Health Care Tips Archives - Page 4 of 4

All About Dogs

Slight Heart Murmur Cause For Worry?

Dear Dr. Weaver, My name is Mark Baldwin, I live in the beautifully scenic province of Newfoundland, Canada, home to the beloved Newfoundland breed! I have owned several Rottweilers over the last ten years and have a delightful young male who is a year old. Last week we visited our vet on a gastrointestinal problem, and she mentioned hearing a slight murmur. It was barely audible on several attempts with the dog panting, etc. She said it was a ‘one’ on a scale of six and not much to worry about at this time…however, we are worried! I’m wondering about

June 17, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Responding to Questions About Annual Shots

I am excited that our last article elicited such response. Vaccination is a very controversial subject, and I appreciate all of the opinions expressed. With all of the opinions in our community, I knew that there would be a heated response no matter what I said. I would like to take this chance to respond to some of the readers who sent emails. “I was wondering why you did not mention the Bordetella vaccine. If she brings her dogs to a groomer, dog day care, dog park or boarding facility, they should have this vaccine, especially if they are older

June 17, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Keeping Dogs Safe In The Heat

The summer is a great time to talk about overheating. All over the country and year-round, dogs are put in situations that are not safe due to temperature. This can happen even in cooler parts of the country and during the winter, so you should always use good judgment. Never Leave Your Pet in the Car Much publicity has been given to never leaving dogs in closed cars even on cool days, but people still do it. No living thing should be left in a car except at night in cold weather (though even then it may not be a

June 17, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Is a Dog’s Staph Infection Contagious To Humans?

Dear Dr. Weaver, I recently adopted a male Westie mix from a local shelter. As suggested, I took him to my vet just to make sure he was healthy. Magnum had a rash on his back leg, and after careful examination, the vet concluded that he had a Staph infection. She gave me some antibiotics and ointment to treat him. I know that humans can spread Staph infections, but can I get it from my dog? Can my other dogs get it from him? Thanks in advance, Summer Dear Summer, There are many species of Staph bacteria. While there are

June 17, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

The Overall Health Of Your Dog

The pack is a family unit, and every pack leader naturally wants to ensure the vitality and longevity of his or her family members. We want the years we spend together with our packs to be happy and lively ones. But in a world in which we breathe in pollutants and toxins daily, eat over-processed foods with little nutritional value, and find ourselves subject to germs and bacteria that can cause illness and other serious medical conditions, what can be done to brace up and fortify the health of our beloved canine companions? As a pack leader, it’s up to

June 17, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Switching To Adult Food From Puppy Food

I am reading conflicting information about when to transfer our puppy from puppy food to adult dog food. Our vet says anytime between 6 and 18 months for our type of dog (Basset Hound). The dog food guide says 12 months, the 30-year pet store owner says six months, and our backup vet says 12 months at the longest. My gut instinct says because a Basset’s bone structure is not fully developed until about 18 months old, keep her on puppy food until she’s 18 months. Still, she’s not interested in her puppy food anymore and, as of late, goes

June 17, 2015 No Comments

Holidays Feast: Is The Fun Worth The Risk?

We each answer that question for ourselves every day. Feeding high fat foods, such as turkey skin, is not good for dogs. That being said, neither are cheese-its or popcorn or a million other things people use in the real world as treats for their dogs every day. Any sudden change in a dog’s diet can result in Irritable Bowel Disease or Pancreatitis, and a high fat treat can be dangerous. For some of us, the joy of sharing our holiday traditions with our canine family is worth the risk. Although it can be fatal, pancreatitis only happens a small

June 17, 2015 No Comments