Discover how a dog’s nose works from the inside out in this expert article by Dr. Athena Gaffud, DVM. Learn about the parts and functions of a dog’s nose, including the olfactory system, nasal airflow, and scent detection mechanisms. Originally written for Honest Paws, this piece showcases Dr. Gaffud’s veterinary writing expertise.

In modern veterinary medicine, nutrition is no longer an afterthought—it's the prescribed 5th Vital Assessment (5VA), as important as checking temperature or pulse. This vet-written guide explains the science behind this critical shift. Learn how to differentiate between BCS and the life-saving MCS. We detail how precise therapeutic pet nutrition is used to fight chronic diseases like kidney failure and osteoarthritis, utilizing concepts like nutrigenomics and high doses.

Melanomas in dogs include skin, oral, nail, or ocular tumors of pigment cells that may be benign or malignant. Dr. Athena Gaffud explains how they arise, typical signs (e.g. pigmented bumps, bleeding gums, nail lesions), how veterinarians use biopsy and imaging for diagnosis, and treatment strategies—from surgical removal to radiation, immunotherapy, or palliative care—tailored to location, malignancy risk, and metastasis.