“Ask A Vet”
with Dr. Jane Sykes
Since June 2025, Dr. Jane Sykes has contributed her “Ask A Vet” column to the Washington Post, where readers can submit questions about their pets. Dr. Sykes answers those questions with columns that cover a wide variety of topics such as pet behavior, general and preventive health, lifestyle, and end-of-life decisions. “Ask A Vet” provides excellent general insights into pet care and gives pet owners plenty of topics to consider discussing at their next veterinary appointment.
About Dr. Sykes
Jane Sykes, BVSc (Hons), PhD, MPH, MBA, FNAP, GCPH, DACVIM (SAIM), FACVIM (Founding)
Dr. Sykes is a professor at the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine and a board-certified small animal internal medicine specialist with a special interest in infectious diseases. She received her veterinary degree (1993) and a Ph.D. (1998) in veterinary microbiology from the University of Melbourne (Australia). Dr. Sykes also earned a MBA (2020) from the University of Georgia and a Graduate Certificate in Public Health (2022) and a Master of Public Health (2023) from Kansas State University. She completed her residency in small animal internal medicine at the University of Minnesota and became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). Dr. Sykes stayed on at Minnesota as a clinical faculty member before coming to UC Davis in 2002. Her leadership roles at UC Davis have included: chief of the Internal Medicine Service, biosecurity officer of the Small Animal Clinic, director of the Small Animal Clinic, and chief veterinary medical officer of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Currently, she serves as the director of the Center for Veterinary Postgraduate Education. Dr. Sykes has published more than 150 peer-reviewed scientific publications and is the editor of several textbooks on canine and feline infectious diseases, including Greene’s Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat. She founded the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases in 2006 and has held several leadership roles in the ACVIM, including president and board chair.
Washington Post Columns
- Ask a Vet: Do I Really Need to Brush My Dog’s Teeth?
Daily home dental care for dogs can stave off stinky breath — and costly veterinary procedures. - Ask A Vet: Why Does My Pet Lick Me So Much?
Are there any health concerns to worry about with your pets licking you? - Ask a Vet: Why Are My Cat’s Pupils Dilated All the Time?
Big pupils don’t always mean fear or excitement (or bright light). - Ask a Vet: How Do I Know When It's Time to Say Goodbye to My Pet?
It's never easy to let go of a beloved companion. Here's what to consider when making the decision. - Ask a Vet: Anal Gland Issues Are Gross and Painful. Here's What To Do.
What is the best course of action for pets having anal gland issues. Is surgery the answer? - Ask a Vet: Can a Special Diet Help My Cat Avoid Urinary Problems?
Special diets are best reserved for cats with known issues. Here’s what you should focus on instead. - Ask a Vet: My Dog's Achy Bones Are Slowing Him Down. What Can I Do?
Pro tips for relieving an arthritic dog's aches and pains. - Ask a Vet: Is It Bad to Let my Dog Sleep in My Bed?
How sharing a bed with your pet affects your health – and your sleep. - Ask a Vet: Why a Raw Food Diet Isn’t Safe for Your Pet — or You
Raw food diets are marketed as a safer alternative to processed pet food. Here’s what you need to know. - Ask a Vet: Do I Really Need to Vaccinate My Indoor Cat?
Considering skipping vaccines for your pet? Here’s why that’s a bad idea. - Ask a Vet: My Dog Is Humping Everything in Sight. What Can I Do?
The reason behind your dog’s embarrassing habit and how to get it to stop. - Ask A Vet: Why Won't My Dog Stop Licking Her Feet?
Odds are the problem is an allergy. But figuring out what’s triggering it can be complicated. - Ask A Vet: Is It Cruel to Neuter My Dog?
The debate over a common procedure – and why some countries view it as a form of mutilation. - Ask a Vet: Is it Ethical to Buy a Flat-faced Dog?
French bulldogs and other brachycephalic breeds come with high price tags and, often, serious health problems. - Ask a Vet: When It Comes to Cats and Vomiting, How Much Is Too Much?
The skinny on why cats throw up, and when you should be concerned. - Ask a Vet: Does My Dog Really Need Heartworm Medication?
The parasite, spread by mosquitos, can be life-threatening. - Ask a Vet: These Household Items Could Kill Your Pet
What to know about some of the most common — and deadly — indoor household toxins. - Ask a Vet: Dog Vaccines You Shouldn’t Skip
Five Leptospirosis, parvo and other core vaccines can help keep your dog healthy. - Ask a Vet: Tick Season Is Almost Here. Here’s What You Need to Know.
Ticks will suck your pet’s blood, and they transmit some nasty infectious diseases. - Ask a Vet: How Do I Protect My Pet from Fleas, Ticks and Other Parasites?
The right product depends on where you live, and your pet’s age and lifestyle. - Ask a Vet: No, You Shouldn’t Have Your Dog’s Ears Cropped
No matter what breeders say, this and other procedures to alter a dog’s appearance are unnecessary. - Ask A Vet: Is There a Pill That Can Help My Dog Live Longer?
Antiaging drugs for people are a hot topic. Could they also work on our pets? - Ask A Vet: Why Does My Dog Pant So Much?
How to know when your dog is just hot, and when there’s something else going on. - Ask a Vet: My Dog Is Staggering Around and Falling Over. What Gives?
Idiopathic vestibular disease is one of the most common neurological diseases in older dogs. - Ask a Vet: Can I Catch a Virus from My Cat?
Cat-to-human transfer is rare, but the emergence of new strains has raised concerns. - Ask a Vet: Can You Get a Dog to Stop Barking? As a Vet, Here's What I Recommend
Successfully stopping your dog's barking requires that you understand what triggers it in the first place.