In previous posts I wrote about variety of urinary tract problems, including tumors of the urinary bladder and protein losing nephropathy (PLN). This week I wanted to share information about another urinary issue – ectopic ureter. I hope you find the post interesting and informative. Happy reading! Ectopic Ureter –…
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Tularemia in Cats – Thumper & Mickey Mouse are not Garfield’s Friends!
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…
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Iliopsoas Muscle Injury – A Common Problem in Active Dogs
Canine athletes, like their human counterparts, are prone to potential musculoskeletal, tendon, and ligament injuries, including cranial cruciate ligament rupture. An under-recognized sporting problem is iliopsoas (il-ē-ō-sō-es) muscle injury. My parents’ dog was recently diagnosed with this condition, so I wanted to dedicate time to explaining it to all of…
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Lymph Node Enlargement in Dogs & Cats – A Swelling Not to Be Ignored!
A common clinical scenario I encounter is a pet referred to me for evaluation of enlarged lymph nodes. Parents may incidentally discover the swellings while petting or playing with their pet. At other times family veterinarians find the enlargements during an annual preventative healthcare examination. Given the commonality of this…
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Mast Cell Tumors in Dogs – A Common Canine Skin Cancer
Mast cells are unique cells of the immune system that are involved in the body’s response to inflammation and allergies. Unfortunately, these cells can become cancerous to affect different areas of the body, particularly the skin. Given their commonality in our canine companions, I wanted to dedicate some time to…
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Hemangiosarcoma in Dogs – An Aggressive Blood Vessel Cancer
Every pet parent dreads “The Big C” for their fur babies. Cancer strikes fear in the hearts and minds of pet-owning families. As a board-certified critical care specialist, one of the most common cancers I diagnose and treat is called hemangiosarcoma. I wanted to dedicate some time explaining this cancer,…
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Histiocytic Disease in Dogs – A Challenging Complex
Skin masses are relatively common in dogs. I’ve previously discussed the importance of routine surveillance and early intervention based on the mantras #SeeSomethingDoSomething and #WhyWaitAspirate as advocated by board-certified veterinary cancer specialist, Dr. Susan Ettinger (Dr. Sue Cancer Vet). One group of skin masses is collectively referred to as histiocytic…
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Icterus / Jaundice – Why is My Pet Yellow?
Attentive pet parents perpetually look over the pets for signs of problems. Does their pet have any new lumps and bumps? Does their fur baby resent being petted at a certain location? Are the gums pink and moist? Occasionally families note a yellowing of a pet’s skin, their gums, and/or…
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Acute Pancreatitis in Dogs: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How It Is Treated
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…
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GI Foreign Objects – A Big Pain in the Gut
Dogs and cats like to chew on things. That fact won’t come as a shock to any pet parent. Unfortunately, they also like to swallow some of those foreign items on which they nibble. This week I spend some time discussing how to help your fur baby should you find…