Dr. Maria Zayas DVM (Veterinarian)

It’s easy to fall into the trap of overfeeding your dog, and a majority of a general practice veterinarian’s day includes coaching owners on how to tell if their dog is eating the right amount of food. With more ready knowledge and resources available about weight loss, what do you do if you think your […]

Dogs with one ear up and one ear down are undeniably adorable, but as it turns out, this isn’t always a good thing to see. In a dog that usually has two up ears, this may be a sign of an ear hematoma that needs treatment. Sometimes harder to notice quickly in a dog with

Most dog owners have had a moment when their dog was innocently exploring the yard nose first, no problem, when suddenly they realized their dog started eating something they couldn’t see. You rush over. At first, you can’t tell what they’re eating, and then you see it. Nestled in the grass is a collection of

What is it with cardboard boxes? Cats love to sit in them, and dogs love to shred them. What makes cardboard so special? When a dog decides to eat some of the cardboard they’re chewing on, how big of a deal is that? Most of the time, if a dog eats some cardboard, it’s no

When you think of gentle giant dog breeds, St. Bernards will always make the list. These excessively floofy, loveable, family-oriented goofballs are easy to spot due to their giant size and recognizable looks, and even easier to love. When considering a giant breed like St. Bernards, it’s important to be prepared for some of their

A lot of dog owners; morning routine revolves around their dog. Many dog owners will help get this process rolling by brewing a cup of coffee in the morning. Can your canine companion participate in this routine with you? What if they take the initiative and get into a bag of coffee beans on their

One of the most common questions a veterinarian will get is, “What can I give my dog for pain?” While we have many pain medication options for dogs available via prescription, owners usually mean what over-the-counter pain medications they can find in their cabinet to give their dog in an emergency. For a long time,

New puppy owners are in for a very packed social schedule with their veterinary clinic. While most already know about staying on top of puppy shots, did you know puppies can also get intestinal worms? Eww, right? To help with this, puppies have a deworming schedule that veterinarians follow to help treat or prevent these

Contrary to your likely knee-jerk reaction, birth control pills are not actually something you usually need to be worried about your dog eating. The hormone levels of birth control pills are so incredibly low that even if a small dog eats an entire birth control pack, which is usually a one-month supply, they are unlikely

Kids and dogs are often attached at the hip; where one goes, the other follows. Since kids love to share their food with their doggy friends, this can also include handing off other items or even dropping them. For some young children, this can include fun items like Play-Doh, a soft, modeling-type material that allows

Bloodhounds are an iconic and loveable breed. You’ll find them in some of your favorite novels and movies, as the stars of advertisements, but also on the ground hunting not just for food but saving lives. Every bit of their respect and popularity is well deserved, but the breed does have a collection of health

Sometimes we joke that breaking a nail is a minor but dramatic problem for people. Have you ever seen a dog break a nail? This seemingly minor injury can leave them bleeding, limping, crying, and even refusing to eat! Even though your pet will want relief, running them to the nearest veterinary clinic may seem

Finding a lump on your dog is never fun. If the lump doesn’t seem to bother your dog, isn’t painful to the touch, and feels like other lumps your dog already has, does that need to be checked by a veterinarian? All new lumps on dogs should be screened by a veterinarian, though the good

Most Maltese owners will tell you all about how spunky and in charge their tiny pet with a not so tiny personality is. You can imagine then that waking up to seeing your Maltese (or other little white dog breed) shaking uncontrollably is an alarming development. The good news is this is a rare problem

One of the scariest moments a pet owner can experience is an unexplained change in their dog’s eyes. These fragile organs are often difficult to diagnose or treat conditions at home. Sudden changes to a dog’s eye with no known trigger can be even more distressing for owners. One such condition that is unfortunately common

What do you do if your dog goes into heat, comes out of it, was safe at home the entire time, and then pops up lactating and nesting four weeks later out of the blue? If you’re sure they couldn’t have gotten pregnant, why are they acting pregnant? Is that a bad thing? Are they