https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/2019-02-06-nl-kennel-cough/ https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/p/8182ac9e-1969-404a-9b02-0cc3f8741483/ Kennel cough, which is also called infectious tracheobronchitis or Bordetella, is a very common upper respiratory infection in dogs that can be triggered by several different viruses and bacteria. By far the most common culprit is the simultaneous presence of the parainfluenza virus and the bacteria called Bordetella bronchiseptica. Kennel cough is highly contagious and dogs can remain infectious for six to 14 weeks after their symptoms resolve. That's why ..read more

https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/2016-06-11-nl-pet-claw-disease/ https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/p/6d409da1-49fd-4aba-9b2e-6a0a438a7b75/   By Dr. Becker Claw and claw bed diseases are relatively uncommon, affecting just over 1 percent of dogs and 2 percent of cats. However, they can lead to considerable discomfort and, though they are usually confined to the claw area, may also be a sign of systemic disease. There are many different types of claw and claw bed diseases, ranging from an absence of claws (anonychia) to claw pain (onychalgia). Dogs and cats may also have unusually small or lar ..read more

https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/2024-06-13-are-yogurt-and-kefir-good-for-pets/ https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/p/189be9e5-8289-4a3e-a16b-19441fa64958/ One of the most popular dietary sources of probiotics is plain yogurt, and the good news is it can be a great pet treat or part of your pet's nutritionally balanced, species-appropriate homemade diet ..read more

https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/2018-05-27-nl-pets-therapeutic-fasting/ https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/p/be6a3912-5357-450e-8372-9f38eaeb2e96/ By Dr. Karen Shaw Becker The thought of skipping a meal for many people is unfathomable, and the thought of intentionally not feeding your healthy dog for a day might be considered cruelty to animals by some. But the truth is, most people and pets in North America overconsume food on a regular basis, resulting in a host of metabolic disease epidemics (obesity, cancer and diabetes, to name a few) we could all avoid by just putting down the fork o ..read more

https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/2017-04-17-nl-national-pet-id-week/ https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/p/683782b6-4443-43d1-a45a-de5b3ea0b69f/ By Dr. Becker It's National Pet ID Week, which means it's time for a quick review of your furry family member's prospects for making it back home to you in the event he or she is lost. And in case you're thinking, "I never let my pet out of my sight, so there's no way she'll ever get lost," you should know that the odds are actually quite a bit higher than "never" that at some point in your animal companion's life, you'll lose track of her. PetHub, a compa ..read more

https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/2015-09-20-nl-pet-chronic-kidney-disease/ https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/p/4ab37ce4-6890-4978-adc9-20335ccf70c4/   By Dr. Becker Your pet’s kidneys are very important organs. They regulate your dog’s or cat’s blood pressure, blood sugar, blood volume, water composition in the blood, and pH levels. The kidneys also produce a variety of hormones, including erythropoietin, that stimulates red blood production. As blood flows through your pet’s kidneys, they filter out waste products generated from the break down of food, old cells and metabolic byproducts ..read more

https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/2015-04-08-nl-laundry-detergent-poisoning/ https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/p/1729920d-2967-4ec8-974f-d48679d7a67c/ By Dr. Becker An item that doesn't often show up on lists of household products toxic to pets is laundry detergent. But it should, because most detergents and soaps contain ionic and anionic surfactants. When ingested in small amounts, these chemicals can cause GI upset in a pet, such as excessive drooling, vomiting or diarrhea. Fortunately, it's unlikely most pets would have the opportunity or desire to ingest a large amount of bottled detergent ..read more

https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/2016-02-07-nl-feline-leukemia-virus/ https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/p/a7b3deee-965c-4de5-8593-17e10f86d8e2/   By Dr. Becker The feline leukemia virus (FeLV) causes leukemia, a type of cancer, as well as other cancers, and also immunodeficiency. FeLV is a retrovirus in the same family as human HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), and also feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Retroviruses are species-specific, meaning a feline retrovirus will only infect cats, and a human retrovirus will only infect humans. Retroviruses are found throughout nature and have be ..read more

https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/2017-10-14-nl-mercury-toxins-pet-food/ https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/p/657ed617-326d-485e-bc1f-25a72d48695a/   By Dr. Becker Fish has become a very popular ingredient in commercial pet food as a source of protein. This troubles me because I don't recommend feeding a lot of fish to dogs and cats (more about that shortly). Mercury Concentrations in Some Pet Foods Are Well Above Levels Considered 'Safe' for Small Mammals Recently, scientists at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), measured the mercury in over 100 dog and cat foods on the market and publishe ..read more

https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/2015-11-12-nl-cat-appetite-loss/ https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/p/b1cf20c3-6f0c-4516-b2fc-2ce81ede81ea/   By Dr. Becker One of the first signs of illness in cats is lack of interest in food. Sometimes a kitty will suddenly stop eating; other times it's a gradual or intermittent refusal to eat. The problem is that the less a cat eats, the worse she feels, and her appetite drops off even further. This is a downward spiral you don't want your kitty to get caught in, so every effort should be made to encourage her to eat. Has Something Changed in Your Cat's ..read more