Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.
Osteoarthritis, resulting from degenerative joint disease (DJD), is one of the most common conditions in dogs. One in five dogs will develop arthritis at some point in their lives. While arthritis is most common in older dogs, don’t ignore the signs if your dog is young. Developmental problems, such as hip dysplasia, can cause arthritis at a young age. Do…
Canine rehabilitation support devices such as braces, splints or wraps can go a long way to support your dog’s injured limb or body part after trauma, fracture or surgery. Soft supports versus orthotics Specific considerations go into the manufacturing of splints or braces (orthotics) Therapists and professional orthotists design them for specific purposes. These devices can be costly and require…
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…
After your veterinarian has narrowed down the origin of diarrhea to the large intestine and if your dog is still suffering from diarrhea (continual or intermittent) for 3-4 weeks, it is time to delve in with a more aggressive workup. With diarrhea that doesn’t go away, it is crucial to revisit the history and disease progression with your veterinarian. Details…
When your dog’s kidneys fail to do their job, dialysis can step in to remove toxins accumulated in the blood. In veterinary medicine, hemodialysis is used to buy time for dogs with acute kidney failure. Time is what a dog with acute kidney injury needs. Things that can cause injury to the kidneys include: over-the-counter medications medication overdose toxins (e.g.…