Practical veterinary articles for shepherd and herding dog owners from Dr. Robert Hayes.
Everything here comes from 25 years of treating working dogs in rural Britain. No ivory tower theories - just practical knowledge from the field.
Preventive Care The best treatment is prevention. Most of what I write aims to help you avoid problems before they start.
Emergency Situations What to do when things go wrong, especially when you’re miles from help.
Nutrition and Feeding What actually works, what’s marketing nonsense, and how my thinking has changed over the years.
Health Testing and Breeding Why it matters, what tests to prioritise, and the real cost of cutting corners.
Browse the articles below. If there’s something you’d like me to write about, the contact page is always open.
Addison's disease mimics a dozen other problems and gets missed for months — until a crisis. Here are the waxing-and-waning clues, the electrolyte tell, and why managed dogs live entirely normal lives.
Read moreBarbed grass seeds burrow into a working dog's paws, ears and nose and migrate inwards. Here's where they hide, the warning signs by location, and the post-work check that prevents surgery.
Read moreWhat the FDA actually found about grain-free diets and canine heart disease, the early signs of DCM, and a calm framework for deciding whether your dog's food is a problem.
Read moreHerding dogs are bred to push through discomfort, so they hide pain until it's severe. Here's the practical observation toolkit that catches it early.
Read moreThat little skip-and-stretch hop where your dog lifts a back leg mid-stride is rarely 'just a quirk' — here's what patellar luxation is, how it's graded, and when it needs surgery.
Read morePyometra kills intact bitches within days if missed. Here are the early signs, the open-versus-closed danger, and why emergency spay is almost always the answer.
Read moreThe silent splenic cancer that fells German Shepherds with sudden collapse — how to spot the subtle warning episodes before the crisis, told honestly.
Read moreWhy a torn cruciate in a working shepherd is degeneration, not bad luck — and an honest walk-through of the TPLO versus conservative-management decision.
Read moreThe slow, painless spinal disease of older shepherds that's constantly misread as 'just getting old' — how to spot it, test for it, and manage it honestly.
Read moreThe UC Davis breed data turned spay/neuter into a timing question, not a yes/no one. An honest guide to the trade-offs for large herding dogs.
Read moreA vet's frank guide to epilepsy in shepherds and collies — how to tell a true seizure from something else, what idiopathic epilepsy means in practice, and how to make treatment decisions.
Read moreOsteoarthritis is not a single problem with a single answer. Here's how I actually manage arthritis in older shepherds — what works, what's oversold, and how to build a practical plan around a dog's individual case.
Read moreHeat stroke kills more working dogs every summer than most owners realise. Here's how a country vet recognises it early, what the first fifteen minutes should look like, and why some of the usual advice is wrong.
Read moreA veterinary guide to annual health checkups for German Shepherds, Border Collies, and other herding breeds — what matters, what gets missed, and how to make the most of your yearly appointment.
Read moreHypothyroidism in shepherds and collies is commonly over-diagnosed and simultaneously missed. Dr. Robert Hayes explains why thyroid testing is harder than it looks and how to actually interpret results.
Read moreGastric dilatation-volvulus is one of the most feared emergencies in large shepherd breeds. Here's what it is, who's at risk, and what the evidence says about prevention.
Read moreA frank assessment of the evidence behind glucosamine, fish oil, green-lipped mussel, and other joint supplements marketed for herding breeds — what works, what probably doesn't, and what to prioritise.
Read moreWorking herding dogs face higher parasite exposure than most pets. Dr. Robert Hayes explains what actually matters, what's overkill, and how to build a protocol that fits real life.
Read moreA veterinarian's guide to the health monitoring that matters most in the first half-year of a shepherd puppy's life — from first examination to foundational testing.
Read moreA vet's perspective on why shepherd and collie breeds are more prone to anxiety, what it looks like in practice, and what actually helps versus what wastes your time.
Read moreFrom Collie Eye Anomaly to progressive retinal atrophy, Dr. Robert Hayes explains the eye conditions that affect herding dogs most — and how to navigate testing, diagnosis, and management.
Read moreThe case for keeping herding dogs genuinely lean — why shepherd owners consistently overestimate ideal weight, what overcondition actually costs, and practical strategies that work.
Read moreWhat the MDR1 mutation actually means for your collie or shepherd, which drugs are affected, and how to navigate veterinary care when your dog carries the variant.
Read moreA frank look at hip dysplasia in working shepherds — what the scoring systems tell you, what they don't, and how to manage a dog that's already been diagnosed.
Read moreHow to recognise, treat, and prevent the soft tissue injuries that sideline working herding dogs. A veterinarian's guide to keeping athletic shepherds sound.
Read moreWhy shepherd breeds are prone to digestive problems, what the common conditions actually are, and how to manage a herding dog with a troubled gut.
Read moreWhat actually changes as your herding dog gets older, how to recognise the early signs, and practical strategies for keeping senior shepherds comfortable and active.
Read moreA veterinary perspective on why herding breeds suffer with seasonal allergies, what the itching actually means, and how to manage it without losing your mind.
Read moreWhy shepherd owners consistently overlook dental disease, what it actually costs their dogs, and the practical steps that make a real difference.
Read moreAfter 25 years as a veterinarian and an initial skeptic, here's what experience has taught me about raw diets for working dogs.
Read morePractical emergency first aid for working dogs when you're miles from the nearest vet. What to do in the critical minutes before professional help arrives.
Read morePractical guidance on recognising and handling vaccine reactions in Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, and other herding breeds.
Read moreWhy cutting corners on health testing before breeding costs far more than the tests themselves. A veterinarian's perspective from 25 years of treating the consequences.
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