Wellness

How Elbow Dysplasia May Be Affecting Your Dog
As a pet parent, you know your dog’s behavior patterns pretty well. So, it can be quite concerning when they suddenly seem disinterested in their daily walk or hesitant to join in a lively game of fetch. It’s even more...
Dr. Rachel Mar's Big Barker Bed Review
As you know, I am very passionate about preventative pet care. Part of this journey for me has been discovering healthy ways to prevent dogs from developing disease and treating them in a holistic way.  Arthritis is a severely debilitating and unfortunately...
Tips for Canine Arthritis
  In this blog post, we will discuss everything you need to know about joint health and large breed dogs. Joint health is a major concern for many dog owners, especially those who own large breeds. There are a number...
Dr. Rachel Mar Speaks About the Big Barker Bed

My name is Dr. Rachel Mar and I am a passionate veterinarian who advocates for integrative medicine and holistic pet care. I value the health of all pets and their owners and love to help owners seek the best possible treatments for their animals.

Rehabilitation to Help Joint pain
There are many reasons to get your dog into rehabilitation. We wanted to raise awareness for some of these reasons, so we are highlighting several of them for you here! Overall, water therapy and rehabilitation can provide an abundance of benefits for your dog including surgery recovery, pain therapy and arthritis.
Cooper and his Wobblers Syndrome
At first, you might think Cooper is an ordinary and healthy Great Dane. However, Cooper has had to overcome more than most. Cooper has a disease called Wobblers Syndrome, which is also known as "cervical spondylomyelopathy". Wobblers syndrome is a...
Should You Use CBD for Your Dog During Surgery Recovery?
Stephen Cital is a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) and a Surgical Research Anesthetist (SRA) through the Academy of Surgical Research. Additionally, Stephen attained the Registered Laboratory Animal Technician (RLAT) and became one of the first Veterinary Cannabis Counselors (VCC) in the country. Stephen also serves...
10 Tips for Relieving Your Dog's Arthritis Pain
Arthritis is a common cause of joint pain in elderly dogs. This condition is caused by thinning of the cartilage within joints, leading to inflammation, bony growths, and eventually a narrowing of the joint space. As arthritis progresses, you may...
How To Cut Large Dogs Nails

You love your dog more than anything in the entire world, you want the best for them and you can't hardly believe they are yours to care for! You hate to see them upset and you love it when their tail is wagging and eyes are glowing.  But one thing they hate is their nails being clipped or filed which leads to stress, anxiety and negativity in the house for both you and your pet.  You don't want to upset your beloved puppy or dog, so sometimes you push it off a few more days.  Other times, you take your dog to the vet to have them do their nail grooming instead of doing it at home. We've all been there- nail grooming and clipping is not always fun and easy! 

The Link Between Food Reduction and Hip Dysplasia
In a study conducted by Nestle Purina 48 Labrador Retriever puppies from 7 litters were gathered and split into two groups: the unrestricted eater group and the restricted eater group, which was fed 25% less than its counter-group.
The Scary Truth About Canine Hip Dysplasia
Hip Dysplasia is both genetic and environmental. That means your puppy could be predisposed to getting Hip Dysplasia, but also could develop Hip Dysplasia from environmental factors as well.  In other words, Hip Dysplasia is both nature AND nurture. 
Taking Care of My Dog's Nails at Home

Nail Trimming Can Be Hard

If you are reading this, you have a dog whose nails need trimmed. Nail trimming can be a very hard activity. Dogs fear the nail clippers or dremmel, making the job stressful and hard. Completing this task takes practice, confidence, and lots of dog treats. Both you and your dog will enjoy the nail trimming process more if you follow these few basic steps.

 
Using CBD for Joint Pain
The Frontiers of Veterinarian Science conducted a study with dogs and CBD to assess whether it worked for pain reduction. The results of the canine brief pain inventory and Hudson activity scores showed a decrease in pain and increase in activity levels in the dogs that were given CBD.
Joint Problems Don't Have To Be A Pain
There are nutrients in many foods that help reduce swelling, stiffness, and joint pain in humans, and they can do the same for your dog. Ingredients in some whole, healthy foods and supplements can bring relief to a dog with arthritis, or one who's just had surgery.
Top 6 Reasons Why Your Dog Needs A Good Bed

Did you know that your beloved dog needs an average of 16 hours of sleep every day to stay healthy and happy? That’s just one reason why it’s essential that your pooch has a good, comfy bed to rest in. With your furry friend’s wellbeing in mind, here are the top six reasons why your dog needs a good bed.

Arthritis is a Young Dog Disease | Arthritis Awareness Week Day 5
Dr. Hannah Capon and Dr. Karen Perry-Butler share the different ways that arthritis can affect a young dog (there's more than you think!)
Lifestyle and Home Modification | Arthritis Awareness Week Day 4
Dr. Hannah Capon and Dr. Kathy Murphy discuss small steps you can take to create safer and more comfortable home for your dog.
The Issue of Weight | Arthritis Awareness Week Day 3
Dr. Hannah Capon and Dr. Ernie Ward share how a few extra pounds can make a big difference when it comes to canine arthritis.
The Clinical Signs of Osteoarthritis | Arthritis Awareness Week Day 2
Dr. Hannah Capon and Dr. Gwen Covey-Crump discuss the sometimes easy to miss signs and symptoms of canine arthritis.
Why the Fuss About Arthritis? | Arthritis Awareness Week Day 1
Watch Dr. Hannah Capon and Big Barker's founder talk about why canine arthritis deserves more attention.
Dr. Robin Downing Speaks on the UPenn / Big Barker Clinical Study
In a clinical study conducted by University of Pennsylvania, owners reported that the Big Barker bed reduced joint pain & stiffness, improved joint function & gait, and led to improved nighttime restfulness in large dogs with arthritis.Dr. Downing is the hospital...