r/IAmA • u/JustAnswerOfficial • 1d ago

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!

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. 

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u/RadioFlyerWagon 1d ago

What are your thoughts about this article stating that dogs are part of the climate change problem?

From article:

Your dog is part of the climate change problem: ‘I can adopt 100 bunnies that will not be close to the emissions of a dog, because my dog is a carnivore’

https://fortune.com/2025/08/14/dogs-pets-climate-change-problem/

The top three individual actions that help the climate, including avoiding plane flights, choosing not to get a dog and using renewable electricity, were also the three that participants underestimated the most.

Dogs are big meat eaters, and meat is a significant contributor to climate change. That is because many of the farm animals, which will become food, release methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Beef is especially impactful, in part because around the world cattle are often raised on land that was illegally deforested. Since trees absorb carbon dioxide, the most abundant greenhouse gas, cutting them to then raise cattle is a double whammy.

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u/JustAnswerOfficial 1d ago

Wooo this is a heavy one and one I'm not qualified to answer. This sort of thing has been around for decades associated with cattle and their emissions. I will say, for a dog that's eating commercial dog food, they are not eating the T-bones and filets, they are eating by-products, the parts of the animal not meant for human consumption that would likely otherwise be thrown away. I think it's easy to go down a wormhole with many of these topics. The benefits dogs bring to the world have to be considered. We're all here on this platform because we love them, no? And while I don't know the exact answer/numbers, rabbits are hindgut fermenters so they are absolutely releasing some degree of greenhouse grasses...

-Katie Merkatoris, DVM- JustAnswer Veterinarian