Image Credit: Facebook fan Nathan Wolf
Cough Linked to Neurological Disease
Labrador retrievers are the ‘poster-dog’ for paralysis of the larynx which we have learned may be an early indicator of a more complex neurological disease. New understanding of this common senior canine condition has come to light as scientists further investigate its cause. As a pet owner, become aware of recognizable symptoms and options your veterinarian may provide for your pet’s care. Read More >
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Blunt Force Trauma: 8 First Aid Tips
Accidents happen. Appropriate first aid measures can be life saving. The first hour following a critical injury is the termed the ‘golden hour’ during which time medical interventions can greatly impact outcome. EMT’s are not routinely available to support and triage pet transport during the golden hour, but every pet owner can make a difference toward survival of a pet following traumatic injury with learning a few simple tips. Read More >
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A Common Hind Leg Lameness: Cruciate Ligament Disease
Knees are complicated joints. The normal biomechanics* of the knee can vary due to breed variances in build, obesity, genetic abnormalities, and hormonal effects on bone growth. In fact, knee injury – specifically cruciate ligament injury – is the most common cause of rear leg lameness in dogs. Other causes of knee pain/lameness may include: patella luxation, infectious joint disease, cartilage damage, arthritis, fractures, bone disease, and muscle strains. This article will hone in on knee ligament injury, specifically the torn Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL). Read More >
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Photobiomodulation
Laser light therapy (recently renamed photobiomodulation, or PBM) is an affordable tech-savvy way to provide healing for many difficult-to-manage health conditions. Some widely touted benefits of laser therapy include: decreased inflammation and pain, accelerated tissue healing, reduced need for pain medications, and it is noninvasive. Want to know more? Read on! Read More >
Image Credit: ACC WI Chessie Fun Day 2018 ( pic from 2016 event)
Did you know dogs who frequent the river for sport or leisure are at an increased risk of acquiring fungal disease? Two fungal agents, Histoplasmosis (Histo) and Blastomycosis (Blasto), are rarely seen in pets who remain exclusively in urban environments. These two fungi may be implicated in diseases seen in dogs that visit the moist nitrogen rich soil of central North America’s river valleys. Read More >
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Lumps and Bumps: Gingival Hyperplasia
Have your dog’s teeth disappeared behind a growing mass of tissue? Are lumpy masses in your dog’s mouth making it difficult for your pet to eat or play with chew toys? These may be a sign of an underlying health condition known as gingival hyperplasia. Read More >
Image credit: https://phys.org
Any pet or person who is in snake habitat is a potential bite victim; snake bites that transmit venom are dangerous for many creatures. Venomous snakes are present in early all contiguous United States with rattlesnakes being the most prevalent species to cause envenomation, or venom injection.
Venom is a toxin and venomous bites can be deadly without appropriate immediate emergency care. As with most toxins, the concentration of the toxin, the size of the pet, and the amount of toxin consumed or infused are all variables in the patient’s outcome and survival. Both the location of the bite and the lag time from bite wound to emergency care impact treatment and prognosis. Read More >
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Bizarre Behaviors & Canine Compulsive Disorder
Spinning your wheels about your dog’s constant tail chasing? Undesirable behaviors in dogs are often misinterpreted as lack of training or discipline. There is much to be learned about canine behavior through the lenses of careful observation, examination, and diagnostic testing that may be missed by the casual onlooker. One such behavior category deals with repetitive non-functional behavior patterns, such as tail chasing, over-grooming, and pica. For dogs, this collection of behaviors is coined Canine Compulsive Disorder (CCD). Read More >
Image credit: Mud River Dog Products
The Athletic Dog Diet
A dog’s physical appearance and athletic performance are great indicators of overall health and wellness. Nutrition is one key piece to this health equation; Nutrition is equally as important as good genetic lines and more valuable than conditioning alone. Many pet owners are well-intentioned yet misguided when it comes to feeding their pets due in large part to dog food advertising and difficult-to-interpret dog food labels. In addition, dog breeders, veterinarians, dog trainers, and other dog owners have differing opinions about and preferences for dog food brands, ingredients, and ratio of ingredients. The abundance of information can be overwhelming. Read More >
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Change in season may mean changes in routine, adventures, or social contacts for you and your dog – and likely, for other people and pets in your neighborhood, hunting group, or at the dog park. This means paying extra attention to how your dog behaves after outings; a single encounter with a contaminated water source or an infected animal can transmit a contagious bacterial disease to even a cautious canine. Read More >