Our pets are often our “canaries in a coal mine”
When our pets become sick with chronic diarrhea, vomiting, or develop skin problems, they could be telling us that something is wrong with our environment. Do we listen? Not always, or not for long, because we have options. Our pets don’t—they rely on us for everything. We buy premium pet food. Maybe we stop spraying … Read more
Should Senior Citizens Own Pets?
That depends… Most own a dog for companionship. But can they care for a dog—both physically and financially? Will a dog hurt them by tripping them or knocking them over? Do they have a Plan B for someone to care for the dog if they get sick or injured? Each of my relatives below shows … Read more
Canine Bone Cancer once deadly—now a Vaccine
“I’m afraid your dog has bone cancer,” my veterinarian told me back in 2001. “Amputation followed by chemotherapy is the best option. Most dogs, even with chemotherapy, survive only six to eight months.” A death sentence. Cancer is the main cause of death in dogs over two years of age. Bone cancer affects 10,000 dogs … Read more
How to get your Dog to Love Swimming
You see them at the dog beach, on boats, at the lakefront—dogs running in and out of the water—having a blast. But your dog just stands at the shoreline, barking, or quivering. It’s so hot; you just want your dog to cool off in the water. The cool water is so inviting—but not to your … Read more
Toxic Water – Keep Your Dogs Away from Blue-Green Algae
“Shush! The Homeowners Association doesn’t want word to get out that a dog died after swimming in the lake. Apparently, the vet said it was poisoned from blue-green algae.” A fellow lakes consultant told me in confidence about a decade ago. ”The association is afraid people will stop visiting their lake and business will drop.” … Read more
Does your limping dog have a torn ACL?
A few years ago, on the Wednesday morning before Labor Day, one of my cocker spaniels, nine-year-old Chipper, limped down the stairs. What caused it? All I could think of was that he had lunged at another dog and been jerked by his leash. He didn’t fall over, or cry out in pain. This happened … Read more
Is euthanizing our pets hard for veterinarians?
The decision on if, or when, you should euthanize your pet is one of the hardest decisions a pet owner has to make. But sometimes we make that decision too soon, such as convenience euthanasia. Sometimes we are too late, letting our pet suffer from an incurable disease or trauma. The last two dogs I … Read more
