Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.
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…
Do you have that one friend who swears that their dog loves spicy foods? Does that mean that your dog would too? There is no biological or evolutionary reason why dogs would seek out or enjoy the heat of spicy foods. The compound that gives spicy foods their heat is capsaicin. Capsaicin is a chemical certain plants produce to discourage…
Puppies contract intestinal worms through their mother’s milk. The parasites’ clever life requires multiple treatments to eliminate them from their system. The common intestinal parasites in dogs include: hookworms roundworms whipworms tapeworms In puppies, severe infestation can become a life-threatening problem. Depending on which parasite is ailing the puppy, symptoms might include: diarrhea vomiting excessive gas weight loss pot-bellied appearance…
The thought of a small to medium-sized dog jumping down from a sofa or bed makes me cringe! The sight of a large, older dog leaping out the back of a truck or van makes me gasp as their joints come in jolting contact with the hard ground. Am I just the “nervous type”? Well, that’s for another discussion. I…
Wounds are likely to occur multiple times through the course of your dog’s life. Having basic knowledge and understanding of wounds, their care and healing process, can be of great help to you both. You can treat some wounds at home but others need medical attention. Physical therapy can also be helpful in the care of wounds and scar tissue. …