Part clinical wisdom on tick seasons and kidney panels, part gentle stories of three-legged rescues learning stairs again. Written by the vets who care for your animals.
Vol. 3 · Issue 47 · February 2026
On intermittent lameness, what it usually means, and when to stop watching
Dear Marcus and Biscuit,
You mentioned in last month's form that Biscuit had been "a little off" on her right front leg after morning walks. I want to talk about that — not to alarm you, but because intermittent lameness is one of those things that rewards early attention.
"A limp that comes and goes is often the body's way of asking you to notice something before it becomes urgent. It's a conversation, not yet a crisis."
In dogs Biscuit's age (she's seven now, right?), the most common culprits are soft-tissue injuries that haven't fully healed, early joint changes, or something as simple as a foxtail she stepped on last Tuesday. The good news: most of these are manageable.
Here's what I'd ask you to watch for over the next two weeks before we decide whether an exam makes sense...
Vol. 3 · Issue 44
Dr. Sarah Nakamura · 8 min read
From the letter
"The glucose curve that changed how I talk to cat owners about insulin. It's not about perfect numbers — it's about patterns."
Vol. 3 · Issue 41
Dr. James Okafor · 5 min read
From the letter
"The correlation between deer activity and tick burden that most prevention calendars ignore. Rural keepers, this one's for you."
Vol. 3 · Issue 38
Dr. Priya Menon · 7 min read
From the letter
"How Maple, a tripawd rescue, learned to trust her remaining legs — and what her adaptation taught us about canine resilience."
Vol. 3 · Issue 35
Dr. Sarah Nakamura · 9 min read
From the letter
"BUN, creatinine, SDMA — decoded without jargon. What your senior pet's blood work is actually telling you."
Vol. 3 · Issue 32
Dr. James Okafor · 6 min read
From the letter
"From the hiccups that last 20 minutes to the poop that changed color overnight — a frank reference letter for new puppy households."
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Every issue is authored by a practicing clinician — not a content team, not AI. Real cases, real expertise, real care.
Dr. Priya Menon
Small Animal Internal Medicine
"I grew up watching my grandmother nurse injured sparrows back to health with warm rice and patience. That's still my model. I write about the things I explain on my knees to worried owners — the real stuff, in plain language."
Dr. James Okafor
Preventive Medicine & Rural Practice
"I spent three years doing mobile vet work across farm counties in Ohio. The questions I got at 6am on dirt roads — that's what shaped how I write. Practical, honest, and never condescending about what you don't know yet."
Dr. Sarah Nakamura
Oncology & Senior Pet Care
"The hardest part of this job is also the most important: helping families understand what their senior pet needs, and what they don't. I write the letters I wish I could hand every client on their way out the door."
These aren't testimonials we asked for. They're replies to the newsletter — forwarded with permission, names included because the pets deserve the credit.
"The issue on feline hyperthyroidism described Miso's symptoms exactly — three weeks before my vet officially diagnosed her. I went into that appointment already understanding the options."
Helen Tran
Cat owner, Portland OR
"I farm 40 acres with goats, chickens, and two dogs. The tick season calendar they published is now laminated and on my barn door. First newsletter that actually accounts for rural conditions."
Dale Whitmore
Hobby farmer, rural Ohio
"We got Boba at 8 weeks old and I was Googling everything at 2am. Pawprint is the only source I trust completely — it reads like a letter from a vet who knows my dog's name."
Aisha Osei
First-time puppy parent, Atlanta GA
4.9 out of 5
Based on 847 reader responses · Last updated February 2026
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New Pet Parent Checklist
A 12-page PDF written by Dr. Menon — the checklist she gives every new puppy and kitten family before they leave the clinic. Vaccination schedules, red flags to watch for, and a week-by-week guide through the first three months.
