• AAI – Atlantoaxial Instability in Dogs & Cats

    I’ve written about spinal cord problems like intervertebral disc disease in previous posts. This week’s post comes as a result of a specific request from one of you, a dedicate follower of CriticalCareDVM.com. Here’s some information about another important spine problem: atlantoaxial instability or AAI. I hope you enjoy reading…

  • Limb Amputation – When a Leg is Removed

    I think most of you will agree it’s fun to watch dogs play at the park. I smile from ear to ear watching them frolic with each other. Every once and a while, you come across a dog with three limbs, a tripod as they are often affectionately called. These…

  • Hyphema in Dogs & Cats – When There’s Blood in the Eyes

    I’ve said it before. I love eyes…albeit not enough to want to be an ophthalmologist, but at least enough to respect their function and beauty. Unfortunately, sometimes our pets develop serious eye conditions. This week’s post is dedicated to a specific intraocular (inside the eye) condition called hyphema. I hope…

  • Proptosis of the Eye – When Your Dog’s Eye Pops Out!

    Eyes are beautiful, truly unique, and colorful. Unfortunately, accidents involving the eyes happen. One of the more common mishaps is proptosis of an eye. This week I’m sharing information about this unique problem to help raise awareness. I hope you find the post insightful and helpful. Happy reading! Proptosis –…

  • Coxal Luxation – When the Hip Pops Out of Socket

    Orthopedic injuries are relatively common in dogs and cats. Problems like broken bones, luxating patellas, and ruptured cranial cruciate ligaments occur quite frequently. Hip injuries happen too, and coxal luxation – also called hip dislocation – is arguably the most common injury at this joint. So, this week I’m sharing…

  • Vestibular Diseases – When Our Dogs & Cats Get Dizzy!

    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…

  • Mastitis in Dogs & Cats – A Painful Part of Motherhood

    Motherhood is a beautiful thing. Watching queens and bitches care for and raise their kittens and puppies, respectively, is heart-warming to say the least. Occasionally, being a mom can become physically painful, especially when mammary (breast) tissue becomes inflamed and/or infected – this is a condition called mastitis. This past…

  • Chylothorax in cats

    Chylothorax in Cats: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options

    Chylothorax is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition in cats that interferes with normal breathing. It occurs when chyle, a fat-rich lymphatic fluid, accumulates abnormally in the space between the lungs and the chest wall. Because this fluid prevents the lungs from fully expanding, affected cats can develop rapid respiratory…

  • Nosebleeds in Dogs & Cats – What Do They Mean?!

    Nosebleeds (called epistaxis) are a relatively common reason for pet parents to present their dogs and cats to a veterinary emergency room. Sometimes the bleeding is quite minimal, manifesting only when patients sneeze. At other times, hemorrhage can be profound and scary. This week I share some information about epistaxis…

  • Injuries in Pets: The Team Approach To Trauma Patient Care

    The thought of a pet being involved in a traumatic accident is undeniably cringe-worthy and heartbreaking. These catastrophic mishaps can be lethal or leave a pet maimed if veterinary emergency care isn’t provided appropriately. This week I’m happy to turn Because Pets Can Have Specialists Too over to Dr. Kelly…