Calcium plays a very important role in your dog’s diet. Not only does calcium help build strong bones, it also helps heart function by supporting the contractions in the heart muscle. Calcium also supports nerve transmission, muscle building and signaling, and helps with hormone secretion. Calcium levels have the ability…
One of the most common reasons we take our dog to visit the veterinarian is for diarrhea – with or without vomiting. What causes diarrhea is also one of the most common questions asked on my Facebook page, K9Nutrition. Symptoms may include loose stools, projectile diarrhea, mucus and occasionally red…
Stones and crystals are a common problem in dogs and I am frequently asked how to treat these conditions when diagnosed during a veterinarian visit. There are a variety of stones and crystals that can affect our dogs, so my first question is ‘What type of stones or crystals is…
Most of the dogs we have during our lifetime do very well. They have no persistent health issues and have little need for veterinary care. However, once in a while, we come across that one dog that seems to require constant care and multiple visits to the veterinarian with anything…
I thought it would be good to reflect back on the past year and address some of the facts, fads and fallacies of canine nutrition and health.
I was looking for a healthy, protein-based treat for Hutch, my Toy Manchester Terrier, who can only eat chicken, white fish or dairy treats. I have tried some chicken-based snacks, including chicken jerky, but they were both expensive and very dry. I decided that I wanted to make my own…
Knowing blood value terms and their significance, when elevated or decreased, can be helpful in making treatment decisions for your dog. Dog owners are oftentimes given this information from their veterinarian, but are oftentimes uncertain or confused about what all the different levels mean. This month, we look at a…
Some people are hesitant to feed their puppies a raw diet because they are not sure how to transition a puppy to raw food. So, let’s look at a few guidelines that can help with this transition.
This month the topic is Addison’s and Cushing’s Disease, which are adrenal diseases that affect dogs. The content will not be all-encompassing, but rather will focus on diet considerations for both of the diseases with reference links containing additional information for those who would like to learn more.
I haven’t written on kidney disease in quite some time, so this month I want to address some of the common questions regarding this disease. Question: What is kidney disease (also known as renal disease)? Kidney disease is when the kidneys lose their ability to function at 100%. Most often,…
