Latest Posts

• Blue-Green Algae & Your Dog – A Colorful Toxin

  With the warm weather months upon us in the northern hemisphere, pet owners need to be aware of a variety of environmental hazards, including poisonous plants and of course, heatstroke. Many families don’t know about the danger of blue-green algae and its potential to kill pets. This week’s post is…

• The Gut Microbiome & Your Pet – Why You Should Care

  As many of you know, I recently attended the Hill’s Global Symposium in Toronto, Canada. The event was so wonderfully educational and I came back to work empowered with impactful information to help transform the lives of my patients. For this week’s post I wanted to share some important morsels…

• BEG Diets & Your Dog’s Heart – What’s the Hype?

  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…

• Pruritus in Dogs & Cats – Why is My Pet Itchy?

  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…

• Hydrocephalus in Pets – Too Much Water on the Brain

  The brain is a vital organ with many unique parts. Cerebrospinal fluid or CSF must be able to circulate appropriately. When flow of CSF is inadequate, serious and potentially life-threatening problems arise. This week I wanted to share information about hydrocephalus, a condition characterized by inappropriate accumulation of CSF in…

• Pericardial Effusion in Dogs – Fluid in the Sac Around the Heart

  The heart is a vital organ. It pumps blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen-rich blood to organs and returning oxygen-poor blood back to the lungs to be loaded with oxygen. There are a variety of ailments that cause the heart to function abnormally, impairing its ability to circulate blood. This…

• Pica in Dogs & Cats – Does Your Pet Eat Weird Things?

  Working in an emergency room for almost two decades, I’ve definitely seen my fair share of patients who’ve ingested some weird things – rocks, plastic, feminine hygiene products, hair ties, etc. Sure, dogs and cats love to chew on things, but actually ingesting them is problematic. This unusual habit of…

• FUO: What to Know About a Fever of Unknown

  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…

• Proptosis of the Eye – When Your Dog’s Eye Pops Out!

  Eyes are beautiful, truly unique, and colorful. Unfortunately, accidents involving the eyes happen. One of the more common mishaps is proptosis of an eye. This week I’m sharing information about this unique problem to help raise awareness. I hope you find the post insightful and helpful. Happy reading! Proptosis –…

• Paintball Toxicosis in Dogs – Not All Fun & Games

  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…