Guide Dogs

Most dogs are just household pets but some dogs, such as police dogs, sled dogs, and guide dogs, work for a living. Guide dogs are far different than your average couch potato dog. They are constantly moving and experiencing new …

Head Halters for Dogs

What is it?

It is an innovative training tool which is humane, safe, and easy to use. While respecting the natural instincts of dogs, it has been scientifically developed to achieve effective control of the dog and to control undesirable …

Heartworm in Dogs

Heartworm Caused by Mosquitoes

Heartworm disease is caused by a parasite called Dirofilaria immitis, which lives in the right side of the heart and the adjacent blood vessels. Its presence in these blood vessels causes cardiovascular weakness, compromised lung incapacity, …

Heat Stroke in Pets

Heat Stroke – What is heat stroke and how does it occur?

Heat stroke is a fever that is induced by high environmental temperatures. Animals are at risk when exposed to hot and humid temperatures because effective evaporated cooling in …

Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

The very first signs of hip dysplasia in dogs can be noticed in a number of ways. Maybe you’ve taken your puppy or young dog home, and on its first visit to the veterinarian, the perceptive doctor notices that its hips don’t feel quite normal. Or perhaps you noticed that it has an odd way of running or jumping, and you bring it to the attention of the veterinarian. Your vet recommends that your dog have x-rays done and after looking at the x-rays, he/she informs you that your dog has hip dysplasia.

What does that mean? Dysplasia simply means ‘not properly formed’. Therefore, your dog’s hip joint was not properly formed.

History of the Dog and Human Relationship

Dogs and Humans – How the relationship began
(excerpt from The Intelligence of Dogs) Dr. Stanley Coren

“…We will probably never have conclusive evidence to tell us how dogs and humans first formed their personal and working relationship with each …

Holiday Hazards for Pets

As the holiday season quickly approaches, out come the various decorations and paraphernalia necessary to celebrate the holidays. It is always a wonderful opportunity to spend time with friends and relatives, but one must also remember the little four legged …

Homemade Dog Food

Homemade Dog Food

By Stanley Coren

Generally speaking, commercially produced dog foods, especially those that have been certified by national veterinary societies, provide a good, safe and convenient way of feeding your dogs. However, some people find that their dogs …

Hot Spots in Dogs

Also known as acute moist dermatitis, pyotraumatic dermatitis, moist eczema or “summer sores,” hot spots are raised, red, wet and oozing wounds on the skin’s surface that are often self-inflicted by a licking or chewing dog. They can appear and …

Housebreaking and Crate Training

Dog training basics – Crate training and house training your dog or puppy

HOUSEBREAKING AND CRATE TRAINING – By Stanley Coren

Using the kennel crate method of housebreaking your puppy or dog is probably the most effective and most humane …

How much Does Owning a Dog Cost?

How Much Does It Really Cost To Own and Care For A Dog?

Depending on where you live, and the type of dog you are considering, there can be substantial differences in the costs to acquire and care for a …

Humping and Mounting Behavior in Dogs

We were once a society that viewed animals as their own individual species. Today, our world is quickly changing into one which views domestic animals as individual members of our human family. It is no wonder that we often relate …

Hypothyroid Problems in Pets

If your pet has a problem with excessive shedding or seems too tired to play catch, it may be a sign of a thyroid problem. Dr. Ian explains what causes this disease and how it is treated.

Hypothyroidism usually caused …

IMHA – Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia

What is an immune-mediated disease? It is any disease where the clinical signs (fever, pain, etc) are caused by the immune system. The immune system normally acts to protect an animal from viruses, parasites, bacteria, and all sorts of other …

Intervertebral Disc Disease – IVDD in Dogs

Do you have a Dachshund, Beagle, Shi Tzu, Lhasa Apso, or Pekingese? These, and other breeds of dogs are at a higher risk of developing a back problem called “intervertebral disc disease” (IVDD). Animals with IVDD show back or neck pain and tend to have trouble walking and doing normal daily activities. The signs of IVDD can be gradual or can be so sudden that your dog may go from being normal to being unable to walk within one day.

When you run your hand over your dog’s back, you should be able to feel the spine which is a long bony structure running from the back of the head all the way to the tip of the tail.

Intestinal Parasites in Dogs and Cats

We’ve all heard about intestinal worms. There’s heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, ringworm (which is actually a fungus, not a worm) and so many more. How do we keep them all straight? This article will introduce you to two of the most common intestinal worms that your dog or cat may encounter.

First of all, how do we diagnose intestinal worms? Sometimes you may see your pet vomit or defecate whole worms or worm pieces (especially roundworms). But most worm infections are not so visible. This is why the most common way to diagnose intestinal worms is by bringing a fecal sample to your veterinarian.

Intestinal Parasites in Dogs and Cats (Part 2)

In the last article about intestinal parasites, we talked about two of the most common intestinal worms; roundworms and hookworms. We also talked about the importance of a doing a fecal sample once or twice a year to look for worm eggs. This time, we’ll look at four other common intestinal parasites. Just to review, roundworms live inside the intestine, but don’t attach to the intestinal wall. These worms feed on the nutrients that the pet eats. Puppies are often born with roundworms, and can lose weight with a worm infection because the worms compete for nutrients. Hookworms on the other hand, burrow into the intestinal wall and suck out blood and protein. Like roundworms, these worms only tend to be a problem in puppies.

Everyone has heard of tapeworms. Dogs and cats can get tapeworms too. The most common tapeworm is called Dipylidium caninum, or the ‘flea tapeworm’.

Invisible Fences and Dogs

With animals, just like with people, there’s a difference between traumatic fears and plain old everyday fears. Traumatic fears in animals are always bad news; they last forever, and they can spread. Even if you do manage to put together …

Itchy Dogs – Itchy Cats

It’s not difficult to spot the owners of an itchy pet. They’re the ones that look as though they haven’t slept for days, having been kept up night after night by their pet’s incessant scratching. They’re also the ones with …

Journey Through Grief

Following are the general steps of grieving, which have been abbreviated for easy reference. We recommend that you copy and paste or print this page out. You may find it helpful in realizing that grief is a perfectly normal human …

Lab Tests for Cats and Dogs

What Do Those Lab Tests Mean?

The results of laboratory tests on a patient are compared to reference ranges established by measuring the laboratory parameters in a group of normal animals. The reference ranges for each laboratory test differ between …

Large Breed Puppies

Congratulations on your new puppy! Cherish these weeks, because puppies grow up fast! Soon your cuddly little stuffed animal-sized puppy will become a full-grown large-breed adult. Having an adult dog come with a whole host of new challenges. In order …

Lead Poisoning in Cats, Dogs and Birds

Lead poisoning in cats and dogs

Unlike the dramatic onset of clinical signs seen with most small animal poisonings, lead poisoning often has an insidious onset. The potential sources of lead for domestic animals are numerous and widespread. Ingestion of …

Lymphoma in Dogs

The lymphatic system, including the lymph nodes and the spleen, is extremely important in the body’s immunologic defense against “foreign” invaders, known as “antigens”. The lymph nodes contain numerous types of white blood cells that are important in the body’s …

Lymphoma in the Dog

The lymphatic system, including the lymph nodes and the spleen, is extremely important in the body’s immunologic defense against “foreign” invaders, known as “antigens”. The lymph nodes contain numerous types of white blood cells that are important in the body’s …