Canine Epilepsy

My 10-year old Golden Retriever was just diagnosed with epilepsy, so it seemed like a good time to do a little research on the topic for Straight Poop. What exactly is epilepsy? Epilepsy is most easily defined as the presence of repetitive seizures over time.  Seizures may be the result of a specific brain injury [...]

Canine Mammary Cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and we’ve all seen everyone going pink to support the cause.  Even the NFL has its players wearing pink shoes, sweatbands, and mouth guards.  But how much do you know about canine mammary tumors?  Did you know, for instance, that mammary tumors are the most common tumors in female [...]

Canine Mobility Assistance

We’ve all heard the old adage that a dog year is equivalent to about seven human years.  That really might not mean too much to you until you begin to consider what happens to your own body as you age.  One of the major symptoms of advancing age is that the joints and muscles begin [...]

Surrendering a Dog at a Shelter

I can’t have a dog at my new apartment. He’s sick. She’s too old. My kids are allergic to him. She’s too rambunctious. He’s too big. She bit my new boyfriend. The people who work in shelters have heard all of these reasons and more.  Every day, someone shows up on their doorstep and surrenders [...]

How Do I Say Goodbye to My Dog?

OK, so that sounds like a country song title, but it’s actually a serious topic of interest to every dog family, because all of us will go through it at some point, hopefully later rather than sooner.  When it is time for your dog to go to that big park in the sky, what can [...]

Doggie Dentistry

Most people have, by now, seen the commercial for the bone that is made to clean your dog’s teeth.  The commercial suggests that if dogs want beautiful teeth, we ought to buy them dentures.  The pictures are really funny, but the topic itself is serious.  Just as in humans, good oral health can be a [...]

Keeping Your Dog’s Joints Healthy

Although we normally think of aching joints associated with older dogs, you should begin to think about your dog’s joint health before the dog is even born and continue with strategies to maintain healthy joints throughout the dog’s whole life.  Preventing joint disease before it starts is a much better strategy than trying to deal [...]

Hot Weather Hazards

Summer is in full swing, and it’s only going to get hotter from now on.  Are you aware of the dangers that can beset your dog due to the heat? The very first thing you must remember is that dogs cannot sweat.  The human body produces sweat to cool the body.  Just as you are [...]

Dog Food Ingredients

The American pet food industry brings in $16.1 billion each year selling a variety of food products, but which one is best?  If you spend any time searching the Internet for nutritional information about dog food, you will soon find that there is a huge controversy between those who feed commercial dog foods and those [...]

Doggie Strains and Sprains

As summer starts warming up the weather, it’s time to remember to warm up our dogs before taking them out for vigorous physical exercise.  If you and your dog have begun to resemble couch potatoes over the long, cold winter, your muscles will need some conditioning before you begin jogging or participating in other outdoor [...]

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