Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is one of the most important acquired bleeding disorders seen in small-animal medicine. Dogs are affected far more commonly than cats, and patients often present with dramatic clinical signs—petechiae, bruising, nosebleeds, gastrointestinal bleeding, or lethargy due to anemia from blood loss. Fortunately, ITP is highly treatable, and…
Everybody knows the most famous rodent in the world – Mickey Mouse. We all also know Bambi’s beloved woodland buddy – Thumper. But did you know Mickey and Thumper could pose a risk to everybody’s lasagna-loving cat, Garfield? That’s right! Rodents and rabbits can transmit a potentially fatal disease called…
I love most things about Summer. Hot weather. Barbecues. Boating on the lake. Making memories with friends. Yet with the warmer season comes those nasty little pests known as ticks. These creepy critters can transmit to our canine companions a myriad of diseases, including the causative agent of Lyme disease.…
When most pet parents think of think of tick-borne diseases affecting pets, they think about infections in dogs. Common examples of such ailments in dogs are Lyme disease (borreliosis), ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (rickettsiosis), babesiosis, bartonellosis, anaplasmosis, and hepatozoonosis. Yet we should not forget about cats! They, too, can be…
This week’s post may surprise many of you given I typically strive to highlight how pet parents partnering with both a family veterinarian and a board-certified veterinary specialist is invaluable for your pet’s healthcare. I feel comfortable saying veterinarians wish our patients never got sick. Alas that is a utopian…