Why do dogs shed? | Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DAVT, Board-certified Veterinary Specialist
If you have a dog —no matter what kind of a dog— you’re probably going to encounter hair. And if you encounter dog hair, you’re going to encounter shedding. Most of the time, shedding is an annoyance that you just have to learn to live with — because there’s nothing a dog can do about it. It’s biological, and actually a way for a dog to maintain good skin health. Some dogs do so in a twice-a-year process called blowing their coat, but most of the time shedding is fairly uniform....
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My dog has an ear infection: How do I clean my dog’s ears? | Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT, Board-certified Veterinary Specialist
If you own a Labrador, Cocker spaniel, Basset hound, or pretty much any dog with long, floppy ears or a dog who likes to swim, you’re probably an expert at cleaning your dog’s ears, right? Having to battle with chronic ear infections in dogs can be frustrating. As my own dog has chronic ear infections (as he loves to swim and has mild seasonal allergies), it means I’m one of almost 86% of other pet owners who have to deal with ongoing ear issues that have to be chronically...
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The growing problem of obesity in pets | Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT, Board-Certified Veterinary Specialist
A recent article in the Washington Post summarized recent data from Banfield Pet Hospital, we now know which states have the most obese pets. And I’m embarrassed to say it’s my home state, MINNESOTA for the win! People often think that the states with the highest prevalence of obese people have the highest percentages of obese pets, but not so! A new report from Banfield found that over 2.5 million dogs and 500,000 cats in the United States are obese. While the top states for obese...
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Using the Colorado protocol for canine parvovirus | Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT, Board-Certified Veterinary Specialist
Having practiced veterinary medicine in several urban environments (e.g., Boston, Philly, Minneapolis-St. Paul), I’ve learned how to practice street medicine. What does that mean? It means that, as a veterinary specialist in emergency critical care, I always try to work with pet owners as best I can when they have financial limitations. While the ideal treatment – or what I call the “Gold standard” – is often best and results in the quickest return to normal health, this isn’t...
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Rawhide recall | Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT, Board-Certified Veterinary Specialist
If you feed your dog rawhides, check your stock now, as I had this in my house! A voluntary recall by United Pet Group has been issued due to accidental potential exposure to a cleaning agent. You can read the original FDA recall here. United Pet Group, a division of Spectrum Brands, Inc. is voluntarily recalling multiple brands of packages of rawhide dog chew products that were distributed to retail outlets and sold online in the U.S. The recall involves the brands and products described...
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How do I keep my dog safe from Canine Influenza Virus? | Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT, Board-Certified Veterinary Specialist
If you live in Florida, North Carolina, or the south, Canine Influenza Virus is spreading due to participation in 2 recent dog shows. Here’s some great info from the AKC about Canine Influenza Virus. Canine Influenza Virus is spread through: Close proximity to infected dogs (it is airborne and can travel up to 20 ft.; Dog parks are ideal for spreading the virus. Contact with contaminated items (bowls, leashes, crates, tables, clothing, dog runs, etc.) People moving between infected and...
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