Lungs are a vital organ essential for delivering oxygen to the lungs and expelling carbon dioxide from the body. In various disease states, the lungs become damaged, and fluid can inappropriately swamp them with fluid. This fluid accumulation in the lungs is called is called pulmonary edema and can dramatically…
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Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs – When the Heart Becomes Too Big
The heart is unquestionably a vital organ. Without it, life-sustaining oxygen can’t circulate to the tissues of the body. Without a properly functioning heart, animals and humans, alike, develop debilitating conditions and die. This week I share information about one of the most common heart conditions to afflict our canine…
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Coughing in Dogs & Cats – What’s Going on with Your Pet?
By far one of the most common reasons families bring their pets to veterinarians is because of coughing. Nobody wants to see their cat chronically cough. Nobody wants to be kept up all night because their coughing dog is keeping them awake. Given the complexity of this problem, I wanted…
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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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Feline Arterial Thromboembolism (FAT) – Nobody Wants A Cat to Get FAT!
This week I’ve dedicated time to sharing information about a very important disease in feline medicine – feline arterial thromboembolism or FAT. I have a love-hate relationship with FAT. I love it because it’s complicated, and it challenges me as a board-certified veterinary critical care specialist. I hate it because…