Archives

Vaccine Antibody Titers: Are They a Good Choice for Your Dog?

Perhaps you know a little bit about antibody titers (aka, vaccine titers, vaccine serology, and titer testing), but find the topic to be confusing. Rest assured, you are in good company. The topic is somewhat complicated, and recommendations… Read More

Updated Canine Vaccination Guidelines

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has released their 2017 Canine Vaccination Guidelines, the first update of this document since the 2011 version. A task force of veterinary experts who prepared the guidelines based their recommendations on vaccine… Read More

Were You Smarter Than A Vet Student?

Thank you for playing along with this blogger’s shenanigans! I hope you had fun with it. The first place winner was Cheryl Bryant from Mount Vernon, Iowa, the only respondent (out of more almost 100) who had a… Read More

Reasonable Expectations VII: Discussion and Open-Mindedness About Your Dog’s Vaccinations

This is the seventh part of an ongoing series describing how people are developing new expectations when it comes to veterinary care for their pets. Parts one through six can be found at www.speakingforspot.com/blog.  As invaluable as vaccinations… Read More

Vaccinations for Your Dog: A Complex Issue

During my last year of veterinary school, I recall how scary it was when a new canine virus—parvovirus—seemed to appear out of nowhere.  Highly contagious, it spread like wildfire throughout the United States, causing severe illness and often… Read More

Potential Dog Park Diseases

Many people enjoy taking their dogs to the dog park, and I’m commonly asked if, from a canine contagious disease point of view, the dog park is a safe place for dogs to be.  Here is the advice… Read More

Books

Acknowledgments Foreword Introduction Note to the Reader 1 – Medical Advocacy 101 Why Your Dog Needs a Medical Advocate Why the Advocate Needs to Be You Advocacy Starts Early 2 – Medical Decision-Making You and Your Dog Can… Read More

Socializing Your Young Pup: Healthy or Hazardous?

If you want to make yourself a little crazy, ask a bunch of dog experts if it’s a good idea to socialize your youngster before completion of his or her puppy vaccinations. Guaranteed you will hear, “Absolutely!” from… Read More

Were You Smarter Than a Vet Student About Canine Parvovirus?

Thanks to all of you who responded to the true/false “Parvovirus Quiz” I recently posted. The lucky winner of an autographed copy of Speaking for Spot is Larry Fosnick Davis from Seattle, Washington. Now, here are the answers… Read More