Dental health is important for both the oral and overall health of your pet. Knowing what your veterinarian is describing during a dental examination will help you identify potential problems with your pet's teeth and help provide optimal dental care for your pet.

Removing a dog's teeth should only be done by a veterinarian under general anesthesia. Some reasons why a dog would need teeth removed include severe crowding, infection, pulp exposure, broken teeth, and oral cancer. Dental health is a very important to overall health in dogs because d

OverviewToo much bacteria or yeast in a dog's inner ear can cause a inner ear infection. A dog with an ear infection will often shake his head or paw at his ear. You may also notice a discharge oozing out of the ear. A veterinarian can offer medication, but there are also several...

As pets age, they benefit from regular veterinary visits to check for lumps and other potential health concerns.the dog image by hupper from Fotolia.comAs dogs age, harmful changes in their DNA can lead to cancer, which occurs when cells reproduce out of control. One such cancer is...

Part of being a responsible pet owner is maintaining your animal's health and well-being. You should always address any health issues that may occur. Just like humans, dogs can develop many different problems that need to be treated with veterinary care or medications. One common problem area for do

Heart failure can occur in any dog at any age, no matter what their breed or gender may be. If you hear your veterinarian use the word "congenital" when describing your dog's defect, that means that the defect has been in existence since the birth of your dog. Heart failure is a serious condition

Watch your dog for signs of infection.Dogs at local park; pug image by Tawana Frink from Fotolia.comDogs have hardy immune systems and are able to fight off most germs. Sometimes bacteria and viruses become too much to ward off, and they cause infection. Many times dogs don't display...

Concussions can have serious consequences for your beloved pet.dog image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.comJust like humans, dogs can suffer a head concussion, often caused by a blunt or penetrating injuring to his head. Some of the more common causes for concussions in dogs are car...

This is a story submitted by Brenda, a viewer of this site. Nothing is predictable with pets. Sometimes taking a minute to be "extra careful" may help prevent a tragedy. I thank Brenda for sharing her story to help alert others about this risk.

All types of brain diseases are difficult for both the dog and owner.Dogs face image by adrian stones from Fotolia.comBrain diseases are devastating medical conditions, such as Alzheimer's, that affect both dogs and humans. As your dog grows old, he is more likely to experience cognitive...

For a dog, a stroke can be just as serious as it is for a human, and in some cases even more so because your pet will not be able to indicate what is wrong. If you have an older canine or own a breed that is susceptible to strokes, then it is vitally important to their health that you be able to ide

A dog's vestibular system keeps her head and body in correct orientation. If her vestibular system isn't functioning property she will be off balance and exhibit other symptoms that many pet guardians mistake as signs of a stroke.

Dogs may develop infectious hepatitis which is a liver condition. Infectious hepatitis is characterized by inflammation of the liver. Your dog may be quite ill by the time he has any noticeable symptoms of liver disease. If your dog has any symptoms of hepatitis, consult your veterinarian for proper

Fireworks and thunderstorms can cause a great deal of stress for some animals. Learn how to avoid stress for your pets, and tips to keep them safe.

Pets may also find discarded cigarette or cigar butts, nicotine patches, nicotine gum, e-cigarettes, and chewing tobacco and give them a taste test. All of these products contain nicotine, which can cause illness and even death in fairly small amounts.

Drew0311 asks: "My dog keeps doing this snorting thing. Like his throat is clogged up. Anyone else have a dog doing this right now? Thanks in advance."

The cause of pancreatitis in dogs is still unknown. There are some factors that are associated with dogs who are diagnosed with this disease. Diets rich in fat and the use of cortisone are the key factors in the diagnosis of pancreatitis.

There is no cure for kidney failure (also called renal failure) in dogs. Damaged and diseased kidneys cannot regenerate. The symptoms of kidney failure can be managed; the goal is keeping your dog comfortable and active for as long as possible. A large part of managing kidney failure is feeding a pr

Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that help reduce anxiety and fear. They includes drugs such as diazepam (valium), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clonazepam (klonopin) and alprazolam (xanax). Diazepam is commonly used for dogs with problems such as separation anxiety and sudden fears, according to

Irish Wolfhound - Westminster Show 2010 © Janet Tobiassen Crosby DVM