DOG HEALTH AND MEDICINE

When removing a malignant tumor, a surgeon can't see a single cancer cell left behind with the naked eye — or even 10,000 cancer cells. That's a microscopic amount, which is why excised tumors currently get sent to pathologists. They can look at a few small sections of an excised tumor under the microscope and get an idea of whether the cancer was removed in its entirety. But what if a way were developed that allowed cancer surgeons to see right in the operating room, before the patient was closed back up, whether any cancer cells remained?

Your Dog editor-in-chief John Berg, DVM, is involved in cutting-edge research that will allow surgeons to do just that. In an investigation he conducted with fellow scientists at…

We once had a client who thought he was causing his dog to urinate in the house because she was picking up on his anxiety and depression. The man had lost his job and thought maybe his best girl was responding to his mood and therefore not even bothering to wait to pee until she got outside.

Frostbite in dogs most commonly occurs as a result of prolonged exposure to subzero temperatures. It usually affects extremities of the dogs body such as the tips of the ears, tail, feet and toes. Those areas, while highly exposed to the elements, lack insulating muscle and fat. The worst cases of frostbite can cause dogs considerable pain and put them at risk for infection. Frostbite should be avoided at all costs; however, accidents do happen, says John Anastasio, DVM, a resident in emergency and critical care at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. It is most likely to happen in extreme cold, but is fairly unlikely on the typical winter day. Beware of it if a newsworthy cold snap is anticipated.

[From Tufts May 2012 Issue]

To many people, the smell of baking bread evokes recollections of home cooking. But if your dogs ears emit a similar odor, its cause for concern: You need to put in a call to his veterinarian. Its a sign that he may have a yeast infection - a condition that, if left untreated, can lead to significant discomfort, complications and even partial deafness on those rare occasions when a persistent infection results in rupture of the eardrum.

Ear infections are the No. 1 reason for veterinary visits in one pet insurance companys review of nearly a half million claims. A particular kind - yeast infections - is extremely common in dogs, but the term is actually imprecise, according to dermatologist Lowell Ackerman, DVM, adjunct professor of clinical medicine at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.

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[From Tufts June 2012 Issue]

My 4-year-old shih tzu, Piccolo, gets tear stains frequently. When he develops conjunctivitis a few times a year because of his unspecified allergies, the stains drip onto the hair underneath his eyelid. His black hair then becomes matted and turns an unsightly pink. He scratches the stained areas while I'm not around to catch him in the act until he reaches the skin, which becomes tender. I can live with his appearance but not the itchy eyes and irritated skin.

The Internet has all kinds of "remedies" from vinegar to Tums. I've also read that a popular over-the-counter product is verboten because it contains the antibiotic Tylosin. I don't want to practice medicine on my little guy. Piccolo's veterinarian said to clean the stains with hydrogen peroxide, which works well, except while…

Like detectives piecing together clues, veterinarians conduct blood tests when they suspect a health problem. Equally important, the tests can uncover diseases even when signs arent evident. A complete blood count and basic blood chemistry panel are especially important for middle-age and older dogs - beginning at about 5 to 8 years old.

We adopted an adorable 6-month-old puppy a couple of months ago, and from the day we got her, she has been dribbling urine. After lying down and relaxing or snoozing, she leaves wet spots wherever she has been - on her own dog bed, on the couch, on rugs, everywhere. It is not a small amount. Sometimes the stain covers an area wider than a sheet of paper, and if we pick her up supporting her bottom, our hands get wet. Our veterinarian said we should put her on a medication called Proin, which would give more tone to the sphincter.

It was so out of the blue, recalls Mary Bridwell of Morro Bay, California, while describing her 13-year-old golden retriever Ingas sudden and frightening loss of balance last March. A repetitive thumping sound startled Mrs. Bridwell from sleep at 2 a.m. When she left her bedroom to investigate, she found Inga trying to stand up but slamming into the wall and obviously distressed. Mrs. Bridwell was further alarmed by a new tilt to Ingas head…

It is all to the good that Ms. Smyth regularly administers anti-tick preventatives to Shorty. That is critical, as even though it is clear he has been infected (perhaps before he came into her care), he could become reinfected if bitten by a tick a second time, and theres no guarantee that the second tick bite wont cause actual illness. Antibodies in the blood do not confer automatic immunity.

There is a lot of confusion about which is the best flea and tick medicine to give a dog. A collar that emits the active ingredients slowly? A liquid-like spot-on that you apply monthly between the shoulder blades? Or a pill? And among those three choices, what are the best brands? Furthermore, should you buy your brand from the veterinarian, or is it okay to pick up at the supermarket? Then, too, are dogs…

With an outbreak of canine influenza, or flu, making headlines and broadcast on the nightly news in 2015, people are still worried that their own dog could fall victim. Its understandable. The virus made more than 1,000 dogs sick, traveled from Chicago all the way to Massachusetts, and killed at least five pets in the Midwest - not just in Illinois but also Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana. What was going on?

Poop-Eating Puppies Q I am a new subscriber and would appreciate receiving any information you have concerning dogs who eat other dogs poop. Our 8-month old doxie puppies continue this nasty habit despite numerous methods we have tried to stop them. Emily Marek Anthem, Arizona Dear Ms. Marek, AFirst, know that you are not alone in finding this behavior objectionable. But also be aware that the objection is species-specific. While humans find the habit, er, distasteful, young dogs often quite…