One of the best pieces of medical advice I ever received was from a board-certified veterinary surgeon at the hospital where I completed my internship after graduating from Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The hospital was/is located in one of the most litigious parts of the country (Long Island,…
-
-
Veterinary Specialists’ Pet Peeves
I’m writing this blog as I travel to Frankfurt, Germany to speak with colleagues at the Congress of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine about marketing veterinary specialty medicine. I was concerned about the timing of my voyage, as I was not confident I would be able to publish…
-
Chronic Diarrhea in Pets – A Messy Matter
Diarrhea or should I say chronic diarrhea is one of the more common reasons dogs and cats are referred to board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialists. By definition chronic diarrhea has been present for more than three weeks. Certainly the majority of pet parents are profoundly frustrated by the time they…
-
Excessive Urination and Thirst in Dogs & Cats
A common reason for pet parents to bring their dogs and cats to the family veterinarian is an observable increase in thirst (called polydipsia or PD) and/or increased volume of urination (called polyuria or PU). A pet parent can’t keep a pet’s water bowl filled enough and/or the pet seems to “pee a…
-
Cushing’s Disease in Dogs & Cats Explained
Picture an adrenal gland as a peanut M&M™. Cushing’s disease (or hyperadrenocorticism) is a problem with the chocolate coating, and it is much more common in dogs than in cats. As part of this condition the adrenal glands overproduce certain hormones, particularly the body’s own steroid called cortisol. An elevated…
-
Why Couldn’t My Vet Figure It Out?
This question is poised to me by pet parents on an almost daily basis. It is also one that puts me immediately on guard. Why? As a board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialist, my primary obligation is to advocate for your pet’s healthcare. But my patients come to me through referrals…
-
The Dreaded Megaesophagus
This week was filled with patients with some challenging diseases, none more so than megaesophagus! What’s that you ask? Please take a few minutes to read more about this potentially debilitating disease of the esophagus (food tube) below. What is megaesophagus? Megaesophagus is a condition where there is decreased or…
-
Urethral Sphincter Mechanism Incompetence – My Dog Wet the Bed!
If your dog leaks urine when s/he lays down to rest or sleep, s/he may be living with a condition called urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence or USMI, a common disorder in adults dogs, particularly females. Indeed this condition may affect up to 20% of female dogs, and usually manifests within three…
-
Why Mixing Steroids and NSAIDs in Dogs and Cats Can Be Dangerous
As a veterinarian, I see this mistake too often, and it worries me every time. With so many safe alternatives available to manage pain and inflammation in pets, the decision to combine steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is one that can put dogs and cats at serious risk. That’s…
-
Vomiting Cats
This is a statement I hear from pet parents almost on a daily basis. When I ask them where they heard such a concept, the response is usually, “that’s what my vet said.” Furthermore their family veterinarians have usually simply treated the vast majority of these cats symptomatically with diets…