August 5, 2014

With spot-on preventives, there is the possibility that certain individuals will have adverse local reactions to one or more ingredients in the product.

October 13, 2021

Allergic conjunctivitis is most commonly treated with eyedrops or ointments containing corticosteroids,

December 15, 2023

We get hay fever; dogs get itchy skin. This condition is usually seasonal - but not always - and many treatments are available. Find out the causes and what you can do to relieve your pet's discomfort.

February 25, 2025

When a human or pet comes in contact with a substance that their immune system thinks is harmful, the immune system labels that substance an allergen and produces antibodies to fight it. The resulting response is an allergic reaction. If the response is anaphylactic shock, this is a medical emergency. 

April 7, 2025

Atopic animals will usually rub, lick, chew, bite or scratch at their feet, muzzle, ears, armpits or groin, causing hair loss, and reddening and thickening of the skin.

November 25, 2023

When the fluid filling the chest is lymph, the problem is called chylothorax. The fluid is milky when it is drained from the chest, and its whiteness comes being from fat. Chylothorax represents a specific problem and requires specific therapy.

June 8, 2024

Dogs nose around in all sorts of things but they should not get crusty or ulcerated noses. When they do, there is generally a disease afoot and biopsy may well be needed to determine what is going on. Discoid lupus, or DLE, is a common disease of the leather of the nose. Thankfully, it is usually easily treated and there are many options.

February 5, 2020

Dust mites feed off of skin scales and dander shed by humans and animals. Mites love bedding, carpeting, and anywhere they can find a hiding place with the likelihood of skin dander being present. Dust mites also require a relatively high humidity in the home to truly thrive.

August 26, 2023

Have an itchy pet all year round? Maybe there is a food allergy. Just changing to a new diet probably won't be enough. Find out what to do here and see if your pet fits the profile for this condition.

January 31, 2023

We depend on red blood cells to bring oxygen to our tissues and carry waste gases away. Without enough red blood cells we die. We can lose blood cells from bleeding, but sometimes our immune system gets confused and destroys them by mistake. What can we do when this happens?

January 30, 2024

September 1, 2024

Platelets can be mistaken by the immune system as invaders. When this happens, antibodies coat the platelets and the spleen's phagocytes remove them in numbers up to 10 times greater than the normal platelet removal rate.

May 17, 2023

Most people know someone who gets periodic "allergy shots" for airborne allergies. What this means is that an individually-made serum is created using small amounts of allergens (proteins against which the person reacts). It works for dogs and cats, too.

June 21, 2021

Is it possible to relieve a pet's itchy skin without the use of cortisone derivatives? Yes, it is.

March 15, 2022

Pemphigus foliaceus (PF) is a type of autoimmune disease of the skin. Although an uncommon skin disease in dogs and cats, any breed of dog or cat can develop PF. Your pet’s veterinarian will need to take skin samples to diagnose PF. Treatment might include corticosteroids and other medications.

April 15, 2023

With seasonal flank alopecia, a dog loses hair in the flank area on a seasonal basis. Different dogs seem to choose different seasons to lose their hair (fall and spring are popular) and when the season changes the hair generally grows back.

March 9, 2017

Every Shar pei owner needs to be familiar with recurrent fever syndrome.

December 16, 2023

There has never been a class of drug that has more application in disease treatment than the glucocorticoid class. Indeed, this group is rivaled only by antibiotics in lives saved. But side effects from the glucocorticoid group are numerous and can be classified into those seen with short-term use and those seen in long-term use.

April 1, 2024

Puppy strangles is a classic but fortunately uncommon disease of puppies less than 4 months old. It causes acute swelling of the muzzle as well as blistering pimples on the face and inner ear flaps. If left untreated it can be fatal and despite the extreme inflammation, infection is not the problem.

March 26, 2025

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a fairly rare chronic and potentially-fatal autoimmune disease.

October 16, 2024

Immunization represents stimulation of the immune system, an inherently inflammatory process. Vaccination reactions severe enough to produce shock are extremely rare and are a function of an individual pet's immune response.

April 21, 2023

True VKH syndrome is a human disease, well described for nearly a century. A similar disease in dogs has been described but since we do not know the relationship between the canine and human disease, we are hesitant to call the canine version VH syndrome as well. Until we know what is really going on in the dog, we will leave it at VK-H-LIKE syndrome or, more accurately, uveodermatologic syndrome.

January 20, 2021

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is an extreme complication of numerous already life-threatening conditions leading to the deregulation of the body's natural mechanisms of blood clotting and blood clot dissolving.

March 31, 2025

We all know fleas are a nuisance and can lead to itching and dermatitis, but did you know a heavy flea infestation can be life threatening? The owners of most victims were not aware of the problem. Read more about this condition and who is most at risk.

January 31, 2023

We depend on red blood cells to bring oxygen to our tissues and carry waste gases away. Without enough red blood cells we die. We can lose blood cells from bleeding, but sometimes our immune system gets confused and destroys them by mistake. What can we do when this happens?

April 13, 2020

Multiple myeloma is rare in cats and dogs, but cure is rare

February 16, 2025

There are three important ways in which the kidney patient loses red blood cells. The first way is bone marrow suppression. The second way is bleeding. The third way is called hemodilution. Maintaining a stable red blood cell quantity keeps the patient energetic and spirited and is crucial to staying alive.

May 24, 2021

If your pet has a condition called thrombocytopenia, his platelet count is low. When the platelet count is low, it is harder for clotting to occur.

July 15, 2023

Von Willebrand's disease is an inherited blood clotting defect and breeds at high risk should be screened before being allowed to breed.

October 3, 2017

But it still seems to shock people to learn that dogs, cats, rabbits, rats and a host of other domestic species can get breast cancer, too. Since the aim of Breast Cancer Awareness Month is to raise awareness, our aim here is to wave the flag for those who can’t speak for themselves and raise awareness of mammary cancer in companion animals. We also want people to know that breast cancer and mammary gland cancer are the same disease; it’s just called by a different name in other species.

March 9, 2015

Cancer cells go mad systematically. The cellular delinquents bust past the body's natural immune system, as though a gate was left open, burgeoning into abnormal cells.

June 28, 2016

These drugs are typically used to treat lymphoma.

October 25, 2024

Even though veterinary recommendations for spaying and neutering pets have become common and there is a lot of information available about its benefits, you may have questions or concerns about how it could affect your dog long term. You may also wonder if there is a correct age for spaying and neutering since recommendations seem to vary.

January 13, 2024

Hemangiopericytoma is a common tumor in dogs. It does not spread the way one normally thinks of cancer. It does tend to recur at the site where it was originally removed. If left alone, this tumor eventually becomes inoperable, disfiguring, and lethal though generally this takes years.

April 28, 2020

Hemangiosarcoma has three classic locations: skin and subcutaneous forms, splenic forms, and heart-based forms. With the exception of the skin form, which can often be eliminated by surgery, a diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma is bad news.

November 30, 2023

Unfortunately, most insulinomas in dogs and cats are malignant. This is bad news but the good news is that regardless of this fact, surgery is still helpful as the bulk of the tumor (if not all of it) can be removed.

October 18, 2023

After blood testing and medical imaging has led to a diagnosis of liver tumor, many questions must be answered in order to make proper choices.

October 28, 2020

Some lung tumors are benign, and some are not

September 13, 2023

What is leukemia in dogs and why is it bad? Learn about the most common forms of leukemia for dogs: the lymphocytic forms.

