Veterinary Advice & Stories
A growing archive of advice and stories for pet owners, written from a veterinarian’s perspective in Kingston, Ontario.
Everything published here sits in one place: practical guidance on everyday care, personal stories about my own pets, and case reports that open up the inner workings of veterinary medicine. Browse by topic below, or use the category lists to jump straight to the subject you care about.
Featured articles
A few of the posts that come up most often in conversation with clients, readers, and fellow veterinary professionals.
- I’m Not Afraid of Your Pet
- Brachycephalic Dogs & Breathing Problems
- Weight Management – A Pet Owner’s Perspective
- Pets and Ibuprofen Don’t Mix
- Wrapping Up 2015
- Winter Protection & Health Safety for Your Pet
Browse by category
Every post is filed under one or more categories, so you can read the archive the way that suits you — narrow and specific, or a general sweep.
Preventative Health
Keeping pets healthy through routine care, nutrition, toxicity awareness, holiday safety, and a better understanding of behaviour.
Advice & Stories
General advice for pet owners woven through with personal stories about my own pets, including Edie the Pug.
Medical & Chronic Health
Case reports and discussion of cancer, gastrointestinal problems, geriatric care, and skin or dermatology conditions.
Nutrition
Reading pet food labels, the debate around raw diets, and weight management from both an owner’s and a veterinarian’s view.
Toxicity
The household substances that hurt pets most often — ibuprofen, xylitol, and flea treatments — and how to use them safely.
Edie the Pug
A dedicated section for Edie: her stories, her photos, and the pet care topics she has inspired.
Full category index
The complete filing system used across the archive.
| Group | Categories |
|---|---|
| General | Advice & Stories · Personal Pets |
| Preventative Health | Holiday Seasons · Nutrition · Routine Health · Toxicity |
| Medical & Chronic Health | Cancer · Gastrointestinal · Geriatric Pets · Skin / Dermatology |
| Other | Surgery · Cats · Dogs · Case Reports |
| Featured | Edie the Pug |
New here?
Dr. Ryan Llera is a veterinarian serving animals in Kingston, Ontario and the surrounding area, and a frequent guest writer for the Ontario SPCA blog. The home page is a good place to start if you want the background first.