Lead poisoning in your pet. Uncommon but it can happen.Although the highest number of lead poisoning cases are seen during the warmer months of the year, there are a wide variety of sources of lead. Older buildings and homes are common sources of lead poisonings, as they can be riddled with lead dust or chips from lead paint. Lead was allowed to be in paint until 1978. This is a rarely seen condition at our hospital but always on the list when certain symptoms are exhibited by animals that are presented ill. Symptoms of lead ingestion:The symptoms for lead poisoning...

Dog Marketplace: Feed The Growing Need Active dogs and puppies can benefit from high-protein diets - it’s all about finding the right fit for each pet. By Lizett Bond - - - - - - The old adage “You are what you eat” rings true not only in our own diets, but also in the food selections made for our pets. Yet protein requirements are an often misunderstood and controversial aspect of canine nutrition. Most agree, however, that the ancestors of our domestic dogs consumed meat and fish seasoned with small amounts of fruit and grasses. “In ancient times, dogs...

Congratulations Mona Konishi & “Laika” of Japan as they are theUS Disc Dog National (USDDN) 2015 World Champions!Way to go Mona and “Laika”-you had the Momentum! Mona Konishi and “Laika” of Japan recently won the Open USDDN World Championships held in Georgia. “Laika” is fed Momentum. Actually, 3 of the top 5 dogs are fed Momentum as their primary diet. Way to go Team Japan!

Senior dog diets Dogs are living longer than ever these days, and there are several factors that have influenced this change in the average lifespan of our canine companions. Vaccinations against diseases that were at one time very prevalent and life threatening have allowed many dogs to get past their puppy stages into adulthood. Veterinary care that has advanced,along with their human medicine counterparts, has led to many diseases being recognized and treated properly. All in all, the largest influence on this is the improvement in nutrition for those pets of ours. One issue with dog diets is the tendency...

The first thing about a dog to understand in feeding them correctly is that their metabolism is not the same as that of human. Their metabolism is built to be fueled by fat, not carbohydrates, like it is with a homo sapien. At the very basic level, the cellular structure of a canine is fueled by fat. This can shown by an analogy of how a house is heated most efficiently by a furnace. The furnace can be run with either fuel oil (fat) or wood (carbohydrates). You can heat that home much more effectively utilizing fuel oil, and it...

What does a musher do on a sled for hours at a time? Well, 16 dogs ahead of you keeps one occupied watching all those guys working hard. You have to be always attentive to anything developing as to health issues, orthopedic or soreness problems, equipment staying together, what is up ahead on the trail, how long you have been traveling, what to do at the next stop, what you did at the last stop, when did I drink last, do I have to pee… Watching the dogs is obviously a huge deal and there are clues as to problems...

Caring for the dog - the vets of the Iditarod One part of the Iditarod Race that doesn't garner much press is the care the dogs receive during the race and what happens if they are “dropped”, or left behind at a checkpoint, by the musher. What really happens behind the scenes by these volunteer veterinarians and assistants is often unheralded. Stu Nelson is the Chief Veterinarian and has been for about 20 years now. He heads up a team of roughly 36 volunteer vets from around the world that travel to Alaska to lend their services to the race. With...

With the Iditarod around the corner, I will be putting out some articles about different aspects of training, the race, the dogs, the mushers and all the rest, up 'til I am on a sled . Here goes. What is an Alaskan Husky? The Alaskan Husky is not a pure bred breed recognized by any official organization, but is defined only by its purpose, which is that of a highly efficient dog that pulls a sled. The Alaskan Husky is a blend of various Nordic breeds that may often be crossed with other breeds for various traits that are looked upon to...

A note from a happy customer and a dog that has been kicking butt in competition: “My dog, Lucky vom Rainmaker (Deutsch – Drahthaar) was top scoring dog this year (2014) in the prestigious JGV-USA Oberlaender with a perfect score of 196. This score was the highest score in North America for all HZP Events. The HZP is a test that evaluates the advanced natural abilities of a versatile hunting dog. Most of the dogs who run a HZP are between 10 and 24 months of age. A full HZP (with 5 dogs) will usually last for an entire day. An...

Yachi Hirai and “Vega” won the USDDN World Championships in Freestyle Disc dog recently in Athens,Georgia. Second place was taken by his son, Kosuke Hirai and his dog “Jake”. Thrid place was Dr. Mona Konishi and “Laika”. Go Team Momentum! They all feed Momentum along with the great training and it shows.

America’s Favorite Veterinarian is a nationwide contest created by the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) to identify and celebrate extraordinary veterinary professionals practicing in all areas of veterinary medicine from private practice to public health, agriculture to academia. This contest honors and recognizes those entrusted to preserve and protect the health and well-being of animals and to celebrate the special relationships pet owners share with their veterinarians . “I am sincerely taken aback to have been voted America’s Favorite Veterinarian. It’s humbling to think our little community, clients and friends rallied and showed support in a way I just never expected; it’s...

It is the start of the itchy season and I am getting a lot of questions. So, here is an article that we did a few years back that might be very helpful with trying to diagnosis what is causing your dog or cat to scratch. "The Itchy Animal-How to Understand What is Going On and How to Try to Fix It. This is an article by Dr. Tim that many may find interesting and helpful. Share it with others, please. The itchy dog or cat. By far the most common issue I’ve seen over the years as a veterinarian....