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Dogs with extremely short muzzles and rounded heads are called brachycephalic, from the Greek words for “short” and “head.” Those features give them an adorable, almost-human expression, but they also bring with them a host of related health challenges. Bulldogs, boxers, pugs and other brachycephalic breeds often have difficulty breathing after even slight exertion. They […]

What’s going on when your cat scratches her ears? It could be an infection, but it could also be ear mites. Here’s what you should know. Q: My cat keeps scratching at her ears. Does she have an infection? A: That’s possible. She could also have an infestation of ear mites. Ear mites are most […]

A reader who is a regular blood donor (or hero, as I think of them!) asked if her dog could also give blood to help other dogs. Here’s the scoop. Q: I’m a regular blood donor to the Red Cross, and I’m curious if there are blood donor programs for dogs, too. A: As with […]

Contrary to popular belief, pets’ fur coats don’t make them immune to the cold. Protect pets from winter’s onslaught by shortening walks in extremely cold weather and bringing them indoors when temps drop below freezing, even if they have long or thick coats. Animals who are old or arthritic are more at risk of falling […]

In just a few weeks, our world has turned upside down. As those who follow me on social media already know, we lost Teresa’s beloved older brother, Rockey, to COVID, and I nursed her 95-year-old mother, Valdie, through the same disease. Rockey was developmentally delayed and while he was 72 years old, he had the […]