Quite possibly one of the most fearful experiences a dog owner could have is discovering an unusual lump or bump on their dog. Although this is always worthy of further investigation, (always by a vet) it does not always mean that your dog has been struck down with cancer. In fact, in more cases than not, the discovery of a lump on the dog leads not to cancer, but will turn out to be a wart, cyst or some other unwelcome growth. This does not mean that all growths are not cancerous, but that panicking and worrying is sometimes undue, at least until further investigation is complete. Continue Reading »

What makes human hypochondriacs so odd and disturbing is that they really do believe that they are suffering from an illness in spite of all evidence to the contrary. Canine hypochondriacs are in many ways far more innocent. They have simply learned that certain actions are rewarded, and behave accordingly. Continue Reading »

Are You Feeding Your Dog Too Many Carbohydrates? There is a significant difference between humans and dogs in their need for carbohydrates and in their ability to digest them. The digestive tract of a human is longer than that of a dog, and the formation of jaws and teeth is entirely different. Continue Reading »

Dogs & Myopia (nearsightedness): Optical measurements of dogs’ eyes have found a surprising incidence of myopia in some breeds. A study of about two hundred dogs by a veterinarian named Christopher J. Murphy and his colleagues found the average canine refractive error to be pretty close to normal (within a quarter of a diopter of perfect, an amount that would not provoke any person to get glasses). Continue Reading »

Controlling Seizures Caused By Distemper:

Q) I have a four-year-old Labrador mix that contracted distemper from an old neighbor’s puppy. The initial acute period of the disease went by with little problems thanks to homeopathy, but within weeks she was having seizures on a daily basis. Continue Reading »

Vegetarian Diet For Dogs

Q) I have a six-month-old Chihuahua puppy that I would like to switch to an all-vegetarian diet. Some people say that this type of diet is not healthy for a dog but I would really like to give it a try. Is it a bad idea?

Lately there has been a lot of controversy concerning what pets should be eating, especially when it comes to dogs and cats. The recent pet food recall events have triggered a lot of awareness into the reality of pet food and what is considered healthy today.

There should be nothing wrong with an all-vegetarian diet for your puppy so long as there are additional supplementation guidelines adhered to.

While dogs can live a long and healthy life eating this way, you cannot denounce the fact that they are carnivores by genetics. Their ancestors ate meat from the time they were born, into old age, and did just fine.

Monitor your puppy’s health and growth, and be sure to add omega-3 oils and a vitamin/mineral tablet.

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The Pet Owners Premier Club Pet Advisory Panel is not a substitute for professional, hands-on pet care advice and should only be used in conjunction with advice provided by a suitably qualified pet care professional who has seen your pet. Always seek immediate professional help if you have any medical or behavioural problems with your pet. The pet experts who serve on the panel do so on an honorary basis and the advice provided by them is for guidance purposes only and should not be considered as irrefutable or conclusive although it should be helpful, accurate and informative. The Pet Owners Premier club is happy to refer members to appropriate organisations and governing bodies if you are seeking a qualified pet care professional.