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…
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Herpesvirus Infection – An Upper Respiratory Tract Disease in Cats
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…
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Rhinoscopy in Dogs & Cats – Looking Inside the Nasal Cavity
Just like you and me, dogs and cats frequently develop nasal problems. They get infections. They sniff up foreign particles. They develop nasal tumors. To make definitive diagnoses for many of these patients, a minimally invasive procedure called rhinoscopy is needed. This week I share some tidbits about this interventional…
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Aspergillosis in Dogs – A Destructive Sinus & Nasal Disease
No one likes having a runny nose. Primary viral and secondary bacterial infections are common in pets and people. Most of the time these infections are self-limiting or are treated without complications. Occasionally fungi cause serious infections in the frontal sinuses and nasal passages of dogs. The most common fungal…
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GERD Golly Miss Molly!
Heartburn is an uncomfortable feeling caused by stomach acid splashing into the esophagus. Also called acid reflux, people often take various over-the-counter medications to alleviate discomfort associated with heartburn. Severe and/or chronic acid reflux is called gastroesophageal reflux disease, and may be associated with more serious conditions. Like humans, dogs…