Petvetruthann

Petvetruthann Dr. RuthAnn Lobos currently serves as the senior veterinarian for Nestle’ Purina PetCare.

I love sharing pet health knowledge with pet lovers and enjoying all things outdoors with our dogs!

We plan the adventures. We buy the gear. We think about conditioning, recovery, and nutrition.But one of the most powerf...
10/14/2026

We plan the adventures. We buy the gear. We think about conditioning, recovery, and nutrition.

But one of the most powerful things we can do for our dogs happens in the everyday moments we barely think about.

How much goes in their bowl. How many extras they get throughout the day. Whether we’re paying attention to how their body is changing.

It’s National Pet Obesity Awareness Day and we HAVE to talk about the epidemic that is facing so many of our pets in this country.

As a veterinarian, I want your dog to do all the things they love for as long as possible. And maintaining a lean body condition is one of the most meaningful ways we can support that goal.

Three things you can start today:
🐾 Measure their food instead of estimating portions.
🐾 Account for treats, chews, and table scraps in their daily calories.
🐾 Learn to assess body condition. You should be able to feel their ribs without pressing through a layer of fat, and see a waist when looking from above.

Because every adventure is better when they’re healthy enough to enjoy it.

Save this as your reminder to give your dog a healthy hug today. ❤️

Years of practicing veterinary medicine have shaped how I care for dogs. Finn and Journey have made that perspective eve...
10/12/2026

Years of practicing veterinary medicine have shaped how I care for dogs. Finn and Journey have made that perspective even more personal.

I want my dogs to hunt hard, run far, think independently, and live BIG lives. And as both a veterinarian and a sporting dog mom, I think a lot about what it takes to help them do those things for as many years as possible.

Sometimes that means making the less popular choice. Sometimes it means questioning what everyone else is doing. And sometimes it means being the person who reminds you that our dogs depend on us to make decisions with their long-term health in mind.

These are a few of the hills I’ll keep standing on. 😉

Your turn. What’s a hill YOU will die on as a dog owner? 👇

Your dog may look ready to hit the field again tomorrow. That doesn’t mean their body is.A hard day in the field puts re...
10/05/2026

Your dog may look ready to hit the field again tomorrow. That doesn’t mean their body is.

A hard day in the field puts real demands on their muscles, joints, paws and energy stores. What you do after the adventure can help set them up for the next one.

Give them a real cool-down. Let them walk and gradually bring their breathing and heart rate back toward normal before putting them in the kennel or dog box. That continued movement helps circulation move blood through working muscles and clear metabolic byproducts rather than abruptly stopping and allowing blood to pool. It can help reduce that stiff, sore feeling after a hard day.

Then take a few minutes at the tailgate to look them over. Run your hands over their legs and body and check their paws, pads, nails, eyes and ears. You’re looking for the small things that can become big problems if they go unnoticed.

Once they’ve cooled down and aren’t actively panting hard, get their recovery meal in. I like to float their food in water, which gives me an easy opportunity to support hydration while they refuel.

If your dog is working hard today, think about what their body will need to recover tonight so they can feel their best tomorrow.

Save this for your next hunt, hike or hard training day. And if your dog is working at a high level, talk with your veterinarian about building a recovery plan that fits their workload.

10/02/2026

Unpopular opinion: I don’t think retractable leashes are worth the risk.

The extra length can be convenient, but it also means your dog can get farther away from you before you have time to react. That matters around roads, other dogs, wildlife, and unfamiliar situations.

And that thin cord creates another hazard. If it wraps around a person or another dog, it can cause significant cuts, burns, or entanglement injuries. The handle can also be difficult to control quickly when you suddenly need your dog close.

Are retractable leashes inherently dangerous? No.

But they require good timing, good handling skills, and the right environment to be used safely.

For me, the added risk rarely outweighs the benefit. I’d rather have a standard leash and reliable control when I’m out with my dogs.

Choose your leash based on your dog, your environment, and how much control you need in that moment.

This one might ruffle some feathers, but there’s a reason I feel strongly about this.Dewclaws can get injured, but I thi...
09/29/2026

This one might ruffle some feathers, but there’s a reason I feel strongly about this.

Dewclaws can get injured, but I think part of their reputation comes from a simple problem: we forget about them.

Because they sit higher on the leg, we don’t see them as often as the other nails. That means they’re easy to overlook during routine nail trims.

When dewclaws get overgrown, they can catch on things, curl, and become much more vulnerable to injury.

Keeping them appropriately trimmed is one of the easiest ways to reduce that risk.

And there’s another piece that often gets missed: dewclaws are functional. Front dewclaws are connected to muscles, tendons and connective tissue and can contribute to stability, traction and grip.

So for my sporting dogs, I pay attention to them. I check them. I trim them. And I appreciate the job they were designed to do.

Anatomy deserves a closer look before we decide it’s unnecessary.

And yes, there are situations where dewclaw removal is medically appropriate. This is always an individual-dog conversation with your veterinarian.

Address

Boulder, CO
80303

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Petvetruthann posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category