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Everywhere you look are scary stories and threats. The threat of the Kissing Bug and the disease it carries is no different. Here is what you should know: Chagas Disease is a parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. The parasite lives inside an insect vector called “kissing bug”. These insects are biting bugs, so named because they like to bite people around the mouth and eyes. The parasite can infect people and dogs. Chagas Disease is much more prevalent in … Read more

Halloween is a fun and festive occasion, but there are parts of any holiday that cause stress and even risk to your dog. Some of the Halloween traditions include parties and door traffic. We often have music or scary noises with candles or spooky decorations. So much is going on that a dog can become frightened or could easily be overlooked or just get into trouble from being nosy. Halloween decorations and candy may pose a hazard to a curious … Read more

Mounting is a brain pattern that is normal for dogs. Dogs do not have any emotional feeling about it nor do they feel any embarrassment, but people do. When it is driven by hormones, as in an intact male, it is more likely to be intended as a mating behavior, but neutered males and females can engage in this conduct as well, and almost all puppies do. There can be many reasons for mounting. It can be a play behavior … Read more

Hearing loss is reported often by dog owners, especially as dogs age. Even older humans experience Age Related Hearing Loss (ARHL). Dr. Elizabeth Shull, DVM, DACVIM – Neurology, DACVB says that the most common cause is called Otosclerosis. Otosclerosis (literally “ear hardening”) is when the tiny components of the inner ear become less pliable. They become less able to transmit sound because the suppleness of the inner structures is critical to this function.   Dogs are even more likely to … Read more

Heartworm testing has become very routine in a veterinary clinic. There are in-house test kits and we can have results quickly. The American Heartworm Society (AHS) is a group that helps veterinarians make unified recommendations to promote eradication of this damaging parasite. AHS recommends at least once yearly testing. But when the veterinary staff member says there will be blood drawn for a heartworm test, do you really know what he/she means? What does a heartworm test really test for? … Read more

We are all used to running to the drug store to buy over the counter medications for ourselves before we call our doctor. Is the same tendency wise for your dog? Don’t forget that most dogs are not human size and animals have a very different way of metabolizing things. Medications that are tested safe for humans may not have been tested at all for other species. There are quirks about them that your vet will know. If you are … Read more

Dog ownership is fun, but not always easy. Make sure that you have these simple things taken care of so that your dog is happy and healthy…and so are you. #1 – Leashes All dog owners should have several leashes of different lengths. Forget retractable leashes. They are confusing for dogs. Dogs cannot fathom why the leash is long one minute and short the next. They have no chance of adjusting their behavior when the rules constantly change. Have a long … Read more

Dogs can get a lot of types of cancer, but we typically think of breast cancer as only for female humans. There are breast cancers for dogs too and we do have effective methods to diagnose and treat them. There are even ways to reduce your dog’s risk for breast cancer. Canines and other litter bearing mothers have multiple nipples (or teats) with which to nourish groups of offspring, so when you examine your dog for the possibility of breast … Read more

Most dog owners know that they need to do something for their dog’s dental health these days, but not many know what the most significant thing really is. For a long time, people thought that teeth were not important. After all, animals in the wild get no dental care at all and they seem fine, right? Perhaps animals without dental care SEEM fine, but we do not know if they are suffering from severe pain. We do not see the … Read more

We all know how much we love our dogs, and having a pet is a choice (and a luxury), but have you ever considered that once you have a pet, you cannot live as well without one? I know I love my dog. She makes me happy. I feel good when I see her face. Even a photo of her makes me smile. Love is one of the most desired human experiences. Love manifests itself in a variety of forms, … Read more

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in humans is characterized by repetitive thoughts and behaviors that cause stress. The thoughts are the obsessions and the behaviors are the compulsions. The thoughts are often unreasonable and the compulsions interfere with one’s normal life. The cause for people is believed to be multi-factorial and new advances are being made. Because dogs’ thoughts are difficult to define, the canine version of this disorder is simply referred to as Canine Compulsive Disorder (CCD). CCD has been … Read more

The truth is that heartworm disease is a very serious disease that is better prevented than treated. There is only one drug that is approved to kill adult heartworms and it is called Immiticide™ (melarsomine).  Immiticide™ is a patented medication. It is expensive and difficult to manufacture. There are frequently shortages. It stands to reason that a drug that is patented, difficult to manufacture and in short supply will be expensive no matter who you are. There is nothing that … Read more

  Dogs do some truly amusing things. Most of their antics are harmless and fun, but there are a few that we, as humans, perceive as laughable that can actually signify a health related issue. Here are some that might raise red flags: #1 – Scooting People laugh at a dog dragging his rear on the floor and there is even a carpet cleaner commercial that highlights it, but actually scooting is not normal if it happens more than occasionally. … Read more

A pet’s weight is about BALANCE. It is worth the trouble to make sure that your dog is not overweight. Purina’s Life Span Study showed that normal-weight dogs lived an extra 1.8 years longer than their overweight counterparts. Think of your pet’s weight as a balancing act between input and output. When she takes in more, she has to burn off more. Summertime is great for this juggling act because her output is higher and you are so busy that … Read more

Have you ever taken your lame dog to the vet and when you arrived she was not limping anymore? Or not even acting like she felt bad, even though she was lying around at home? You are not alone. This phenomenon happens every day at my hospital. We joke with clients and say that the ramp accessing our front door is “magic”. It may seem like your dog is just trying to make you look crazy for bringing her to the … Read more

Dogs get ear infections. In fact, according to pet insurance claims, ear infections (otitis externa) are one of the top 10 most common claims. We also get a lot of phone calls about adult dogs with brown discharge coming from their ears. Most people say that they have treated him/her for ear mites with something that they got over the counter and it did not seem to work. I have even seen products at pet and sporting goods stores labeled … Read more

Chewing is a great thing for dogs. Chew toys can exercise the mouth, help keep the teeth healthy and entertain a dog or puppy for a long time. They can save your personal property, home and furniture a lot of unwanted gnawing, too, if you have a dog that you can’t keep an eye on 24/7. But I choose not give my own dogs rawhide chew toys and here are 5 reasons why:   1. The knots can be a … Read more

There are two types of mange in dogs, Demodectic mange and Sarcoptic mange and because one type is contagious between dogs and people as well as other dogs, it is important to be aware of the differences. Both can appear as hair loss and redness of the skin, and/or itching. Demodectic mange Demodectic mange in dogs is caused by a skin mite known as Demodex Canis (and other Demodex species). Demodex mites can live on normal skin, but in cases … Read more

We hopefully all know how important heartworm preventative is, and I often get questions about my recommendation for yearly testing for heartworms. Heartworms kill dogs. But people wonder why they need to test every year and it seems like there are those on the internet that want to make veterinarians into the villains, making ridiculous and unnecessary suggestions. The American Heartworm Society is a group that helps veterinarians make unified recommendations to promote eradication of this damaging parasite and they recommend … Read more

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you see your dog scratching? Allergies? Fleas? Mange? Any of these could be reasons your dog is having constant scratch-fests, and figuring out the source of his itchiness is the first step in providing relief. Below are some of the most common reasons dog owners bring their pets to see me when the scratching starts. Inhalant allergy (atopy) Atophy is a very common cause of pruritus (itching). I see patients … Read more