Dog health, answered.

One isolated vomit in an otherwise bright, eating, drinking dog is usually a watch-and-monitor. Get to a vet promptly if you see repeated vomiting over a few hours, blood (red or coffee-ground), inability to keep water down, a distended or hard abdomen with unproductive retching (a possible bloat/GDV emergency), lethargy, or known toxin ingestion. Document frequency, color, timing relative to food, and appetite before you go.

Breathing problems escalate fast and are treated as emergency-now: blue, grey, or pale gums, open-mouth distress, continuous labored breathing, choking, or collapse mean an emergency clinic immediately, not a wait-and-see. Brachycephalic (flat-faced) dogs and any dog in heat are higher risk. Occasional reverse sneezing (a sudden snorting episode that resolves on its own) is usually benign, but a persistent cough or honking warrants a vet workup.

Call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 or your veterinarian immediately. Have your dog's weight, what was eaten, how much, and when ready. Do not induce vomiting unless a professional tells you to — it is dangerous with some substances. Chocolate, grapes/raisins, xylitol, onions, garlic, and many medications and plants are common culprits; with grapes and xylitol there is no safe assumed amount.

Occasional scratching is normal. Persistent scratching, licking, chewing at paws, recurrent ear infections, hair loss, or hot spots point to an underlying cause — most often environmental or flea allergy, sometimes food. True food allergy is uncommon — a minority of allergic dogs, per veterinary dermatology (ACVD) — and is confirmed only by a vet-supervised 8-12 week elimination diet, not by blood or skin panels. See a vet if the skin is broken, spreading, smelly, or the itch disrupts sleep.

Head shaking, ear scratching, odor, or dark discharge usually means an ear infection (otitis), and it tends to recur. Floppy-eared and certain breeds (Basset Hound, Cocker, Labradoodle, Beagle, Golden Retriever) are far more prone. You can wipe the visible outer ear with a vet-approved cleaner, but never push a cotton swab deep, and do not clean if the ear is very painful or you suspect a ruptured eardrum. Recurrent or painful ears need a vet — untreated otitis can reach the middle ear.

A dog that is non-weight-bearing, in obvious pain, or limping after a clear injury should be seen promptly — a sudden non-weight-bearing hind-leg lameness can be a cruciate (CCL/ACL) tear. Mild, intermittent stiffness that improves with rest, especially in an older dog, is more likely arthritis and warrants a (non-urgent) vet workup rather than self-treating with supplements. Note when it started, which leg, and whether it is worse after rest or after activity.

Look for the AAFCO statement on the bag. "Complete and Balanced" tells you it meets a nutrient profile; check which life stage it is for (growth/puppy, adult maintenance, or all life stages) and whether it was substantiated by a feeding trial or by formulation. Marketing words like "premium," "holistic," or "human-grade" are not regulated nutrition claims. If your dog has a medical condition, the right diet depends on that condition, not the label alone — involve your vet or an ACVN nutritionist.

It can be. A dull, flaky coat is sometimes the first visible sign of inadequate dietary fat or essential fatty acids, or of an underlying skin or systemic issue. Check that the food is AAFCO complete for the life stage and adequate in fat; an omega-3 review is reasonable. But persistent flaking, itching, hair loss, or odor is not just cosmetic — have a vet rule out parasites, allergy, and endocrine causes before assuming it is only diet.

Yes — persistent bad breath is usually a sign of dental disease, not just "dog breath." Around 80% of dogs show dental disease by age three (AVMA), and Banfield data associates advanced periodontal disease with higher rates of kidney and heart problems. Daily brushing with a dog-specific paste is the most effective home step, but tartar below the gum line only comes off with a professional cleaning under anesthesia. Non-anesthetic "cleanings" are cosmetic and do not treat periodontal disease.