Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.
The manner, in which a dog ambulates or walks, is called “gait”. When a dog moves around the show ring, it is called “gaiting”. Gait is a complex topic and one that fascinates dog owners who value their pet’s mobility. Elements of canine gait analysis A physical therapist analyzes gait by breaking it down into the following elements: Level of…
Discovering a lump on your dog is a scary business. Fortunately, not all lumps are tumors. It is possible that what looks and feels like a lump is a swelling instead. Potential causes include immune reactions or infections which can be due to: insect bites and stings injuries foreign bodies The essential step in dealing with a lump is identification—that…
Blood loss for any reason is bad news. With external bleeding, at least you see it. When your dog is bleeding internally, how can you tell? Think about what blood does–it caries nutrients and oxygen to all tissues in the body. Symptoms of blood loss, then, reflect the lack of oxygen and include: pale mucus membranes (e.g. gums) panting lethargy…
Things don’t have to be poisonous to pose a life risk to your dog. Corn on the cob is one of such dangers. Corn on a cob isn’t a good snack or a chew toy. Dogs tend to gulp down the entire thing or large pieces. Unfortunately, corn on a cob will not break down in the stomach and poses…
Cranial cruciate ligament tears are one of the most common causes of hind leg lameness in dogs. How often does it become a default diagnosis? Experience bias is a dangerous thing. If what CCL injuries are what you see most often, it is what your brain goes to when you see a dog lame on their hind leg. Yet, it…