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!

11/01/2026

Joint health deserves more thought than grabbing the supplement with the prettiest label or the biggest list of ingredients.

As a veterinarian, one of the things I want active dog owners to understand is that not all joint supplements have the same level of scientific support.

Glucosamine and chondroitin are popular, but evidence supporting meaningful benefits in dogs is limited and inconsistent.

One area with better evidence for supporting dogs with osteoarthritis is omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA from marine sources like fish oil. These fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and can help support joint comfort and mobility in dogs with osteoarthritis.

But here’s something important: dose matters.

The amount of EPA and DHA your dog actually receives matters far more than simply seeing “fish oil” or “omega-3” on the label. Your dog’s weight, health status, diet and individual needs all factor into determining an appropriate dose.

A few things I’d prioritize for joint health, especially in active and sporting dogs:

Keep your dog lean. Excess weight adds unnecessary stress to joints.

Build and maintain muscle through consistent, appropriate conditioning.

Address changes in mobility early rather than waiting for obvious discomfort.

Talk with your veterinarian about whether marine-derived omega-3s make sense for your dog and what dose is appropriate.

I want you investing in your dog’s longevity. I also want you spending your money where the evidence supports it.

Less hype. More health.

Save this before your next trip down the joint supplement aisle.

Halloween is one of those holidays where our dogs can find themselves in situations they weren’t exactly prepared for. A...
10/30/2026

Halloween is one of those holidays where our dogs can find themselves in situations they weren’t exactly prepared for. As a veterinarian, there are a few things I’d love for every pet parent to think about before the trick-or-treating begins.

A few easy things to add to your Halloween prep:

🐾 Give that ID tag a once-over. When was the last time you actually read it? Is the engraving still legible? Is your phone number current? And is your microchip registration up to date? A tag that looks cute but can’t be read isn’t doing anyone much good.

🐾 Have a doorbell strategy. If your dog thinks every doorbell ring is a personal emergency, Halloween might be a long night. Add strangers in costumes and a door opening every few minutes, and things can get interesting. A quiet room away from the action might be everyone’s favorite solution.

🐾 Keep their routine on the calendar. Before the festivities start, make time for a sniff walk, some training, or a food puzzle. A dog whose physical and mental needs have been met is less likely to come up with their own Halloween entertainment. And I promise, you probably won’t enjoy their version of trick-or-treating.

🍫 And yes, keep the candy out of reach! Chocolate, sugar-free candy containing xylitol, and other sweets can be dangerous for dogs. Don’t leave candy bowls, trick-or-treat bags, or wrappers where curious noses can investigate. If your dog gets into something questionable, contact your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic right away rather than waiting for symptoms.

And one last reminder: your dog doesn’t have to participate in every Halloween activity. Sometimes a quiet room, a favorite chew, and absolutely zero doorbell duty is a pretty great night.

Save this for your Halloween prep and share it with another dog person! 🎃

10/29/2026

We love that our dogs are always ready to go. Another mile? Absolutely. One more retrieve? Bring it on. A full day in the field? They’re in.

That drive is part of what makes sporting dogs and other active dogs so special. But it can also make it hard to know when enough is enough.

As a veterinarian, I want you to remember that enthusiasm doesn’t always equal physical readiness. Your dog may be mentally ready for a big hike, a long run, or opening day in the field long before their muscles, joints, and cardiovascular fitness are prepared for the demands.

A few things you can do to help your adventure partner stay in the game:

🐾 Build endurance gradually instead of jumping from quiet weekdays to big weekends.

🐾 Incorporate strength, balance, and controlled movement into your dog’s routine.

🐾 Plan for recovery, hydration, and rest, even when your dog seems ready for more.

🐾 Pay attention to subtle changes in movement, pace, or willingness to continue. Your dog may not always choose to slow down on their own.

I want my dogs to have as many adventures as possible, for as many years as possible. That means thinking beyond today’s miles and investing in the body that carries them through every mile to come.

What’s one thing you do to keep your adventure partner ready for the long haul?

10/19/2026

Behind every veterinarian is a human being wearing a whole lot of hats.

We celebrate the wins. We carry the hard cases home with us. We navigate complicated medical decisions, financial realities, uncertainty, and grief. We explain, advocate, research, problem-solve, and try to make the best possible recommendations for the individual pet sitting in front of us.

And we do all of this while caring deeply about the animals and people who trust us.

Veterinary medicine has faced plenty of scrutiny and criticism. Accountability matters. Asking questions matters. And pet parents deserve to feel heard, respected, and informed.

But so does remembering that there’s a person on the other side of the conversation. A person who chose this profession because they care about animals, who wants to help, and who is often navigating difficult decisions right alongside you.

We don’t have to agree on every detail to work toward the same goal.

The best outcomes happen when veterinarians and pet parents listen to one another, share their concerns, ask questions, and make decisions together.

Because at the end of the day, we all want the same thing: the best possible life for the animal we love.

Veterinarians are people, too. And the human-animal bond is something we’re all here to protect. ❤️

If you have a veterinarian who has made a difference in your life or your pet’s life, let them know. It means more than you might realize.

10/17/2026

The comments are usually about how cute the goggles are. 😂 But there’s a reason Finn and Journey wear them beyond the fashion statement.

Bird dogs move fast through brush, cattails, and unpredictable terrain. Their eyes can be exposed to flying debris, plant material, dust, and other environmental hazards.

Those scratches across the lenses? A pretty good reminder that protective gear has a job to do.

As a veterinarian and sporting dog owner, I think about the big picture when it comes to keeping my dogs healthy. Nutrition, conditioning, recovery, preventive care, and the gear we choose all play a role.

Eye protection can help reduce exposure to hazards during outdoor adventures. It can’t prevent every injury, but proper fit, gradual acclimation, and regular inspection are important.

Finn and Journey can focus on doing what they love. I’ll keep thinking about how to help them do it safely. ❤️

Bird dog owners, what’s one piece of gear you never head into the field without?

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