Dr. Laurie Coger

14/11/2025

I am beyond frustrated with the inappropriate and excessive use of this drug for dogs in my profession. No, it's not Librela, or Apoquel. Not metronidazole or other antibiotics. Not NSAIDS or prednisone.

I'm talking about gabapentin.

Gabapentin, commonly known as gaba, is labelled for treatment of seizures and for neuropathic pain. It's thought to help with anxiety, but there is no proof that it does. It provides sedation, which many owners mistake for anxiety relief. Yet it is being used for everything from post-operative pain to soft tissue injury, often without the addition of true pain medications. Yes, I support thoughtful use of NSAIDs as well as other pain management strategies such as herbs, PEMF, laser, acupuncture, etc. An individualized, multimodal approach. What I cannot support is giving an ineffective, unproven drug and thinking you're managing your dog's pain.

Want to know more, before you comment? Check out the first comments for scientific references. (Note: if you copy and paste the article title in your search box, it. should be viewable)

05/11/2025

So many of my clients tell me that feeding fresh food is too expensive. But kibble prices have gone up significantly in at least two popular brands... and that is for non-human quality ingredients and ultra-processing. In other words, the same crap. And many do not consider that the savings on veterinary bills when they switch to nutritionally complete, fresh-food plans can offset any additional cost in food.

Prices increased between 13% to 58%.

31/10/2025

Last week, a veterinary social media influencer shared a video of a dog "gulping" chunks of a raw diet, including what looked like chicken wings, small drumsticks, and other typical raw meal components. She criticized the video for showing a dog not "chewing" his food, implying that chewing kibble was better for the dog.

Newsflash 1: (except for anyone who had cleaned up vomitus from a kibble-fed dog) Dogs do not chew kibble!

Newsflash 2: Dogs are not biologically designed to chew their food! Compare the dentition of a dog, with its sharp, pointed teeth, to that of a cow, with flat molars that grind when the cow first ingests grass, hay, silage, etc. And then re-grinds it when the how regurgitates it to chew its cud.

Newsflash 3: Dogs produce copious amounts of saliva, to lubricate the passage of chunks of food (meat) for swallowing. Animals designed to chew produce less, but mix it into their food by chewing and grinding the food to a small particle size.

Newsflash 4: None of this info is pointed out, in even the most casual way, in most veterinary programs. So please do NOT troll anyone who does not know this! It's not their fault, but rather that of the educational system that fails to promote feeding an animal in accordance with their biology. Zoo veterinarians get it, feeding the varied species they care for appropriately. Even pet stores get it, stocking everything from mice to crickets to other biologically appropriate foods for exotic pets they sell. Yet we still nutritionally abuse our dogs and cats with kibble/dry foods. And they pay the price in more illnesses, poor dental health, and chronic health conditions. We pay the price in higher vet bills.

It needs to stop. When you know better, you can do better.

29/10/2025

Feeding your dog dry kibble? That's pretty much the same as eating dry pasta! Would you eat spaghetti from the box? Why should your dog eat an even more processed version of that?

17/09/2025

We are excited to announce our upcoming puppies! Visit https://elsmereaustralianshepherds.com/puppies/ to see the details.

Puppies!Exciting news — a late fall 2025 litter is planned!Propwash Elsmere Just Like Fire “Kindle” will be bred to the accomplished “Monty”, AKC/ASCA Ch. Rainyday’s Hot Stuff BN CD RA ASCA RNX ASCA RAKindle is genetically clear for all relevant breed health traits, eyes clear with no no...

28/08/2025

Whether a dog is intact does not he or she is breeding. But waiting to sterilize has huge health benefits!

In conclusion, this study shows that the risk of cranial cruciate ligament disease in dogs is linked to how long they are exposed to natural s*x hormones, and the relationship isn’t simple or linear. The highest risk was seen when females were spayed before about 1054 days (just under 3 years) and males before about 805 days (a little over 2 years). These results may help define what counts as “early” spay or neuter when it comes to cranial cruciate ligament disease risk.

Veterinary reproduction specialists now recommend hormone-preserving sterilization: preventing unwanted litters & less risk of torn cruciates.

20/08/2025

Did they destroy evidence? What do you think?

The manufacturer's actions are concerning.

01/08/2025

Every time someone defends the nutrition education at veterinary colleges, this is what comes to mind:

https://healthydogworkshop.com/veterinarian-vet-students-and-pet-food/

13/07/2025

Will history repeat itself? Link in first comment.

10/07/2025

For anyone still feeding Answers Pet Food, the time to stop is now.

FDA found Listeria inside the pet food plant.