Diseases

  • Pica in Dogs & Cats – Does Your Pet Eat Weird Things?

    Working in an emergency room for almost two decades, I’ve definitely seen my fair share of patients who’ve ingested some weird things – rocks, plastic, feminine hygiene products, hair ties, etc. Sure, dogs and cats love to chew on things, but actually ingesting them is problematic. This unusual habit of…

  • Proptosis of the Eye – When Your Dog’s Eye Pops Out!

    Eyes are beautiful, truly unique, and colorful. Unfortunately, accidents involving the eyes happen. One of the more common mishaps is proptosis of an eye. This week I’m sharing information about this unique problem to help raise awareness. I hope you find the post insightful and helpful. Happy reading! Proptosis –…

  • Ectopic Ureter – A Cause of Urinary Incontinence

    In previous posts I wrote about variety of urinary tract problems, including tumors of the urinary bladder and protein losing nephropathy (PLN). This week I wanted to share information about another urinary issue – ectopic ureter. I hope you find the post interesting and informative. Happy reading! Ectopic Ureter –…

  • Spontaneous Pneumothorax in Dogs & Cats

    Respiratory distress in dogs and cats is stressful for all involved – pet, owner, and even veterinarians. In previous posts I’ve shared information about various breathing problems, including kennel cough and aspiration pneumonia. This week I wanted to spend some time discussing a truly life-threatening respiratory problem – spontaneous pneumothorax.…

  • PLN – Protein Losing Nephropathy in Dogs & Cats

    In previous posts I’ve discussed a variety of kidney problems, including chronic kidney disease. This week I wanted to focus on a subcategory of renal ailments – those characterized by excessive loss of protein through the kidneys. This problem is generically called protein losing nephropathy or PLN and is a…

  • Cleft Palate in Puppies & Kittens

    Pediatric medicine is both fulfilling and challenging. Who doesn’t like caring for puppies and kittens? Unfortunately, these little ones can have some unique health problems including cleft palate. This week I discuss this condition to raise awareness, and I hope you find the information helpful. Happy reading! Cleft Palate –…

  • Colitis in Dogs & Cats – An Angry Large Intestine!

    The intestinal tract is quite long. It starts at the mouth and ends at the rectum. Near the end of the intestinal tract is the large intestine, otherwise known as the colon. When the colon becomes inflamed, we use the term colitis. Colitis is a relatively common problem in dogs…

  • Facial Nerve Paralysis in Dogs & Cats

    The heads of dogs and cats are innervated by twelve pairs of cranial nerves (CN). When CN VII – otherwise known as the facial nerve – is dysfunctional, the result is paralysis of specific facial muscles. This week I’m sharing some information about facial nerve paralysis to increase awareness, so…

  • Coxal Luxation – When the Hip Pops Out of Socket

    Orthopedic injuries are relatively common in dogs and cats. Problems like broken bones, luxating patellas, and ruptured cranial cruciate ligaments occur quite frequently. Hip injuries happen too, and coxal luxation – also called hip dislocation – is arguably the most common injury at this joint. So, this week I’m sharing…