Health

It is wise to make sure your dog is always wearing identification, with up-to-date contact information! Ideally, your dogs tags have enough information that anyone who might find your dog could contact you directly, 24/7, in the event that she darts out, gets lost on a hike, etc. There are many options for you to employ!

With hyperthyroidism, the dog’s metabolism speeds up. You may notice your dog drinking more water (and increased urine), losing weight, constipation, and showing signs of increased activity. With the dog’s overall metabolism too high, many of the dog’s body systems are affected. Some dogs will vomit and have diarrhea along with an increased appetite.

Tico came running in from the backyard shaking his head. I noticed something was flying off him and I calmly wondered what he was...

Anaplasmosis is a tick-borne bacterial disease in dogs. Signs of an anaplasmosis infection usually occur during the first couple of weeks after infection and are usually mild.

Behavior problems such as anxiety or aggression are commonly diagnosed in pet dogs, and, as many dog owners have discovered, can be quite challenging...

Recent studies indicate that up to 40 percent of dogs in the United States may be obese. The risks associated with canine obesity include musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis, compromised immune function, problems during surgical procedures, delayed wound healing, skin infections, and diabetes.

Kanis Fitzhugh, a member of the Almost Home organization, knew she had to rescue Pandy, an extremely thin and seemingly vicious four-year-old Dachshund. Pandy had been relinquished to a shelter in Orange County (California), who turned her over to Southern California Dachshund Rescue. Deemed people- and animal-aggressive, Pandy appeared to have been starved, and weighed just 13 pounds. Fitzhugh thought the dog deserved a break, and brought Pandy home in May 2007. During the first couple of weeks in her new home, Pandy managed to pull a chicken down from the counter and proceeded to eat the entire bird, including bones, plastic tray, and grocery bag, in less than the 10 minutes that Fitzhugh was out of the room. Pandy was rushed to the vet and emergency surgery was performed, as the bones had ruptured her stomach lining in three places. Luckily, she survived. Pandy's voracious appetite, large voluminous stools, and aggressive disposition were all caused by a medical condition called exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). With Fitzhugh's loving care, including enzyme supplements and a change of diet, Pandy stabilized. Within a year, Pandy had transformed into a beautiful, funny, 26-pound Dachshund who gets along great with all the human and animal members in the Fitzhugh household. Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, or EPI, also referred to as Pancreatic Hypoplasia or Pancreatic Acinar Atrophy (PAA), is a disease of maldigestion and malabsorption, which when left untreated eventually leads to starvation. One of the major difficulties with this disease is in the prompt and accurate diagnosis. Astonishingly, visible symptoms may not appear until 80 to 95 percent of the pancreas has atrophied.

It can take a village to care for a special needs pet. When Catherine Prystup from Texas offered to foster Kanuk, a dog who could not use his back legs, she relied on the "Team Kanuk" approach.

Yes, you can cut dog whiskers, and they do grow back. However, your dog’s whiskers give him sensory information about the world around him.

Whole Dog Journal readers often try techniques and products described in the magazine, but sometimes years go by before we need something we read about, or it disappears from the market, or we have trouble finding it, or we simply forget all about it. Last month we revisited green tripe, Seacure, and Willard Water. Here are two more go-to products featured in previous issues that might now be perfect for you and your dog, Wobenzym & EMT Gel/Spray.

Stay, and "Leave It." One can also work on increasing the duration of these behaviors at this time.üToss your dog's kibble onto a "snuffle mat" to increase the amount of time it takes him to sniff out and consume each nugget. These washable mats are easy to make or can be store-bought.üDr. Jessica Hekman uses trick training and scent-work exercises (seen here) to keep her usually busy English Shepherd

In my career, it has happened more times than I can count. I’m finishing up with a dog’s wellness exam and the pet parent asks, “By the way, my dog has dry skin. What do you think about it?”