What is Hip Dysplasia? Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is one of the more common skeletal disorders in dogs. CHD affects many dogs with varying degrees of symptoms from virtually unnoticeable to severe pain and lameness. It is a deformity of the hip that occurs with growth. The hip joint is a ball and socket joint. During growth, both the ball …

When your pet suddenly starts limping for no apparent reason that you can see, it may be difficult to determine the cause.  Often times cases of sudden lameness that just involve a limp resolve by themselves, but some can represent major injuries. If your pet won’t put any weight on a limb, or it is visibly misshapen or swollen, see your …

While you may think of tetanus as something you get from rusty metal, that is actually not at all where Clostridium tetani live. These bacteria inhabit dirt and dust. And, it lives in many dogs’ mouths. Tetanus infections are not common. However, around 10 percent of cases are fatal. If it’s been more than ten years since you last had a tetanus shot …

Joint and mobility issues for dogs, such as arthritis, and ACL problems, are some of the most common health problems dogs face. Arthritis symptoms in your pooch may range from being subtly noticeable to very debilitating. It is extremely difficult to watch your dog’s health decline. Unfortunately, arthritis in dogs is not curable there are many things you can do to help keep …

Can Dogs eat vegetables? It’s normal to want to spoil your dog by sharing some human table scraps or a healthy vegetable snack. As humans, we all know how important vegetables are for our diets. They are full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber and low in calories. Veggies are some of the most nutritious things that we can eat. It …

Can Dogs eat fruit? It’s normal to want to spoil your dog by sharing some human table scraps or your favorite fruit snack. In the summertime when fruits are ripe they can often be in abundance and seem like a healthy snack. If it is safe for you to eat, it must be OK for dogs to eat, right? Not …

What is Gabapentin? Gabapentin is a drug that can be used as a treatment for seizures or chronic pain in dogs. Some know this medication by the brand name Neurontin. It is important to note that Gabapentin is not FDA-approved for canine use. However, some veterinarians do prescribe it and find it safe for dogs. So, as long as dog owners obtain veterinary approval …

Joint pain and arthritis in dogs have a number of causes. However, the most common factor is natural aging. Affecting over half of all dogs in their lifetime, arthritis is a degenerative joint condition that most often affects joints in the hips, lower back, knees, wrists, and elbows of our canine pets. It hurts us to see our once active …

As a pet owner, the safety and well-being of your dog is a top priority. However, dogs and humans don’t share the same language. Therefore it can be difficult to tell when your dog is in pain. Some of the signs a dog is in pain are easy to spot, such as limping or a visible wound. But other signs of …

For pet lovers, nothing is more difficult to see than a dog or cat suffering from pain. Joint diseases in pets limit their movement, cause severe discomfort, cause stress and sometimes even aggression. Even before these problems occur it is important to look out for the welfare of your pet. Joint care chews for dogs and cats can help provide …