My Dog's Symptoms

Nobody likes trimming their dog’s nails. It’s okay to cheat. You can teach your dog to use a scratch board, or have a professional take care of it. However, skipping trimming entirely and letting those nails grow unchecked can trigger a cascade of health problems. We have just adopted a new girl. It was destiny that she should become part of our family. She needed to be re-homed quickly, and…

Some dog breeds are genetically predisposed to drug sensitivities—such as herding breeds with MDR1 mutations or sighthounds with slow anesthetic metabolism. Understanding Rottweiler anesthesia sensitivity starts with looking at what we already know about drug‐sensitive breeds. The most common culprit is the MDR1 gene mutation, affecting herding breeds and mixed breeds…

Splenic tumors in dogs are one of the trickier issues to catch early. Cookie’s story illustrates how a complicated health saga saved her life. This was the second time that horrible things seemed to have to happen to save our dog’s life. If the story played out any other way, would we have discovered Cookie’s splenic tumor on time? Broken toenail The whole story started with a broken toenail.…

Excessive Drooling in a Great Dane: Henry Gets Bloat

Regardless of how much your dog might typically drool, take note when they start hyper-salivating more than usual. That is especially true when your dog is showing other signs of distress, such as: panting pacing swollen, painful abdomen distress restlessness labored breathing unproductive retching If your dog is showing these signs, rush them to a veterinarian immediately. Henry’s…

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…

Dog Scooting: Why Was Benji Dragging His Bum along the Ground? Does your dog rub their bum on the floor, scooting around the house?

Does your dog rub their bum on the floor, scooting around the house? What does it mean when dogs do that? There are a few potential causes: anal gland issues (impaction, infection, abscess, cancer)perianal fistularectal prolapsewormsskin allergies Anal gland issues, however, are the most likely cause of scooting in dogs. Other symptoms might include: reluctance to sitlicking, biting, or…

Uncontrolled shaking or trembling in dogs is a sign of a serious issue. Considerations include circumstances, severity, duration, and presence or lack of other symptoms. Serious medical conditions that can lead to trembling include: painhypoglycemiapoisoningkidney failurebrain inflammationneurological disordersAddisonian crisisDistemperneuromuscular diseasesliver…

When your dog looks like they’re having difficulty breathing or even choking, It’s a scary sight. In fact, actual difficulty breathing or choking is an emergency. Daisy’s story Daisy was a 7-year-old Bichon Frise. She’s been happy and healthy except for strange breathing episodes now and then. These episodes were short-lasting with no lasting effects. Daisy’s dad figured that something was…

Meibomian cysts are one of the most common growths that can develop on your dog’s eyelid. They are benign and require no intervention as long as they don’t irritate the eye. Ted’s story Ted was a senior Beagle. He started showing early signs of aging, including developing bumps on his body. Having all lumps and bumps checked is important at any age. One of Ted’s growths developed on his muzzle…

Do you think your dog might be at risk of contracting canine heartworm disease? Do you think it’s something to worry about or not so much? Is your dog on preventative, or do you think they don’t need one? I asked my veterinary friends. Question: Have you seen heartworm-positive dogs in your area? Do you feel that dog owners underestimate the seriousness of the issue? *** Yes, we do see…

Vomiting and Collapse in a Dog: Sickly Dixie Collapses in the Exam Room. Persistent vomiting signals a potentially life-threatening problem, especially when paired with lethargy.

Persistent vomiting signals a potentially life-threatening problem, especially when paired with lethargy. Regardless of the cause, dehydration caused by consistent vomiting can result in enough problems such as: confusion/depressionlow blood pressure and resulting organ damageGI bleedingseizuresbrain damageshock and death Other complications of persistent, severe vomiting include: electrolyte…

Is there help for dogs suffering from age-related muscle atrophy? Muscle atrophy is the gradual loss/wasting of the dog’s muscle tissue. It is, unfortunately, common in senior dogs. Age-related muscle atrophy affects especially the hind legs. In fact, any weakness issue shows up in the hind end first. Non-age-related causes of muscle atrophy include: injuriessurgeryillness and diseasereduced…

Dog ramps are an indispensable tool for dogs with mobility issues as well as in the prevention of injuries and wear and tear on the joints.

Dog ramps are an indispensable tool for dogs with mobility issues as well as in the prevention of injuries and wear and tear on the joints. Not all ramps, however, are created equal. There are considerations to keep in mind to ensure your dog’s ramp is safe and functional. Thank you to my hubby for weighing in from a jack-of-all-trades perspective. Why consider a ramp for your dog When you…

c That summer, the insects were nasty, starting with black flies and mosquitoes and ending with deer flies. There were days we couldn’t really go outside at all unless we wanted the dogs to get exsanguinated. The season of the bloodsuckers was almost over, but other bugs have cropped up. On our walk into the woods, we found one bald-faced hornet nest, where we couldn’t have gone until the…

How much should you worry about your dog’s vomiting and when to see a vet? Nothing gets an owner moving faster than the sound of their dog heaving. If you’re lucky, you manage to let your dog out in time. Or you might come home from work to a puddle of vomit by the door. Dogs are built to vomit Which is a good thing, considering the kinds of stuff they get into. If something doesn’t sit right…

Regurgitation in Dogs: Is It Different from Vomiting?

Regurgitation is not vomiting. What is the difference between the two and why does it matter? Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of stomach contents. A dog will be nauseous—they might drool or lick their lips right before they throw up. You will typically see dogs heaving as they vomit. Regurgitation refers to a more passive process and involves the expulsion of the contents of the…