September 16, 2023

This form of cancer, also called lymphosarcoma, is the most common malignancy of dogs, cats, and humans. A plentitude of information is available, information that is necessary in order to make intelligent decisions about an affected pet.

September 16, 2023

This form of cancer, also called lymphosarcoma, is the most common malignancy of dogs, cats, and humans. Much information is available, information that is necessary in order to make intelligent decisions about an affected pet.

April 20, 2023

There are three types of skin lymphoma: mycosis fungoides, Sezary syndrome, and pagetoid reticulosis.

November 22, 2021

Obviously it is important for a cancer patient to maintain appetite. A good appetite and enjoyment of food is one of the four criteria of life quality that are considered when deciding on euthanasia. Beyond maintaining body condition and getting proper nutrients, however, there are actual nutrients and nutritional strategies that have anti-cancer properties.

June 7, 2024

While a good fur coat generally protects our pets from sun-induced malignant melanoma, a melanoma diagnosis is still just as serious and potentially deadly in our pets as it is for people.

May 18, 2023

In dogs, there is an 87% chance that a thyroid growth is malignant. Cats with thyroid carcinomas are usually hyperthyroid.

May 17, 2023

Women get breast cancer, female dogs get mammary cancer. What many pet owners don't know is that the incidence of mammary tumor development in dogs is higher than in women, as one in four unspayed female dogs are affected. This incidence is huge, yet awareness among owners of female dogs is lacking.

April 20, 2023

Most mast cell tumors arise in the skin but technically they can arise anywhere that mast cells are found. Mast cell tumors are notoriously invasive and difficult to treat.

April 15, 2024

Meningioma is the most common brain tumor of cats and dogs. Meningiomas are generally benign. In dogs, seizures are the most common sign. In cats, signs are more vague and consist of listlessness and behavior changes.

April 13, 2020

Multiple myeloma is rare in cats and dogs, but cure is rare

May 9, 2024

The oral squamous cell carcinoma does not spread as you normally think of a cancer spreading, but it is so locally invasive that it carries a poor prognosis. The only hope of good survival comes from early detection. Learn what to look for and what important risk factors are.

November 30, 2022

When squamous cell carcinoma occurs in the mouth and throat, it's called oral squamous cell carcinoma. In these oral cases, the lesion is usually located on the gums or tonsils.

October 30, 2019

Osteosarcoma is by far the most common bone tumor in dogs. We see 2 to 3 cases a year. Owners need information on which to make proper treatment decisions.

October 5, 2023

Approximately 10 to 20 percent of dogs with pituitary dependent Cushing's disease have a tumor large enough to take up a meaningful amount of space.

September 18, 2019

Within the prostate gland, cancer is rare, occurring in only about 0.3-0.6% of dogs.

July 31, 2024

Occasionally spleens grow masses. These are generally either benign or malignant tumors. In dogs, most splenic masses are either hemangiomas or hemangiosarcomas. What does the spleen do and what happens when it is removed?

April 13, 2023

February 22, 2023

The transitional cell carcinoma is a particularly unpleasant tumor of the urinary bladder that usually grows in the lower neck of the bladder, causing a partial or complete obstruction to urination. Bloody urine and straining to urinate are typically the signs noted by the owner.

February 7, 2025

Atrial fibrillation (sometimes called "A fib") is an arrhythmia, an irregularity of the heart's rhythm.

April 6, 2018

In congestive heart failure, fluid is retained in specific parts of the body, depending on the side of the heart that is diseased.

March 6, 2023

Vasculitis is an inflammatory process of the blood vessels (arteries, veins, or capillaries).

September 15, 2020

Diaphragmatic hernias result from abdominal organs (e.g. liver, stomach, intestines) being pushed through a hole in the diaphragm

January 22, 2024

The only common link to diet-associated cardiomyopathy that's been observed is "grain-free" diets.

October 31, 2023

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the most common acquired heart diseases in dogs. DCM is a disease of the heart muscle.

July 11, 2023

Imagine your dog is happily playing in the yard, jumps up to catch a ball, lands badly, and comes up not just lame but weak or even paralyzed in a back leg. The toes knuckle under, perhaps. Maybe his back tilts downward, his rear legs too weak to rise all the way up. You check him over, trying to find where it hurts and it simply does not seem to hurt at all.

January 1, 2023

A heart murmur is one of several types of abnormal sounds your veterinarian can hear when listening to your pet's heart with a stethoscope. The murmur itself is not treated; the underlying cause of the murmur may or may not be treated.

July 13, 2023

The chief issue in the diagnosis of heartworm disease centers around detecting heartworm infection.

November 29, 2023

It has been said that the treatment of heartworm infection is somewhat of an art. There are several strategies that can be used including the option of not treating at all. The important concept to realize is that very harsh arsenic based drugs are necessary to kill adult heartworms and that treating for heartworm infection is neither simple nor safe in itself.

September 1, 2024

High blood pressure is an extremely important concern in human medicine. High stress lifestyle, smoking, and high salt diet all contribute to this potentially dangerous condition and virtually everyone in the U.S. knows how serious it can be. But what about our pets? They don't smoke or worry about the mortgage and they don't deposit cholesterol in their blood vessels. They do, however, get high blood pressure, especially in age and here is what you probably should know.

November 13, 2024

MMVD is caused by as-yet unidentified processes that lead to degeneration of the mitral valves, the valves on the left side of the heart between the left atrium and left ventricle.

November 4, 2008

Just like people, some pets need a pacemaker to keep their hearts ticking.

June 26, 2019

Sometimes the ductus arteriosus fails to close in a newborn. It remains open, or patent, usually because the muscles in the ductus failed to form properly.

August 1, 2024

Pericardial effusion is a somewhat uncommon condition, but when it is diagnosed it can be serious for your pet. The pericardial sac is formed by a thin membrane (the pericardium), and normally holds a very small amount of fluid. Pericardial effusion refers to an abnormal buildup of fluid in this sac. If your pet has been diagnosed with this condition, this article will include some information to supplement what your veterinarian has told you.

June 22, 2018

The hepatic portal system consists of numerous veins, but sometimes these systems can go awry. The portal vein is the big one into the liver, where the smaller veins converge before entering the liver.

October 2, 2024

Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is high blood pressure in the arteries leading in and out of your pet's lungs. If the high blood pressure becomes too severe, it can cause disease and failure of the right side of the heart.

January 24, 2018

For pets with congestive heart failure, it is important to check the response to medication by measuring the respiratory rate at home.

August 17, 2023

Subaortic stenosis, known as SAS, is the most common congenital heart disease of large breed dogs. When a puppy with SAS is born, the stenosis is very small, barely a ridge near the valve, but over the first six months of life the stenosis grows and the murmur (hopefully) becomes more apparent.

September 27, 2023

Most of us know that stroke involves some kind of blood clot lodging or forming somewhere and plugging an important blood vessel, preventing an important area from receiving circulation.

July 29, 2022

An echocardiogram is a type of ultrasound that looks closely at the heart as well as inside and around it

June 21, 2016

Halitosis, also called bad breath, is as an offensive odor emanating from the oral cavity. Bad breath is a common presenting pet odor complaint. Causes may be commonly be related to the mouth or rarely related to other health problems.

December 2, 2013

What would happen if you stopped brushing your own teeth? Even if you only ate hard food as most dogs do, there still would be problems. You should be brushing your dog's teeth twice daily if you can manage it. It's not as difficult as you might imagine.

