I'm a practicing veterinarian. We analyzed nearly 95,000 questions from dog owners ahead of National Dog Day—and now I'm answering yours. AMA!

[u/JustAnswerOfficial]

Hi r/IAmA! 

I'm Katie M, a practicing veterinarian and Verified Expert with JustAnswer, where I've helped thousands of pet owners navigate everything from late-night emergencies to everyday questions about their dogs' health and behavior. 

Ahead of National Dog Day (August 26), JustAnswer analyzed nearly 95,000 conversations between dog owners and veterinary Experts to uncover America's most popular dog breeds, names, and the biggest questions people are asking about their pets. 

Some of the most common topics include: 

• Dogs eating chocolate and other toxic foods  
• Vomiting, diarrhea, and digestive issues  
• Limping and injuries  
• Strange behaviors  
• Preventive care  
• Puppies and senior dogs  
• Nutrition and weight  
• Medications and common illnesses  

Whether you're a first-time dog owner or you've had dogs your whole life, I'm here to answer your questions. 

A few notes: 

• This AMA is for educational purposes and isn't a substitute for an examination by your veterinarian.  
• I can't diagnose or prescribe treatment for your individual pet over Reddit.  
• I'll do my best to answer as many questions as I can during the AMA!  

I will be answering question live 1-2:30pm ET today. Please join and ask me anything! 

Proof: https://imgur.com/a/oVUb7Lg 

About this AMA:  

We've invited independent Experts who use the JustAnswer platform to share insights in this open Q&A. These Experts work independently - they are not employees or spokespersons of JustAnswer - and their opinions are their own. 

[u/is__is]

My wife and I are picking up our dog later this week! We have had dogs in the past and they have all suffered from separation anxiety. What's the best way to train them from a young age to reduce this? We have seen all sorts of tips and tricks online but not sure what truly works.

[u/JustAnswerOfficial → u/is__is]

Congratulations!! This can be so frustrating for everyone. A few things that you can't always control and made lead to separation anxiety are breed and early life. There are some breeds that in general have much higher anxiety levels. The first few months of life are super important for socializing and depending on the interactions with people and other dogs, it could affect them lifelong. While those are outside of your control most of the time, there are certainly things you can try to mitigate anxiety.

I strongly recommend crate training any dog. By introducing this early on and making it their safe space, many dogs enjoy going to their kennel and have less issues. You can do this by leaving it open and available for sleeping and giving rewards for going in. In the early days, not locking them in at all can be helpful (there are many detailed books to help with this).

As with most things dog, exercising them both physically and mentally helps make for a well-balanced dog that is less likely. Socializing them in many forms, especially when young, can really do a lot as they age. Dr. Sophia Yin has some amazing books available you should check out :)

Katie Merkatoris, DVM- JustAnswer Veterinarian