Just like you and me, animals develop fevers, and they do so for a wide variety of reasons. A prevailing belief among pet parents is dogs and cats with fevers need antibiotics. Yet, this is not true. So, this week I wanted to get back to some basics and explains…
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Mastitis in Dogs & Cats – A Painful Part of Motherhood
Motherhood is a beautiful thing. Watching queens and bitches care for and raise their kittens and puppies, respectively, is heart-warming to say the least. Occasionally, being a mom can become physically painful, especially when mammary (breast) tissue becomes inflamed and/or infected – this is a condition called mastitis. This past…
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Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy (HOD) in Dogs – A Bone Growth Disorder
One of my favorite TV shows growing up was Growing Pains. Watching the exploits of Mike, Carol, and Ben Seaver as the traveled the road of adolescence was uniquely entertaining as a pre-teen. What isn’t entertaining is watching a dog experience the tremendous growing pains caused by a disease called…
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Coccidioidomycosis in Dogs & Cats – An Important Fungal Infection in Pets
Infectious organisms are everywhere. Bacteria, viruses, and fungi threaten our pets every day. Some prefer specific environmental conditions to thrive. Two such organisms are Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii, the microbes that cause coccidioidomycosis or Valley fever. This week I hope you’ll enjoy learning more about this important infectious disease…
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Pyrethrin and Pyrethroid Toxicity in Cats: What Pet Owners and Veterinary Teams Need to Know
Pyrethrins and pyrethroids are common ingredients found in many flea and tick preventatives, household insecticides, and gardening products. While these chemicals are generally safe for dogs and humans when used as directed, cats are uniquely sensitive. Accidental exposure can quickly lead to life-threatening toxicity. This article explains the mechanism of…
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Hookworms in Dogs & Cats – Blood-Sucking Parasites in our Pets
Recently I came across a news story of a couple who visited the Dominican Republic. While in the tropical paradise, they became infected with a parasite from the genus Ancylostoma. more commonly known as hookworms. They likely contracted this painful parasitic infestation while walking barefoot on the local beaches of…
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Cholecalciferol Intoxication – Too Much of a Good Things for Our Pets
Every day I take a multi-vitamin. After all, medical doctors advocate vitamins are healthy supplements when taken appropriately. The same is true for dogs and cats. Unfortunately, too much of some vitamins is not good. In fact, ingestion of toxic amounts of specific vitamins can be deadly. This week, I…
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Bromethalin Intoxication in Dogs & Cats – Not Your Typical Rodenticide
I love mice and rats. I think they make great first pets for children. I also know not everybody shares my adoration for these rodents. Indeed, many go out of the way to expunge them from their homes, employing various traps and poisons. One common type of rodenticide contains a…
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Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) in Dogs – When the Blood Pump Fails!
The heart is obviously a vital organ. Proper function is essential to deliver oxygen to tissues throughout the body. When not functioning properly, our dogs and cats becoming rapidly debilitated, and indeed, can die. This week I’ve dedicated some time to explaining a type of severe heart dysfunction called congestive…
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Grass & Your Pets – Why Dogs & Cats Mow the Lawn with Their Mouths!
This week I thought I would do something a little bit different. Instead of blogging about a specific disease process, I thought I would dedicate time to answering a very common question I’m asked as a board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialist: Why does my pet eat grass? To date, veterinarians…