus Canine parvovirus is an acute, highly contagious disease that is often deadly, particularly…
Do you think your dog might be at risk of contracting canine heartworm disease? Do you think it’s something to worry about or not so much? Is your dog on preventative, or do you think they don’t need one? I asked my veterinary friends. Question: Have you seen heartworm-positive dogs in your area? Do you feel that dog owners underestimate…
Pyometra is a life-threatening bacterial infection in the uterus of dogs. Miku is a female Akita, about seven years old. My friend is “babysitting” her—kind of. The exact circumstances aren’t that important. Miku’s story The whole story started with my friend asking how long a heat cycle should last. I have to admit I know very little about these things…
Coccidiosis is an infection of the intestinal tract in dogs. Coccidia are single-cell parasites—protozoa. At least four different “species” of coccidia can infect dogs. In most cases, the infected dogs show no apparent symptoms. However, if your dog gets sick, they most likely contracted Isospora canis. Coccidia life-cycle Dogs contract the parasite by contact with contaminated poop containing immature forms…