When someone adopts a dog there are generally questions about the dog’s history.  Where did they come from? What life experiences have they had? How did they end up here? Rescue groups will do the...

On a scale of 1-10, how excited does your dog get when it comes to feeding time? 11? That sounds about right. You pull the lid off of the food container to the wafting smell of Salmon and brown...

Choosing a method of dog training is extremely important.  If you chose a method compatible with your worldview you are more likely to follow through and put in a lot of enjoyable hours training your...

There are many different training options available to you as a dog owner. The three most popular are Group Classes, Private In-Home training and the last is boarding your dog and having them...

For many people finding the right vet involves pulling up Google Maps and choosing the vet’s office that is the closest to their home. While 20 years ago proximity might have been the most important factor,...

You’ve just gotten your new pup and are excited to start your lives together! Now for the first and maybe most important task; naming them. This should be a fun activity shared by the family, but...

I will save you the suspense.  We are 100% in favor of kenneling all puppies when they are unattended.  A puppy generally does not have enough impulse control to resist chewing things they shouldn’t...

If you have been reading these training articles, you have assuredly seen a theme of exercising with your pup. After all, nothing says ‘responsible dog owner’ as much as going for the obligatory...

Do you love your job?  I hope you do!  Unfortunately, studies have shown that a majority of people do not find their job to be rewarding.  This is a troubling fact when you think about the amount of time...

For any true dog lover, spending a day surrounded by dogs can leave them with a feeling of immense fulfillment. As a company, Suburban K9 has dedicated a large amount of time to working with dogs...

Today is the day! It’s the day you and your family have been waiting for! You finally get to bring your new puppy home!  Puppies are oh so cute, and oh so little! They trip and fall over their feet...

Hide and seek is a great game to play with your dog.  Not only is it fun for both of you, but it is great exercise and gives your pup a lot of mental stimulation!  Hide and seek requires your dog to...

Bringing home a puppy is an incredible and exciting event!  My goal is to help you choose the right dog for you. Believe it or not, there are a lot of potential pitfalls when choosing a dog.  As a...

Thank you for clicking the link in People.com to learn more about this and other dog and pet behavioral topics!  We want to note that we do not know all the facts of the unfortunate situation relayed by...

When looking to buy or adopt a dog it is very important to research the breed and evaluate the specific dog that you are looking at. Many times people become focused on a breed because they like the...

Anyone out there that has baked bread has heard of proofing your dough. It is the final step of allowing the shaped dough to rise before baking. Proofing is also a term that is used in dog training...

As the proud owner of a new puppy you are probably dealing with two very common “issues” that are typical of young dogs. The first issue that I hear questions on the most would be potty training,...

Socializing a puppy is one of the most important things you can do for them starting at an early age. You might be asking yourself, what is socialization and why is it so important? Socializing is...

Socializing a dog should be a fun and positive experience for both of you. Although the term gets used frequently, many people don’t fully understand what it means. Socializing a dog is just...

When you bring a puppy home the first thought on your mind is probably having fun!  Afterall, the reason we get dogs is that we love them so much and they bring untold joy to our lives.  Our goal as...

When I was an up and coming dog trainer, the psychology of training animals absolutely fascinated me. We are two different species yet we need to communicate on a daily basis! How do we get there if we...

As a dog trainer that specializes in behavioral issues I hear a variant of this phrase from someone new every day. “I don’t understand why my dog does this, I’ve done obedience training with him,...

Our opinion is that tug of war can be good or bad depending on how you play.  If you play in the wrong manner it can create behavioral issues in your dog, but played in the right way it can help you...

You love your dog and would probably do anything to keep him safe!  In order to give your dog the best life possible, it is crucial to find a way to keep him contained in your yard and out of...

Dear Dr. Eisenberg, Each spring my dog gets a severe rash on one of his front paws. He licks it and irritates it to the point that he has difficulty walking. Itching for an answer Dear Itching for an...

Dear Dr. Eisenberg: My dog has skin allergies and now has been seizuring every few days. My veterinarian is not sure if there is any relationship between the two problems, but I think there might be...

Dear Dr. Eisenberg, I have two cats and 1 dog in my home. Recently, I met someone who told me that she doesn't believe in taking her cats to the veterinarian for yearly check-ups and vaccinations....

Cannabis sativa is a species of plant that contains over 113 compounds, including THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and cannabidiol or (CBD). THC is the compound that is responsible for the “high” feeling...

What is Cushing’s Disease? Cushing’s disease otherwise known as hyperadrenocorticism is characterized by several common clinical symptoms. These signs include increased urination and thirst,...

Dear Dr. Eisenberg: I have a 14-year-old Chihuahua mix that has been recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. I was given many choices by my veterinarian about treatment options and more tests...

