Welcome to the award winning Vet Buzz, DogTrekker.com’s pet health blog with the latest in veterinary medicine, valuable tips and seasonal guidelines to keep your dog safe and healthy at home and on the road. Whether it is caring for an elderly dog, holistic approaches to health care, toxic algae blooms or tick and rattlesnake warnings, our Vet Buzz contributors have you covered.

Don’t forget to winterize your pup

woman putting booties on dog's paw in snow

Winterization is not just about packing some de-icer, a scraper and filling up with below-zero windshield-wiper fluid before heading into the mountains in winter. Read more.

Finding a vet on the road

Husky dog lying on vet table with doctor

By Dr. Shannon Leggieri, DVM, MS of Claremont Veterinary Hospital, Oakland. With the holidays approaching, more and more people plan to hit the road with their canine compani Read more.

Diets for Diabetic Dogs

Written by Lori Wells-Bauer Pet Nutrition Counselor Mountain View Animal Hospital and Holistic Pet Care Reno, Nevada Diabetes Mellitus in dogs can occur at any age. However, Read more.

How to Remove A Tick

By Chris Pitts, RVT, Broadway Animal Hospital Ticks are gross. They carry diseases, and they are literal blood-sucking parasites. Their entire life is dedicated to waiting until a Read more.

The pros and cons of sleeping with your dog

Photo by Lark Coryell.

There are many myths about letting your dog share your bed, as well as possible concerns and benefits. Read more.

Good and bad of dog kisses

Photo by Tony Alter (cc).

By Chris Pitts, RVT, Broadway Animal Hospital Think your dog may be a good candidate for the Valentine's Day kissing booth? Let's take a quick look at what Read more.

Winter Woes and Wags

By Aaron Teixeira, MSc Shelter Behavior Manager, SF SPCA With winter now in full effect, cold rain, snow and ice can complicate our dogs’ exercise routines. R Read more.

Paring Down Your Portly Pup

By Chris Pitts, RVT at Broadway Animal Hospital Feeling like your dog might be a little plump? If you can't see a waistline on your dog. If you cannot feel his ribs Read more.

Why Does My Dog Eat Grass?

If you’ve ever owned a dog, you’ve probably seen him eat grass and wondered why. The old myth that “dogs eat grass to relieve an upset stomach” doesn’t quite appear to be Read more.

Shedding Concerns

By Dr. Sophie Liu, SF SPCA Resident in Behavior Medicine Aside from being the largest organ, skin also plays a critical role in health and, equally, is reflective of you Read more.

Choosing a Final Good-Bye Away from the Vet’s Office

By Dr. Jeannine Berger, SF SPCA Veterinarian & Behavior Specialist After giving us a lifetime of unconditional love, devotion, and loyalty, dogs carry only one fault. And that Read more.

Vet Buzz: Keeping Your Dog Cool On Hot Summer Days

By Dr. Chris Pitts, RVT, of Broadway Animal Hospital Dogs love summer fun just as much as we do. But being trapped in those fur coats without the ability to sweat can pr Read more.

Vet Buzz: Healing, Health and Happiness for Your Dog

By Dr. Shannon Leggieri, Claremont Veterinary Hospital Advances in veterinary care continue to help us take care better of our four-legged kids. More research has lead to a wider Read more.

Vet Buzz: Keeping the Golden Years Golden

By Dr. Chris Pitts, RVT, of Broadway Animal Hospital Everyone wants to grow old gracefully, including your dog. Your dog ages in much the same way as a human does, only Read more.

How We Know Dogs Can Feel Our Emotional Stress

By Dr. Sophie Liu, SF SPCA Resident in Behavior Medicine It’s hard not to feel stressed in today’s environment. So, of course, it makes sense to turn to Read more.

Vet Buzz: Fireworks anxiety

Your dog's sense of hearing is one of his best strengths, but when it comes to those glorious loud kabooms on the fourth of July, his hearing is his greatest foe. To him, those exp Read more.

Vet Buzz: Foxtail

By Sophie Liu, DVM “Foxtails” are the colloquial term for the seed-dispersal unit of a common weed, often called “grass awns” in other parts of the co Read more.

Vet Buzz: Pyometra

By Dr. Shannon Leggieri, DVM, MS of Claremont Veterinary Hospital, Oakland. Pyometra refers to an infection of the uterus. It is a very serious and life threat Read more.

Finding the Right Vet

By Dr. Shannon Leggieri, DVM, MS of Claremont Veterinary Hospital, Oakland. Finding the right veterinarian can be a stressful process. It is important that both you and your Read more.