Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Biography

After graduating from veterinary school at The Ohio State University in 2011, I moved back home to West Virginia to join a small mixed-animal practice. Our veterinary clinic is a general practice serving dogs, cats, and occasionally other species including horses, goats, and cattle. In the clinic, I do a little bit of everything including wellness exams, new puppy and kitten visits, surgery, sick or injured pets, and emergency visits as needed. I also have a special interest in behavior and do house call consultations for problems including aggression, separation anxiety, house-training problems, and compulsive behavior issues. I get immense professional and personal satisfaction when I’m able to help an owner and their pet work through these problems, ultimately improving the bond between the two. Our veterinary practice also includes a dog training facility, where I teach obedience and agility classes, as well as private lessons for dogs with more specific training issues. My three Shelties (Remy, Gatsby, and Clint) compete actively in lots of dog sports including AKC obedience, rally, agility and conformation. I am also a member of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) and an approved Canine Good Citizen evaluator for the American Kennel Club. On PetCoach I get to interact with a variety of different from all over the world. It's very rewarding to be able to help someone who may not have a veterinarian available to talk to at that moment.
Articles Written by Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
Why Does My Dog Sit on Me?
Just like people, individual dogs have different personalities and preferences. Some may prefer to have their own space, but others seem to have a constant craving for physical contact.
5 Reasons Your Cat is Peeing (or Pooping!) Outside the Litter Box
As a cat owner, finding out that your cat has been peeing or pooping outside the litter box can be very frustrating. Find out what might be causing this unwanted behavior.
5 Common Causes of Fever in Pets
Fever, or elevated body temperature, is a common problem in sick pets. We all know that illnesses like the flu can cause a fever in humans – pets can get illnesses like this also, but what many pet owners don’t know is that there are lots of other things that can cause your dog or cat to have a fever. This is one reason that it’s very important to see your veterinarian if you are concerned that your pet has a fever, since a diagnosis of the underlying problem will be required for proper treatment. Read on for more information on some of the things that can cause an elevated body temperature in dogs and cats.
Questions Answered by Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
hi, i have a jack Russel tilly and she is gaining weight rapidly, she is having shortness of breath and also excessively drinking water. Sadly Tilly is old and has a tumour on her ear, she has been to the vet about this problem. I cant take her to the vet because i am old and unwell, I believe she could have cushings disease as all the symptoms match. I was going to order some vetoryl online but i am unsure and need advice. Thanks

Hi there! You are correct that Cushing's disease would be a common cause of the symptoms you are describing in an older dog (excessive panting, weight gain, and drinking/urinating more than normal) - however, there are also other illnesses that could cause this, so diagnostic testing would be needed as a first step to find out if Cushing's disease is even the problem or not. It would be EXTREMELY unsafe to start Vetoryl or any other medication for this condition without even knowing for sure if Tily has it, since these meds would be very dangerous for a dog to take if they weren't needed, and close monitoring of cortisol levels is needed for dogs who are on medication for Cushing's disease because if the dosing isn't right they can get very sick or even die. So this would be a problem that you would need to work closely with your veterinarian to diagnose and treat safely - it's not something you can do yourself at home, just based on guessing. If taking Tily to the vet is difficult for you, I would suggest calling around to some local clinics to see if there is anyone in your area who does house call visits. A mobile veterinarian could examine Tily and take the required lab samples (usually blood and urine testing, as a starting point), and then go from there depending on what is found.

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My dog was neutered by the shelter vet about 3 days ago. He doesn’t want to walk, seems like he is in pain. The ball sack is swollen & black. Is it supposed to look like this or should I take him to hospital? The regular vet I use won’t open until Monday.

Poor Quentin! From what I can see in the photo, it does look like he has some swelling and discoloration of the scrotum, and a small amount of bruising around the incision site itself. These issues can sometimes happen after a neuter - they're more common if the dog has been too active (I know this is hard to avoid sometimes!), but sometimes they just happen as a result of the surgery itself, just like post-op swelling and soreness in humans. If your pup is still eating and drinking normally, and seems alert and otherwise okay apart from being sore and reluctant to move around much, then it would be reasonable to wait until Monday to have him checked out by your regular veterinarian. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medication, as there are no OTC human options that are safe for use in dogs. In the meantime, you can use a warm compress on the area (a washcloth soaked in warm water, and then wrung out) for 5-10 minutes once or twice a day if he'll let you - this can help some with the soreness, and help the swelling resolve more quickly. I would also restrict his exercise as much as possible (crate rest would be best), since the more he moves around, the more he will aggravate the swelling. Make sure he isn't licking the incision or his scrotum at all, as this will also make things worse - use an e-collar (plastic cone) if needed to prevent this. If you feel that the swelling and bruising is continuing to get worse over the course of the weekend, or if your pup is not eating or acting extremely depressed/lethargic, then the safest bet would be to have him seen at your nearest emergency clinic to make sure there's nothing more serious going on.

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