Ask the Vet - Does my dog have ringworm?

May 14, 2012 | by seattledogspot

Ringworm is a fungal infection that can affect the skin, hair, or nails of dogs and cats as well as people. Ringworm is actually rarely diagnosed in dogs. This is primarily because its true incidence (in dogs) is very low. Typically the fungal spores need to penetrate a thick coat of fur to enter a crack in the skin surface or to populate hair follicles. Although ringworm is not commonly diagnosed in canines, it is more likely to be a problem in shelter populations as well as in puppies and other individuals with a lower functioning immune system.

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Ask the Vet - Should my dog have another cruciate ligament surgery?

May 9, 2012 | by seattledogspot

I would definitely see your veterinarian if the lameness persists.  She could have damaged other structures in her knee (torn meniscus, luxating patella, etc.) but she could have complications associated with the surgical repair of the initial cruciate injury.  If she had a TPLO, there is the possibility of implant infection/ failure as well.  Your veterinarian will examine the knee and put it through some range of motion tests to see if it is stable.  Radiographs may be necessary depending on the original surgery that was performed.

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Ask the Vet - 2 people ask if surgery is necessary to repair cruciate ligaments in their dogs

May 3, 2012 | by seattledogspot

Kelly and Angie, I am so sorry to hear that your dogs are having cruciate troubles. These injuries are one of the most common orthopedic injuries seen in veterinary medicine. A significant number of dogs are developmentally prone to cruciate disease simply because of their anatomy. This has to do with the slope of the tibia (shin bone) where it articulates with the femur (thigh bone). These animals will often end up having problems with both knees over their lifetime. Another common problem is obesity.

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Ask the Vet - What are the pros and cons of a natural flea repellent vs. a topical medication like Advantix?

April 17, 2012 | by seattledogspot

Kim, this is a question that comes up in the examination room at most of our clinics fairly often. Each of the veterinarians may have a slightly different way of answering this particular pet owner concern, but we all agree that every individual pet in each home may have unique needs that warrant a tailored approach to flea control. I would definitely have such an open and detailed conversation with your family’s vet.

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Ask the Vet - How often should I clean my dog's teeth and are non-anesthesia dentals effective?

April 10, 2012 | by seattledogspot

Excellent questions! Several things can negatively impact the health of a dog like the pain, inflammation and infection associated with unchecked periodontal disease. Data suggests that an unhealthy mouth can negatively impact the health of a distant organ like the kidneys and the heart. Fortunately, periodontal inflammation is a disease that is both preventable and treatable.

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Ask the Vet - How can I ease my dog's coughing from a collapsed trachea?

March 30, 2012 | by seattledogspot

I am sorry to hear that your dog is having a hard time with her coughing. There are medications that may be able to help, but first we should talk a bit about her disease.

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Ask the Vet - What can you do to protect your dog from cancer?

March 15, 2012 | by seattledogspot

Cancer prevention is a subject of great interest for both humans and pets and lots of research is being done in this direction but there isn't a simple answer. In most cases we do not know what causes a cancer which makes it difficult to avoid. Most cancers are the result of accumulations of "mistakes" in the body that eventually add up to cancer, which means each individual goes through a somewhat unique path in developing cancer. Antioxidants and fish-oil supplements are believed to have benefits in preventing cancer.

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Ask the Vet - How long should I give my dog allergy shots?

March 7, 2012 | by seattledogspot

Great job in having Tango diagnosed and managed successfully!  I’m sure that she must be more comfortable now that her allergies and itching are controlled better.

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Ask the Vet - Poodle can't shake her cough

March 1, 2012 | by seattledogspot

There are numerous reasons that a 12 year old poodle can develop a chronic cough. Infectious diseases such as Kennel Cough are certainly on the list but there are plenty of non-infectious reasons as well. These non-infectious reasons can vary from inflammatory conditions to heart disease and cancer.

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Should I get a biopsy for lump on my dog's leg?

February 23, 2012 | by seattledogspot

I would have to agree with your vet's concern, that there is a possibility of cancer in that area. A common cancer found is dogs that presents this way is a mast cell tumor. Normal mast cells are cells of the immune system that defend the body against invades. For example, when you get stung by a bee, the red, painful, swollen spot is the results of the mast cell tumors releasing active chemicals, triggering a response from other parts of the immune system to fight the "invader".

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Jasper's Off-Leash Dog Park
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