The heart is a vital organ. It pumps blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen-rich blood to organs and returning oxygen-poor blood back to the lungs to be loaded with oxygen. There are a variety of ailments that cause the heart to function abnormally, impairing its ability to circulate blood. This week I’ve dedicated a post … [Read more…]
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 some time to explaining this … [Read more…]
Just like you and me, animals develop fevers, and they do so for a wide variety of reasons. A prevailing belief among pet parents is dogs and cats with fevers need antibiotics. Yet, this is not true. So, this week I wanted to get back to some basics and explains what a fever is and … [Read more…]
Infectious organisms are everywhere. Bacteria, viruses, and fungi threaten our pets every day. Some prefer specific environmental conditions to thrive. Two such organisms are Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii, the microbes that cause coccidioidomycosis or Valley fever. This week I hope you’ll enjoy learning more about this important infectious disease in pets. Happy reading! Coccidioidomycosis … [Read more…]
A common reason for which dogs are referred to me for further evaluation is an elevated blood calcium level (called hypercalcemia). Sometimes affected patients are incredibly sick while others have no outward clinical signs of illness. An accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause of a dog’s hypercalcemia is truly important. This week I review the … [Read more…]