Illness or Pain Archives

An injured dog sits next to his first aid kit his owner put together for emergencies. Read here to see recommendations on items that should be included in all pet first aid kids.

All About Dogs

A Checklist For Your Dog’s First Aid Kit

Do you have everything you need in case of an emergency with your dog? Many people assume they will take their pet to the vet if something goes wrong, but what if you can’t get there in time? All good dog parents want to keep their pups safe, which means being prepared for potential doggie disasters. One of the best ways to be ready is to create a first aid kit for your four-legged friend. First Aid Kit Items What exactly do dogs need in a first aid kit? Some of the items are probably obvious, but others may be

May 4, 2022 No Comments

All About Dogs

How to Care for a Dog With Megaesophagus

Dear Dr. Weaver, I recently rescued a puggle from an animal shelter. I soon discovered that he has a condition known as megaesophagus, which, from what I understand, is serious and requires constant vigilance to control. I was assured by my vet that it is not the type of condition that will resolve itself over time and is something that could lead to pneumonia asphyxiation. He was placed on antibiotics, some type of throat syrup, and requires his food elevated to aid in digestion. Is there anything else that I could be doing to help him get through this disorder?

June 17, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Parvovirus in Puppies

Dear Dr. Weaver, We adopted two pups from our local shelter, had them for three days, and ended up having them put down because of parvo. They apparently had the virus when we adopted them. We weren’t told they were exposed or possibly had the virus. Very disheartening. We truly want pups, but don’t know how long we have to wait before we can adopt. We cleaned the indoors thoroughly (steam cleaned the entire house) and have a nice, clean yard. Please let us know. We are ready to raise another family. Our kids are grown and gone. We have

June 17, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Shih Tzu With Back Problems

I have a Shih Tzu that is about 10 years old, and he is having problems with his back hind leg. It is almost like there is a catch in his back. He is unable to jump and appears to be in some pain. I have taken him to the vet 3 different times. They put him on steroids, which seems to help for awhile, but it always happens again. I have limited his exercise, and basically he does nothing but sleep and eat. I was reading on the internet about the breed, and it said the breed tends to

June 17, 2015 No Comments