October 23, 2019

December 18, 2014

If you see any of these clinical signs, take your pet to your veterinarian for a complete oral examination.

June 21, 2016

Root canals, dental x-rays, orthodontics, crowns, caps, implants, and periodontal surgery for pets? You must be kidding? Not at all. Dental procedures are routinely performed in veterinary practices daily. How does a loving pet owner know if dental care is needed and where can a pet owner go for advanced dental care.

November 11, 2013

Epulis is the fourth most common tumor found in the canine mouth. There are three types.

November 9, 2024

Fracture teeth can range in severity and be quite painful for your pet. 

July 29, 2023

Are any bones safe for your dog's teeth? No. The pieces can get stuck in your dog's palate (roof of the mouth) and cause infection, and break teeth. 

June 21, 2016

Some dogs and cats develop growths in their mouths. Similar to humans, these growths may be benign or malignant. Once a mass is noticed, analysis must be made to determine the cause of the growth.

June 21, 2016

Just as you would want to cure a painful skin condition or sore joint in your pet, you should also consider relieving pain in your pet's mouth. When an oral problem is caused by poorly aligned teeth, orthodontic treatment may be needed.

June 22, 2016

Periodontal disease is inflammation of some or all of a tooth's support. When compared to gingivitis, periodontitis indicates bone loss. If left untreated, periodontitis may cause loose painful teeth as well as internal disease. Periodontal disease is caused by plaque (bacteria).

February 15, 2024

May 5, 2020

When deciduous (baby) teeth don't fall out to make way for the permanent teeth, they are called retained deciduous teeth. Retained deciduous teeth should be extracted surgically soon after they are discovered because they will cause dental problems (overcrowding in the mouth, plaque buildup, malocclusion, etc.).

March 31, 2020

May 23, 2023

Some veterinarians believe that the source of teeth chattering in dogs is usually dental or oral. There could be other reasons why your dog's teeth chatter. 

May 25, 2023

Tooth resorption is a progressive disease that leads to loss or destruction of teeth.

June 21, 2016

Why should I brush my dog's or cat's teeth?

June 3, 2024

For most of the time, a good fur coat is all the protection a dog needs to avoid damage from the sun. After all, protection from the environment is what fur is all about. There are two problems, however: the tummy (which is sparsely furred in most dogs) and short white fur (which sunlight readily penetrates).

August 5, 2014

With spot-on preventives, there is the possibility that certain individuals will have adverse local reactions to one or more ingredients in the product.

March 19, 2022

It may be that Alopecia X is not one hair loss-causing disease but several and we simply do not know how to distinguish them.

August 24, 2023

Also called scabies, sarcoptic mange mite infection is extremely itchy and contagious. While difficult to diagnose, this condition is usually easy to treat.

June 11, 2024

The infection prevents the foul-smelling anal gland fluid from leaving the sac.

July 22, 2021

Anal sac tumors are uncommon but serious and left untreated are generally fatal.

May 15, 2024

A hematoma is swelling created by a broken blood vessel after bleeding has occurred inside tissue. Hematomas within the ear flaps (aural hematomas) occur when head shaking breaks a blood vessel. The ear flap may partially or completely swell with blood. This condition is more common in dogs but can occur in cats as well.

May 6, 2023

In older dogs, what looks like a viral wart is probably a sebaceous gland tumor; while there is a 98% chance it is benign, it will not be going away any time soon. Sebaceous gland tumors occur on any location, often in large numbers, and usually in older dogs (and occasionally in older cats).

May 3, 2017

December 20, 2019

Cat and dog breed-related skin diseases are listed.

August 13, 2023

A burn is any injury of tissue caused by heat, flame, chemicals, or electricity. Burn classification determines the severity of the wound based on the depth of the tissue injury.

July 19, 2023

Cellulitis is a painful inflammation of the tissue under the skin. In animals, it is generally caused by a bacterial infection that has entered the skin from a cut, open wound, or broken skin from an animal bite.

August 16, 2023

Injury to tissue caused by contact with harmful chemicals such as lye, acids, and strong cleaning supplies.

August 12, 2021

Does coat clipping or shaving help dogs keep cool? 

March 6, 2023

Vasculitis is an inflammatory process of the blood vessels (arteries, veins, or capillaries).

February 18, 2020

Treatment (removal of the larva) is one of the simplest things in veterinary medicine; your veterinarian will probe and enlarge the breathing hole, grasp the parasite with forceps, and just pull the invader out.

June 18, 2023

This condition is also called red mange. It is not contagious, but it does have a hereditary component. What are the options for treatment?

April 26, 2018

Demodicosis (red mange) is a skin disease caused by a small mite not visible to the naked eye. This mite lives down in the root of the hair. All normal dogs have a small population of mites, but only certain animals will get a disease from mite overgrowth. In some cases, the tendency to develop demodectic mange runs in families.

June 8, 2024

Dogs nose around in all sorts of things but they should not get crusty or ulcerated noses. When they do, there is generally a disease afoot and biopsy may well be needed to determine what is going on. Discoid lupus, or DLE, is a common disease of the leather of the nose. Thankfully, it is usually easily treated and there are many options.

February 5, 2020

Dog owners often complain about their dog's odor. It is important to recognize that dog odors have many sources, both natural and un-natural.

November 21, 2019

The comparison charts - one for dogs, one for cats - allows side-by-side glimpse of available products so you can determine what is best for your pets.

April 1, 2025

For some pets, fleas are just an annoyance. But when a pet is allergic to fleas or has other types of allergic skin disease, the need to control fleas is more critical.

April 12, 2017

Fleas are not just a nuisance; they can kill, cause serious skin disease, and transmit infections and parasites.

April 28, 2021

Hemangiomas are a type of benign tumor of the blood vessels or skin

October 14, 2023

The histiocytoma is a tumor originating from what is called a Langerhans cell. This cell lives in the skin and serves as part of the immune system by processing incoming antigens and presenting them to other immunologic cells.

November 12, 2024

Hot spots are weepy, wet, red and sometimes bloody when they are fresh, and dry and scabby when they are resolving.

July 7, 2016

A hot spot is a superficial skin infection that results when the normal skin bacteria overrun the skin's defenses as a result of damage to the skin surface.

September 10, 2018

Interdigital cysts are large bumps, or nodules, between a dog's toes.

June 21, 2021

Is it possible to relieve a pet's itchy skin without the use of cortisone derivatives? Yes, it is.

April 1, 2020

Coping with an itchy pet can be an extremely frustrating experience for you, the pet owner, and can truly test the limits of the human-animal bond. The common causes fall into two groups: external parasites and allergies.

August 15, 2023

Lick granuloma is a common, stubborn skin disease that is directly caused by the dog licking an area of the body.

November 9, 2023

Oftentimes a lump turns out to be "just a lipoma" or simply a fatty tumor and nothing to worry about.

August 26, 2024

Unlike sarcoptic mange, demodectic mange is not considered a contagious disease and isolation of affected dogs is generally not considered necessary. 

June 7, 2024

While a good fur coat generally protects our pets from sun-induced malignant melanoma, a melanoma diagnosis is still just as serious and potentially deadly in our pets as it is for people.

June 29, 2020

March 15, 2022

Pemphigus foliaceus (PF) is a type of autoimmune disease of the skin. Although an uncommon skin disease in dogs and cats, any breed of dog or cat can develop PF. Your pet’s veterinarian will need to take skin samples to diagnose PF. Treatment might include corticosteroids and other medications.

