Posts highlighting some non-specific information about veterinary specialty medicine
I love immunology (the study of the immune system) and hematology (the study of blood). I once contemplated completing a PhD in these fields, but two residencies was enough. Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia or ITP is an immune-mediated disease that is personal. My own dog was diagnosed with this disease during my residency training. This week I’m … [Read more…]
In the past couple of weeks you may have read some news stories about some folks being hospitalized due to an infection called campylobacteriosis after coming into contact with puppies in pet stores. So, this week I wanted to share information about this under-appreciated disease. I hope you find the post informational and that you’ll … [Read more…]
This week I wanted to share information about declawing our feline friends. Too many folks think this procedure – called an onychectomy – is simply the removal of a cat’s claws. It’s so much more than that! So, I felt motivated to compose a post to educate cat lovers about what declawing actually entails for … [Read more…]
Recently I had a very frustrating medical experience with a human family member. I won’t delve into the specific issues, but suffice it to say, the experience struck a sensitive chord. It made me think of some circumstances in which folks have different expectations of veterinarians compared to medical doctors. In the interest of fostering … [Read more…]
Lungs are a vital organ essential for delivering oxygen to the lungs and expelling carbon dioxide from the body. In various disease states, the lungs become damaged, and fluid can inappropriately swamp them with fluid. This fluid accumulation in the lungs is called is called pulmonary edema and can dramatically impede oxygenation and ventilation. In … [Read more…]
Medical doctors have used stem cell therapy to help treat a myriad of orthopedic conditions in people. Veterinarians have similarly used stem cell therapy, but we’re still learning about the benefits and risks of this treatment modality in pets. In this week’s post I share some information about stem cell therapy to increase awareness of … [Read more…]
I think most of you will agree it’s fun to watch dogs play at the park. I smile from ear to ear watching them frolic with each other. Every once and a while, you come across a dog with three limbs, a tripod as they are often affectionately called. These 3-legged companions are happy. They … [Read more…]
One of the most common problems for which patients are presented to me is that of chronic vomiting. There are a myriad of causes and treatments available. So, this week I wanted to dedicate some bandwidth to sharing more information about this common clinical problem. I hope you find the post helpful – happy reading! … [Read more…]
Like humans, our pets can experience allergic reactions. Most of them are mild in nature, but some may be life-threatening. My hope is this week’s post will raise awareness about allergic reactions so pet owners are better able to respond to these potentially serious life events. I hope you find the information helpful – happy … [Read more…]
We love dogs. But we don’t necessarily love all the potential things that come with being owners of them…especially behavior problems. Indeed, behavior issues in dogs can be quite problematic. This week’s post is meant to raise awareness of the top behavior problems in our canine companions. As GI Joe said, “knowing is half the … [Read more…]