Diseases

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison’s Disease): A Great Pretender

    One of my favorite diseases to diagnose and treat is Addison’s disease. The medical name for this disease is hypoadrenocorticism, an adrenal gland disorder that predominantly affects dogs and rarely cats. The opposite of Cushing’s disease, this disease can manifest in a myriad of ways. This week I spend some…

  • Mammary Tumors in Dogs – Don’t Ignore a Lump!

    Each October in the United States, various organizations strive to raise awareness of and funds for finding a cure for breast cancer in humans. Breast cancer, also called mammary cancer,  in dogs has both similarities and differences to the human condition. To end the month of October, I review the…

  • Urinary Bladder Cancer in Dogs

    The urinary tract of dogs is comprised of two kidneys, two ureters (tubes that connect the kidneys to the urinary bladder), the urinary bladder, prostate gland (male dogs only), and the urethra (tube that connects the urinary bladder to the outside world). The urinary bladder is the most common site…

  • Hypercalcemia (High Calcium Levels) in Dogs

    A common reason for which dogs are referred to me for further evaluation is an elevated blood calcium level (called hypercalcemia). Sometimes affected patients are incredibly sick while others have no outward clinical signs of illness. An accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause of a dog’s hypercalcemia is truly important.…

  • Urinary Tract Infection in Dogs and Cats

    Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are relatively common in companion animals. Given the frequency of UTI diagnosis, the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Disease (ISCAID) developed guidelines for the diagnosis and management of urinary tract infection. One should not confuse guidelines with “standards of care”, as the former are simply…

  • Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome – A Vexing Airway Problem

    With the warmer and more humid weather of the summer months comes an increased incidence of heat related events like heat stroke. Patients with shorter snouts/muzzles often have more difficulty acclimating to this type of environment due to the conformation of their airway. This week I discuss the implications of…

  • Otitis Externa – A Common Ear Problem in Dogs

    One of the most common ear problems in dogs is inflammation and/or infection of the outer ear; this is called otitis externa. This week I discuss some key features of this ailment with a sincere hope you will find the information helpful and share worthy. Happy reading! Otitis Externa – What…