Dental health is important for both humans and pets. Diseased gums and teeth readily cause halitosis (bad breath), and can be a sign of a serious health problem. Dental diseases can also affect other organs of the body too. Since February is National Pet Dental Health Month, I was to…
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Euthanasia and Your Pet – What You Need to Know
I find myself, once again, seated at a counter in the United Club at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. I’m flying back to where I grew up to say goodbye to my Yiayia (that’s Greek for grandmother) who passed last week. As I contemplate about what to write for this week’s…
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Pre-Anesthetic Testing – Is It Really Necessary?
Inevitably at some point in a pet’s life, anesthesia and surgery will be necessary. For example, spaying (called an ovariohysterectomy) and neutering (called and orchiectomy) are very common surgical procedures recommended for non-breeding dogs and cats. Both surgeries are performed while a patient is under anesthesia. Prior to anesthesia veterinarians…
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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…