Cough often first sign of heart murmur in dogs

Degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) is very common in older, small breed dogs. The mitral valve is one of four valves in the heart that keep blood flowing in the right direction.

How to care for your pet’s minor wounds without paying a vet

We are talking about the equivalent of a scraped knee or shallow cut here. Even minor wounds should be dealt with promptly, before infection sets in.

Are Rottweilers Guide Dogs to the Fountain of Youth?

Veterinarians at the Murphy Foundation’s Center for Exceptional Longevity Studies are seeking your help in putting Rottweilers to work to solve the puzzle of aging.

Why does my dog sneeze in reverse?

Owen entered my life when I was 19, a sophomore in college. I had lived with dogs most of my life, but the brunt of the responsibility for their care fell on my parents’ shoulders.

Low cost veterinary care available for financially strapped

Did you know there are a number of not-for-profit veterinary clinics and hospitals out there?

The financial realities of prolonging life for our pets

Have you thought about how far you’d go, monetarily speaking, to prolong the life of your pets?

Pet Food Recalls Rise to Worrisome Levels

We’ve been experiencing a rash of pet food recalls lately. No doubt you remember the massive Diamond incident from last year, but ever since then it seems like I’ve been noticing an increase in smaller, but nonetheless worrisome, recalls.

Recognizing and Preventing FIV Infections in Cats

I dread broaching the subject of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) with the owners of sick cats.

Dogs: How to empty those nasty anal glands

Every so often (whenever the mood strikes), I’ll write a post on how owners can perform various procedures at home, with the hopes of saving you some money and time.

Study: Dogs steal in the dark

It doesn’t take a study to convince dog lovers that their pups are capable of some very sneaky behavior.

Bloody diarrhea in dogs: Treating hemorrhagic gastroenteritis

Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE from now on) is one of the more dramatic diseases veterinarians and dog owners have to deal with. Its hallmark symptom is bloody diarrhea.

Exercise and treatment of arthritis in pets

Have you seen the video of the otter playing basketball? He has arthritis, and his veterinarian recommended he get more exercise to help keep his joints as healthy as possible. The otter’s caretakers came up with the ingenious idea of training him to dunk a basketball.

Compassionate care for our dying pets

One of my animal patients died last night. I am sad that she is no longer with us but nonetheless at ease with her passing.

Pet obesity is not a trivial concern

Two conclusions from the latest survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention are downright scary: