Winter is rapidly approaching – at least here in North America. With the advent of this season comes bone-chilling temperatures in many regions. Dogs and cats – just like humans – are at risk for developing subnormal body temperatures, a condition known as hypothermia. This week I’ve dedicated some blog…
General Information
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ER Medicine & the Magnificent Misconception of Dr. Magnifico
Last night while waiting to board a flight, I unfortunately stumbled upon a video of Dr. Krista Magnifico ranting about the cost of veterinary emergency medicine (ER medicine). I refuse to repost her video on CriticalCareDVM.com, as I believe strongly I have an obligation to only disseminate accurate information to…
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Rhinoscopy in Dogs & Cats – Looking Inside the Nasal Cavity
Just like you and me, dogs and cats frequently develop nasal problems. They get infections. They sniff up foreign particles. They develop nasal tumors. To make definitive diagnoses for many of these patients, a minimally invasive procedure called rhinoscopy is needed. This week I share some tidbits about this interventional…
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Are You Killing Your Veterinarian? What You Should Know About Suicide!
I’ve wanted to write about this topic for a long time. I’ve needed to write about it. I’ve long been encouraged by a multitude of colleagues to broach the topic. After all, we want pet parents to know about it. We need them to know about it. So, what is…
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Pet Parents Can Be Mean in the Emergency Room – And It’s Not OK!
For the past couple of weeks, my social media feeds have been rife with justified rants from colleagues who work in veterinary emergency rooms all around the world – veterinarians, licensed veterinary technicians, and client service folks who work tirelessly to help your pets. Long hours, feelings of not being…
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Lymph Node Enlargement in Dogs & Cats – A Swelling Not to Be Ignored!
A common clinical scenario I encounter is a pet referred to me for evaluation of enlarged lymph nodes. Parents may incidentally discover the swellings while petting or playing with their pet. At other times family veterinarians find the enlargements during an annual preventative healthcare examination. Given the commonality of this…
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Dental Cleanings & Your Pet – What You Need to Know!
Dental health is important for both humans and pets. Diseased gums and teeth readily cause halitosis (bad breath), and can be a sign of a serious health problem. Dental diseases can also affect other organs of the body too. Since February is National Pet Dental Health Month, I was to…
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Hyperlipidemia in Dogs & Cats – Why Worry about Cholesterol & Triglycerides?
Blood fats are called lipids, and they circulate throughout the body. They play a wide variety of roles in normal organ function and metabolism. Elevated blood lipids – called hyperlipidemia – in humans are major causes of cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, and hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver syndrome). Do…
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Labor in Dogs & Cats – Be Prepared for the Unexpected
Just as for humans, labor in dogs and cats is straightforward without complications. But the latter do happen, and they tend to happen at inopportune times like the middle of the night. Pet parents need to be prepared for the unexpected. This week I share information to help families identify when…
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Bone Marrow Sampling in Dogs & Cats: When the Blood is the Problem
Every veterinarian has a favorite disease process or a type of health problem. Some love the gastrointestinal tract, others the heart or lungs. For me, conditions affecting the immune system and blood truly get me excited. As part of an appropriate diagnostic process for such conditions, sampling the bone marrow…