Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred. One thing I try to avoid in veterinary work is stereotyping dogs. Although breed and genetics can, and do, influence temperament, it is far from the only factor, and you cannot predict canine […]
What Is It With Chihuahuas and Burrowing? Dr. Karyn’s Experience With Ned & Fred Read More »
Nothing warms the heart quite like seeing a mother dog snuggling up with her adorable litter of puppies, but we know that this will eventually have to end. Once puppies are weaned, strong, and independent, it’s usually time for them to say goodbye to their mother and siblings and join an eagerly awaiting family. If
Do Mother Dogs Miss Their Puppies? Our Vet Explains Read More »
Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred. I don’t think there’s any doubt that, despite having many shared food interests, dogs and humans do not always see eye to eye about what should go in one’s mouth. There are dogs
Mmm, Feet… Why Do My Dogs Like Licking Me? The Attraction & Whether It’s Normal Read More »
Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred. Fred, one of two adorable Chihuahuas who light up my life on a daily basis, has some pretty strange habits. His obsession with his toy donuts, his paralysis when picked up, and his
Fred’s Reverse Sneezing: Why He Does It & Why I’m Not Worried (with Video) Read More »
Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred. As we enter that bleary-eyed confusing period between Christmas and New Year, I thought I’d take this chance to look back over the highlights of my year spent documenting the various antics and inspiration
The Best of 2025: Dr. Karyn’s 5 Favorite Posts Read More »
Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred. For many, this time of year is full of excitement and joy, but for others, it can be a time of feeling stressed and overwhelmed. And Ned is one of the latter. The comings
All I Want For Christmas Is Food: Dr. Karyn’s Dogs Enjoy Turkey & Stuffing Read More »
You may be aware that there are a few human medications that can be given to dogs, however, this should NEVER be done without first checking the safety and dosage with your vet. Dogs metabolize medications very differently to humans, which can mean that they are a lot more sensitive to some, and need higher
Benadryl Overdose In Dogs: Our Vet Discussed 5 Signs & What To Do Next Read More »
Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred. When we adopted Kodah at 11 weeks old, we were expecting a German Shepherd. That meant that we were expecting a loyal, intelligent, loving dog, who would occasionally scream the house down and
Is Kodah Depressed? Cracking the Kodah Code Read More »
Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred. Recently I was working on a Dogster article called “How Do I Know If My Dog Is Healthy?” and it made me think about the examination I perform when I’m giving a dog
How to Do a Health Check at Home: Dr. Karyn’s Tips & Checklist (with Video) Read More »
Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred. I’m probably showing my age here, but I remember if I ever came home from school, crying about what some horrible person had said to me, my mother would always tell me to
Sticks & Stones May Break Your Bones…and Seriously Injure Your Dog Read More »
Apart from hilarious video clips and adorable photos, one of the main reasons dog owners turn to the internet is to make sure their dog is okay. Of course, there is no substitute for a physical examination by a vet, but what if you are just wanting some reassurance that your dog is healthy? Every
How Do I Know If My Dog Is Healthy? Our Vet Discusses 12 Ways to Tell Read More »
When a dog gives birth, their human carer usually puts a lot of thought into getting ready for the delivery and where the puppies are going to be put when they arrive, but quite often we don’t think about what could go wrong during or after delivery. Becoming familiar with the normal, and not so
My Dog Is Bleeding After Birth: Vet-Explained Risks, Signs & Next Steps Read More »
Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Fred is the weirdest dog I’ve ever known. Husband and I often refer to him as being ‘broken’, meant only in the most affectionate way
Fred’s Security Donuts: Strange Things That Make Him Special (with Video) Read More »
Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred. Last week, I shared part one of my 10 do’s and don’ts for raising a happy, well-adjusted puppy. If you missed it, click here to catch up. Ready for the final five commandments?