Do dogs get esophagitis; sometimes known as: “GERDS” (gastro-esophageal-reflux disorder)? Esophagitis is more common than most veterinarians and pet owners might think. Most cases of esophageal...

My dog awoke with a droopy upper lip, what could it be? Dogs get a relatively common condition that is quite similar to Bell’s palsy in humans, called facial nerve paralysis. The facial nerve is an...

Late August through November is the most prevalent time of the year for fleas in our area. Fleas are shiny and dark brown, quite small, and wingless. Fleas can be tough customers and induce intense...

Is there a link between grain free diets and heart disease in dogs? With-in the veterinary community there is a growing concern: that particularly boutique grain free diets may be causing a specific form...

Ask the Vet With Dr. Main Having just traveled to Africa, I thought it would be interesting to look outside Dupage County and learn about health issues in dogs in Africa. A story I heard while I was...

It is not uncommon for a veterinarian to discover a heart murmur in an otherwise healthy 8 year or older canine patient. The news of the murmur for the pet owner often comes as a surprise, and leads to...

Although heartworm infection is predominantly present in the southeastern United States, relocation of animals after natural disasters and through rescue efforts in recent years has driven a major...

Dear Dr. Eisenberg, Recently my grandmother went to a nursing care facility because of health problems, and I've taken her cat into my home. Witnessing my grandmother's tearful parting with her...

Dear Dr. Main, My dog has seemed itchy lately and is licking his feet a lot. What should I do? Itching for an Answer Dear Itching for an Answer: There are a number of conditions that can lead to...

Lyme is a tick borne disease caused by infection with the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. This bacteria has a spiral shape or cork-screw shape, and is known as a spirochete. The disease is primarily...

What happens when my dog develops a mass? Cancer is a major cause of disease in veterinary patients, and surgical removal of tumors is one of the most common procedures performed by veterinarians. In human...

Minimally invasive surgery accomplishes the goals of traditional surgery by the use of sophisticated equipment designed to work through very small ports. The advantage is greater comfort for the...

The growth of pet health insurance businesses and large hospital groups has led to the availability of larger data sets about cat diseases. Through scientific advancements this data can be analyzed...

Should I be worried if my pet's eye has redness?  Redness of the eye can have many causes, and is not always a cause for alarm especially if the redness is transient. For example transient redness...

Dear Dr. Eisenberg: I recently visited West Suburban Humane Society and fell in love with several older pets. I seem to be drawn to their sad eyes staring at me. What is your opinion about a new pet...

Dr. Eisenberg, I recently adopted a dog that has had all his vaccinations except the rabies vaccine. I was told he would need this vaccine and that it had to be given by my vet. What is rabies? Does my...

Late summer and early fall can be a difficult time of the year for many pets especially canines. Both humans and dogs suffer from allergies this time of year, known as seasonal allergies. (Atopy) ...

In life, cats are independent and tend not follow anyone’s rules. The same is true with skin disease in cats; it does not follow the rules. In our dog patients, different types of skin disease fall...

The decision to spay or neuter companion animals has been a subject of much debate for decades. When looking at population control alone, the answer seems simple. Humane society organizations...

Should pets have their teeth cleaned without anesthesia? Most pets at some time in their life will develop plaque deposition on their teeth and associated gingivitis. Many pets will further develop...

Dear Dr. Eisenberg: Our family recently inherited my mother's six-year-old poodle that has never been spayed. She is just finishing up being "in heat" and I started calling area clinics to get an...

My cat has a thyroid problem what can be done?  Hyperthyroidism is a common problem in older cats. Hyperthyroidism is defined as an excess production of thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland. This is...

When we hear the word “cancer”, we all have someone who we think of. It is very difficult to find someone who has not been affected by this disease in anyway, as we can all think of special people...

Urinary incontinence is a common problem in dogs and can be frustrating for owners and for veterinarians trying to treat the condition. Urinary incontinence is defined as the loss of voluntary...

The growth of pet health insurance businesses and large hospital groups has led to the availability of larger data sets about cat diseases. Through scientific advancements this data can be analyzed...

Often pet owners inquire as to whether their pets see in black and white or color. Cone photoreceptors are responsible for color vision in all species. The richness of color and the number of shades are...

The name parainfluenza may sound familiar because it is part of your dog’s regular distemper and parvo vaccine. This virus is also part of what is called (canine infectious respiratory disease...

Many dogs, especially small breed dogs, as they age will develop degenerative changes to their mitral valve. The mitral valve is composed of three leaflets which open and close to control the blood...

What does the phrase “white feet do not treat” mean? Certain breeds, including dogs with white feet are at risk for being unable to process a number of drugs. Why does this happen? The answer is...

There are multiple causes of bloody urine that include; trauma, infections, bladder stones, cancer of the bladder or kidney, and in cats stress. Bladder stones and infections of the bladder are by...