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…
Latest Posts
-
-
The Dreaded Megaesophagus
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…
-
Urethral Sphincter Mechanism Incompetence – My Dog Wet the Bed!
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…
-
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…
-
Vomiting Cats
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…
-
Hypothyroidism in Dogs
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…
-
Hyperthyroidism in Cats
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…
-
Skin Lumps – Don’t Ignore Them!
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…
-
Why Pet Owners Lying to Veterinarians Can Be DangerousHonesty Is the Safest Policy!
When a pet becomes sick and needs veterinary care, pet parents naturally expect results. They want their veterinarian to make their pet well. In addition, they often expect the best care, the newest treatments, and the most advanced diagnostic tools available. However, in many cases, pet parents unintentionally sabotage their…
-
Empirical Steroid Therapy in Dogs: Benefits, Limitations, and the Importance of Informed Consent
I frequently evaluate dogs and cats that fail to respond appropriately to a steroid trial initiated in primary care practice. In many cases, a family veterinarian examines a pet, makes a presumptive diagnosis, and prescribes a corticosteroid, most often prednisone or prednisolone, without confirmatory diagnostic testing. Sometimes the pet improves.…