A dog with sensitive digestion may need a slightly different approach. If your dog often has soft stools, gas, vomiting, poor appetite, or an easily upset stomach, sensitive digestion may be part of the picture. This does not always mean one specific disease, nor does it mean that the dog...
If you have ever eaten cake, biscuits or ice cream and felt that very specific stare beside you, you know exactly what I mean. The look that says, “I have no idea what that is, but I am fairly certain it should also end up in my mouth.” Dogs are...
Itchy skin, irritated paws, dry skin, redness and insect bites are problems many dog owners encounter. For mild and temporary irritation, a few simple natural remedies may offer relief. But before reaching for the next oil, tea or ointment, it is worth remembering one very important point: itching is a...
Allergies in puppies and canine atopic dermatitis are complex problems that usually cannot be traced to a single cause. Genetics play a role, but genes do not operate in a vacuum. The development of a dog’s immune system may also be influenced by the prenatal environment, the mother’s diet, the...
We all know that our dogs will grow older one day, but admitting it is not always easy. Especially when they still rush to the doorbell, their eyes light up for a treat and every now and then they produce an especially joyful puppy jump. Irene and I were recently...
The world is changing quickly, and so is the way food is produced for us and for our pets. One of the biggest changes has been the widespread use of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. When we talk about GMOs, glyphosate inevitably enters the discussion. Glyphosate has been classified by...
This time, we are putting chicken under the microscope. Many pet owners avoid chicken almost automatically. Quite often, when a client first comes to us for advice, chicken has already been ruled out. When I ask why, the answer is usually: “this breed has a lot of chicken allergies.” Looking...
Dogs do not usually enter the sea intending to drink, but they inevitably swallow some water while running, swimming and retrieving toys. One accidental mouthful will not usually cause poisoning. The risk increases when a dog repeatedly swallows saltwater or consumes a larger amount, especially in hot weather or when...
Have you ever checked a dog food ingredient list and found the words “cellulose”, “powdered cellulose” or “lignocellulose”? At first glance it sounds harmless: cellulose is a natural component of plant cell walls and therefore a type of fibre. On the other hand, purified cellulose used in pet food may...
Stool color can provide a useful clue, but a color is not a diagnosis. The whole picture matters: what the dog ate, what the stool looks like, how often the change occurs and how the dog feels overall. A dog’s stool is a kind of digestive-system report, but not a laboratory...
