Care

Toenail trims… This phrase strikes fear (and frustration) into the hearts of countless dog and cat owners across the globe. In this episode of Ask Dr. Andy, I’ll give you my 2 best tips for working with pets that hate having their nails trimmed.

 

 

And there you have it… If you want to go deeper into nail trim training, check out these great articles from my friend Mikkel Becker on how to trip cat nails without stress and how to trim dog nails without stress. You may notice a common theme here… an absence of stress. After all, being fear free is the goal!

 

 

At this point, we all know pet dental health is extremely important for extending the life of your pet as long as possible. It’s also no secret that anesthesia makes some people nervous.

So, are dental cleanings without anesthesia a good idea? Watch this episode of Ask Dr. Andy to find out!

 

 

(If you would like to see the resource referred to from the American Veterinary Dental College, you can read it here.)

You might recognize propylene glycol as an ingredient in some kinds of antifreeze… or as an ingredient in your dog’s food. What?? Yup. It’s often in there.

 

 

So WHY is it there, and how concerned should we all be about our dogs eating it? Here’s my answer –

 

 

Finally, if you got to this page because you saw a post on Facebook about how Canine Carry Out dog treats (or other dog treats) have propylene glycol and thus are poisonous to pets, you can check out this debunking article at Snopes.com.

When your dog gets an upset stomach, it’s natural to want to help him. That’s why I get so many questions about over-the-counter medications like Pepto Bismol. Here’s what you need to know about your pooch and the pink chalky liquid that soothes and coats human stomachs.

 

 

So there you have it. If your dog is throwing up, definitely check out this funny Supervet video on how to solve the problem. For a general overview of upset stomach and how to treat it, take a look at this short article about Gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhea) in dogs and cats.

 

 

Finally, if you’re just a fan of Pepto and their “Nausea, Heartburn, Indigestion, Upset Stomach, Diarrhea” theme song, I’ve got that for you as well.
 

I can’t take a pass on this one. Today, I’m cutting through all the smoke to answer a burning question: “Can marijuana help pets in pain?” Here’s my answer:

 

 

I know a lot of people want to get as much information as they can on this topic. Below, I’ve weeded out a lot of misinformation to give you two of the best articles I’ve seen on the topic. (Okay, no more marijuana puns).

 

If you’d like to know more about the potential benefits of medical marijuana (and also about marijuana products being sold for pets) take a look at this excellent post from The SkeptVet.

 

And if you’re curious about the risks for pets associated with marijuana, or how marijuana is sending pets to the emergency clinic in increasing numbers, have a look at Dr. Patty Khuly’s new blog post, Does The Legalization of Marijuana Unduly Threaten Pets?

 

I hope this video and these related posts will get you what you need to feel educated, informed, and empowered to take the best care of your pet possible. Also, if you have a question you’d like me to answer, just head over to the Cone of Shame YouTube channel and ask it in the comment section of any of the videos.

 

Finally, don’t forget that I’m happy to email you future episodes of Cone of Shame as they come out. Just sign up here.

 

– Dr. Andy Roark