Health

As I listened to my dog cough the other night, I found myself shifting out of my logical veterinarian mindset and into my role as pet parent. Nobody likes it when their fur baby is not feeling 100%, including us veterinarians.

Every year, thousands of dogs are treated in emergency veterinary hospitals across the country. I know; I spent nearly a decade as an emergency-room veterinarian. I always found it interesting that many of the most common injuries and illnesses I saw in emergency practice were also some of the easiest to prevent! Many of these problems can be avoided with a little common sense and preventative medicine.

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A dog can get a bacterial infection in many ways, through an injury, a disruption in his gut or skin good bacteria, or secondary to another illness.

Dogs can be given Imodium to treat diarrhea, but dogs with the MDR1 mutation should not be given Imodium, as they will struggle to metabolize it. Too high a dose for the dog's size can also cause complications.

Further, a significant number of the dogs were found to have reduced levels of circulating taurine in their blood and have responded positively to taurine supplementation. It is speculated that these cases are related to the consumption of foods that negatively affect taurine status, leading to taurine-deficiency DCM. Foods containing high levels of peas, lentils, other legume seeds, and/or potatoes were identified by the FDA as potential risk factors. These ingredients are found commonly in foods that are formulated and promoted as grain-free.""

No. While Alizin can terminate an early pregnancy in dogs, it is not available in the United States.

It’s been so long since we reviewed instructional canine massage media that our original headline said, “WDJ Reviews Videotapes That Teach Massage.” Remember videotapes?The...

If your dog frequently licks his itchy paws, he’s liable to trigger a yeast infection, which can take on a life of its own and cause even more itching and discomfort.

While a diagnosis of canine cancer is never good, there are few types worse than hemangiosarcoma (HSA). Like all cancer diagnoses, it’s frightening, shocking,...

Enzymes are protein-like compounds that, in small amounts, speed the rate of biological reactions. Unstable, fragile, and easily inactivated, enzymes are produced within living cells to perform specific biochemical reactions. Enzymes exist in plants as well as animals. Without them, life as we know it would not exist. Enzymes cause seeds to sprout, flowers to blossom, plants to grow, autumn leaves to change color, and fruits to ripen.

The active ingredient in Pepto Bismol and generic versions is bismuth subsalicylate, an antidiarrheal medication that can safely reduce a dog’s symptoms of diarrhea, nausea, heartburn, gas, and stomach pain.