Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.
Should you rush your dog to the vet at the slightest sign of not feeling well? What if their stomach is swollen and hard? There are times when things are best left to resolve on their own, and there are times when not treating is the better strategy. Particularly when treatment equals drugs, such as antibiotics, steroids, and the like.…
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FTM) treatment is a potentially game-changing addition to traditional supportive treatment for parvo. There is some emerging evidence that this treatment can make a world of difference in the chance of survival for infected puppies. Felix’s story Felix, a sweet Yellow Lab puppy, fell ill shortly after his parents brought him home from a breeder. He was…
Melanoma is the most common oral tumor in dogs. Male dogs, particularly certain breeds, are most susceptible to this type of cancer. Common symptoms include: bad breath pain facial swelling excessive drooling anorexia Further information: Canine Oral Melanoma Thank you, Lisa Freeman, for sharing Laney’s story. Laney’s story Laney came to me through a friend who bred Pekingese. I had…
Dogs can be affected by spinal conditions from the neck to the mid and lower sections of the spine. Dachshunds are one of the breeds most susceptible to spinal problems. The treatment for severe cases is laminectomy–surgical decompression of the spinal cord in the affected area. What if your dog went through the surgery but continued to have issues? Thank…
To vaccinate or not to vaccinate is one of the big questions. However, even the experts who believe that we are over-vaccinating our dogs agree that there are at least three infections for which vaccination is a must. These are rabies, parvovirus, and canine distemper. Canine parvovirus Canine parvovirus is an acute, highly contagious disease that is often deadly, particularly…