March 28, 2025

The anus of a dog with perianal fistulae will show deep open crevices and some oozing pus all around the sphincter. This condition waxes and wanes but ultimately over time is progressive, ulcerating the surface of the anus and its surroundings.

July 31, 2018

Pyoderma is caused by bacterial infection of the skin. The causative organism is almost always Staphylococcus. Bacteria will not usually cause disease on normal skin, but other underlying skin diseases cause some changes in the skin surface making it susceptible to infection, leading to pyoderma.

November 3, 2015

Infected dogs and cats will shed fur containing dermatophyte fungal spores into the home environment. This fur can re-infect dogs and cats and make it difficult to treat the dermatophyte infection.

May 17, 2023

Ringworm is not a worm at all but a fungal infection of the skin. It is contagious to humans, too. This FAQ provides answers.

January 16, 2023

Sarcoptic mange is a very itchy disease caused by a small mite not visible to the naked eye. Areas where the mites tend to burrow under the skin include the tips of the ears, elbows, hocks, chest and belly. However, in a severe infestation, mites can cause problems on the animal's entire body.

November 27, 2018

April 15, 2023

With seasonal flank alopecia, a dog loses hair in the flank area on a seasonal basis. Different dogs seem to choose different seasons to lose their hair (fall and spring are popular) and when the season changes the hair generally grows back.

May 17, 2023

Sebaceous adenitis is inflammation of the sebaceous glands. Biopsy is required for diagnosis.

April 26, 2018

Dogs with seborrhea have excessive scaling and flaking of the skin.

March 23, 2023

In a skin biopsy, a small piece of skin is removed through minor skin surgery.

April 1, 2024

Puppy strangles is a classic but fortunately uncommon disease of puppies less than 4 months old. It causes acute swelling of the muzzle as well as blistering pimples on the face and inner ear flaps. If left untreated it can be fatal and despite the extreme inflammation, infection is not the problem.

May 20, 2024

Ticks are skin parasites that feed on the blood of their hosts. Ticks like motion, warm temperatures from body heat, and the carbon dioxide exhaled by mammals, which is why they are attracted to such hosts as dogs, cats, rodents, rabbits, cattle, small mammals, etc. The bite itself is not usually painful, but the parasite can transmit diseases and cause tick paralysis.

November 8, 2016

Applying shampoos, rinses, ointments or wipes to your pet's skin can be important when managing your pet's skin condition.

July 19, 2023

Most everyone knows that dogs get warts, but did you know that some of these warts are infectious? Find out what they are and how to deal with them.

April 21, 2023

True VKH syndrome is a human disease, well described for nearly a century. A similar disease in dogs has been described but since we do not know the relationship between the canine and human disease, we are hesitant to call the canine version VH syndrome as well. Until we know what is really going on in the dog, we will leave it at VK-H-LIKE syndrome or, more accurately, uveodermatologic syndrome.

May 19, 2023

You’ve watched the staff at your veterinarian's office trim your dog’s nails many times. How hard can this be?

February 5, 2024

Itching, or pruritus, is the most common symptom of skin disease in pets. Many conditions can cause a pet to itch, including allergies, fleas, and other skin parasites.

November 4, 2023

Wear and tear on the body is sure to create wounds, some mild, some surgical, and some severe and traumatic. The body is designed to heal damaged tissue regardless of what caused the initial injury and we can help this process by using proper wound disinfection, tissue protection, and trimming.

July 10, 2018

Many wounds will require pain control and sedation or general anesthesia for cleaning and closure once your pet has been evaluated by a veterinarian.

May 4, 2023

April 9, 2023

A potentially life-threatening intestinal condition of dogs that manifests as sudden onset bloody, watery diarrhea called acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (previously called hemorrhagic gastroenteritis or HGE.)

July 27, 2021

There are about as many diet options for your pet as there are for you, so which one is best? Breed, age, weight, allergies, medical conditions, and finances are some of the contributing factors that need to be considered when choosing an alternative diet.

July 22, 2021

Anal sac tumors are uncommon but serious and left untreated are generally fatal.

June 3, 2024

Loss of appetite is one of the most important criteria in determining if a pet is significantly ill or just having a minor malady. When the veterinarian says the pet has anorexia, it means the pet is not eating.

December 16, 2023

Bacterial diarrheas are generally a nuisance for the adult animal but can be lethal to a small puppy, kitten, or even a human baby. Most of these problems stem from contaminated food or fecal contaminated environment. Raw food diets for pets dramatically increase the risk of human exposure.

October 3, 2024

The goal is to remove the gall bladder before it ruptures. If it has already ruptured, tissue damaged by the rupture must be cleansed or removed.

September 24, 2024

Vomiting is a very common complaint in both the veterinary ER and in general practice.

September 24, 2024

Vomiting is a very common complaint in both the veterinary ER and in general practice.

October 11, 2023

A serious, life-threatening emergency. Learn to recognize the signs to get your dog to the vet in time to possibly save his life.

August 13, 2023

Bloat is a life-threatening condition in which the stomach fills with air or twists upon itself.

May 24, 2023

When pets get chronic diarrhea, one of the tests that sooner or later comes up is the test for Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin. Clostridium perfringens is a bacterium and it produces an unpleasant toxin.

August 16, 2021

Coccidia are parasites that commonly infect young animals housed in groups. Coccidia causes a bloody diarrhea that can be severe enough to be life threatening for a small animal. It is a common infection.

February 28, 2024

Colitis means inflammation of the colon and that spells diarrhea - often with fresh blood or mucus - and straining and discomfort for the pet, as well as a mess to clean up.

March 30, 2025

Difficulty in passing stool can mean extra effort (constipation) or complete impossibility (obstipation). Management can be surgical or with medication, depending on severity. Find out the difference, and find out what Megacolon is, too, on this informative page.

May 9, 2017

The basic methods of preventing destructive chewing are to keep your puppy/dog busy, prevent access to things that you don't want damaged, and provide your pet with acceptable things to chew.

September 15, 2020

Diaphragmatic hernias result from abdominal organs (e.g. liver, stomach, intestines) being pushed through a hole in the diaphragm

August 16, 2023

Diarrhea is the frequent evacuation of watery stools. Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of stomach contents through the mouth.

April 5, 2024

Liver enzymes can be elevated from liver disease or by other diseases or processes

August 19, 2023

Is your pet scooting? Smelling a fishy foul odor? Noticing some licking under the tail? Dogs with impacted anal sacs usually scoot their rear on the ground in an attempt to empty the glands. Some dogs will lick their anal area and other dogs will chase their tails. Cats often lick the fur off just under their tails.

February 7, 2024

Flatulence is a normal biological function.

August 7, 2024

August 12, 2023

Giardia is the genus of a protozoan parasite that is infectious to both humans and pets all over the world. Diarrhea can precede the shedding of the Giardia. Infection is more common in kennel situations where animals are housed in groups.

September 19, 2024

This bacterium is not new but focus on it by both the veterinary and human medical community certainly is. The role of Helicobacter in stomach ulcer formation is now well recognized. If you have a pet with chronic nausea, you may want to be familiar with this infection.

May 3, 2021

It is a neurological condition that can occur in pets that already have liver disease

August 24, 2022

November 20, 2019

March 25, 2023

Does your pet seem to have chronic vomiting or diarrhea? Those can be signs of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

April 14, 2021

Protein-losing enteropathy is a fancy way of saying that protein is being lost from the body through the intestine. This is a serious problem as the body's proteins are not easily replaced and the only way to replace them involves the absorption of protein constituents from the intestine.

