Have you ever stroked your dog’s nose and noticed that it is no longer smooth and normally moist, but rough, thickened or even crusty? Or perhaps you have noticed small hair-like growths on the paw pads that look as though someone has planted a miniature brush on them? If so, it...
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...
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...
Sarcoptic mange is talked about quite a lot, but most dog owners probably hope it remains one of those diseases you only read about online and never encounter yourself. Years ago, I took Ossu to the vet specifically because I suspected mange. We rarely went into the forest, but a...
A hot spot is one of those skin problems where a dog can look completely fine in the morning and by evening there is a red, wet, painful and rapidly expanding patch hidden under the coat. Fortunately, our own dogs have not had hot spots very often. Faddy once started...
