Canine Health

Pet Dogs Help Test Cancer Vaccine

By Susan Chaney 4 comments

Five-year-old Bulldog Erma is part of a trial to determine whether a cancer vaccine is safe. Nicola Mason, B.V.M., of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine is leading the trial. Photos courtesy of University of Pennsylvania.

A dozen or so dogs will be part of the first test of whether a vaccine may eventually be used to treat osteosarcoma, a cancer which ultimately kills almost all dogs treated for it. Right now, six dogs with osteosarcoma have been...

Preventives and Improved Treatment Haven’t Stopped Heartworm Spread

By Susan Chaney 4 comments

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You’d think that years of research, the availability of easy-to-administer preventives and better, safer treatment would help put a damper on the spread of heartworm disease in dogs. They haven’t. Today danger is in virtually every corner of the United States (to...

Moving Beyond Medication for Osteoarthritis

By Susan Chaney No comments

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It’s always hard to watch our dogs age – even when they’re healthy. Many dogs, however, and their owners will face the same diagnosis as they age – osteoarthritis. Sometimes we write it off to our beloved canines simply slowing down as...

Intact Dogs Most Often Die from Infection or Trauma

By Susan Chaney 9 comments

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It’s long been acknowledged – and in some cases it’s quite obvious – that sterilized dogs and bitches won’t get certain diseases. After all, if a dog has no testicles, it’s not going to get testicular cancer. But now, as many are...

With Homeopathy, ‘Like Cures Like’

By Susan Chaney 5 comments

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Homeopathy just might be the dark horse of nontraditional, or complementary, veterinary care. Its basic concept can be difficult for the uninitiated to even grasp, let alone consider as viable. But its advocates – both practitioners and beneficiaries – can’t imagine helping...