Dog Articles

Acupuncture for Pets

General Article on veterinary acupuncture.

Veterinary Acupuncture

Despite the fact many of its practices are thousands of years old, Eastern, or non-traditional, medicine is becoming more popular today than ever. Acupuncture is one specialized facet of non-traditional medicine that not only entered the mainstream; it’s …

Addison’s Disease in dogs

One of the main disorders affecting the adrenal glands

The inconspicuous adrenal glands are small but important organs which serve many functions in maintaining hormone levels. Diseases that affect the adrenal glands may have deleterious effects on the body. Addison’s disease, also known as hypoadrenocorticism, is a disease of …

Adopting Adult Cats & Dogs

Special considerations when adopting adult cats & dogs

Getting a new pet is never a quick or easy decision. How do you know what pet is right for you? First you must figure out what your options are. There are purebreds, strays, rescues, puppies, kittens, and adults. That’s …

Anal glands in dogs

Anal sacs and glands in dogs and the possible problems associated with anal glands

Dogs and Their Anal Sacs

Every dog is unique. Some are star athletes, while others are couch potatoes. Some can fit inside a purse, while others can barely fit in the backseat of a car. Some are cute and cuddly, …

Animal Chiropractic

Article excerpt on chiropractic medicine for cats and dogs.

What is Animal Chiropractic?

Animal Chiropractic is the philosophy, science and art that utilizes the inherent recuperative powers of the body. It deals with restoring the important relationship between the spine and nervous system in order to regain and maintain …

Animals Can Suffer From Asthma

Asthma in cats asthma in dogs. A short article.

Dog has asthma – asthma in cats

Animals Can Suffer From Asthma

Asthma is a disease that can affect both dogs and cats. Also known as allergic bronchitis, asthma is an inflammation of the airways that is caused by an …

Antibacterial Resistance

Antibacterial resistance and how it works in cats and dogs

Antibacterial resistance is extremely topical. It seems as though over the last couple of years, we are hearing more and more about this in the news. But what does it mean and why do we care? Is this just some …

Autopsies on pets

Autopsies can be performed on dogs cats and other pets

Did you know that a person can have an autopsy done on their pet? Your first reaction may be to cringe; nobody likes to think about their pet being dissected. But autopsies provide information that no other test can. While …

Back Pain in Dogs and Cats

Dogs and cats can also get sore aching backs

Back pain is something that many people can empathize with. Most everybody has suffered from back pain at some point in their lives, and while it can be pretty uncomfortable, it’s not usually considered a major health concern. You may …

Bad Breath in Dogs and Cats

The causes and treatment of cats and dogs with bad breath.

Bad breath in cats and dogs – Ron Hines DVM

Tooth and gum problems are the most common medical condition I see in pets. Because bad breath in dogs and cats go hand in hand with other health problems it …

Basic Learning Theory and Dogs

This articles explores some of the basic concepts of how dogs learn and how this relates to dog training.

Before taking on the rewarding task of training your pet, it might be a good idea to learn about how dogs (and any other animal, including ourselves) actually learn. Classical conditioning and operant conditioning are two terms you may have come across. They are two of the most important concepts governing learning.

Classical conditioning was made famous by the Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov and his dogs. Perhaps you have heard of the experiments he conducted, which eventually got the dogs salivating and drooling simply at the sound of a ringing bell, because they were expecting food. How classical conditioning works is that a neutral stimulus, such as a bell, is paired with giving food. Eventually, after a number of pairings the animal mentally associates the bell with the food.

Behavior Problems in Dogs

Common canine behavior problems and treatments

There are many behavioral problems in dogs that leave us wondering: Why are they doing that? What are the causes and what can I do to stop such behavior? Some of the more frequently reported behavioral problems are described below.…

Blastomycosis in dogs

Doga can get blastomycosis if they inhale a specific type and quantity of spores

Perhaps you have heard of ‘blasto’ in dogs, it’s an important disease that all dog owners should be aware of.

Blastomycosis dermatitidis is the most common systemic mycosis of dogs. Systemic meaning that it can affect the whole body, and mycosis, meaning that it is caused by a fungus. It is called ‘dermatitidis’ because it affects primarily the skin, but it can also affect other body parts, such as the vascular system.

Blastomycosis is largely confined to the Ohio, St. Lawrence and Mississippi river-drained areas of North America. It is a soil organism, which can be inhaled by a dog. It is often found growing on dead leaves along a river. The classic case of a dog getting blasto is a young male hunting dog following a trail and sniffing eagerly along a river-bank. It is most common from August to October, since this is when leaves are falling off trees and the mould version of the fungus can grow upon them.

