Posts highlighting some non-specific information about veterinary specialty medicine
This week you may have seen the United States Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) report with information about more than one dozen dog food brands that have been associated with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. You can view the complete report here. Understandably, many pet owners are concerned about this information, and veterinarians across the … [Read more…]
No person likes to feel itchy. Neither do our dogs and cats. It’s annoying, and sometimes painful. There are a myriad of reasons for our pets to be itchy. Indeed, pruritus – the medical term for itching – is very common in companion animals. I’ve dedicated this week’s post to explaining pruritus in detail to … [Read more…]
One of the most common physical examination abnormalities documented in dogs and cats is an elevated body temperature. Sometimes a fever persists for weeks or intermittently recurs, and diagnostic testing fails to yield a definitive diagnosis. Such fevers are called fevers of unknown origin or FUO. This week I’ve dedicated some time to explaining this … [Read more…]
A couple of weeks ago I received a message from one of you asking me to share what I wished pet parents knew. Wow! That’s quite a request. Where do I begin? This week I’ve decided to take a stab at this intriguing inquiry. I’ve decided to let you in on four things I want … [Read more…]
Spring is finally upon us here in the northern hemisphere. The warm weather brings more opportunities for outdoor activities, including paintball with family and friends. Unfortunately, dogs often find paintballs to be a chewy delicacy. Ingestion can be quite problematic. So, this week I’ve dedicated a blog post to educating pet parents about the danger … [Read more…]
Last week I had some emergency medicine colleagues share with me a shocking statement said to them by some pet parents after they were presented with a medical treatment plan for their fur baby. The owners weren’t prepared for the cost of their pet’s emergency medical care. They were embarrassed, and as is human nature, … [Read more…]
Most pet parents have heard the terms pneumonia and congestive heart failure. Many have even heard of valve disease in dogs and cats. These are example of common heart and lung problems in pets. An under-appreciated cause of cardiopulmonary clinical signs in our furry companions is pulmonary hypertension. So, this week’s post is dedicated to … [Read more…]
You’ve probably seen the viral videos. You know the ones. A veterinarian uses forceps to gently pull a wriggling critter from under the skin of a kitten. To a lay person, the sight is both enthralling and grotesque. To a veterinarian, it is wholly gratifying. What did the veterinarian actually remove? A larvae of Cuterebra … [Read more…]
I love cats. Seriously, I’m a cat guy, and I’m not embarrassed to admit it. There can be no doubt they definitely are not small dogs. They have so many unique health issues, including a problem called triaditis. I recently received a message requesting more information about this syndrome. So, this week’s post is all … [Read more…]
With recent devastating wildfires in California, my social media newsfeed has been filled with tragic stories, including those of animals who perished in the flames and smoke. Indeed, smoke inhalation can be deadly to both humans and pets, alike. This week I wanted to shed some light on this topic to increase awareness. Happy reading! … [Read more…]