March 7, 2023

Irritable bowel syndrome is a psychosomatic disease. This means that it is the activity of the mind that causes the symptoms. Most people do not have difficulty imagining having so much anxiety that diarrhea results. Chronic anxiety can similarly result in chronic diarrhea. This is basically what irritable bowel syndrome is all about.

June 9, 2024

Pets, especially younger ones, have the unfortunate tendency to eat things they shouldn't and we aren't talking about food. Toys, socks, rocks and other materials find their way into pet stomachs but when the foreign body is a string, the consequences are especially dire.

October 18, 2023

After blood testing and medical imaging has led to a diagnosis of liver tumor, many questions must be answered in order to make proper choices.

November 18, 2024

Familiarizing yourself with a variety of appropriate megaesophagus management techniques can help you provide a plan for your individual dog.

August 3, 2023

Do you know the difference between vomiting and regurgitation? If your pet has megaesophagus you probably know all too well. Read about the latest in treatment and testing (and see a graphic interactive demonstration).

June 18, 2023

In pancreatitis, inflammation disrupts the normal integrity of the pancreas. Digestive enzymes that are normally safely stored in granules are released prematurely where they digest the body itself. The result can be a metabolic catastrophe. The living tissue becomes further inflamed and the tissue damage quickly involves the adjacent liver. Toxins released from this orgy of tissue destruction are released into the circulation and can cause a body-wide inflammatory response.

March 28, 2025

The anus of a dog with perianal fistulae will show deep open crevices and some oozing pus all around the sphincter. This condition waxes and wanes but ultimately over time is progressive, ulcerating the surface of the anus and its surroundings.

March 31, 2021

A portosystemic shunt happens when a pet's venous blood from the intestine bypasses the liver. The pet can be born with the shunt or can get it later.

January 31, 2024

Commonly referred to as bloat, gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) is an often-fatal emergency that causes the dog’s stomach to distend and twist.

October 9, 2024

If your pet has a rectal prolapse, you may have noticed that recently he's been spending a lot of time trying to poop

April 6, 2020

Straining is a frequent and sometimes exaggerated effort to have a bowel movement or to urinate.

July 6, 2010

An umbilical hernia is a condition in which abdominal contents (fat, intestines, etc.) protrude past the abdominal wall at the location where the umbilical cord was attached to the fetus.

December 19, 2019

How can you tell the difference between vomiting and regurgitation? Your veterinarian will ask so see these videos before you take your pet in.

May 15, 2024

A hematoma is swelling created by a broken blood vessel after bleeding has occurred inside tissue. Hematomas within the ear flaps (aural hematomas) occur when head shaking breaks a blood vessel. The ear flap may partially or completely swell with blood. This condition is more common in dogs but can occur in cats as well.

October 15, 2020

Gram negative ear infections do not have the same kind of leeway that other ear infections do. It is crucial that recheck appointments are not skipped because Gram negatives will simply get harder to clear if treatment is incomplete.

May 8, 2020

Did you know the most common cause of recurrent ear infections is allergic skin disease? What do you do to keep the ear scratching and head shaking from becoming chronic?

July 31, 2024

The J shape of the dog's ear predisposes the dog to ear infections as debris must work its way upward rather than straight out. If ear wax cannot get out, it accumulates. Accumulation of ear wax, skin oil, and other debris feed the bacteria and fungi that live in the normal ear canal, leading them to proliferate. Soon an infection results.

December 5, 2024

July 10, 2024

This annoying parasite is a common source of ear infections, especially in cats and kittens. Where do they come from? How do you get rid of them?

May 8, 2024

The lateral ear resection is a conservative surgical approach for chronic otitis, meant for ears not yet at their end-stage, where it is thought that more efficient cleaning and better canal ventilation will help.

August 4, 2020

Malassezia ear infection is common in dogs, but cats can also be infected

December 5, 2023

Otitis externa is an inflammation or infection of the external ear canal. Bacteria, yeast, ear mites, and allergies can all cause it. Addressing this problem involves four steps.

September 12, 2021

Otitis media is inflammation and/or infection of the middle ear, whereas otitis externa begins in the external ear canal. 

June 25, 2018

October 10, 2024

In a TECA, all the diseased tissue including the entire ear canal, bones of the middle ear, etc., are simply removed and the healthy tissue around the ear is closed. This ends what has generally been a long tribulation of pain, odor, ear cleaning, and expensive veterinary medications and rechecks.

August 26, 2024

Most people think their pet has had a stroke, but in fact a problem with the vestibular apparatus is to blame. The vestibular apparatus is the neurological equipment responsible for perceiving one's body's orientation relative to the earth (determining if you are upside-down, standing up straight, falling etc.).

November 11, 2024

Also called hypoadrenocorticism, Addison's disease results from a deficiency of the hormones that enable adaption to stress. Signs can be vague or can culminate in a circulatory crisis.

August 24, 2023

While only approximately 15% of canine Cushing's syndrome patients have adrenal tumors, half of these patients will have a benign tumor and half will have malignant tumors. The choice of therapy may well depend on which type it is.

November 9, 2024

Hypoadrenocorticism (previously called Addison’s disease) is characterized by reduced to absent adrenal gland function.

August 17, 2023

Most diabetic dogs will develop cataracts and go blind. This FAQ can assist the owners of diabetic dogs in knowing what to expect and in decision-making regarding cataract surgery.

August 2, 2018

Healthy skin and a normal hair coat are the result of many factors, both external and internal. There are several glands in the body responsible for the production of hormones that are vital for the regulation of other body functions as well as a normal skin surface and hair coat.

September 19, 2017

Excess thirst, excess urination, excess appetite, poor hair coat and a pot-bellied appearance. This is a classical disease for which lots of information is available. We have attempted to include an explanation of this complicated problem and all the latest information.

January 24, 2024

Excess thirst, excess urination, excess appetite, poor hair coat and a pot-bellied appearance. This is a classical disease for which lots of information is available. We have attempted to include an explanation of this complicated problem and all the latest information.

April 24, 2023

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease involving the body's handling of sugar. Learn about some of the basics of this common hormone problem of dogs and cats.

July 3, 2024

The dietary approaches for diabetic dogs are very different than those for diabetic cats.

January 28, 2025

Ketoacidosis is one of the most extreme complications of diabetes mellitus that can be experienced. Unfortunately, most cases of ketoacidosis are in patients who were not previously known to be diabetic so the owner and pet must deal with two serious diagnoses at the same time.

September 11, 2024

Generally a high digestibility diet is the best choice for an EPI patient. These foods are low in fiber and fat and may be especially helpful for patients with trouble gaining weight. Many animals simply use enzymes mixed with their regular food.

October 4, 2022

September 26, 2023

Some dogs just seem completely unaffected by even high doses of insulin and it is important to have a step-by-step plan to rule out causes of insulin resistance so that regulation can be achieved.

April 30, 2024

Elevated calcium starts with the bones. They receive an inappropriate message to mobilize their calcium. This message is either from excess parathyroid hormone or from high amounts of parathyroid hormone-related protein. When calcium is removed from the bones, all that is left is a fibrous scaffold, which is not really strong enough to support us. Our bones break, even fold.