Bloat in Dogs

2 articles on bloat in dogs

Bloat in dogs – What is bloat – Dog died of bloat – Dog article on Pets.ca
Bloat in dogs

Several times a week I receive a phone call from someone whose dog has died of bloat. Usually my role …

Blood Donor Programs for Dogs and Cats

This article talks about blood donor programs for dogs and cats

We all know of the importance of donating blood from a human medicine perspective; collecting and maintaining a blood bank ensures that there will be an adequate supply of blood available when it is most needed, for instance during surgery or following an accident. But what about a blood donation program for our pets? After all, they undergo many of the same medical procedures as we do; is there a program in place for them? It turns out that there is, and certain organizations are looking for you and your pet to help out and donate blood.

While there isn’t a national blood donor organization for animals as there is with humans, there are several smaller organizations that exist across the country. Several of the veterinary colleges have one in place, so if you happen to live close to a veterinary school, that would be a great place to check out.

Broken bones in cats and dogs

Broken bones in cats and dogs

It seems like broken bones are something that many pets (and kids) go through at some point in their lives. It can be something as simple as falling off the couch or as severe as being hit by a car. …

Calming Signals from Dogs

Your dog's behaviour can tell you how calm they are

Calming signals are a natural way for your dog to communicate. They are used among dogs as well as most other animal species as a conflict solving method when faced with unpleasant things such as aggression, stress and fear, or …

Cancer in cats and dogs

A fairly detailed article on cancer in cats and dogs

Cancer in cats and dogs – Cancer quick facts

Cancer in dogs and cats parallels the disease in humans.
Cancer in dogs and cats is often treatable.
Cancer in dogs and cats come in a myriad of forms.
Cancer in…

Canine Distemper

Distemper in dogs - a general article by Dr. Van Lienden

What is distemper?

Distemper is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic dogs. Some other species, including ferrets, skunks, and raccoons, are also affected by this disease.

How is the disease spread?

The virus is spread primarily by direct contact …

Canine Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis in dogs

Summertime’s warm weather means that dogs get to spend more time playing outside. A great majority of dogs love to swim at the cottage and explore the different smells the environment has to offer. Summertime also means that local wildlife, …

Car Travel with Dogs

Some car tips to make travelling with your dog easier

Whether you’re planning to bring your dog up to the cottage, taking him/her for his/her annual check-up at the vet, or simply heading to the off-leash dog park, there is a good chance that you’ll need a car to get …

Cat has Fleas – Dog has Fleas

What to do - How to check if your dog or cat has fleas. By Chantale Robinson AHT Bs

Your dog or cat has fleas – how to check for fleas – how to treat fleas.

Fleas and dogs – Fleas and cats

KEEPING OUR PETS PARASITE FREE
Common parasites of cats and dogs…

Fleas (ctenocephalides felis and ctenocephalides

Cat scans and MRIs

CAT scans and MRI in cats and dogs

Sometimes it is easy for a veterinarian to figure out what is wrong with your pet by simple observation. Other times blood work is used to pick up problems with the thyroid glands, kidneys, or other organs. Often though, the veterinarian will decide to do further tests such as ultrasound and x-rays to look inside the body. These forms of testing are used very routinely for everything from broken bones to cancer. But what happens if none of these tests result in a diagnosis? The testing we just talked about is used to help us determine what is happening in the body. Sometimes all of the tests are negative or the diagnosis is not specific enough. This is when the veterinarian turns to different options.

The next option might be a CT or MRI scan. Both of these options are only available at specialty practices or veterinary schools. They are very expensive, but on the other hand, they often allow veterinarians to exactly diagnose the problem. In fact, both CT and MRI are so precise that for some problems it is almost as good as looking inside the body! The CT and MRI machines are the same as those used in human hospitals. This article will give you a short introduction to the ideas and science behind these forms of testing. Then we will go through a few situations when CT and MRI are used.

Cataract Surgery in Dogs

Cataract surgery is a very effective treatment for dogs with cataracts

Have you ever wondered how cataract surgery is actually performed? If so, read on as it really is a very interesting procedure! Cataract surgery is formally known as phacoemulsification. “Phaco” stands for lens, and to ‘emulsify’ means to break down. This is a great name for this procedure, because this is exactly what it is!

Normally the lens in the eye is a clear soft structure that allows light to easily pass through it. If there is any opacity on the lens, it is known as a cataract. A cataract occurs when proteins in the eye leak into the lens, and start to harden. A general rule of thumb is that if you cannot see into an animal’s eyes clearly, then it can’t see out at you clearly! Thus in a cataract, if the entire lens is opaque due to the protein that has leaked out, then the animal’s vision is reduced.

Cataract surgery involves two main tools; one to break up the cataract into smaller pieces, and the other to vacuum the pieces out of the eye. To begin, the animal is placed under general anesthesia so that it is completely unconscious during the procedure.

Check your Pet for Obesity to Prevent Disease

Preventing and dealing with obesity in cats and dogs.By Dr. Bernier DVM

Prevention of illnesses is becoming increasingly more important among pet owners, as opposed to the times when veterinarians were consulted only when pets were already sick.

These days, owners will provide preventative care routinely to their pets, including vaccinations, deworming …