Diarrhea or should I say chronic diarrhea is one of the more common reasons dogs and cats are referred to board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialists. By definition chronic diarrhea has been present for more than three weeks. Certainly the majority of pet parents are profoundly frustrated by the time they…
General Information
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Why Couldn’t My Vet Figure It Out?
This question is poised to me by pet parents on an almost daily basis. It is also one that puts me immediately on guard. Why? As a board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialist, my primary obligation is to advocate for your pet’s healthcare. But my patients come to me through referrals…
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Why Mixing Steroids and NSAIDs in Dogs and Cats Can Be Dangerous
As a veterinarian, I see this mistake too often, and it worries me every time. With so many safe alternatives available to manage pain and inflammation in pets, the decision to combine steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is one that can put dogs and cats at serious risk. That’s…
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Laboratory Tests for Pets – Where Are They Performed?
Evaluating blood, urine and feces (as well as other bodily fluids) to screen for and monitor disease processes is an essential component of animal healthcare. Samples can be submitted to any number of veterinary reference laboratories, gold-standard facilities with board-certified veterinary clinical pathologists and well-trained medical technologists who work with…
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Honesty Is the Safest Policy!
When a pet gets sick and requires the medical attention of a veterinarian, pet parents expect the veterinarian to make their pet well! They expect (and often demand) the best care, the latest treatments, and the most advanced diagnostics available. But often it is pet parents themselves who sabotage their…
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Steroid Trials in Dogs and Cats – The Good, The Bad & The Frustrating
A clinical scenario I face almost on a daily basis is a pet that is presented to me for failure to positively respond to a steroid trial initiated by a family veterinarian. A primary care doctor initially evaluated the fur baby, and subsequently made a presumptive clinical diagnosis of a disease…
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A Consultation With A Veterinary Specialist – What to Expect
I recognize the very fact that a pet needs to see me, as a specialist, is very stressful for a family. Pet parents are often nervous, worried, and possibly even frustrated about a consultation with a veterinary specialist. Sometimes they’re downright scared! Believe me, I understand these emotions. I’ve been…
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Does My Pet Need A Veterinary Specialist?
Let’s first take an example from human medicine. If you’re worried about your heart, you would initially seek a consultation with your primary care doctor. This examination is absolutely essential, as this family physician typically has a long-standing relationship with you and knows your entire medical history. Put simply, your relationship…
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Specialists For Pets?
“I had no idea there were specialists for pets!” I hear that same statement from pet parents day-in and day-out. So I’ve started this blog in an attempt to (hopefully) increase awareness and visibility of the incredible work board-certified veterinary specialists do every day. Please know the content of this blog is…