Diseases

• Pleural Space Disease – A Common Cause of Respiratory Distress

  Respiratory distress in dogs and cats is always scary and often frustrating. A common cause is pleural space disease, the accumulation of fluid and/or air between the body wall and the lungs. This week I review this medical condition so pet parents have some familiarity with it. Please consider sharing…

• Tracheal Collapse in Dogs – Conquering the Cough

  Chronic coughing is a frequent health concern of dog parents. In a previous blog, I discussed the most common cause of this sign in dogs – chronic bronchitis. Another reason for dogs to cough habitually is tracheal collapse (e.g. collapsing trachea). This week I discuss this common condition, and hope…

• Hemotropic Mycoplasmosis – Bad News For Cat’s Blood

  I love diseases of the blood and immune system. I find them fascinating. I love helping patients living with them. One common infection of the blood in cats is hemotropic mycoplasmosis. Specific bacteria called Mycoplasma parasitize red blood cells to destroy them and to trigger a powerful (and potentially deadly)…

• Acetaminophen & Cats – A Deadly Combination!

  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…

• 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…

• 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…

• 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.…

• 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,…

• 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…

• Acute Pancreatitis – A Disease That Should Not Be Ignored!

  Last week I reviewed a relatively unknown household threat to dogs and cats – bread dough intoxication. More commonly around the holidays emergency rooms see a spike in a specific type of illness in our furry companions – acute pancreatitis. This illness can manifest at any time of year, but incidence around…