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If your older dog seems to ignore you when you call or no longer responds to squeaky toys or hand claps, she may be losing her hearing. Hearing loss, which ranges from partial hearing loss to total deafness, affects dogs of any age. Hearing loss can occur gradually or suddenly, but pet owners usually don't notice the problem until it begins to affect their dog's behavior.

Can't bear to face another day of dog breath? Don't despair. Dental disease, one of the most common and potentially harmful health problems for dogs, is also easily avoided. What causes that special smell? Bacterial buildup along the gum line gradually leads to gingivitis, or inflamed gums, and infection. If left unchecked, gingivitis will progress to periodontitis, or inflammation of the deeper tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. In severe cases, infection in the mouth can spread through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, including the heart and kidneys.

I waited a while before trying Neoplasene on my dog Sam. This powerful medicine made of alkaloids from the bloodroot plant is touted as an exciting new hope in the fight against cancer, but it’s also somewhat controversial: some veterinarians flat-out refuse to even consider it.