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…
Latest Posts
-
-
Liver Shunts – Small Problems that Cause Bigger Ones!
Ingested food is broken down in the intestinal tract, and subsequently nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream that travels to the liver (called the portal blood supply). The liver is the vital organ tasked with using these nutrients to store sugar and produce protein, as well as clean the blood…
-
Chronic Bronchitis in Dogs – A Nagging Cough
I was sitting in the United Club in the C Terminal of Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport contemplating what to write for this blog post. I always want to provide useful information for pet parents, and my brain has been somewhat discombobulated with holiday happenings. Whilst brainstorming potential blog topics, I couldn’t…
-
Nutrition For Sick Pets – Complex Info in Edible Bites
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.…
-
Subcutaneous Fluid Therapy – You Want Me To Poke What?
At some point in a pet’s life, s/he will benefit from receiving fluid under the skin or subcutaneous fluid. This type of therapeutic intervention is prescribed to help treat mild dehydration or to prevent dehydration in at-risk patients. For some parents, the thought of administering subcutaneous fluid can be downright…
-
Blood Pressure Monitoring – Vital Yet Under Appreciated
Vital signs (i.e.: heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature) are non-invasive clinical measurements used to assess the state of a patient’s essential body functions. Clinical board-certified veterinary specialists consider blood pressure (BP) to be the fourth vital sign, but sadly the prevalence of appropriate blood pressure monitoring in veterinary…
-
Fluid Therapy Information About Your Dog and Cat
When a beloved pet becomes sick, a veterinarian may recommend administration of special fluids to help make her/him feel better. Fluid therapy is principally important for specific patient populations, particularly those: Undergoing general anesthesia With persistent diarrhea and/or vomiting Who have ingested toxins Coping with dysfunction of major organ systems like the…
-
Follow-Up Testing – Keep Your Veterinary Specialist Informed
Board-certified veterinary specialists thrive on the opportunity to partner with pet parents and primary care doctors in an effort to make animals feel better. There are very few feelings that are more satisfying than that of successfully discharging a healed (or even cured) patient home to his/her family. However in…
-
Nausea – Do You Know What Your Pet Is Saying?
On an almost daily basis I have the privilege of consulting with families whose dog or cat isn’t eating well (or at all). Sometimes the pet is also vomiting, but often the only concern for the family is the pet’s lack of appetite. When I obtain a complete patient history,…
-
Fasting – Oh The Dread!
Both primary care veterinarians and board-certified veterinary specialists often need to perform non-invasive blood and imaging tests in an attempt to determine why a pet is sick. In most scenarios, properly fasting an animal is truly instrumental in ensuring results are accurate. If I’m going to ask your pet to…