Dr. Patrick Mahaney is a veterinarian and certified pet acupuncturist who provides holistic treatment for canine cancer patients. He has shared shares his expertise via AOL’s Paw Nation, PetMD’s The Daily Vet, Pet360’s PetLebrity News, Pet World Insider, and Victoria Stilwell’s Positively.com, among others.  He co-hosts Holistic Vets on the Radio Pet Lady Network. We asked him […]

QUESTION: I have 2 male poodles, a toy and a miniature, the toy uses the pad sometimes, I can't let him out at night because of critters. The Min. Has started marking all the furniture how do I stop him? AKC ANSWER: Marking is not relieving oneself – it is leaving small amounts of urine […]

In January of this year, veterinarians in Chicago began seeing cases of Canine Infectious Disease (CIRD). A highly contagious strain of dog flu, it causes a persistent and lingering cough, poor appetite, fever, and lethargy. It can develop into pneumonia and be fatal in dogs with compromised immune systems. This newer strain is believed to […]

New dog owners should take the time to learn the signs of potential health problems that might develop as a puppy matures into an adult dog. Here are some of the conditions to watch for: Allergies In dogs, allergies often show up as skin conditions, itchy ears, head-shaking, scratching, or bald or raw spots, though […]

Chagas … is it a new type of margarita? Is it a Latin dance, or a deadly disease?Unfortunately, it’s the latter. First discovered in Brazil in 1908 by Dr. Carlos Chagas, the disease called chagas is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, or T. cruzi. Its vector is the triatomine bug, and the parasite is […]

Food allergies can appear at any age, but most dogs eat an offending food for two years before symptoms appear. Here are the most common signs of allergy.

A case of the H3N2 canine influenza has affected a dog in the Macomb County area of Michigan according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. More than 1,000 dogs in the Midwest have caught the canine flu virus since it first broke. This case in Macomb County and two additional cases in […]

Ask AKC   Dear AKC: I have a 14-month old pug who eats earthworms every chance he gets. He eats the same amount dry dog food as his brother but eats the earthworms as snacks during his outside time. His brother does not eat earthworms. I'm sure hunger isn't the issue. Is he missing something in […]

The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) and our corporate alliance, Zoetis, are pleased to announce the launch of a podcast series devoted to canine reproduction education for pet owners, breeders, and veterinarians. The first podcast in the series features Dr. Matthew Krecic, a Diagnostics specialist for Zoetis, and focuses on Brucellosis, an important topic for […]

The first step in screening a bitch is to perform a vaginal examination, inserting a gloved finger or using a scope to assess the vaginal lining. The most common vaginal abnormality is a persistent hymen-- a membrane found part-way in the vagina. The hymen normally ruptures as a bitch matures, but sometimes it doesn’t. If […]