Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.
A West Highland White Terrier named Sierra died last month down the road from me in Denver, CO after eating just one penny. Unfortunately, she arrived at the veterinary clinic in the final throes of zinc toxicosis. They couldn’t save her. At this point you might be confused, thinking, “What do zinc and pennies have to do with each other?”…
As is true for all healthcare professionals, veterinarians sometimes develop tunnel vision. Now and then, they become so focused on test results that they fail to consider whether or not these results actually make sense in relation to the animal sitting atop their exam room table. When the patient’s appearance says one thing and test results indicate something different, astute…
Except for emergencies, what is your preferred way of communicating with your veterinarian between appointments? What is theirs? A phone call seems most convenient, and you can discuss things in greater detail. But your veterinarian has other things to do during their day than sit at the desk and wait for the phone to ring. Sometimes you do need to…
What function does the thyroid have in the dog’s body? A while back we talked about sick euthyroid syndrome – a condition that complicates the diagnosis of hypothyroidism in dogs. Say your veterinarian determines that your dog truly has hypothyroidism. What the thyroid gland does and how does its dysfunction affects the body?. Thyroid gland: Image Pets Adviser What does…
Hypothyroidism is one of the most common endocrine (hormonal) diseases I see in dogs. It occurs most frequently in middle-aged (4-10 years old) medium to large-breed dogs. Breeds that are commonly affected include Doberman Pinschers, Golden Retrievers, Irish Setters, Miniature Schnauzers, Dachshunds, Cocker Spaniels, and Airedale Terriers. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland secretes less thyroid hormone than normal. It…