I didn’t grow up breeding dogs. In fact, I grew up in the “adopt-don’t-shop” rescue world—where every intact dog was a problem waiting to happen. I even teased my parents about their un-neutered dogs, joking that I was going to become a vet and sneak in at night to “steal Read more
Congratulations! You’ve just welcomed a beautiful new litter of puppies into the world. This is an exciting time for everyone involved, and it’s also a crucial time for both the mother and her newborns. It’s easy to get wrapped up in caring for the newborns, but what about Mom? In Read more
Welcoming a new litter of puppies into the world is an exciting and joyous experience! Ensuring that the mother and her puppies have a safe and comfortable environment is crucial for their health and well-being during this critical phase. Setting up a whelping area requires careful planning and attention to Read more
Every dog in the entire world came into existence in one of two ways: responsibly or irresponsibly. A responsibly-bred dog is one whose parents were healthy, both physically and genetically. Their mother was cared for throughout her pregnancy, provided shelter, protected against disease, and fed an appropriate diet. When the Read more
When a pregnant patient walks into our clinic, it isn’t enough for us to know her due date. It is also critically important for us to know how that date was determined. Canine gestation length is 63 days from the day of ovulation. However, because we can’t SEE when ovulation Read more
“What do you think he is, Doc?” The squirmy brown-and-white puppy kisses my face. Immediately after his pet parent asks me this all-too-frequent question, my brain jumps to answer it. Maybe a little beagle with some chihuahua? Although that coat could be some type of terrier…. I stop myself. The Read more
You’ve decided that it’s time to add a new canine family member. Congratulations! You understand that a puppy is forever and, accordingly, you want your puppy to be as healthy as possible for as long as possible. You know that you need to ensure that your puppy comes from a Read more
For decades, the standard approach to spay and neuter in dogs has been to have it done asap – ideally before a female’s first heat cycle or before a male has the opportunity to breed. The given reason for this approach was that it would decrease the pet’s chance of Read more
My dog is sick. Sort of. He’s old. “Slowing down.” But that’s not a disease. Let me start again. As a house call veterinarian, I am frequently asked to peacefully end a pet’s life. It’s an honor to be trusted with this responsibility. I give my patient an injection of Read more
We love to feed our pets. Food and love are so deeply intertwined in human culture that it’s no surprise we want to ensure that our pet gets the “best” food and enthusiastically enjoy every bite. The pet store shelves are lined with hundreds of options, all of which claim Read more