This week a colleague asked me if I had a favorite biochemical abnormality. I’d never been asked that before, nor had I ever really thought about it. Most who know me as a clinician know I geek out over changes on a complete blood count, the non-invasive blood test that…
-
-
Hyperlipidemia in Dogs & Cats – Why Worry about Cholesterol & Triglycerides?
Blood fats are called lipids, and they circulate throughout the body. They play a wide variety of roles in normal organ function and metabolism. Elevated blood lipids – called hyperlipidemia – in humans are major causes of cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, and hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver syndrome). Do…
-
Addison’s Disease in Dogs: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment
Addison’s disease in dogs, medically known as hypoadrenocorticism, is an endocrine disorder that results from inadequate production of critical adrenal hormones. Although the condition is uncommon, it remains clinically important because it can mimic many other illnesses. For this reason, clinicians often call it “the great pretender.” Early recognition and…
-
High Blood Fat Levels in Dogs & Cats
Elevated blood fats/lipids (called hyperlipidemia) are a major cause of health issues in humans. These lipids, most commonly cholesterol and triglycerides, can negatively affect heart and cardiovascular health, often times contributing to death. Both dogs and cats can have high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, but dogs are more often affected.…