Some Risks of Poor Nutrition Diabetes, kidney disease, osteoarthritis, bladder stones - no, these aren’t illnesses that only humans experience, they’re also some of the negative consequences of obesity in pets. And just like with human health, they can sadly also shorten a pet’s lifespan. Proper nutrition and exercise are important steps to prevent excessive [...]
Elliott's Story The Diagnosis When Elliott, a Jack Russell/Poodle mix, was 12 year old, he was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Disease. His owner was devastated by the diagnosis, but wanted to do whatever was necessary to give him the best quality of life and make sure he was healthy and happy for as long as [...]
Entertaining your dog Just like us, our dogs can get bored being cooped up indoors and stuck at home because of the weather. And just because they can’t get outside doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t do anything. It’s important to keep your pets engaged with family members and mentally stimulated. This can be a really [...]
One of the most frustrating things that my clients complain about is the pet who can not stop scratching his ear. They will scratch all night keeping everyone awake. No one is comfortable and most definitely the pet. The most likely reason for this is an ear infection. This occurs when the yeast and bacteria [...]
As the weather becomes colder here in Southern Ontario I am seeing fewer itchy dogs, however there are those who do not find relief from this annual freeze. The itchy dog is one of the most frustrating types of patients in my profession. The dog is uncomfortable and finds it hard to find relief [...]
Atopy or more specifically Atopic Dermatitis is defined as the genetic predisposition toward the development of allergies manifested as symptoms in the skin. The cause of these allergies is often the same things that results in allergic rhinitis symptoms in humans and includes things such as: Dust mites Molds Pollens from grasses, trees and other plants. Insect bites such as fleas. These [...]
One of the causes of dermatitis, or an itchy dog can be a food allergy or sensitivity. We dont know why some dogs react to foods while others dont but when they do it can cause quite a bit of discomfort. Food should be harmless but for unknown reasons some dogs will react to [...]