July 5, 2016

Hyperlipidemia is a general term for disorders in which too many fat molecules (called lipids) circulate in the blood. The two most important lipids in pets are cholesterol and triglycerides.

August 8, 2018

Healthy skin and a normal hair coat are the result of many external and internal factors. Several glands in the body produce hormones that are important for a normal skin surface and hair coat.

May 27, 2024

Hypothyroidism is the most common hormone imbalance in dogs. While it seems like it would be a simple subject, there are complexities.

March 31, 2024

Insulin is the injectable medication you use to control your diabetic dog's blood sugar. Learn how to administer it.

November 13, 2024

Excess thirst, excess urination, excess appetite, poor hair coat and a pot-bellied appearance. This is a classical disease for which lots of information is available. We have attempted to include an explanation of this complicated problem and all the latest information.

October 7, 2023

Excess thirst, excess urination, excess appetite, poor hair coat and a pot-bellied appearance. This is a classical disease for which lots of information is available. We have attempted to include an explanation of this complicated problem and all the latest information.

May 18, 2023

In dogs, there is an 87% chance that a thyroid growth is malignant. Cats with thyroid carcinomas are usually hyperthyroid.

June 18, 2023

Monitoring is crucial to determining your pet's proper insulin dose. Much monitoring can be done at home; however, some tests simply must be done at the veterinarian's office.

November 6, 2024

Excess thirst, excess urination, excess appetite, poor hair coat and a pot-bellied appearance. This is a classical disease for which lots of information is available. We have attempted to include an explanation of this complicated problem and all the latest information.

October 25, 2022

Excess thirst, excess urination, excess appetite, poor hair coat and a pot-bellied appearance are the hallmarks of the classical disease called Cushing's.

October 13, 2021

Allergic conjunctivitis is most commonly treated with eyedrops or ointments containing corticosteroids,

August 17, 2023

Most diabetic dogs will develop cataracts and go blind. This FAQ can assist the owners of diabetic dogs in knowing what to expect and in decision-making regarding cataract surgery.

December 16, 2023

Cataracts are an important cause of blindness in the dog. Through special surgery, it may be possible to restore vision. Would you recognize a cataract if you saw one in your cat or dog?

September 8, 2020

Abnormalities in eye structures may lead to blindness

August 16, 2023

Injury to tissue caused by contact with harmful chemicals such as lye, acids, and strong cleaning supplies.

January 20, 2025

Has a red lump suddenly appeared in the corner of your pet's eye? What does it mean and what should you do?

August 6, 2021

The disease occurs in both eyes, but each eye may be affected differently

December 24, 2024

A scratch or scrape on the eye is extremely painful, causing squinting, redness and excess tears. What do you need to know about taking care of a pet with this condition? Read about the diagnosis and treatment of corneal ulcers and erosions.

November 26, 2024

Distichiasis is quite common in dogs. Distichiasis is a condition in which extra hairs grow out of the eyelash area.

November 6, 2024

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or KCS, is a fancy way of saying the eye is dry. There are many causes of dry eye, but the most common one appears to be immune mediated destruction of the tear-producing gland tissue.

November 14, 2017

Entropion is an uncomfortable or painful condition in which the animal's eyelids roll inward, allowing the eyelashes (or other hair) to rub against the cornea and irritate it. The upper and/or lower eyelids can be involved, and the condition can occur in either one eye or both.

July 10, 2018

Seek veterinary attention immediately as signs can indicate potentially serious eye problems that can risk your pet's vision.

October 7, 2024

Enucleation means removal of the eye. What are the common reasons this procedure may be necessary, what can you expect after surgery, and what complications are possible?

September 26, 2018

Glaucoma is an eye disease that can cause significant pain and lead to blindness.

July 16, 2018

The iris coloboma, which is relatively uncommon, does not affect vision, nor does it progress to anything else.

April 14, 2021

Usually eyelid masses are benign but sometimes they are sebaceous adenocarcinomas, a type of cancer

May 15, 2014

Pannus is an eye disease that can result in blindness if it is not treated

September 26, 2018

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) describes a group of inherited degenerative disorders of the retina that occur commonly in dogs and rarely in cats. Dogs eventually become blind, but remain happy and otherwise healthy.

June 3, 2023

Many dogs and cats have tear-stained faces from chronic excessive tears. Why is this and why is this problem considered one of the hardest to solve in veterinary ophthalmology?

May 21, 2019

Uveitis is an inflammation of the dark tissues (uvea) of the eye

April 21, 2023

True VKH syndrome is a human disease, well described for nearly a century. A similar disease in dogs has been described but since we do not know the relationship between the canine and human disease, we are hesitant to call the canine version VH syndrome as well. Until we know what is really going on in the dog, we will leave it at VK-H-LIKE syndrome or, more accurately, uveodermatologic syndrome.

August 1, 2023

A localized accumulation of pus, usually caused by an infection introduced from an animal bite or other penetrating wound.

August 1, 2023

We use bandages for several reasons: to protect wounds from the environment, protect the environment from wounds, and to discourage the pet from licking or irritating a wound.

August 1, 2023

Any insect sting or spider bite can cause problems for your pet.

August 2, 2023

Learn how to stop bleeding in an emergency.

August 13, 2023

Bloat is a life-threatening condition in which the stomach fills with air or twists upon itself.

August 13, 2023

Respiratory distress recognized by increased effort to breathe; noisy breathing; cyanosis (a bluish tinge to the lips and mucous membranes); inability to inhale or exhale.

August 13, 2023

A burn is any injury of tissue caused by heat, flame, chemicals, or electricity. Burn classification determines the severity of the wound based on the depth of the tissue injury.

August 16, 2023

CPCR (formerly referred to as CPR) is the treatment required to save an animal or human life when suffering cardiopulmonary arrest.

August 16, 2023

Injury to tissue caused by contact with harmful chemicals such as lye, acids, and strong cleaning supplies.

March 21, 2023

Choking is interference with breathing caused by foreign material in, or compression on, the trachea (windpipe).

June 19, 2023

Excess loss of water from the body or inappropriate intake of water into the body.

August 16, 2023

Diarrhea is the frequent evacuation of watery stools. Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of stomach contents through the mouth.

August 21, 2023

If the contractions are frequent, regular, and strong, and no young is produced in 15 to 30 minutes, the pet should be taken to a veterinarian.

August 21, 2023

Suffocation caused by the filling of the lungs with water or other fluid. What to do?

August 21, 2023

It is imperative that you do not touch the pet until the electrical source has been turned off or moved. Electricity can flow through your pet and affect you as well.

July 10, 2018

Seek veterinary attention immediately as signs can indicate potentially serious eye problems that can risk your pet's vision.

August 28, 2024

Fainting and dizziness may be associated with anything from low blood sugar to severe heart disease.

August 28, 2024

Fever is the elevation of body temperature in response to infection or inflammation.

July 10, 2018

Fracture: a break or crack in a bone. Learn about the different types of fractures and what to do.

July 9, 2024

The elevation of body temperature above normal. It is sometimes indicative of a fever, but it can also be associated with severe conditions such as heat stroke or heat prostration.

November 15, 2024

When a pet's body temperature dips below 100.5 degrees, the pet is too cold and must be warmed.

November 15, 2024

Dogs frequently carry sticks in their mouths and suffer impalements when an end of the stick jams into the ground.

January 11, 2024

August 3, 2018

VeterinaryPartner.com has provided this complete reference book online for you to browse through, expanding your knowledge of Dog & Cat First Aid.

