Category Archives: Veterinary Medicine

One of my team members recently had to leave early from a mountain vacation when her dog developed severe altitude sickness, requiring hospitalization. Coincidentally, a reader just wrote me about that very subject – here’s my answer, which should cover what you need to know before your next “Rocky Mountain High”! Q: Can pets get […]

What’s in our dogs’ DNA that makes them dogs? The answer is locked in the canine genome, and that’s what a reader asked me about! Q: I’m always seeing articles about new discoveries related to the canine genome. What exactly is the genome, and what does it tell us? A: The canine genome is, well, […]

We’re seeing yet more evidence that not only does declawing not keep cats out of shelters, but it can cause a lifetime of pain and difficulty walking for cats who have undergone the procedure. The routine declawing of cats, known as “onychectomy,” has become extremely common in the United States, but that’s not the case […]

Arthritis is common in dogs — common, and painful! Here’s what I told a reader who wanted to know how she could help her dog feel better. Q: My dog seems really stiff, and the veterinarian says he probably has arthritis. Is there anything that can be done to help him feel more comfortable? A: […]

Does your dog have black stool, or bruises or other marks on his skin? This could be a lights and sirens emergency, and definitely requires a fast trip to the vet. Here’s what I told a reader about it. Q: My dog’s stool is black, and I noticed when I was grooming him that his […]