Psoriasis treatment in dogs is necessary since it prevents further complications of the disease. Left untreated, psoriasis will cause severe itchiness and open skin to infections. Therefore, whenever you spot any type of abnormal appearance of your dog’s skin, it is best to address your veterinarian and have your pet diagnosed and treated.

Symptoms of Dog Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin condition which develops in dogs with a weakened immune system. It is caused by the accelerated dividing process of the T-cells (an immune system produced cell). When T-cells divide within days, not months as they normally do, they form scales on … read more

Luxating patella grading

Question: Dr. Richards,

Luxating patellas of 2.5 or 2.0, just what are the significance of these numbers? What do they mean and can these numbers increase?

Tony A.

Answer: Tony-

Luxating patellas are graded on a scale of 1 to 4 (some sources use 1 to 5).

Grade 1 are patella luxations that are found on physical exam by looking for them when the dog shows little to no clinical signs — the patella can be luxated manually but doesn’t do this much on its own.

Grade 2 luxations occur when there is occasional spontaneous lameness but the patella returns to normal positioning easily … read more

The flea treatment for dogs may be made up of various topical solutions, sprays or drugs that will aim at killing the parasites and eliminate the eggs that are left behind. In dogs with sensitive skin, the treatment may be more difficult, as the dog may not tolerate some of the commercial topical treatments.

Products to Avoid

There are numerous powders, dips, sprays and shampoos that may be used as flea repellents in dogs that are affected by this parasite.

However, most of these products contain chemicals and some of these chemicals may cause allergic reactions in more sensitive dogs. If you know … read more

A pet treatment may involve treating the pet, but also treating his environment, especially if he is affected by allergies, infections or parasites. Treating the carpets should focus on a number of aspects such as removing the parasites, dander or infectious agents, removing stains and removing the odors.

Remove Dander and Infectious Agents

Pets may carry a number of infectious agents that may be a threat for other pets in the house or may also be zoonotic (i.e. the ringworm fungal infection), which means that these can be transmitted to humans as well. Consequently, the most important thing to consider when cleaning … read more

There are several glaucoma treatment options for dogs. The key to finding the most successful treatment options depends on the type of glaucoma the dog has. Glaucoma in dogs which is detected in its early stages can potentially help to prevent irreversible blindness, so it is important that dog owners both understand glaucoma and the treatment options that are available.

Glaucoma in Dogs Defined

The eye is a unique organ which requires an appropriate amount of pressure to function properly. In dogs, there is a clear liquid within the eyeball … read more

Dog diarrhea treatment options are similar as those you may use for your family. They are easy to find and easy to administer. Dog diarrhea can be a horrible experience for both you and your dog. While, treatment is key, also make sure you note any other symptoms your dog may be exhibiting and try to keep your dog hydrated until they’re over the virus or can be diagnosed with what’s causing the diarrhea.

Water Therapy

Before any other treatment is used, you need to start water therapy immediately and see if that helps. You can also use this time to watch … read more

Inflammatory bowel disease treatment is dependent upon your pet’s specific condition. Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is actually a collection of different related diseases. These conditions all have in common the fact that the gastrointestinal tract is invaded by inflammatory agents like white blood cells. However, the potential causes and results of this invasion are different in unique cases. While there are a number of treatments that are regularly suggested for inflammatory bowel disease in canine patients, it may take you and your veterinarian some experimenting in order to find the treatment that will work best for your dog.

Modifying the … read more

Gingivitis treatment involves a through professional cleaning, but there are some home remedies that may be applied as well. Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums and can be reversed, but if left untreated, it can evolve into advanced periodontal disease, which will eventually lead to loss of teeth.

Gingivitis in Dogs

Gingivitis is the initial stage of periodontal disease and involves the inflammation of the gum tissues. This is due to the accumulation of bacteria, which is facilitated by the plaque and tartar deposits. Plaque appears in the dog’s mouth after meals and will form a thin film on the dog’s … read more

The best bone cancer treatment options depends on whether the bone cancer is primary or secondary. The latter starts in other organs and, at some point, it extends to the bones through metastasis. In order to treat bone cancer in this situation it is necessary to treat the tumor that metastasized. Primary bone cancer in dogs, which is also known as canine osteosarcoma, starts in the bones.

Characteristics of Bone Cancer

Every bone of the dog can be affected by osteosarcoma, but the limbs are affected more frequently. In fact, in between 75 and 85 percent of the cases the tumor starts … read more

Lymphoma in dogs is a type of cancer that affects the lymphocytes. The treatment of lymphoma is most commonly made up of medication treatment, since surgery and radiation therapy are not efficient. Chemo drugs and prednisone are often prescribed to dogs with lymphoma and may add a few months to the dog’s life.

Dog Lymphoma Treatment Options

Since lymphoma is a systemic disease affecting the lymphocytes, the typical first choice treatment—surgery—is not a practical option. If performed, surgery will not change the condition of the pet and the cancerous … read more