July 10, 2018

If the nose is bleeding profusely and/or the bleeding lasts more than 5 minutes, seek veterinary attention.

July 10, 2018

It is extremely important to immobilize the spine of a suddenly paralyzed pet before and during transportation.

March 26, 2020

To identify an illness or abnormal situation, you must first be able to recognize what is normal for your pet.

April 1, 2020

Try to get in touch with a veterinarian or a poison control center and follow their instructions. It is important to know which substances you should induce vomiting, and which ones you should not.

April 1, 2020

What can you do to prevent a crisis?

January 4, 2024

Seizure activity that lasts longer than 3 to 5 minutes can cause severe side effects, such as fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema) or brain (cerebral edema). A dramatic rise in body temperature (hyperthermia) can also result, causing internal organ damage.

March 7, 2025

The term shock can mean different things to different people, and medical professionals still debate the true meaning of the word. Regardless of cause, shock is life-threatening and requires immediate attention and treatment.

July 10, 2018

When your pet is "struck" by a snake, it is best to assume it is a poisonous bite.

April 6, 2020

Straining is a frequent and sometimes exaggerated effort to have a bowel movement or to urinate.

June 19, 2023

Damage to the tissues caused by exposure to the sun's rays.

July 10, 2018

The first aid provider must not only identify and treat injury or illness, but must also safely transport the patient to the veterinary facility for treatment.

February 2, 2021

Wounds bigger than a small cut are almost always worse than they look

July 10, 2018

Many wounds will require pain control and sedation or general anesthesia for cleaning and closure once your pet has been evaluated by a veterinarian.

April 6, 2020

If you have questions, seek advice from a veterinarian.

April 8, 2014

Anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease. Two forms of anaplasmosis are known: granulocytic anaplasmosis and infectious cyclic thrombocytopenia.A dog can have both infections at the same time

December 26, 2019

November 1, 2023

Nasal aspergillosis is the most common manifestation of the Aspergillus infection.

September 9, 2024

Most people have never heard of Babesia organisms though they cause red blood cell destruction in their canine hosts all over the world. Babesia organisms are spread by ticks and are of particular significance to racing greyhounds and pit bulls. Humans may also become infected.

December 16, 2023

Bacterial diarrheas are generally a nuisance for the adult animal but can be lethal to a small puppy, kitten, or even a human baby. Most of these problems stem from contaminated food or fecal contaminated environment. Raw food diets for pets dramatically increase the risk of human exposure.

November 22, 2024

Viruses are strange life forms. They have only the bare bones of biochemical equipment (barely enough to even qualify for the title "Life Form"). The viral particle's goal is to attach to a host cell and somehow inject its nucleic acids inside the cell. Soon the host cell is little more than a bag of virus.

November 20, 2019

Blastomycosis is a systemic fungal infection that affects dogs and cats. Blastomycosis appears in only certain geographic areas in North America, most often the Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, Tennessee, and St. Lawrence River valleys. Infection with Blastomyces occurs when a cat or dog inhales the fungal spores into the lungs.

June 26, 2024

Some blood-tinged droplets sneezed on the floor might be the only sign or there might be a steady bloody drip from one or both nostrils. These findings are alarming as well as messy and we want to identify the cause and take care of it promptly. The problem is that there are many causes and not all of them are localized to the nose, and many are serious diseases.

August 10, 2018

Brucellosis is a very serious disease in animals and people and drinking raw milk should be discouraged as the risks of developing disease are not worth taking the chance.

March 13, 2024

Brucellosis is an important venereal disease in many species. It does not usually come up in pet ownership because most pet dogs are not used for breeding. Once someone has decided to breed their dog, though, it behooves them to know all about this disease, particularly since it can be transmitted to humans.

March 25, 2025

Canine heartworms are parasitic worms that live in the pulmonary arteries (and, occasionally, within the heart) of dogs and can pose a serious threat. 

July 19, 2023

Cellulitis is a painful inflammation of the tissue under the skin. In animals, it is generally caused by a bacterial infection that has entered the skin from a cut, open wound, or broken skin from an animal bite.

August 16, 2022

Chagas disease is an infectious disease caused by a microscopic parasite spread by an insect called the kissing bug. Once the parasite infects an animal, if it is not treated promptly, it can reproduce and live in the body for the rest of the animal's life. 

February 24, 2022

Chronic bronchitis is a non-infectious inflammatory condition affecting the lining (mucosa) of the large airways. Dogs with chronic bronchitis generally have a persistent hacking cough.

August 25, 2023

Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibacterial (broad spectrum, systemic antibacterial agent) approved in humans for the treatment of susceptible bacterial infections.

March 11, 2014

It is unclear if C. difficile can be transmitted from pets to people. The types of C. difficile found in pets are often the same as those found in people, including the epidemic strain ribotype 027/NAP1. So it makes sense that C. difficile could potentially be transmitted between people and animals, but there is still no conclusive proof.

May 24, 2023

When pets get chronic diarrhea, one of the tests that sooner or later comes up is the test for Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin. Clostridium perfringens is a bacterium and it produces an unpleasant toxin.

August 16, 2021

Coccidia are parasites that commonly infect young animals housed in groups. Coccidia causes a bloody diarrhea that can be severe enough to be life threatening for a small animal. It is a common infection.

August 4, 2023

Cryptosporidium are similar to Coccidia and, until recent advances in molecular biology showed us otherwise, they were believed to be simply another species of Coccidia. They have some particularly unpleasant features.

September 15, 2023

is a highly contagious disease affecting not just dogs but many animals. Distemper occurs worldwide, and dogs are the primary carriers of the disease.

June 14, 2023

Ehrlichia are a type of bacteria that infect and live within the white blood cells of their hosts. Different types of Ehrlichia live in different types of white blood cells. Hosts can be human, pet, or wild animals. They are spread from host to host by tick bites.

March 31, 2025

We all know fleas are a nuisance and can lead to itching and dermatitis, but did you know a heavy flea infestation can be life threatening? The owners of most victims were not aware of the problem. Read more about this condition and who is most at risk.

October 31, 2023

Fleas are the most common external parasite of companion animals. Flea allergy dermatitis is the most common skin disease of dogs and cats! In order to help select the most appropriate products to achieve a flea-free existence for an allergic pet, learn about the life cycle of the flea.

August 12, 2023

Giardia is the genus of a protozoan parasite that is infectious to both humans and pets all over the world. Diarrhea can precede the shedding of the Giardia. Infection is more common in kennel situations where animals are housed in groups.

July 13, 2023

The chief issue in the diagnosis of heartworm disease centers around detecting heartworm infection.

April 11, 2023

Confused about heartworm protection? This chart compares the popular heartworm preventives to assist you in determining which is right for your situation.

November 29, 2023

It has been said that the treatment of heartworm infection is somewhat of an art. There are several strategies that can be used including the option of not treating at all. The important concept to realize is that very harsh arsenic based drugs are necessary to kill adult heartworms and that treating for heartworm infection is neither simple nor safe in itself.

April 4, 2024

Heartworm is a serious problem in many areas of the country. What questions do you have about the disease, its treatment and its prevention?

September 19, 2024

This bacterium is not new but focus on it by both the veterinary and human medical community certainly is. The role of Helicobacter in stomach ulcer formation is now well recognized. If you have a pet with chronic nausea, you may want to be familiar with this infection.

