Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol®, is commonly taken by humans to help reduce inflammation and fever. Many other over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications contain acetaminophen too – click here to see an extensive list. Logically many pet parents believe this medication can be administered to cats for the same…
Diseases
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Anal Glands & Impaction – Don’t Make Things Worse
Inevitably at least once during a typical clinical day, I’m asked to express a patient’s anal glands. More often than not, however, there is no real reason to do so. Perhaps perpetuated by the grooming industry or by incorrect information shared on the internet, many pet parents believe an animal’s…
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Lymphoma in Dogs – What You Need to Know
The word cancer elicits many different feelings for people – fear, helplessness, and uncertainty just to name a few. Sadly, our fur babies aren’t immune from the grips of “the big C” but everyday we are learning more thanks to the efforts of researchers and board-certified veterinary oncologists. One of…
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Lung Tumors in Dogs & Cats – Early Identification is Key
Pets, like people, can be afflicted with cancer in the lungs. Early identification is key to maximize the likelihood of a positive outcome. In an effort to increase awareness of lung tumors in our fur babies, this week I dedicate some time to explain lung cancers in dogs and cats.…
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Luxating Patellas – Trick Knees in Our Dogs
Many pet parents have heard of cruciate ligament injuries in pets. Yet few know about another common knee disorder afflicting our furry companions – luxating patellas. The patella, more commonly known as the knee cap, can slip out of its normal groove (aka dislocate or luxate) to cause lameness, discomfort,…
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Immune Mediated Polyarthropathy – A Joint Attack
My favorite aspect of practicing medicine is treating diseases caused by dysfunction of the immune system. In previous blogs, I reviewed two common immune-mediated diseases – immune-mediated hemolytic anemia and immune-mediated thrombocytopenia. A less commonly appreciated condition of immune system dysfunction is immune-mediated polyarthropathy or IMPA, a disease where the immune…
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Acute Pancreatitis in Dogs: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How It Is Treated
What Is Acute Pancreatitis? The pancreas is a boomerang-shaped organ within the abdominal cavity. It performs several essential functions. Most importantly, it produces digestive enzymes that allow dogs to break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Acute pancreatitis develops when the pancreas becomes suddenly inflamed. Normally, digestive enzymes activate in the…
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Bread Dough Intoxication – A Not-So-Yummy Treat
It’s official. With the recent celebration of Thanksgiving, the holiday season is undoubtedly upon us in the United States. The seasonal festivities bring a lot of merriment and delicious foods to our tables. Sometimes our fur babies decide to celebrate with us, sneakily feasting upon the goodies on counters and…
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GI Foreign Objects – A Big Pain in the Gut
Dogs and cats like to chew on things. That fact won’t come as a shock to any pet parent. Unfortunately, they also like to swallow some of those foreign items on which they nibble. This week I spend some time discussing how to help your fur baby should you find…
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Addison’s Disease in Dogs: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment
Addison’s disease in dogs, medically known as hypoadrenocorticism, is an endocrine disorder that results from inadequate production of critical adrenal hormones. Although the condition is uncommon, it remains clinically important because it can mimic many other illnesses. For this reason, clinicians often call it “the great pretender.” Early recognition and…