Treating Urinary Continence in Older Female Dogs
The risk in subzero temperatures for your dog
The unmistakable sign of an ear infection on dogs
[From Tufts May 2012 Issue]
To many people, the smell of baking bread evokes recollections of home cooking. But if your dogs ears emit a similar odor, its cause for concern: You need to put in a call to his veterinarian. Its a sign that he may have a yeast infection - a condition that, if left untreated, can lead to significant discomfort, complications and even partial deafness on those rare occasions when a persistent infection results in rupture of the eardrum.
Ear infections are the No. 1 reason for veterinary visits in one pet insurance companys review of nearly a half million claims. A particular kind - yeast infections - is extremely common in dogs, but the term is actually imprecise, according to dermatologist Lowell Ackerman, DVM, adjunct professor of clinical medicine at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.
…Help for tear stains for my dog
[From Tufts June 2012 Issue]
My 4-year-old shih tzu, Piccolo, gets tear stains frequently. When he develops conjunctivitis a few times a year because of his unspecified allergies, the stains drip onto the hair underneath his eyelid. His black hair then becomes matted and turns an unsightly pink. He scratches the stained areas while I'm not around to catch him in the act until he reaches the skin, which becomes tender. I can live with his appearance but not the itchy eyes and irritated skin.
The Internet has all kinds of "remedies" from vinegar to Tums. I've also read that a popular over-the-counter product is verboten because it contains the antibiotic Tylosin. I don't want to practice medicine on my little guy. Piccolo's veterinarian said to clean the stains with hydrogen peroxide, which works well, except while…