Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.
Dogs can be affected by spinal conditions from the neck to the mid and lower sections of the spine. Dachshunds are one of the breeds most susceptible to spinal problems. The treatment for severe cases is laminectomy–surgical decompression of the spinal cord in the affected area. What if your dog went through the surgery but continued to have issues? Thank…
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…
Most people know that chocolate is toxic to dogs. Xylitol, however, is way more lethal. Matilda’s story Matilda is a four-year-old spayed female Basset Hound. About an hour before her visit, Matilda took a package of gum off the counter. Unfortunately, she ate or chewed up about half of the package. Matilda’s owner did not expect us to say gum…
This is not the first time I am sharing a hemangiosarcoma story. And I fear not the last either. But, here is one thing I’ve learned – you won’t see it coming, except you will. If your dog’s arthritis seems to start acting up, especially if you have one of the susceptible breeds, get an abdominal exam and ultrasound. “Some…
Some dogs are picky eaters, and turning down one meal won’t get you reaching for the car keys. On the other hand, some dogs might have a chronic condition, such as Jasmine, and refusing a meal now and then meant that her inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was acting up. However, walking away from a full bowl is a big red…