Disk disease in sporting dogs
Ben J. Character, DVM, Veterinarian Special to ESPNOutdoors.comKnown as Lumbosacral Disease, Lumbosacral stenosis, or Cauda Equina Syndrome, degeneration of the last lower back joint (found just in front of the pelvis) is a common problem for sporting dogs.
Story | Conversation | July 22, 2005Allergies: Beating the summer itch
Ben J. Character, DVM, Veterinarian Special to ESPNOutdoors.comRepresentatives from all of the most popular hunting dog breeds are subject to the irritating and frustrating problem of seasonal allergies. Our discussion will reveal some of the why's and how's concerned with caring for an allergic dog.
Story | Conversation | June 29, 2005Power up: The role of glycogen replacement
Ben J. Character, DVM, Veterinarian Special to ESPNOutdoors.comImmediately after work, and for up to 20-30 minutes, muscle metabolism enters a period of rare metabolic activity. During this time if simple sugars are supplied, energy sources will race through normal metabolism, bypassing slow transport and enzyme systems, straight into the muscle cells where they are taken up and metabolized into glycogen for storage.
Story | Conversation | June 21, 2005A closer look: Exercise Induced Collapse
Ben J. Character, DVM, Veterinarian Special to ESPNOutdoors.comIn my last column, we discussed Exercise Induced Collapse. Now let's take a closer look.
Story | Conversation | May 27, 2005The scene: Exercise Induced Collapse
Ben J. Character, DVM, Veterinarian Special to ESPNOutdoors.comThere is a new problem facing retrievers — especially Labrador retrievers — called Exercise Induced Collapse. Here is the situation:
Story | Conversation | May 17, 2005Hound laryngitis: When all the baying stops
Ben J. Character, DVM, Veterinarian Special to ESPNOutdoors.comThe baying of the hounds is music to a 'coon hunter's ears. But what happens when your dog loses his voice?
Story | Conversation | November 03, 2004Dealing with lick sores
Ben J. Character, DVM, Veterinarian Special to ESPNOutdoors.comThe following is a question that might be asked about any dog breed or age. Thought not extremely common, the problem is seen with enough frequency to warrant discussion, especially because it is highly frustrating. Q: My 5-month-old yellow lab will chew all of the hair off of her [lower] forearm joint. I have talked with the vet and she said that it might be boredom. I don't see how it is since she is in a crate with all of her toys; I take her out for 15 min. every two hours and then for an hour at lunch. Do you have any suggestions on how to get her to stop chewing her hair off?
Story | Conversation | August 31, 2004Foot care: How to bandage a paw
Ben J. Character, DVM, Veterinarian Special to ESPNOutdoors.comBeing able to apply a bandage properly can facilitate healing, provide convenience, and keep the cost of care down when a pad is injured. Since it is better to show you how rather then tell how and I can't hop out of your computer, check out the how-to chart below
Story | Conversation | August 20, 2004Feeding summer's slump
Ben J. Character, DVM, Veterinarian Special to ESPNOutdoors.comAre you going out to feed your dog(s) and finding the food only half eaten? During hot weather it is not uncommon for appetites to take a down turn. To really understand why our dog's appetites slack off in the summer we need to look at how your dog eats when it is cold.
Story | Conversation | July 29, 2004Tick diseases: More than just Lyme
Ben J. Character, DVM, Veterinarian Special to ESPNOutdoors.comThe same ticks that suck your dog's blood are also vectors for many different diseases. Ticks can carry disease organisms and transmit them to others, usually without being harmed. Ticks are not as picky as other parasites, like the mosquito, and will attach and feed to just about any warm body that passes by. So just because it is a deer tick doesn't mean that it will pass up a free meal on your dog. Each geographic local will have a specific population of ticks, with the highest concentration areas overlapping in species types.
Story | Conversation | July 21, 2004A look at preventing heartworms
Ben J. Character, DVM, Veterinarian Special to ESPNOutdoors.comHeartworms are nasty parasites that are found all over the country. The bad news is that if they infect your dog they can cause irreversible heart damage that can lead to poor performance or even death. The good news is that you can prevent them from ever causing a problem. The heartworm is actually a long slender worm that is contracted from mosquitoes while still in the larval stage. If an infected mosquito bites your dog they will inject the larva into the tissues at the bite and the larva will migrate to your dog's heart.
Story | Conversation | June 30, 2004Exercise programs: On the road again
Ben J. Character, DVM, Veterinarian Special to ESPNOutdoors.comWhether you are working your way over the midseason hump or pushing on toward the finish line, proper conditioning of your dog can help them maintain their intensity during a long hard season.
Story | Conversation | June 15, 2004Taking the sting out of summer
Ben J. Character, DVM, Veterinarian Special to ESPNOutdoors.comSummer brings good times, good fun, and … not so good bugs. There are many little creatures (or "varmints" as my father-in-law would say) that can cause problems for your dog. These pests can be irritating at best and down right dangerous at worst. Sources of stings and bites that cause reactions can come from insects to toads — Let's take a look at a few.
Story | Conversation | May 27, 2004Specialists and your pup
Ben J. Character, DVM, Veterinarian Special to ESPNOutdoors.comJust like human medicine, as the volume of knowledge, advancement of equipment, and ability to perform sophisticated procedures increases veterinary medicine is becoming more and more specialized. Today you can have your dogs seen by specialists for everything from skin problems to behavioral issues. It helps to not only understand what's available but how a referral to a specialist works.
Story | Conversation | May 14, 2004Part II: What's a Pin-Hip?
Ben J. Character, DVM, Veterinarian Special to ESPNOutdoors.comLast time we talked about a new method for evaluating your dog's hips. It was called the PennHIP and can be used in Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) diagnosis and certification, or evaluation. Developed at the University of Pennsylvania by engineer and veterinarian Gail Smith, PennHIP differs from the traditional OFA certification in many ways.
Story | Conversation | April 27, 2004TOP SEARCHES IN OCTOBER
NFL Expert Picks tops ESPN.com searches in October. Did "auburn" make the list?
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