In Your Experience As A Veterinarian, What Dog Breeds Do You Recommend Avoiding?

Thinking about bringing home a Frenchie, Bulldog, Cavalier, or a high-drive working breed? We unpack the medical realities behind the cutest faces and flashiest trends, sharing straight talk from the ER floor about breathing issues, heart disease, training demands, and the true costs of care. Our goal is not to scare you off a breed you love—it’s to arm you with the knowledge to keep that dog comfortable, safe, and thriving.

We start with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, the cluster of problems that make short-nosed dogs struggle for air: stenotic nares, elongated soft palates, everted laryngeal saccules, and narrow tracheas. You’ll hear why each breath can become a fight, how that stress burdens the heart and lungs, and which surgical fixes meaningfully improve quality of life. We also touch on vertebral anomalies and why many bulldogs can’t reproduce naturally—details that explain the long-term planning and budgeting responsible owners should consider.

Then we shift to Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, sweet to the core yet prone to early degenerative valve disease. We discuss realistic expectations, medical management, and why some seasoned owners accept shorter lifespans for an exceptional temperament. From there, we look at breed selection pitfalls—choosing by looks, underestimating the time and training needs of Belgian Malinois or Cane Corsi, and overpaying at pet stores that don’t ensure healthy sourcing. Finally, we highlight the practical upsides of mixed-breed dogs and hybrid vigor, along with a reminder that regular exams and prevention beat crisis care every time.

If you’re set on a specific breed, we’ll help you do it right: talk to your veterinarian first, plan for early screening or surgery when appropriate, and match energy levels to your daily life. If you want fewer surprises, consider rescues or adult dogs whose health and temperament are clear from day one. Subscribe for more candid, compassionate guidance on pet health, share this episode with a friend who’s dog shopping, and leave a review to tell us which breed questions you want answered next.

To learn more about Frisco Emergency Pet Care visit:
https://www.FriscoEmergencyPetCare.com
Frisco Emergency Pet Care
11201 Preston Road
Frisco, Texas 75033
469-287-6767

What Are The Signs Of Poisoning From Household Products?

Household comfort can hide real danger for dogs and cats, and the biggest risks are often the ones we overlook. We sat down with Dr. Mike LoSasso, Chief of Staff at Frisco Emergency Pet Care, to break down the pet toxins most likely to strike at home and what fast, effective response looks like. From raw yeast dough that ferments into alcohol to dark chocolate with concentrated stimulants, we unpack how dose, body weight, and product type determine risk—and why timing is everything.

We look closely at lily toxicity in cats, where even a light dusting of pollen can damage the kidneys, and we explain how early fluids can be lifesaving. For dogs, grapes and raisins pose a similar kidney threat, but outcomes improve when owners witness ingestion and seek decontamination quickly. We also spotlight xylitol, the sugar-free sweetener that can crash a dog’s blood sugar and, at higher levels, harm the liver. Since xylitol content varies widely across chewing gum and “sugar-free” products, we share when to call poison control and why bringing the packaging speeds accurate treatment.

Medications deserve a special warning: dropped human pills, weekly pill organizers, and highly palatable pet meds can all trigger overdoses. We talk about NSAIDs like carprofen—safe at prescribed doses but harmful in large amounts—and why human medications often require toxicologist guidance. You’ll learn symptom timelines, from rapid THC effects to delayed NSAID complications, and get practical prevention tips: secure storage, countersurfing awareness, and the habit that helps ER teams most—always bring the product packaging.

If you found this helpful, subscribe for more expert-led pet safety guidance, share the episode with a fellow pet parent, and leave a quick review to help others protect the animals they love.

To learn more about Frisco Emergency Pet Care visit:
https://www.FriscoEmergencyPetCare.com
Frisco Emergency Pet Care
11201 Preston Road
Frisco, Texas 75033
469-287-6767

How Is Bloat Treated And Why Is It Life-threatening?

A dog that keeps trying to vomit but brings nothing up is flashing a red siren. We dive straight into gastric dilatation and volvulus—better known as bloat—and explain how a twisted stomach traps gas, crushes major vessels, and sends blood pressure crashing. With clear, no-drama guidance, we share the exact steps that save lives: rapid IV fluids to stabilize circulation, careful decompression to relieve pressure, and definitive surgery to stop the twist from coming back.

We walk through the gastropexy procedure in plain English, showing why “tacking” the stomach adds a crucial third anchor point and dramatically lowers recurrence. You’ll hear how deep-chested anatomy raises risk in breeds like Great Danes, German Shepherds, Dobermans, Vizslas, Basset Hounds, and Standard Poodles—and why barrel-chested dogs are less prone. We also separate food bloat from true torsion, challenge common myths about play after meals and fast eating, and highlight the rare but real disasters of late presentation, necrosis, and even stomach rupture.

If you live with a high-risk breed, you’ll get practical, actionable advice: what early signs to watch for, when to leave home without calling ahead, and how a prophylactic gastropexy at the time of spay or neuter can prevent heartbreak later. Our goal is simple—help you recognize the problem early, move fast, and make confident decisions when every minute counts.

If this conversation helps you feel more prepared, subscribe, share this episode with a fellow dog person, and leave a quick review so more pet owners can find it. Your support helps us bring life-saving knowledge to every listener.

To learn more about Frisco Emergency Pet Care visit:
https://www.FriscoEmergencyPetCare.com
Frisco Emergency Pet Care
11201 Preston Road
Frisco, Texas 75033
469-287-6767