This is a smart question—and one I’m always glad when pet owners ask. Any time you give your dog a medication, it is reasonable to ask: Is it safe? Is it necessary? What are the risks? Are there alternatives?

This is one of the most common questions pet owners ask me. And the honest answer is: It depends. Some dogs vomit once, feel fine, and never have another issue. Others begin with “just occasional vomiting”… and it turns out to be the first sign of something more important. That’s why I don’t focus only on the single episode.

After more than 30 years in veterinary medicine, I’ve noticed something important: Most pet owners do not ignore serious problems. Most pet owners do not fail to love their pets. Most pet owners do not wait because they don’t care. They wait because they didn’t realize something was wrong early enough. And that distinction matters more than most people understand. Because in veterinary medicine, timing can change everything.

When a dog bites a child, the questions come fast — and they’re heavy. Why did this happen? What did we do wrong? These moments are heartbreaking and overwhelming for families. While there’s rarely a single simple answer, understanding why these situations occur is one of the most important steps toward keeping both children and pets safe.

There are four words no pet parent ever wants to hear: “Your pet has cancer.” It’s a phrase that instantly fills the heart with fear, grief, and uncertainty. Sadly, cancer is far too common. About one in four dogs will face cancer during their lifetime, and it remains one of the leading causes of death in dogs over the age of ten. While cancer is less common in cats, our feline companions are not immune.

A few years ago, a family reached out to me in one of those moments. Their four-year-old cat had been diagnosed with a malignant tumor in her rear leg. Their veterinarian compassionately presented two options: euthanasia or amputation.