Why antibiotics are not a black-and-white issue Antibiotics can save a dog's life. At the same time, they can cause adverse effects, alter the gut microbiome and select for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The right question is therefore not whether antibiotics are good or bad, but when they genuinely benefit an individual dog. Not...
Great plantain probably grows in almost every garden and, honestly, most of the time we see it as an annoying weed. As a child, I had a completely different relationship with plantain: if I scraped my knee or something was bleeding, a plantain leaf went on top. At some point...
I have used retractable leashes myself. They once seemed convenient: the dog could wander a little farther, the line wound itself back in, and I did not have to gather a long lead off the ground. Today I do not choose them for my dogs. Not because every walk with...
Diarrhea is one of those dog problems where the owner’s first question is very practical: what should I feed now? For years, the standard answer has been “chicken and rice.” Integrative veterinary medicine often suggests pumpkin, sweet potato or other squash instead, together with a well-tolerated lean protein. Both approaches...
How to recognise staphylococcal infection in dogs, when antibiotics are needed and what Oscar's experience can teach us.
Zoopharmacognosy is a word that is not easy to pronounce at first. But the question behind it is simple, and fascinating to me: can animals sometimes choose plants or other natural substances that help them deal with health problems? I have watched my dogs for years and often wondered how little...
Carrots are among the cheapest locally grown vegetables, and I like the idea of adding a little variety to a dog's bowl with something so ordinary. They are crunchy, colourful and tasty to many dogs. Still, I would not award carrots superfood status simply because they contain beta-carotene. What a...
I once spoke with a customer whose dog had undergone anesthesia-free dental cleaning about six months earlier. Later, several of that dog’s teeth had to be extracted. This does not prove that the anesthesia-free cleaning caused the problems, but it made me ask even more clearly what such a procedure...
Until spring 2024, none of my dogs had ever had an ear infection. Not one. Then Oscar’s ears suddenly became red and he started shaking his head. We visited the veterinarian, and ear drops brought the problem under control in about a week. I did not consider an oral antibiotic...
Dog bowl hygiene: bacterial studies, biofilms, material choices and FDA/CDC guidance on washing food and water bowls.
