Posts by Bill Lynch

Dangerous Winter Holiday Plants for Pets By PetMD Editorial. Reviewed by Barri J. Morrison, DVM  During the holidays, plants play a prominent role in festive decorations. However, there are some types of decorative plants that are toxic to dogs and cats. In some cases, ingesting these plants causes only mild indigestion and discomfort. In other cases, toxicity…

Dog Arthritis and Cold Weather: Helping Your Dog’s Arthritis Pain in Winter By Rhiannon Koehler, DVM Petmd.com Winter can bring a lot of joy, but for some people, it means more arthritis pain. Unfortunately, the same goes for our dogs. Learn how to help your dog’s arthritis pain in the winter to make the season a…

How to Read a Dog’s Body Language By Victoria Schade, CPDT-KA. Petmd.com Dogs express their emotions with their bodies, but we’re not always able to correctly interpret the messages they’re sending. Or worse yet, we misunderstand their intent, which can make a challenging situation even worse. Learning to read what your dog is communicating is one…

Can a Dog Be Allergic to Cats? By PetMD Editorial. Reviewed by Katie Grzyb, DVM Reviewed for accuracy on May 6, 2019, by Dr. Katie Grzyb, DVM You already know that people can be allergic to cats. Exposure to cat dander creates a host of discomforting symptoms for humans, from sneezing and itchiness to wheezing and coughing.…

How to Tell if Your Dog Has Food Allergies By Jennifer Coates, DVM Petmd.com   Food allergies in dogs can be tricky to identify. The symptoms aren’t what many pet parents expect, and there are a lot of myths out there about food allergies in dogs. True food allergies are not that common in dogs, for…

How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog? By Sandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP Petmd.com Many pet parents find themselves asking questions after adopting a new pup, including how often they should bathe their dog. The answer can be tricky since it depends on the dog and other factors. There are no hard and fast rules for…

6 Dog Sleeping Positions and What They Mean By Janelle Leeson Petmd.com If you’re a pup parent, you’ve probably noticed that dogs sleep in a variety of positions—which may or may not look very comfortable to us. “In most cases, which position they choose likely depends on their preference in the moment,” says Dr. Patrik Holmboe, head…

Can Dogs Have Asthma? By Sarah Wooten, DVM Petmd.com Can dogs have asthma? While asthma is much less common in dogs than in cats, dogs can suffer from asthma in much the same ways humans do. Dog asthma is defined as an allergic disease. Asthma attacks in dogs are caused by an allergic reaction that results…

Are Essential Oils Safe for Dogs? By Sandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP Petmd.com We think of essential oils as natural and safe, and we use them for everything from cleaning to freshening the air. But are they safe for our pets? And if we use them at home, are there varieties or options that should be…

7 Common Bug Bites on Dogs By Michelle Diener, DVM Petmd.com Dogs can be bitten and stung by a variety of insects, so it’s important to know what the different insect bites look like on a dog. Not all insect bites need to be treated, but certain symptoms require immediate medical attention. Knowing how to protect…