Dr. Becker

Reviewed by Dr. Becker

Dr. Karen Shaw Becker is a proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian.
fruits toxic to dogs
Dog Tips

4 Fruits Your Dog Should Never Eat

Many dogs love fresh fruit, just like us, and most fruits are canine-friendly and offer valuable nutrition for your pet. Just be sure to follow these two criteria and select foods only from this list of 17 nontoxic, approved fresh fruits.
6 min read
meal mix for dogs
Dog Tips

The Sure Way to Balance Your Dog's Homemade Food

To celebrate the launch of the new pet site, bark & whiskers, we're reintroducing one of my proudest accomplishments that takes the guess work out of creating healthy meals from scratch for your dog. As a special bonus, here are five new recipes to help you get started.
5 min read
overweight pet
Dog Tips

The No. 1 Health Threat — Is Your Pet Affected?

One in 2 pets are, but many owners don't realize their pet has the disease. And, surprisingly, sometimes veterinarians don't even mention it if they know it. But being the greatest health threat, it kills millions prematurely, creates immense pain and suffering, and costs owners money.
12 min read
pectus excavatum
Cat Tips

The Unlikely Healing Journey of a Kitten Named Pinky

Had he been any other cat, Pinky likely wouldn't have survived. A homeless 3-month-old kitten, he wouldn't even have been diagnosed with his rare yet life-threatening condition had he not jumped into the carrier with his brother to tag along on a vet visit. What happened next is truly incredible.
6 min read
how to keep senior dogs healthy
Dog Tips

One of the Worst Mistakes You Can Make With Your Dog

If your dog is 7 or older, she’s officially a canine senior citizen. And that's the ideal time to take action to ensure the second half of her life is just as healthy and happy as her first. But if you're like countless pet parents, you don’t act until you see this, which can be a tragic mistake.
10 min read
What's the Best Treatment for Feline Diabetes?
Cat Tips

What's the Best Treatment for Feline Diabetes?

An estimated 600,000 cats in the US are diagnosed with diabetes, and about 125,000 go untreated because of the complexity of options. The first oral medication to treat feline diabetes has just been approved but know what's behind its blackbox warning before requesting a prescription.
10 min read