Health

After getting the opinions of three orthopedic specialists – and engaging in countless discussions with other owners of dysplastic dogs – I made a very difficult decision. I was going to have Sandy undergo a surgery called bilateral femoral head osteotomy (FHO). I knew that I faced challenging post-operative care and rehabilitation, but I assumed that I would do the best I could when the time came.

The clinical signs of distemper in dogs occur in stages and in three main body systems: the upper respiratory tract, the gastrointestinal tract, and the central nervous system. Initially, a dog may show signs consistent with upper respiratory disease: coughing, sneezing, high fever, lethargy, and nasal and eye discharge.

Many dog breeds have their tails docked when they are puppies. We discuss why and how this is done and detail the potential adverse side effects of the procedure.

In Whole Dog Journal's opinion, annual vaccination for most canine diseases is unnecessary and potentially harmful. Dog owners should avoid employing those old-fashioned veterinarians who recommend annual vaccines. Owners should also avoid those veterinary service providers who provide inexpensive vaccines and other routine care without the benefit of a relationship with you and your dog beyond a brief transaction in a parking lot or pet supply store.

Hives are a common skin reaction in dogs that causes raised, itchy bumps on their skin. Hives can appear suddenly and may range in...

Ticks are blood-sucking, disease-spreading parasites that are genetically related to spiders. They are found worldwide and pose considerable risk to your dog (and you!)...

Puppies who are born to mothers who have been vaccinated against parvovirus and who have had an ample opportunity to nurse in the first...

Why a blood test is an integral part of your dog’s requisite annual wellness exam, and how to get the most out of the blood chemistry test results. Most of the dog’s organ systems can be targeted by one chemical analysis or another, and with proper interpretation of one (or a combination of) these analyses, I can, at least in part, assess the dog’s current health/disease status. From this interpretation then, we can often derive a treatment regime, whether it is based on Western or alternative medicines. Isn’t science wonderful?

Anal gland expression is done when a dog cannot naturally empty his anal glands and becomes uncomfortable.

Gastric dilatation-volvulus, or bloat" for short

A hygroma is a large, fluid-filled lump on a dog’s elbow, or a fluid-filled lump on any bony point on your dog that frequently comes into contact with the ground when he sits or lays down. Elbow hygromas are the most common.

Syncope (or fainting spells) can look a lot like seizure activity. Learn how to tell the difference between seizures and syncope and what can cause syncope in dogs.