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CriticalCareDVM

The Dreaded Megaesophagus

2014-07-21 by CriticalCareDVM

This week was filled with patients with some challenging diseases, none more so than megaesophagus! What’s that you ask? Please take a few minutes to read more about this potentially debilitating disease of the esophagus (food tube) below. What is megaesophagus? Megaesophagus is a condition where there is decreased or absent muscular contractions of the … [Read more…]

Posted in: Diseases Tagged: aspiration pneumonia, Bailey Chair, megaesophagus, myasthenia gravis, regurgitation

Urethral Sphincter Mechanism Incompetence – My Dog Wet the Bed!

2014-07-14 by CriticalCareDVM

If your dog leaks urine when s/he lays down to rest or sleep, s/he may be living with a condition called urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence or USMI, a common disorder in adults dogs, particularly females. Indeed this condition may affect up to 20% of female dogs, and usually manifests within three years of ovariohysterectomy (spaying). (Illustration … [Read more…]

Posted in: Diseases Tagged: Colposuspension, Estrogen, Phenylpropanolamine, Sphincter, Urethra, Urine incontinence

Steroids & NSAIDS: A Potentially Lethal Combination

2014-07-07 by CriticalCareDVM

Let me be crystal clear right from the get-go. A steroid (aka: corticosteroid, glucocorticoid) should rarely be given at the same time as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (aka: NSAID) prescribed at an anti-inflammatory dose. This is a well-established pharmacologic principle, but for some reason, it is also one I see violated on an almost daily basis. … [Read more…]

Posted in: General Information Tagged: Gastrointestinal tract, Inflammation, kidney, liver, NSAIDs, Prostaglandins, steroids

Vomiting Cats

2014-06-30 by CriticalCareDVM

This is a statement I hear from pet parents almost on a daily basis. When I ask them where they heard such a concept, the response is usually, “that’s what my vet said.” Furthermore their family veterinarians have usually simply treated the vast majority of these cats symptomatically with diets for “sensitive stomachs”, hypoallergenic diets, … [Read more…]

Posted in: Diseases Tagged: cancer, chronic, enteritis, lymphoma, regurgitation, vomiting

Hypothyroidism in Dogs

2014-06-23 by CriticalCareDVM

In last week’s post, I discussed hyperthyroidism is cats. You may recall that hyperthyroidism occurs quite infrequently in dogs. Rather they more commonly develop a state of low thyroid production – hypothyroidism. Remember thyroid hormones are produced by the thyroid glands in the neck, and are important in controlling growth and development. Image courtesy of … [Read more…]

Posted in: Diseases Tagged: hypothyroidism, thyroxine

Hyperthyroidism in Cats

2014-06-16 by CriticalCareDVM

What is the thyroid gland? The thyroid gland is a two-lobed structure located in the neck, and produces several thyroid hormones. (Image courtesy of Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota; www.aercmn.com) The primary function of thyroid hormones is to control the rate at which cells function. Excess thyroid function (hyperthyroidism) is one of the … [Read more…]

Posted in: Diseases Tagged: cats, hyperthyroidism, methimazole, radioactive iodine

Skin Lumps – Don’t Ignore Them!

2014-06-09 by CriticalCareDVM

A common reason for a pet parent to bring his/her pet to a family veterinarian is because s/he has discovered a new skin lump/mass on his/her dog or cat. This lump can be big or small. It may cause the pet discomfort or may truly be an incidental finding. Nevertheless determining if a mass is … [Read more…]

Posted in: Diseases Tagged: biopsy, cytology, excisional, fenestration, fine needle aspiration, histopathology, incisional

Laboratory Tests for Pets – Where Are They Performed?

2014-06-02 by CriticalCareDVM

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 test samples all day. According … [Read more…]

Posted in: General Information Tagged: biochemical profile, CBC, in-house, reference laboratory

Honesty Is the Safest Policy!

2014-05-29 by CriticalCareDVM

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 pets’ medical outcomes. Too often … [Read more…]

Posted in: General Information Tagged: honesty

Steroid Trials in Dogs and Cats – The Good, The Bad & The Frustrating

2014-05-26 by CriticalCareDVM

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 that is treated with a … [Read more…]

Posted in: General Information Tagged: empirical, prednisone, steroid
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