Most of us have probably heard the old rule that one dog year equals seven human years. It is a convenient calculation, but real life is much more interesting. Dogs do not age in a linear way, and their size matters in particular: during the first years of life they...
Joint problems are not only an issue for old dogs. Osteoarthritis can develop as a result of trauma, a developmental joint disorder, dysplasia, excess weight or long-term uneven loading, and some dogs begin to need joint support at a fairly young age. This topic is very personal to me. Oscar has an elbow...
When a puppy pees in the house, there is usually nothing mysterious about it. They are still learning when and where to go, and how long they can hold it. But if an adult dog who has been reliably house-trained for years suddenly starts peeing indoors, that is a different...
Does your dog keep licking the floor, carpet, sofa, or even your hands and feet? An occasional lick does not necessarily mean anything. Dogs explore the world with their mouths and noses, and a surface may simply smell interesting. But when licking becomes repetitive or intense, or it feels as...
For years, whenever possible, I have preferred natural ways of protecting my dogs against ticks, and Oscar is the main reason behind that choice. When he was a puppy, I used Bravecto tablets because I had seen with Faddy how effectively they kept ticks away. Oscar received the tablet twice....
Canine dementia is being discussed more and more, yet it is still very easy to put changes in an older dog down to age alone. They sleep more, move more slowly, no longer react in quite the same way, sometimes become confused in familiar places or grow restless in the...
When a dog suddenly asks to go outside every few minutes, squats repeatedly, passes only a few drops of urine or has blood in the urine, it is very easy to think “cystitis” straight away. Sometimes a bacterial bladder infection really is the cause. But not always. Urinary crystals or...
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for dogs, but this is one of those cases where “more is better” simply does not apply. Dogs need vitamin D, among other things, for normal calcium and phosphorus metabolism and to support bone health. Vitamin D receptors are also found in cells of...
Your dog vomits once, looks at you, shakes it off, and five minutes later asks for food. Panic? Usually not. With vomiting, however, there are always two questions: is there a red flag that needs prompt veterinary attention, and if not, how can you gently support an upset stomach and...
I know quite a few dog owners who have at least once found some kind of “lump” under their dog’s skin. And even when reason says it is probably nothing serious, the brain usually reaches the word tumour in about three seconds. A lipoma in dogs is one of the...
