Special Ingredient Saturday – Apples
Can an apple a day keep the veterinarian away? Maybe. Apples provide quality fiber to your pets’ diet as well as many phytonutrients that provide anti-inflammatory protection and disease prevention. Recent studies also show anti-cancer benefits in apples. Not bad for...
When to Seek a Second (3rd or 4th) Opinion
Many of the phone consults I perform as a — now retired — veterinarian who no longer diagnoses or prescribes, center around helping pet owners make the most of their pet’s condition or circumstances. The purpose of a phone consultation is not to diagnose or treat a...
Special Ingredient Saturday – Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree WHAT?!? Tea tree oil has been used for centuries with the Aboriginal peoples to clean wounds and prevent infections. It has steadily grown in popularity and now many all around the world recognize this powerful shrub and appreciate its cleansing...
Canine Fitness: A New Therapy to Improve How Dogs Move
There are many modalities that help the arthritic patient: acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, laser, and herbal therapy. (Most of these have been discussed in other blogs.) A great new trend to help arthritic patients– and even dogs who suddenly can’t walk or stand...
Special Ingredient Saturday – Quinoa
Quinoa — pronounced keen-wa — could best be described as a “small, but mighty” nutritional giant. The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations has declared quinoa as a food with “high nutritive value.” Research has shown this food to contain...
Is Glucosamine the Best Supplement for a Pet with Arthritis?
Studies demonstrate arthritis signs are improved faster with any of the following nutraceuticals: Boswellia, green lipped musseks, turmeric, Elk velvet antler, Traditional Chinese Veterinary Herbal formulas, and a combination. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories....
Special Ingredient Saturday – Shrimp
Shrimp. It's what's for dinner. At least, it should be.... for your pets. Shrimp are low fat, high in protein, and an excellent source of selenium. They are also a good source of Vitamin D, B12, and healthy omega-3 Fatty acids. So, broil those protein-packed little...
How to Look for a Fungal Infection Before it’s Too Late
Recently, I was consulting with a wonderful pet owner whose dog was coughing. This dog had undergone extensive diagnostic work up by her primary care veterinarian. Bridget had fallen off the grooming table before the coughing started. One of the possibilities was that...
Special Ingredient Saturday – Green Beans
Green beans aren’t typically thought of as great pet food. But, maybe they should be. Green beans are rich in B vitamins, shown to have impressive antioxidant qualities, and are also a good source of beta-carotenes (just like carrots). Green beans have recently been...
My Dog Only has One Testicle Descended. Do I Need to Worry About This?
An undescended testicle is also called cryptorchid or monorchid. By the time most puppies go home between 8 and 12 weeks old, the male puppy will have both testicles descended into his scrotal sac. Interestingly, northern breeds and some working dogs seem to delay...