Understanding why is my dog vomiting is one of the most common things dog owners search for — and one of the most anxiety-inducing symptoms to witness. Vomiting in dogs is common enough that most owners will deal with it repeatedly throughout their dog’s life. It is also one of the most variable symptoms in…
The signs a dog is in pain are often far subtler than most owners expect. There is a common assumption that a dog in pain will yelp, whimper, or show obvious distress. Some do. Many do not. Dogs evolved in an environment where showing weakness or injury made them vulnerable, and the instinct to mask…
Asking why is my dog lethargic is one of those questions that can mean anything from ‘they had a big walk yesterday’ to ‘we need to get to the emergency vet.’ Lethargy is one of the most non-specific clinical signs in veterinary medicine — it accompanies almost every health problem a dog could develop, from…
Kennel cough in dogs is the kind of thing that sounds alarming the first time you hear it. Your dog produces a loud, dry, hacking cough that sounds genuinely terrible — like something is stuck in their throat, or like a goose honking. If you have never heard it before, it is hard not to…
Choosing the right flea treatment for dogs is more complicated than picking whatever is on sale at the pet shop — and getting it wrong can mean either your dog remains infested for months, or in rare cases, your dog has an adverse reaction to the wrong product for their situation. I learned this the…
Dog allergies symptoms and treatment is a topic that trips up owners repeatedly — partly because the symptoms are frustratingly non-specific (itching could be almost anything), and partly because there are three distinct types of allergy that look similar on the surface but require completely different management approaches. My own dog had allergies that took…
Arthritis in dogs is one of the most common and most underdiagnosed conditions in canine medicine. Estimates suggest it affects approximately 1 in 5 adult dogs, with the number rising to around 80% of dogs over 8 years of age. It is also one of the conditions where owners most commonly accept avoidable suffering as…
Dog diarrhea is one of the most common reasons owners contact their vet — and also one of the most commonly mismanaged at home. Most cases of acute diarrhea in healthy adult dogs resolve within 24 to 48 hours with simple supportive care. Some cases require immediate emergency veterinary attention. The challenge is knowing which…
Dog eye problems range from minor irritation that clears up with eye drops to emergencies that can permanently blind a dog within hours if not treated. The challenge is that many eye conditions look similar on the outside — redness, discharge, squinting — but carry completely different urgency and treatment requirements. The one thing I…
Worms in dogs are among the most common health problems in dogs worldwide — and one of the most commonly underestimated. Many owners think of worms as something obviously visible in stool, something that only affects poorly cared-for dogs, or something resolved with a single over-the-counter treatment. None of these assumptions are accurate, and each…
A urinary tract infection in dogs is one of the most common reasons dogs see a vet — approximately 14% of dogs will develop at least one UTI in their lifetime, according to PetMD. It is also one of the conditions most commonly mismanaged at home: with well-meaning owners reaching for cranberry supplements or waiting…
I love Bulldogs. I want to be clear about that before this post gets going, because what I’m about to say will sound harsh to fans of the breed. British Bulldogs are one of the most affectionate, devoted, and genuinely loveable dogs I’ve encountered. They are also one of the most health-compromised breeds in domestic…