Pet Wellness Advocate
I have a soft spot for veterinary behaviorists. They’re the rarest birds in veterinary medicine — there are only about a hundred of them in the entire world — and they sit right at the crossroads of medicine, behavior, and the human–animal bond. One of my favorites is Dr. Lisa Radosta, who joined me on... Read more »
We all know it can get dangerously hot out there. You don’t need another reminder to avoid leaving your dog in the car or going for a mid-afternoon jog with them (although I still see this happening, and it still makes my blood boil). But what you do need to know is that heatstroke in... Read more »
When I say “Do not ignore dog vomit” I don’t mean “just step over the mess and hope someone else cleans it up!” I mean consider it a possible sign of a serious physical problem. Ignore it at your peril. I recently survived two medical emergencies with my 10-year-old Weimaraner Maisie. The reason we dodged... Read more »
The black gunk in a dog's ear article was originally posted on July 28, 2015, but has been updated with new information. The Surprise of Finding Black Stuff Lurking Inside Your Dog’s Ear If you have a dog with ears that flap over, you’ll recognize that “OMG!” moment when you casually lift up the ear... Read more »
I'm Not a Veterinarian, But About Your Dog's Torn ACL… People often write to me with medical questions and issues, which makes me sorry that they have not found a local veterinarian they can trust. I always remind people that I am NOT a vet and that any advice I give is not intended as... Read more »
Hot Dogs in Hot Cars in Hot Summer --- DON’T DO IT! A Good Samaritan tried to save two dogs who were locked in a boiling hot car --- with the windows up (which in any case makes no difference to the internal temperature of the car anyway, as you will see if you read... Read more »
Does Your Dog Get Car Sick? Car travel is one of the great joys of life for many dogs, while for others it is a small nightmare because they get nervous and queasy in the car. Sometimes dogs get nervous precisely because they get nauseated, which can even lead to vomiting in the car, further... Read more »
Pork Bone treats are no treat for Pups The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning on "bone treats" for dogs, having recently received more than 70 reports of illnesses in dogs who ingested the “bone treats” derived from pigs. "A variety of commercially-available bone treats for dogs --- including treats described as... Read more »
Dryer Sheets Keep Away Nasty Flying Insects! Summer bug problems? I nearly forgot about this low-tech simple solution really works to keep away the nasty little biting, flying insects that swarm around me and my dogs when we go on summer walks in the middle of summer. My girls Maisie and Wanda --- who run... Read more »
Is a Dog Being Allergic to Chicken Really a “Thing”? Is it truly possible that a dog can be “allergic” to chicken? This seems to be a popular belief as the cause for a dog to have itchy skin, hot spots, or waxy, infected ears. From chicken?! Really?! I mean have you ever heard of... Read more »