Dogs and cats can develop a variety of airway and lung conditions like chronic bronchitis and asthma. Unfortunately, they can also develop a lesser known but debilitating condition called pulmonary fibrosis. This week I wanted to spend some time discussing this lung condition. I hope you find the information interesting and helpful. Happy reading! Pulmonary … [Read more…]
Halloween – one of my favorite days of the year – is just around the corner! With this ghoulie holiday comes images of sorts of creepy crawlies that are sure to make your skin crawl. Did you know cats can be infested by various creepy crawlies? One of the most common critters are ear mites. … [Read more…]
Just like men, male dogs can develop prostatic disease, including prostate cancer. This disease tends to be fairly aggressive in our canine companions, and thus early identification is of paramount important. For this reason, I’ve dedicated this week’s post to raising awareness about prostate cancer in dogs. I hope you find this information helpful and … [Read more…]
Growing up and through college, I had long curly Greek blond locks of hair whenever I let my hair grow. Yet as my maternal grandfather had male pattern baldness, I knew I wouldn’t have my hair forever. Indeed, in veterinary school my receding hairline became obvious. Hair loss or alopecia had set in. I had … [Read more…]
If you’re like me, you don’t monitor every elimination your dog or cat makes. You don’t observe every urination. Yet at some point in a pet’s life, they will inevitably develop blood in their urine. This is a condition called hematuria. It’s actually pretty common, so I wanted to dedicate some time explaining this important … [Read more…]
Many pet parents take prescription medications for various health reasons. Despite their best efforts, many of our pets get into the bottles of pills, and often ingest the potentially harmful drugs. One common medication that can be readily toxic and potentially lethal to dogs and cats is a drug called baclofen. This week I share … [Read more…]
Who can forget one of the joyous wonders of puberty? Which one, you ask? Acne of course! Our furry feline friends aren’t immune to developing this annoying skin condition. Yet many pet parents don’t recognize this problem in their cats. So, this week’s post highlights this skin disorder, and I hope you find the information … [Read more…]
Chronic diarrhea is a common problem for our furry companions. So too are constipation and diabetes mellitus for dogs & cats. All of these medical problems may benefit from increased dietary fiber. Many veterinarians recommend supplementing meals with canned pumpkin as a means of increasing fiber in the diet. Is this effective? Read this post … [Read more…]
Most dog owners have heard of many of the common gastrointestinal problems that afflict dogs. Parvovirus in dogs. Intestinal parasites (aka “worms), foreign objects causing an obstruction, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and even gastric dilatation-volvulus (aka: “bloat”). Yet, there is one about which few parents know. Which one you ask? The problem is called an … [Read more…]
You may have recently read a news story about a Wisconsin man who lost both of his legs and arms to an infection caused by the bacterium, Capnocytophaga canimorsus. This story caught the attention of news media because of the rarity of the infection and the severity of injuries. As this bacterium is commonly found … [Read more…]