Pet owners frequently complain of age related problems with their older pets. Common complaints are house training issues, memory loss, confusion, disorientation, panting, drooling, wandering, night pacing and other sleep disturbances , obsessive licking and other conditions. These behaviours usually start gradually and many times owners do not notice them until they are quite severe.
What would you think if your old dog developed a sudden head tilt, seemed unco-ordinated and trouble controlling his facial muscles? Most people would think that their dog had had a stroke. Fortunately, strokes are rare in dogs and cats but something that looks similar, vestibular disease, is very common. Vestibular disease occurs when there […]
When I went to veterinary school years ago, I was taught the best thing to feed cats was dry food to keep their teeth healthy. Dry food was convenient. You could leave out large bowls of it for the cats to eat all day if they wanted. Now almost 30 years later, things have changed. […]
Hyperthyroidism is very common in middle aged to older cats. It occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. This seems to be diet related. Researchers have determined 2 things related to the diet of cats and hyperthyroidism. The first is that cats that consume large amounts of commercial fish-flavored cat food were […]
There are a lot of great fresh things to eat in the summer and although I am all for fruits and veggies for dogs ( 10 % of the diet maximum), there are some summer foods that can cause problems. Corn on the cob is one food I do not recommend for dogs. Dogs love […]
As a small animal practitioner one question I am frequently asked is “ How do I get my dog to stop barking?” A better question would be: “ Are there any natural methods to prevent my dog from barking excessively?” All dogs should bark. It is their job to let you know when someone strange […]
Most people can think of many dangers that might lurk outdoors for their pets but many people do not realize that there are many indoor dangers for their pets as well. Commonly used products like bleach, all-purpose cleaners and other disinfectants can cause chemical burns on pets’ skin and can be toxic if ingested. Pets […]
In the summer there are a lot of itchy scratchy dogs and cats. The number one reason most owners seek veterinary attention is skin problems and most of these are dogs who are continuously scratching and scabby cats. So what causes dogs to be itchy? Parasites–such as fleas, ticks and mites Allergies-flea allergy -atopy or […]
Obesity is a very common problem in pets. Approximately 40 % of all pets are overweight. This is not just a cosmetic issue with a little extra “fluff”, obesity can be a serious problem. Just like humans, pets that are overweight suffer from illness related to their weight. The extra weight puts stress on all […]
Hypothyroidism in dogs is a very common problem. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland, a small gland in the neck adjacent to the windpipe, does not produce enough thyroid hormone. The thyroid gland is considered a master gland . It is responsible for producing thyroid hormones which have an effect on many parts of the […]
