If you were to meet Howie with his cute bow tie and his wagging tail, you would never know that one fateful day last spring his mother thought he was on death’s doorstep. When Howie arrived at my clinic he was painful to the touch, had a high fever, had no appetite, and was very lethargic. He had no desire to walk around and we could barely touch him without him yelping in pain. After carefully examining him, my top two differentials were a back issue or Lyme disease.

The ultimate goal of pet ownership is a well-trained pet that follows commands easily, can be trusted to stay home alone, and engages with humans of all ages without incident. However, obedience to this degree isn’t instinctual for most pets. When pets are young, proper training is essential to teach basic commands to make your life easier. In addition, pets adopted from shelters sometimes come from unfortunate circumstances and must be retrained due to neglect or abuse.

While owning a dog means plenty of cuddles, playtime, and neighborhood walks, it also comes with immense responsibility. From staying up-to-date on vaccines and clipping nails to brushing teeth and grooming, they require regular care to ensure good health and happiness. Cleaning your dog’s ears is one task that falls under the not-so-fun category but should be high on your priority list to avoid infection or irritation.

Pet owners always want peace of mind knowing that their cherished pet is receiving the best care possible when sick or injured. While trust in veterinary care typically comes from a long-standing relationship throughout a pet's life, sometimes a pet requires medical attention that their regular veterinarian can't accommodate. This might be the case when traveling with your pet, in an emergency when your veterinarian's office is closed, or when your pet needs care beyond what your veterinarian can accommodate.

Dogs are often categorized as senior dogs by a combination of their breed and age, with small breeds considered "senior" at 10-11 years, medium-sized breeds at 8-10 years, and giant breeds at 5-6 years. Genetics and lifestyle are also significant factors in how fast a dog ages, with fit, healthy dogs adding years to their lives. The appearance of gray on a dog's face and muzzle is often the first reminder a dog owner will be caring for a senior dog soon.

Caring for a dog's nails is often overlooked until a scratch during playtime reminds you they're overdue for trimming. Regular nail trimming is important, as poor nail maintenance can lead to cracking, splitting, or breakage. As explained by the American Kennel Club, any of these scenarios could mean discomfort for your dog.

Sometimes, we witness our dogs acting strangely or doing something that makes us curious. Much like humans, dogs have habits, rituals, and personality traits that make them unique, and we're left to decipher what they mean in the absence of human conversation.

From wrapping their paws around your arm to tilting their head, we've compiled the top 10 most commonly asked questions about dogs and their surprising answers.

Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday have come and gone, but there’s still one more event to take place as the holiday season kicks into full gear. Today is Giving Tuesday and a time to think about how you can make the world a better place. This global day of giving takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving each year. It’s an ideal opportunity to take a step back from the holiday shopping frenzy and donate to organizations that rely on the generosity of their supporters.