Animal lovers know most dogs don’t have discerning tastes. They’ll put almost anything in their mouths, even items that are potentially toxic and even lethal. Some of these would-be toxins are compounds called tremorgenic mycotoxins. Many pet parents have never heard of them, so this week I’ve dedicated time to spread information about this toxicity. … [Read more…]
Most dog owners have heard of many of the common gastrointestinal problems that afflict dogs. Parvovirus in dogs. Intestinal parasites (aka “worms), foreign objects causing an obstruction, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and even gastric dilatation-volvulus (aka: “bloat”). Yet, there is one about which few parents know. Which one you ask? The problem is called an … [Read more…]
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 feeling dizzy! The major part … [Read more…]
As a new home owner, I’m in the process of landscaping my property. Suffice it to say, I want a lot of greenery – plants and shrubs, galore! Yet one type of plant I plan to avoid like the plague is the sago palms. Why? They are intensely toxic to dogs. This week, I’ve dedicated … [Read more…]
The environment contains all sorts of infectious organisms, little microscopic critters that can cause illness in our beloved dogs and cats. One such infection called coccidiosis is a common parasitic infection of the small intestine. Given the prevalence of this disease, I wanted to share some useful information about it in this week’s post. Happy … [Read more…]
Fleas are disgusting. Honestly, every time I see one I get the heebie-jeebies. I immediately need to take a shower. This is just one of many reasons why I’m a huge proponent of flea control, and I strongly recommend pet parents speak with their primary care veterinarians about the best preventative for their fur babies. … [Read more…]
Every day I take a multi-vitamin. After all, medical doctors advocate vitamins are healthy supplements when taken appropriately. The same is true for dogs and cats. Unfortunately, too much of some vitamins is not good. In fact, ingestion of toxic amounts of specific vitamins can be deadly. This week, I wanted to share information about … [Read more…]
This week I thought I would do something a little bit different. Instead of blogging about a specific disease process, I thought I would dedicate time to answering a very common question I’m asked as a board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialist: Why does my pet eat grass? To date, veterinarians have several theories about why … [Read more…]
Two of my favorite snacks as a child were frozen grapes and “ants on a log.” For those unfamiliar with the latter treat, the log is a stick of celery slathered with peanut butter and the ants are sweet raisins pressed into the peanut butter. Yet while I loved (and still do love) grapes and … [Read more…]
One of the most common drug toxicities in companion animal medicine is accidental ingestion of over-the-counter non-steroid anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications. One way or another, pills spill onto the floor or pets knock bottles to the ground. Unfortunately, these medications are quite toxic, and ingestion can be lethal without prompt intervention. So, this week I’ve dedicated … [Read more…]