As a child (and honestly even now as an adult) I abhorred amusement park rides that moved in circular patterns because they made me inevitably vomit due to vertigo. Roller coasters? Great! The Gravitron? Over my dead body! I don’t need to put myself into a human centrifuge. I hate…
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Sago Palm Toxicosis – Protect Your Pets from This Poisonous Plant
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…
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Grapes & Raisins & Currants, Oh My! – An Important Toxicity in Dogs
Two of my favorite snacks as a child were frozen grapes and “ants on a log.” For those unfamiliar with the latter treat, the log is a stick of celery slathered with peanut butter and the ants are sweet raisins pressed into the peanut butter. Yet while I loved (and…
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Acute Hemorrhagic Diarrhea Syndrome (AHDS) – A Cause of Bloody Feces in Dogs
No dog parent wants to clean up diarrhea. Cleaning up bloody diarrhea is even more unpleasant. Unfortunately, the development of acute bloody diarrhea is not an uncommon occurrence in our canine companions. Such a malady is called Acute Hemorrhagic Diarrhea Syndrome or AHDS. Formally called Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis (HGE), this ailment…
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Parvovirus Infection in Dogs – Part II: Treatment & Prevention
This week we finish our discussion of parvovirus infection in dogs. I reviewed the origins and diagnosis of this viral disease last week. For this post, I will focus on treatment and prevention. Happy reading! Parvovirus – How is it treated in-hospital? I won’t beat around the bush when it…
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Leptospirosis in Dogs – A Bugger of a Bacterial Infection
In the northern hemisphere we are entering the Summer season. Warmer months bring an increased risk for various health concerns for our dogs, including infectious diseases. This week I share information about a potentially lethal bacterial infection called leptospirosis. I believe you will find the topic especially relevant, and therefore, I hope you…
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Nausea – Do You Know What Your Pet Is Saying?
On an almost daily basis I have the privilege of consulting with families whose dog or cat isn’t eating well (or at all). Sometimes the pet is also vomiting, but often the only concern for the family is the pet’s lack of appetite. When I obtain a complete patient history,…