Cats and dogs can be affected by hernias of a wide variety. Most folks have heard of umbilical and inguinal hernias. This week’s post is dedicated to a different type of hernia: a hiatal hernia. I hope you find the information interesting, and you’ll consider sharing it with your pet-loving friends. Happy reading! Hiatal Hernia … [Read more…]
One of my tasks as a board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialist is interpreting a wide variety of diagnostic tests. One of the most common laboratory abnormalities for which patients are referred to me is elevation of an enzyme called alkaline phosphatase, often abbreviated as SAP, SALP, and ALP. There are numerous potential reasons for the … [Read more…]
As a board-certified veterinary emergency and critical care specialist, I’ve seen my fair share of cats and dogs presented to me because they collapsed. Watching your pet collapse is understandably scary. So, this week I wanted to dedicate some to sharing some information about syncope in cats and dogs, a common cause of collapse. I … [Read more…]
One of the common reasons for which pet owners bring their pets to veterinarians is because of unexplained weight loss. So, this week I wanted to spend some time reviewing some of the potential causes to help shed some light on this problem. I hope you find this post helpful and share worthy. Happy reading! … [Read more…]
Sometimes medical issues in our cats and dogs are straightforward to diagnose and treat. More often, however, health problems can be ambiguous. This week’s post is dedicated one of the most common and vague reasons for which pet owners bring their pets to be evaluated by veterinarians, that is: weakness. I hope you find the … [Read more…]
If you bring your pet to a board-certified veterinary specialist, they may recommend repeating tests your family veterinarian already performed. This isn’t because they want to spend your money frivolously. This isn’t because they want to perform unnecessary tests. They repeat tests because they always want to provide optimal care. Achieving this goal requires using … [Read more…]
Several of you have requested more information about various bloodwork abnormalities to help you better understand your pet’s blood test results. You ask and you shall receive! This week’s post is dedicated to globulins, a unique category of proteins found in blood. I hope you enjoy the post and will share it with other pet … [Read more…]
Dogs tear ligaments in their stifles, otherwise known as the knees. The most common ligament injured is called the cranial cruciate ligament. In people, the equivalent ligament is the anterior cruciate ligament or ACL. Occasionally, the cranial cruciate ligament is injured after a pet abruptly changes direction while exercising/running. Most commonly, however, this ligament slowly degenerates. … [Read more…]
Cats and dogs can develop gastrointestinal ulceration just like you and me. For this week’s post, I’m sharing more information about this relatively common condition to raise awareness. I hope you find the information insightful. Happy reading! What causes gastrointestinal ulceration? The wall of the gastrointestinal tract has four layers. From inside to out, they … [Read more…]
Anyone who has gone to their own doctor knows blood pressure measurement is routine practice. This is because high blood pressure or hypertension is relatively common and can lead to serious issues if not treated appropriately. Well, the same is true of our cats and dogs. Hypertension is a very important issue in our pets, … [Read more…]