Posts highlighting some non-specific information about veterinary specialty medicine
In this week’s post, board-certified veterinary cardiologist Dr. Kacie Schmitt shares with us some wonderfully useful information about certain heart diseases. To help understand basic heart anatomy, please click here to peruse an excellent resource from our friends at Hill’s Pet Nutrition that highlights normal basic anatomy of a dog and cat. As we learned in … [Read more…]
Have you been told your dog or cat needs biopsies from the gastrointestinal tract? Does this scare you because you’re concerned about your fur baby’s comfort level, anesthesia and recovery? Have no fear because in this week’s post you will find answers to your questions about gastrointestinal biopsies! I am excited to turn Because Pets … [Read more…]
Each of us knows that wonderful feeling of looking into the eyes of our fur babies, sensing the non-verbal love we cherish from them. But what do you do when your pet’s eyes appear red? I’m not talking about metaphorical red but rather true physical red that indicates a medical problem is present or brewing. … [Read more…]
In recent posts I wrote about two of the major cells types in blood – red blood cells and platelets. Specifically I reviewed causes of low red blood cells and low platelets. This week I introduce the last major cell type in blood – white blood cells – and discuss reasons why their population can increase. … [Read more…]
One of the more common reasons for which patients are referred to me is anemia or a low red blood cell count. Red blood cells are truly important as they carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Without an adequate oxygen supply, body organs suffer damage and the body goes into shock. In this … [Read more…]
Platelets having several important functions in the body, chiefly helping to form strong blood clots. One of the more common problems for which patients are referred to me is that of low platelets. This is a condition called thrombocytopenia, and can be life-threatening. Without adequate functional platelets, patients can spontaneously bleed. In this week’s blog … [Read more…]
No one likes having a stuffy nose. It can be uncomfortable and frustrating. One may not even be able to taste food appropriately or at all. Simply it can be quite miserable! So too is the feeling for a dog or cat with nasal congestion. Now imagine having a horribly stuffed nose for weeks on … [Read more…]
Dogs and cats unfortunately develop masses frequently. Whether these masses are associated with the skin or are growing inside a body cavity, they can cause serious and potentially life-threatening problems for pets. Thus their removal is often imperative to maximize the best possible outcome for affected animals. Mass Removal Point #1: “See Something, Do Something” If you … [Read more…]
Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions supply critical oxygen-carrying cells to the body. Prior to the development of veterinary blood banking techniques, the major form of RBC transfusion was on-site collection of fresh whole blood (FWB) with subsequent administration within hours of collection. Today, however, the use of stored whole blood (WB) and packed red blood … [Read more…]
The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is understandably very important in all animals, and it becomes truly vital in sick pets because of its many functions that support health. The GIT has several components, all of which work together to help ensure an animal is able to maximally utilize nutrients s/he ingests. Think of the GIT as … [Read more…]