Ask Dr. Mike: Link Between Staph Infection & Diabetes PLUS Should Your Dog Get a Flu Vaccine?

Summary: Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.Here you'll find the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions posed by Healthy Talk fans. Listen in because what you know helps ensure healthy choices you can live with. Today on Healthy Talk, you wanted to know: Is it true that type-2 diabetes is caused by staph infection? Diabetes is ultimately an insulin resistance disease and there are lots of different factors that contribute to diabetes, such as heredity and lifestyle factors. It's not as simple as correlating staph infection to the disease. Should I give my dog the dog flu vaccine? The canine influenza (also known as dog flu) is a contagious respiratory disease in dogs that causes symptoms similar to the flu in humans (sneezing, cough, runny nose, fevers, loss of appetite, and lethargy). Puppies and older dogs (just like babies and older adults) are more likely to get the dog flu. There was a recent flare-up in the Chicago area that caused more than 1,000 dogs to fall ill. Dr. Mike isn't against vaccines, but unless you're in a city and an area where your dog is exposed to other dogs (like a dog park) he doesn't think your dog needs it. If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.