Common Dog Health Problems

As the days become sweltering and humid, some call this time of year “the dog days of summer.” But as a veterinarian, I call it lar par season. The temperature escalates, and so do the cases of laryngeal paralysis presenting to veterinarians, often as life-threatening emergencies.

I firmly believe that we can all learn from each other, so I’ve captured the “best of” questions, comments, and personal stories from dog owners whose lives have been touched by lar par. Additionally, I’ve compiled my own answers to commonly asked questions about canine laryngeal paralysis.

If your dog suffers from this condition, I’d like to offer hope and inspiration by sharing this quote I received from one reader: “There is life with lar par and we are living it.”

Is your dog losing weight but eating a normal (or increased) amount? If you aren’t trying to get him or her to shed some pounds, this could be a sign of a medical condition. To help prepare you for your dog’s visit to the vet, integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby discusses the 10 most common causes of weight loss in dogs.

When there is a tumor on a dog’s paw, it may be malignant, benign, or not actually a tumor at all. So how do you tell the difference? Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby answers that question, and discusses three categories of lumps on a dog’s paw, so that dog parents will know what to do if they find a tumor on their dog’s paw.

If your dog keeps licking his or her lips, you may be a bit puzzled or concerned. Is your dog just savoring the remnants of dinner? Or could this signal a bigger problem? That’s the question integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby aims to answer. She discusses 10 reasons your dog may keep licking his or her lips and explains how to know when lip licking warrants a vet visit.

Unfortunately, nasal tumors in dogs can cause significant destruction to the nasal cavity and carry a poor prognosis. To empower and comfort dog parents who are walking through this diagnosis with their beloved senior dog, integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby explains the types, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for nasal tumors in dogs. Plus she discusses how to know when it is time to euthanize your dog with a nasal tumor.