Trusted Veterinary Education for Dogs & Cats
What Is Acute Pancreatitis? The pancreas is a boomerang-shaped organ within the abdominal cavity. It performs several essential functions. Most importantly, it produces digestive enzymes that allow dogs to break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Acute pancreatitis develops when the pancreas becomes suddenly inflamed. Normally, digestive enzymes activate in the…
Elevated blood fats/lipids (called hyperlipidemia) are a major cause of health issues in humans. These lipids, most commonly cholesterol and triglycerides, can negatively affect heart and cardiovascular health, often times contributing to death. Both dogs and cats can have high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, but dogs are more often affected.…
The population of overweight and obese pets continues to expand in the United States and around the world. As in people, excess weight is associated with several potential serious and even life-threatening health conditions. In this week’s post, I explore the various causes and consequences of pets being over or…