I don’t like skin diseases, so I’m very thankful for folks like board-certified veterinary dermatologists who do! This week my family’s dog, Tobyas, required urgent dermatologic care for an immune-mediated condition called idiopathic sterile nodular panniculitis. Thanks to the wonderful veterinary dermatology team at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston,…
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Pododermatitis – Why Are My Pet’s Paws Red?
One of the more common reasons for pet owners to present their pets for evaluation by a veterinarian is red, inflamed paws. The general term for skin inflammation of the paws is called pododermatitis. This week’s post is dedicated to sharing detailed information for families about this common condition in…
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Pruritus in Dogs & Cats – Why is My Pet Itchy?
No person likes to feel itchy. Neither do our dogs and cats. It’s annoying, and sometimes painful. There are a myriad of reasons for our pets to be itchy. Indeed, pruritus – the medical term for itching – is very common in companion animals. I’ve dedicated this week’s post to…
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FUO: What to Know About a Fever of Unknown
One of the most common physical examination abnormalities documented in dogs and cats is an elevated body temperature. Sometimes a fever persists for weeks or intermittently recurs, and diagnostic testing fails to yield a definitive diagnosis. Such fevers are called fevers of unknown origin or FUO. This week I’ve dedicated…
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Brucellosis – A Sexually Transmitted Disease in Dogs
As I was contemplating this week’s post, I came across a news headline about several humans becoming infected with brucellosis after drinking raw milk. I then realized I hadn’t yet shared any information about this disease in dogs. Thus, this week’s blog post was born. I hope you find the…
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Mastitis in Dogs & Cats – A Painful Part of Motherhood
Motherhood is a beautiful thing. Watching queens and bitches care for and raise their kittens and puppies, respectively, is heart-warming to say the least. Occasionally, being a mom can become physically painful, especially when mammary (breast) tissue becomes inflamed and/or infected – this is a condition called mastitis. This past…
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Hygromas in Dogs – Rubbing Elbows Isn’t Always a Good Thing
Not every mass or fluctuant swelling in dogs is a cancer. Of course, veterinarians should evaluate and aspirate any skin mass that has been present for more than one month and/or that is larger than a pea (approximately one centimeter). Thankfully, most skin masses are benign. If the mass feels…
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Aspergillosis in Dogs – A Destructive Sinus & Nasal Disease
No one likes having a runny nose. Primary viral and secondary bacterial infections are common in pets and people. Most of the time these infections are self-limiting or are treated without complications. Occasionally fungi cause serious infections in the frontal sinuses and nasal passages of dogs. The most common fungal…
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Infective Endocarditis in Dogs & Cats – A Serious Heart Wall Problem
Infective endocarditis. I’m willing to bet many of you have never heard of it. Many pet parents know about heart murmurs and even some heart muscle diseases like dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). A lesser known potential cardiac problem is endocarditis or inflammation of part of the heart wall. In this week’s blog I…
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Urinary Tract Infection in Dogs and Cats
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are relatively common in companion animals. Given the frequency of UTI diagnosis, the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Disease (ISCAID) developed guidelines for the diagnosis and management of urinary tract infection. One should not confuse guidelines with “standards of care”, as the former are simply…