Dr Karyn’s 10 Commandments For Successful Puppy Parenting (Part 2) Read More »
Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred. Bringing a new puppy into the home should be a happy and exciting time, but it’s also an important period of training and socialization. I believe that when it comes to raising puppies
Dr Karyn’s 10 Commandments For Successful Puppy Parenting (Part 1) Read More »
We’ve heard people talk about ‘sounds that only a dog can hear’, and we all know that our dogs can hear the rustling of a chip packet from a mile away, but what are the real facts about a dog’s sense of hearing? Although the superior intellect and brain capacity of humans have allowed us
5 Sounds Only Dogs Can Hear: Vet-Analyzed Canine Hearing Range Read More »
Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred. You know those annoying parents who just won’t shut up about their kids? Their profile pictures are of their kids, they’re always showing you photos and videos of their kids, and they assume
Why Ned & Fred Have Ruined Me For Other Pets Read More »
Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred. Before there was Kodah, Ned & Fred, there was Remus, the Irish Wolfhound. And what Remus lacked in brains, he made up for in sweetness and size. He was a dopey, lolloping giant
My Dog Diarrhea Story Beats Yours Read More »
When you bring your pet home from surgery, it’s normal to have worries, questions, and concerns about how to look after them while they recover. One aspect of post-operative care is keeping an eye on their stitches, so it helps to know exactly what you need to be looking out for. The following is a
How to Check & Care For Pet Stitches After Surgery: Our Vet Explains Stages of Healing Read More »
This unassuming little hair accessory, created by the late Rommy Hunt Revson,1 was an essential item in the 1980s, the subject of ridicule in the early noughties, and is back with a vengeance in the 2020s. Just as it was in the time of The Goonies, Footloose, and Ferris Bueller, you would be hard-pressed today
My Dog Ate A Scrunchie: Our Vet Discusses Potential Risks, Signs & Next Steps Read More »
Did you know that not only can dogs suffer from asthma, but they can also be prescribed asthma puffers to manage their condition? After all, it’s not every day that you’ll see a dog taking a deep pull on their inhaler at the end of a run or at the peak of allergy season. And,
Can Asthma Puffers Be Deadly for Dogs? Our Vet Explains Read More »
Don’t let the name deceive you – Happy Tail Syndrome is not a particularly happy situation. In fact, it can be extremely messy, challenging to treat, and expensive to resolve. One of the main problems in treating this is that it’s not usually a particularly painful condition, so the human is usually having to convince
Happy Tail Syndrome in Dogs: Our Vet Explains the Signs, Treatments & Prevention Read More »
Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred. Making sure an athletic and energetic dog gets enough exercise can be tricky, particularly if you’re not naturally athletic or energetic yourself…and I am not. Luckily for people like me, dog toy creators came
Balls: The Right and Wrong Way to Play Fetch Read More »
Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred. Despite being the smallest dog in our house by a considerable margin, Ned is also the greediest. If I didn’t think he would make himself ill, I would love to find out just how
Do These Genes Make Me Look Fat? Ned & Fred Weigh In Read More »
Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred. That’s right boys, size does matter. Or at least, it does in my house. If you’re not already familiar with my family of pets, may I suggest you check out some of my previous
It’s Not Fair: Why Size Really Does Matter Read More »
Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred. Until I had a dog with food allergies, I admit that I underestimated how difficult it was to watch your dog struggling to get comfortable, how challenging it was to work out that their
Kodah and the Sneaky Chicken: The Challenge of Feeding an Itchy Dog Read More »
Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred. Although most dog breeds have long been retired from the roles they were originally bred to fulfill, our modern-day companions still share many of the physical traits and temperaments that served them well in
Ned the Helpless: Dr. Karyn’s Quintessential Chihuahua (with Video) Read More »
Brave, loyal, obedient, and affectionate are words that are often associated with the German Shepherd dog (GSD). As their name suggests, these striking dogs were originally bred in the late 1800s for the purpose of herding livestock. As the demand for herding dogs reduced over the 20th Century, these highly intelligent and trainable dogs became
Common German Shepherd Health Issues to Be Aware Of (Vet Answer) Read More »
If your dogs are anything like mine, you need to keep a close eye on them at mealtimes. Throw in the excitement of a picnic or BBQ with a cocktail of food smells and the chance of a carelessly dropped sausage, and you’ve got a dog that is going to try to eat anything they
My Dog Ate a Paper Towel: Our Vet Discusses Potential Risks, Signs & FAQ Read More »
Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred. You’re probably familiar with acupuncture for humans – the therapeutic application of ‘dry’ needles (ie. without an injectable substance) into specific locations on the body to help treat myriad conditions, including pain, anxiety, insomnia,
Acupuncture for Bailey: Hello, Holistic Treatment! Read More »
Pangolia
