This week you may have seen the United States Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) report with information about more than one dozen dog food brands that have been associated with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. You can view the complete report here. Understandably, many pet owners are concerned about this information, and veterinarians across the … [Read more…]
No person likes to feel itchy. Neither do our dogs and cats. It’s annoying, and sometimes painful. There are a myriad of reasons for our pets to be itchy. Indeed, pruritus – the medical term for itching – is very common in companion animals. I’ve dedicated this week’s post to explaining pruritus in detail to … [Read more…]
The brain is a vital organ with many unique parts. Cerebrospinal fluid or CSF must be able to circulate appropriately. When flow of CSF is inadequate, serious and potentially life-threatening problems arise. This week I wanted to share information about hydrocephalus, a condition characterized by inappropriate accumulation of CSF in the brain. I hope you … [Read more…]
The heart is a vital organ. It pumps blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen-rich blood to organs and returning oxygen-poor blood back to the lungs to be loaded with oxygen. There are a variety of ailments that cause the heart to function abnormally, impairing its ability to circulate blood. This week I’ve dedicated a post … [Read more…]
Working in an emergency room for almost two decades, I’ve definitely seen my fair share of patients who’ve ingested some weird things – rocks, plastic, feminine hygiene products, hair ties, etc. Sure, dogs and cats love to chew on things, but actually ingesting them is problematic. This unusual habit of consuming objects is called pica. … [Read more…]
One of the most common physical examination abnormalities documented in dogs and cats is an elevated body temperature. Sometimes a fever persists for weeks or intermittently recurs, and diagnostic testing fails to yield a definitive diagnosis. Such fevers are called fevers of unknown origin or FUO. This week I’ve dedicated some time to explaining this … [Read more…]
A couple of weeks ago I received a message from one of you asking me to share what I wished pet parents knew. Wow! That’s quite a request. Where do I begin? This week I’ve decided to take a stab at this intriguing inquiry. I’ve decided to let you in on four things I want … [Read more…]
Eyes are beautiful, truly unique, and colorful. Unfortunately, accidents involving the eyes happen. One of the more common mishaps is proptosis of an eye. This week I’m sharing information about this unique problem to help raise awareness. I hope you find the post insightful and helpful. Happy reading! Proptosis – What is it? Proptosis is … [Read more…]
Spring is finally upon us here in the northern hemisphere. The warm weather brings more opportunities for outdoor activities, including paintball with family and friends. Unfortunately, dogs often find paintballs to be a chewy delicacy. Ingestion can be quite problematic. So, this week I’ve dedicated a blog post to educating pet parents about the danger … [Read more…]
In previous posts I wrote about variety of urinary tract problems, including tumors of the urinary bladder and protein losing nephropathy (PLN). This week I wanted to share information about another urinary issue – ectopic ureter. I hope you find the post interesting and informative. Happy reading! Ectopic Ureter – What is it? To best … [Read more…]