The intestinal tract is quite long. It starts at the mouth and ends at the rectum. Near the end of the intestinal tract is the large intestine, otherwise known as the colon. When the colon becomes inflamed, we use the term colitis. Colitis is a relatively common problem in dogs…
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Megacolon in Cats – Holy Constipation Batman! Part I
Nobody likes to feel constipated, not even cats. Unfortunately, some of our feline friends develop dysfunction in their colon called megacolon. In this first part of a two-part series, I’ll explain what megacolon is and how it’s diagnosed. Next week, I’ll review how to treat this potentially debilitating condition. Happy reading!…
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IBD – Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Dogs & Cats
I evaluate patients with chronic gastrointestinal signs like vomiting and diarrhea multiple times per day. Many of these fur babies are referred to me by their family veterinarians with a concern for inflammatory bowel disease or IBD. But what is IBD? This week I endeavor to answer that important question…
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GI Foreign Objects – A Big Pain in the Gut
Dogs and cats like to chew on things. That fact won’t come as a shock to any pet parent. Unfortunately, they also like to swallow some of those foreign items on which they nibble. This week I spend some time discussing how to help your fur baby should you find…