August 24, 2022

November 20, 2019

January 11, 2023

Canine herpes is more of a reproductive problem than a respiratory one; in fact, most infected dogs do not appear to get sick at all. Instead the infections manifests in the pregnancy as resorption of the litter of puppies, abortion, still birth, or death of puppies within a few weeks of life. Transmission occurs through direct contact (sexual contact will do it but the usual route is simply normal nosing, licking, and sniffing) between an infected and uninfected dog.

May 24, 2021

Histoplasmosis is a dangerous disease caused by fungus

March 7, 2025

The adult hookworm lives in the small intestine of its host. It hangs on to the intestinal wall using its six sharp teeth and unlike other worms that just absorb the digested food through their skin as it passes by, the hookworm drinks its host's blood. Humans can get hookworms too.

October 5, 2021

In hydrometra and mucometra, the fluid is sterile and there is no infection. Only pyometra is an infection

April 17, 2015

Two strains of canine influenza are seen in the United States: H3N8, first seen in 2004, and H3N2, first seen in 2015.

October 24, 2024

Infectious tracheobronchitis, commonly known as kennel cough, is a complex of infections rather than infection by a single agent. Find out how infection occurs, how serious it may be, how it is treated, and understand the vaccination.

June 9, 2015

A fact sheet from the CDC answers questions about the risk of people getting leptospirosis from their pets.

February 22, 2024

This infection can be caught by humans as well as by dogs. Learn about the leptospira organism, and how we test, treat and vaccinate against the disease (in dogs, that is).

May 15, 2023

When lice are found, it is usually in the dogs that are living in or were obtained from filthy, crowded conditions.

May 15, 2024

Lyme disease is transmitted through a tick bite, and can cause various symptoms in dogs. Lyme disease in dogs is quite different than in humans.

July 31, 2024

Technically known as Malessezia Dermatitis, this is one of the stinkiest and itchiest conditions treated in veterinary dermatology, and it is one of the chief reasons a previously well-controlled allergic dog might suddenly increase itching. What to do? Find some answers here.

August 4, 2020

Malassezia ear infection is common in dogs, but cats can also be infected

June 2, 2020

MRSA is the abbreviation for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

May 12, 2017

In dogs and cats, the most common conditions associated with MRSA tend to be skin infections, post-operative incisional infections and wound infections. The bacteria have also been isolated from the urinary tract, auditory canal, skin, eye and joints.

September 2, 2013

Spay-associated infections are quite rare, so whether or not to spay your dog with methicillin-susceptible S. pseudintermedius is becoming a more common question.

April 9, 2024

Parvoviruses are a large group; almost every mammal species including humans seems to have its own parvovirus. Fortunately, each virus is pretty specific about what animals it can infect (i.e., the pig parvovirus will not infect people, the canine parvovirus will not infect cats, etc.)

November 10, 2021

A puppy with a bloody diarrhea could have a parasite problem, a virus other than parvovirus, stress colitis, an intestinal foreign body, or may simply have eaten something that disagreed with him. It is important to confirm the diagnosis of parvovirus before embarking on what could be the wrong treatment.

June 24, 2023

Treatment for parvoviral infection centers on supportive care. This means that the clinical problems that come up in the course of the infection are addressed individually with the goal of keeping the patient alive long enough for an immune response to generate. We do not have effective antiviral drugs and must rely on the patient's immune system for cure.

May 10, 2023

There should be no permanent ramifications due to this infection. The recovered puppy should lead a normal life once the recovery period is completed (1-2 weeks).

October 5, 2023

Whether or not parvovirus infection happens depends on the interaction of three things: Host vitality (including immune experience/vaccination status), virulence of the virus (including how many viral particles the host is exposed to), and environmental factors.

October 16, 2024

We vaccinate puppies in a series, giving a vaccine every 2 to 4 weeks until age 16 weeks. By age 16 weeks, we can be certain that maternal antibodies have waned and vaccine should be able to take. It should be recognized that some individuals, especially those of well-vaccinated mothers, must be vaccinated out to 20 weeks unless a high titer vaccine is used.

November 16, 2020

Physaloptera are rare but most common in the Midwestern U.S., particularly in pets with access to the outdoors

February 4, 2020

August 7, 2019

Heartworm preventive medications are used to periodically kill larval heartworms that have managed to gain access to the dog's body. At this point, the products available are intended for monthly use. What should you know about each one?

February 20, 2025

Pyothorax is one of those conditions where prognosis is reasonably good (assuming the patient is not too far gone at the time of presentation) as long as aggressive treatment is pursued. If one tries to go with inexpensive alternatives to proper treatment, a poor outcome is likely.

November 22, 2010

Pythiosis occurs in dogs and horses more often than in cats.

March 29, 2025

Descriptions of rabies go back thousands of years as rabies has classically been one of the most feared infections of all time. Rabies is a serious disease, but fortunately it can also be easily prevented in dogs and cats by proper vaccination.

October 4, 2021

November 3, 2015

Infected dogs and cats will shed fur containing dermatophyte fungal spores into the home environment. This fur can re-infect dogs and cats and make it difficult to treat the dermatophyte infection.

July 21, 2014

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii. This intracellular parasite is transmitted to dogs through the bite of an infected tick.

October 25, 2024

This common parasite can cause diarrhea and vomiting in cats and dogs, and some pet owners become very concerned when their pet expels a worm up to seven inches in length. Roundworms are also one of the few dog or cat parasites that can be dangerous when transmitted to humans.

May 20, 2021

Sanitizing is a two-step process that involves both cleaning and disinfecting

January 12, 2025

We have generated some confusion regarding tapeworms not contracted from fleas. There actually is another tapeworm besides the common tapeworm whose segments might be seen on a pet's anal area or on their feces.

January 27, 2025

Noticing something like grains of rice that move, something that looks like sesame seeds in your pet's bedding? Where do tapeworms come from, how can you eliminate them, and why do they come back?

July 19, 2023

Most people don't know much about tetanus, also called lock-jaw. In fact, pets are fairly resistant to infection, which is why tetanus shots are not included in the standard vaccine series. So what should a dog owner know about tetanus?

July 5, 2016

Tick paralysis is caused by neurotoxins secreted in saliva by certain species of female ticks. Death can occur in untreated dogs from paralysis of the respiratory muscles.

April 3, 2023

The fungus lives only in one area: the Lower Sonoran life zone. An animal or person who is sick is not contagious; infection is only through inhalation of a fungal spore released from dirt but only a few spores are necessary for infection to occur.

July 19, 2023

Most everyone knows that dogs get warts, but did you know that some of these warts are infectious? Find out what they are and how to deal with them.

October 26, 2022

Antibiotics can be literal life savers for your pet when prescribed and used for the kind of infection that responds to the medication. But when given for something where they are not appropriate — such as a virus — antibiotics can create a long-lasting problem of antibiotic resistance.

July 10, 2024

The whipworm of dogs is substantially smaller than the other worms (a mere 30-50 mm in length, about a half inch maximum). The "head" (or more accurately the digestive end of the worm) is skinny vs. its stout tail (or reproductive end) which gives the worm a whip shape, hence the name.

November 8, 2022

Ataxia is a symptom caused by some type of central nervous system problem in which the brain cannot correctly tell the body what to do. It is an inability to make normal, coordinated, voluntary movements.

November 2, 2022

The brachial plexus is the term for the bundle of nerves in the armpit. Injury or trauma such as an automobile accident, a bite, or a wound in this area can damage and tear nerves.