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!

For many of us bird hunters, it’s finally here: OPENING DAY!! BUT….As a veterinarian and hunting dog owner, I think the ...
09/01/2026

For many of us bird hunters, it’s finally here: OPENING DAY!!

BUT….

As a veterinarian and hunting dog owner, I think the best preparation goes beyond conditioning and getting your gear ready. It means thinking through the situations you hope never happen, recognizing changes before they become emergencies, and having a plan when the day doesn’t go exactly as expected.

The little details matter:
• Knowing your dog’s normal
• Paying attention to weather and workload
• Being intentional about nutrition and hydration
•.Carrying supplies you actually know how to use
• Giving your dog the time and resources they need to
recover—especially early season when they’re still
getting ramped up and dialed in.

You can’t control every variable in the field. You can control how prepared you are for them.

Before you head out for opening day, send this to your hunting partner and compare notes. Five minutes of preparation now could make a big difference in the field.

When our dogs are working hard, their bodies have a very specific job to do.Muscles need oxygen. The heart and lungs nee...
08/29/2026

When our dogs are working hard, their bodies have a very specific job to do.

Muscles need oxygen. The heart and lungs need to keep up with demand. Hydration becomes especially important. And all of that requires energy and blood flow.

Digestion requires those same resources.

That’s one reason I pay close attention to meals around training and hunting. Exercise can also increase gastrointestinal motility, which means food may move through the GI tract faster and potentially reduce how efficiently nutrients are absorbed.

There’s another consideration for dogs prone to gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). Exercising around a meal, particularly after a large meal, is one of the factors associated with increased GDV risk. Giving the stomach time to empty before strenuous activity is an important part of managing that risk.

And the performance piece is fascinating. Research in canine athletes has found differences in endurance and energy metabolism when dogs exercise in a fasted versus fed state. That doesn’t mean every dog should be exercised without food, or that feeding plans are one-size-fits-all. Age, body condition, workload, meal size, individual health and the type and duration of exercise all matter.

For my sporting dogs, I want their nutrition plan to support the work they’re asking their bodies to do, including when they eat.

If your dog trains, runs, hunts or participates in other intense activities, take a look at the entire feeding plan, not just what’s in the bowl.
Performance nutrition is about the whole picture.

And when it comes to your individual dog, your veterinarian can help you build a feeding and exercise plan that makes sense for their workload and health.

Save this for your next training day, and send it to someone whose dog is getting ready for hunting season.

Happy National Dog Day to the dogs who make ordinary days better. 🐾We spend a lot of time thinking about what our dogs n...
08/26/2026

Happy National Dog Day to the dogs who make ordinary days better. 🐾

We spend a lot of time thinking about what our dogs need: good nutrition, exercise, training, preventive care, enrichment.

But some of the most important things we give them are much simpler.

Our attention.
Our presence.
Our time.
A life filled with things to sniff, places to explore, and experiences to share.

The best part? Those are the things they get to take with them every day, and they’re often the things we remember most, too.

Give your dog a little extra time today. Then tell me what you did together. 🤎

As an upland hunter and a veterinarian, I spend a lot of time thinking about what could go wrong in the field and how I ...
08/23/2026

As an upland hunter and a veterinarian, I spend a lot of time thinking about what could go wrong in the field and how I can be prepared when it does.

My first-aid kit is only part of that preparation.

There are a few things I keep in my truck that don’t technically belong in the first-aid kit, but could make a big difference when I’m miles from home with my dogs.

Some are practical. Some are easy to overlook. And some are there because you never know when a normal day in the field can turn into an unexpected one.

Because when we’re out chasing birds, I want to spend my time hunting, training, exploring and making memories with my dogs.

Preparedness gives us a better chance of getting back to doing exactly that.

What would you add to this list? I’m always curious about what people find useful or have learned through experience 🫠

08/17/2026

👩‍⚕️ This is one of those puppy habits that is ridiculously cute until you put your veterinary hat on and start thinking about what those little joints are going through. 😬

Our sporting dogs are built to move, jump, run, and go hard. That’s exactly why I want to protect their bodies while they’re developing.

A ramp is such a simple addition, and teaching a puppy to use it is an easy investment in their future. You’re building a habit now that can serve them for years, through training days, hunting seasons, and all the adventures in between.

🤓 They’re smart. They’ll learn quickly!

And those future joints? Worth protecting. 🐾

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Boulder, CO
80303

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