Sometimes medical issues in our cats and dogs are straightforward to diagnose and treat. More often, however, health problems can be ambiguous. This week’s post is dedicated one of the most common and vague reasons for which pet owners bring their pets to be evaluated by veterinarians, that is: weakness. I hope you find the … [Read more…]
Our canine friends can become infected with a wide variety of infectious agents. We explored many of them, including parvovirus and leptospirosis, in previous posts. This week I share information about another one – salmon poisoning disease. Happy reading! Salmon poisoning disease – What is it? Salmon poisoning is caused by a rickettsial bacterial organism … [Read more…]
One might think in a time when highly effective and safe vaccines for canine distemper virus are widely available this debilitating disease would be eradicated in the developed world. Sadly, that is not the case. In fact, canine distemper is still rampant in some areas of the United States. As such, this week’s post is … [Read more…]
Potassium is a uniquely important electrolyte involved in a myriad of essential cellular functions throughout the body. Derangements of potassium, both elevations and decreases, are quite commonplace. Perhaps most commonly, potassium decreases in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD). An under-recognized cause of hypokalemia (low potassium) is primary hyperaldosteronemia. This week’s post is dedicated to … [Read more…]
It’s vaccine season. In a previous post, I reviewed the most recent recommendations for feline immunizations. Cat parents are getting emails and postcards from their primary care veterinarians reminding to schedule preventative healthcare visits. One of the most common vaccines is abbreviated FVRCP, an acronym for feline viral rhinotracheitis, calici virus, and panleukopenia (aka distemper). … [Read more…]
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 companions: dilated cardiomyopathy or DCM. … [Read more…]
The world is full of infectious organisms that cause disease in our pets. One problematic parasite is called Toxoplasma gondii, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis in cats. Toxoplasmosis is relatively common in our feline friends, yet is under-recognized as potential cause of a pet’s clinical signs. This week I share some information about this important … [Read more…]
As a new home owner, I’m in the process of landscaping my property. Suffice it to say, I want a lot of greenery – plants and shrubs, galore! Yet one type of plant I plan to avoid like the plague is the sago palms. Why? They are intensely toxic to dogs. This week, I’ve dedicated … [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…]