I remember being at a house party at Colorado State University. It was the Spring semester of my senior year. I’d already been accepted to veterinary school at Cornell University. We were having a great time – dancing, imbibing, and generally just whooping it up. Then it happened. A scream…
Diseases
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Cherry Eye in Dogs – Prolapse of the Third Eyelid Gland
I find eyes fascinating. They’re beautiful. They have so many unique structures. One of these structures is the nictitating membrane or third eyelid. Occasionally in dogs and cats, the gland associated with this membrane prolapses or slips out of place – a condition commonly known as cherry eye. This week…
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Reverse Sneezing in Dogs & Cats – Should You Be Worried?
With the warmer weather months upon us here in the Northern Hemisphere, so too are environmental allergens. Those pesky particles blowing around in the wind wreak havoc on many of us because they irritate our upper airways. Naturally our bodies try to expel them through various routes – sneezing, tearing,…
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Aspergillosis in Dogs – A Destructive Sinus & Nasal Disease
No one likes having a runny nose. Primary viral and secondary bacterial infections are common in pets and people. Most of the time these infections are self-limiting or are treated without complications. Occasionally fungi cause serious infections in the frontal sinuses and nasal passages of dogs. The most common fungal…
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Protein-Losing Enteropathy (PLE) – When Protein Passes in the Poop
As a clinician, educator, and administrator, I deal with a lot of poop – figuratively and literally. One of the most common problems I encounter is a pet with chronic gastrointestinal signs (e.g. vomiting, weight loss, diarrhea) and a concurrently low blood protein level. This is called a protein-losing enteropathy…
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Masticatory Myositis in Dogs – When Chewing Hurts!
I’m a foodie. Heaven knows I love some scrumptious delights to please my palate. What if the simple action of chewing delectable morsels caused excruciating pain? This dreaded scenario happens for some dogs, and is called masticatory myositis. Pain while chewing is often chalked up to dental problems. Many pet…
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Macadamia Nuts & Dogs Don’t Mix – A Peculiar Toxicity for Pups!
Whenever my family and I visited my maternal grandparents, my Papou (Greek for grandfather) would obsess about making sure we had enough to eat. There was always a jar of mixed nuts on the coffee table. Inevitably macadamia nuts were among the mixture of delicious nuts. They have such a…
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Lyme Disease in Dogs – Borreliosis is a Bit of a Bugger!
I love most things about Summer. Hot weather. Barbecues. Boating on the lake. Making memories with friends. Yet with the warmer season comes those nasty little pests known as ticks. These creepy critters can transmit to our canine companions a myriad of diseases, including the causative agent of Lyme disease.…
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Degenerative Myelopathy – A Progressive Spinal Cord Disease in Dogs
On this – the 3rd anniversary of CriticalCareDVM.com – I wanted to devote some time to an important and under-appreciated cause of pelvic limb weakness and paralysis in dogs. Most pet parents know about intervertebral disc disease that can cause neurological complications like difficulty walking and spinal discomfort. Yet, degenerative…
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Histoplasmosis in Dogs & Cats – A Funky Fungal Infection
When people hear the word infection, the majority think only about bacteria. Unfortunately, there are many different types of infectious organisms, including protozoal, parasites, and fungi. This week I’m sharing some information about a relatively common fungal infection called histoplasmosis. This organism can wreak havoc if not identified and treated…