The most common cause of weakness and pain associated with the spine is intervertebral disc trauma or disease. The unfortunate thing about our choice to build this site in a question and answer format is that the most common diagnoses are often not covered as extensively they should be - because there is less question [...]

There is not a lot of data on the effects of spaying dogs and cats at younger ages than the “traditional” 6 months that has actually been published, at least that I am aware of. There are reports of two or three places studying the effects of early spay and neuter at the present time [...]

This is a condition affecting Schnauzers that produces comedones, or pus filled bumps that are usually mostly on the back of affected schnauzers. This is an inherited condition that will be present throughout the dog’s life if it is the problem. There is no cure but good nursing care can make this much less of [...]

This is a condition affecting Schnauzers that produces comedones, or pus filled bumps that are usually mostly on the back of affected schnauzers. This is an inherited condition that will be present throughout the dog’s life if it is the problem. There is no cure but good nursing care can make this much less of [...]

Separation anxiety may be the most common behavioral problem in dogs. Dogs can not ask you where you are going and when you will be home. They can’t be comforted by leaving a phone number where you can be reached. If they are worriers, their only option is to worry. This can lead to behavioral [...]

Acepromazine seems to lower the seizure threshold in some animals and can apparently allow a seizure to occur that might not have without the lowering of the seizure threshold. Paradoxically, it can raise the seizure threshold associated with some anesthetic agents (most notably ketamine).
Diazepam (Valium Rx) is helpful in reducing seizure activity in most dogs [...]

Dogs definitely have a wide variation in seizure activity but it is hard to say whether seizures which might not cause recognizable clinical signs occur because it is so hard to judge the mental state of the dog. I assume that almost any type of seizure possible in a human probably occurs in dogs as [...]

It is pretty much universally agreed upon by vets that the best time to spay is BEFORE the first heat period. If a dog is spayed prior to the first heat, the odds of developing mammary cancer later in life are less than 1%. If spayed between the first and second heat periods the risk [...]