Dr. Rachel Ellison DVM (Veterinarian)

If you own a dog, you’ve probably figured out that they love to consume the most unlikely of items or products. One such potential product is sunscreen, a substance applied to the skin to protect you from the sun’s rays! If your dog happens to get into your summer stash of sunscreen or lick it

If your dog is diagnosed with epilepsy, a neurological condition with abnormal electrical activity in the brain that results in recurring seizures, you may wonder what the treatment options are for your pup. While at this time, there is no cure, there are anticonvulsants, which are medications to help prevent or reduce the severity of

Lumps and bumps on (or in) a dog can be a major concern to their pet-owning parent. With about 25% of dogs developing neoplasia in their lifetime, and about 50% of dogs over 10 years old having cancer, the odds of you seeing a tumor on your dog at some point are high.1 What are

Anaphylaxis is a rare but life-threatening allergic reaction that happens quickly after exposure to the inciting cause and affects various organs of the body. This can occur not only in humans but also in some dogs. Of course, this may cause many owners to wonder if an EpiPen can be used if their dog suffers

Glucosamine is a popular nutraceutical product that is marketed to have many health benefits for dogs, especially for joint health as well as potential inflammation and pain in our arthritic four-legged friends. While it has been widely recommended and used in veterinary medicine for a couple of decades, new, emerging information is causing it to

Many dog owners are unaware of their pup’s pulse. Do you know how to check it on your dog? Has your vet asked you to monitor pulse rate? If so, do you know a healthy range value for a dog’s pulse? In this article we’ll discuss some pulse concepts; what it actually is, some key

Did you know that 15% of dogs seen at a veterinary practice have ear disease? While this can be due to various causes, ear infections are arguably at the top of the list and are extremely common. While some dogs may get a rare ear infection, others may be plagued with recurring ones. There are

Heart disease is an umbrella term for any health condition that exists within the heart and/or associated blood vessels. While there are numerous different diseases included within this, there can be some common signs, causes, and treatments among them. Because a little over 10% of all dogs seen by a veterinarian (and 60% of older

While often considered a fun and harmless keepsake craft, a salt dough ornament is actually a hazardous substance that can pose an unsuspected health threat when ingested by our canine companions. Salt above specific amounts can be dangerous to dogs, and due to the high salt content typically in these products, this can be a

As a veterinarian, seeing a dog die from heat stroke despite life-saving efforts is an absolutely devastating event for all parties involved. Because this medical condition can, in many cases be prevented, being aware of this subject could help save your dog’s life. This article will highlight the causes, signs, and potential treatment of this

Ahhh, spring! Flowers and trees are blooming, grass is growing, bees are buzzing, and allergies are in full force for many people, and in some cases, even their dogs! Yes, it’s true; man’s best friend can have allergies that can vary from season to season just like their human counterparts. But how do allergies present

While myasthenia gravis (MG) sounds like an intriguing medical condition, the root words break down to mean: severe (gravis), muscle (my-), and weakness (-asthenia). This neuromuscular disease causes severe muscle weakness by a malfunction or failure where a nerve communicates and connects with muscle. There are two broad categories of this disease, the rare congenital

Pet parents understandably may have many questions about various diseases that may be present in their dogs. One question that was asked of me as a veterinarian is, “Can pancreatitis cause seizures in a dog?” While the majority of pancreatitis cases do not cause seizures in our canine companions, a small subset of pancreatitis cases

In this article, we’ll explore whether a spayed dog can get pyometra (an infection of the uterus) after being spayed. The most common answer is that the majority of dogs that are spayed will no longer be able to get this condition, while the more nuanced answer is that while rare, a spayed dog could

If you have found out that your dog has tapeworms, you may not only be a little disgusted but also may wonder if they can spread to you! Are tapeworms in dogs contagious? On this front, there is both good and bad news. The good news is that no, you cannot directly get tapeworms from