Dog symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.
Jake is a senior Labrador Retriever, and his story starts with an emergency veterinary visit. Jake was rushed to the clinic blue and suffocating. Jake has laryngeal paralysis–these days recategorized as geriatric onset laryngeal paralysis polyneuropathy (GOLPP). It was thought that laryngeal paralysis was just that–paralysis of the voice box (larynx). The larynx is the organ that controls the airflow…
Allie MalteseSeniorspayed female Allie was as sweet as a Maltese can be. A beautiful, loving little girl. On the surface, Allie seemed perfectly fine. Her appetite was good, she wasn’t losing weight. While her weight remained stable, Allie kept wasting before her mom’s eyes. Allie was losing muscle mass and she was losing hair. When Allie was brought to see…
a symptom n. an abnormality caused by a disease that is observable in a sick animal. ~Dictionary of Veterinary Terms: Vet-speak Deciphered for the Non-veterinarian The above definition points out two important things. A symptom is an abnormality, and it can be observed. Note: Technically–as it was pointed out to me by my book editor–the more accurate term is signs,…
How seriously do you take your dog’s loss of appetite and lethargy? How does it fit with your dog’s normal? How does it fit in the big picture? Would your point of view on the same set of symptoms change if your dog was a middle-aged intact female who just recently finished her heat cycle? What difference does that make?…
R.G. German Shepherd spayed female R.G. was a happy, active girl, until one day she suddenly became lame on her rear end. She could barely walk. When examined, she was showing neurological deficits. The preliminary diagnosis was a disc injury. The veterinarian recommended an MRI. R.G.’s parents agreed to the testing. When the results came back, R.G. was diagnosed with…
I came across the term of kinesiology taping once–there isn’t much talk about it. Is it a new technique, a well-kept secret, or something not worth mentioning? When I first read about physio taping for dogs, it didn’t strike my curiosity–I couldn’t say why not. I am always interested in alternative approaches and techniques. Perhaps it sounded kind of obscure.…
A house-broken dog won’t start urinating in the house without a good reason. Any change in your dog’s behavior or habits is an essential piece of information. What are your dog’s urinary accidents telling you? Zaida is a perfectly well house-trained girl. When her parents found urine puddles in the kitchen, they were puzzled. They were trying to figure it…
Suki 7 years old at the timeLabrador/Beagle Mixspayed female The first thing that stood out about Suki when she was adopted at the age of 7 was a low-hanging nelly. It was the first time Suki’s mom had a dog. Was Suki pregnant? Overweight? Or is there something wrong with Suki? Suki’s new mom took her for a veterinary exam.…
Your dog’s eyes should receive just enough fluid to do its job and no visible discharge. What does it mean when you do notice excessive tearing or discharge from your dog’s eyes?…
However common this injury is, Oscar’s knee didn’t feel swollen or sore.…