Dog wound care: why don’t I reach for an antiseptic first at home?
Cleaning minor dog wounds, caring for scabs and using calendula: Peter Dobias’s approach, research limits and when veterinary help is needed.
Home remedies for dogs: when they help and when they don’t
“Accidents happen” is probably especially true when you live with dogs. One day there's a muddy, slightly irritated paw; the next day an upset stomach; another time you discover a hot spot or realise that your dog has picked up, or perhaps swallowed, something suspicious. Over the years, I've used...
Lyme disease in dogs: symptoms and what a positive test means
With some diseases, it isn't easy to say, “Don't worry, most dogs do well.” If you have seen a dog seriously affected by one, that experience stays with you. Irene's Labrador, Pekwa, suffered severe Lyme disease at about six years of age. It took months to reach the diagnosis, and...
How safe are chemical tick treatments for dogs?
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....
Dog ate chocolate: how dangerous is it and what should you do?
Your dog ate chocolate. The first thought is usually: how bad is this? The answer depends more than anything on three things: what type of chocolate, how much, and how large the dog is. A small piece of milk chocolate in a large dog is not the same situation as...
Apoquel and its safety: what do we actually know?
Apoquel is probably one of the best-known medications for itching in dogs. In some dogs, its effect can be impressively fast: a dog that was licking, chewing and scratching itself yesterday may be noticeably less itchy after a short time. That matters. Severe itching is not merely uncomfortable. A dog can...
What Can Dogs Not Eat? 10 Dangerous Foods
Dogs are remarkably talented at finding exactly the thing they should not eat. Chocolate left on a table, sugar-free chewing gum found in a handbag, or rising yeast dough in the kitchen can turn into a veterinary emergency within seconds. At the same time, not all “dangerous foods for dogs” are...
Heatstroke in Dogs: First Aid and Prevention
A dog cannot tell you when the heat is becoming too much. They may keep chasing a ball, stay beside you in the sun or guard the house even when their body can no longer cool itself adequately. A dog not choosing shade does not necessarily mean everything is fine....
Mosquitoes and dogs: natural repellents and heartworm risk in Estonia
Mosquitoes have always had a pretty clear preference in our house. They may hang around Faddu, but if given the choice, a larger group will gather around Ossu. And Ossu is not the kind of dog who always tolerates mosquito bites unnoticed. Sometimes he gets really bad bumps. I am...
Colloidal silver for dogs: where might it help, and where does FendaF draw the line?
Colloidal silver is one of those substances for which the internet can offer two completely opposite worlds in a single search. At one end, it is recommended for wounds, ears, eyes and even internal use. At the other, people say it should not be used at all. For FendaF, the...