June 11, 2024

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

December 1, 2020

Over time, the limping becomes consistent.

October 24, 2023

Because CBD may have many of the medical benefits of marijuana but does not have psychoactive effects, CBD is emerging as the cannabinoid most used medicinally in animals.

August 1, 2024

The spinal cord is the communication trunk for the body’s central nervous system, connecting the body with the brain.

August 9, 2024

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. 

August 4, 2020

Owning and caring for a chondrodystrophic (short-legged) dog is more about preparation and awareness than prevention and treatment

August 7, 2024

Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) is essentially the dog equivalent of Alzheimer's disease

August 6, 2021

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

September 16, 2020

Left untreated, liver function would be irreversibly damaged, but treating early and continuing with lifelong therapy has a good prognosis

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.

April 5, 2024

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

September 14, 2020

Follicular cysts do not spread beyond the skin but can become infected.

August 12, 2020

This nail disease usually affects multiple claws on all four paws

April 14, 2021

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

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. 

January 11, 2021

OCD is a developmental disease seen in rapidly growing puppies of some but not all large breeds

September 12, 2021

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

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.

February 8, 2021

March 22, 2022

A recessed (or juvenile) vulva means a dog has excess skin folds that hang over her vulva, enough to potentially cause problems of one kind or another. The condition tends to be seen mostly in medium to large sized breeds, most often in obese dogs. If the skin folks of the recessed vulva are affecting both your and your dog’s quality of life, your veterinarian can provide medical management or a surgical fix, called a vulvoplasty. Generally, the prognosis after a vulvoplasty is excellent and most owners are quite pleased. 

May 20, 2021

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

January 5, 2021

Scottie cramp is a neurological disorder that temporarily affects a dog’s ability to move their limbs

August 18, 2020

Just like people, dogs go through both mental and physical changes as they age

September 9, 2020

Dogs with this condition have essentially sprained the muscles in their tail

May 10, 2023

The canine estrous cycle, or what we think of as being in heat, has four phases called proestrus, estrus, diestrus, and anestrus.

May 25, 2023

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

July 11, 2023

May 15, 2022

“Wobbler syndrome” is the common term used for the spinal disease cervical vertebral instability, (CVI). The name comes from the weak, uncoordinated gait dogs with the condition have, giving the appearance of “wobbling” as they move. MRI is the preferred method for evaluating CVI because it best identifies the nature and severity of the disease. 

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.

April 21, 2021

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 15, 2022

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

July 31, 2019

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.

November 18, 2014

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

December 7, 2023

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.

April 1, 2023

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 14, 2023

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.

December 29, 2020

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

April 20, 2022

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.

June 23, 2021

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.

May 17, 2018

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.

June 29, 2022

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.

April 25, 2018

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.

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.

September 19, 2011

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.

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).

March 7, 2017

More than 85% of dogs and cats older than 4 years have periodontal pathology.

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. 

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.

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.

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 15, 2022

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.

January 17, 2019

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.

August 2, 2022

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.

September 8, 2020

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, 2023

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.

May 25, 2023

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.

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.

January 31, 2023

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.

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.

March 21, 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.

December 14, 2017

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, 2023

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.

August 7, 2020

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.

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.

June 25, 2018

September 14, 2022

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.

September 24, 2019

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 1, 2022

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.

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 23, 2023

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.

August 17, 2022

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 16, 2022

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 16, 2022

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 2, 2023

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

October 9, 2022

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 12, 2007

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

July 26, 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.

September 13, 2022

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.

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.

March 22, 2021

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

March 26, 2020

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.

July 10, 2018

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.

August 23, 2022

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.

March 7, 2023

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.

February 20, 2024

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.

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.

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.

April 1, 2023

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?

March 21, 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, 2023

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.

September 13, 2022

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.

April 21, 2022

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.

July 11, 2023

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?

January 28, 2023

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 7, 2023

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.

August 9, 2022

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 7 inches in length. Roundworms are also one of the few dog or cat parasites that can be dangerous when transmitted to humans.

January 18, 2023

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 7, 2023

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. 

May 14, 2008

The pet can experience just some neck pain or complete paralysis of all four legs and no pain perception. An acute onset is an absolute emergency.

April 27, 2015

Degenerative myelopathy is a progressive disease of undetermined cause that affects a dog's spinal cord. It results in a loss of coordination of the hind legs, which progresses to weakness and then to paralysis of the hindquarters.

August 9, 2023

Most people have never heard of GME or any other form of central nervous system reticulosis until they have a dog with progressive neurologic disease. Frequently what the owner is told is that GME is an inflammatory disease that acts in many ways like cancer and that very little is known about it.

May 3, 2021

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

September 26, 2023

Slight squint, small pupil, raised third eyelid... it all looks pretty strange, as if something is wrong with the eye. In fact, it is not the eye itself that is the problem, but rather it is a nerve problem. Read more about this symptom and its causes.

April 10, 2024

This condition literally means "water head" and is more commonly referred to as water on the brain. The central nervous system is bathed in cerebrospinal fluid that is secreted by chambers inside the brain. When fluid builds up, there is no room in the brain for extra volume and disaster can result. This condition is particularly common in dome-headed puppies.

May 31, 2024

The most common symptom is pain. Treating lumbosacral stenosis depends on the cause and severity of the symptoms.

July 22, 2022

Myasthenia gravis is a disease that interrupts the way nerves communicate with muscles. There is no treatment for the congenital form. The acquired form, which is an autoimmune disease, is treated medically with immunosuppressive agents.

October 18, 2013

People who experience neuropathic pain describe it as "a pins and needles sensation," tingling, burning, itching, numbness or cold, and sometimes feeling as if they had received a small electric shock. Grades of neuropathic pain that have been established in human medicine are definite, probable and possible. Pets cannot describe their pain to us but we believe it's likely to be like what people have.

July 10, 2018

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

August 17, 2023

Spinal damage leading to rear leg paralysis is not uncommon. These "downer" dogs have special needs. Rarely is rear paralysis temporary so management requires commitment. It is not for everyone and it is important to understand what one is getting into; though, for the right owner and patient, management can be rewarding.

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.

August 15, 2024

Any involuntary behavior that occurs abnormally may represent a seizure. Seizures may be caused by situations within the brain (such as trauma or infection) or by situations centered outside the brain (such as low blood sugar, circulating metabolic toxins, or external poisons).

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.

October 6, 2017

Treatments that may help improve cognitive dysfunction include L-Deprenyl, dietary changes, and environmental enrichment.

February 16, 2022

Serotonin syndrome is a serious drug reaction to medications that build up high levels of serotonin in the body. Serotonin syndrome can be a life-threatening situation, therefore if you think your pet is developing it, visit a veterinarian immediately. 

May 31, 2023

The spinal cord is surrounded and protected by a bony tube made up of a series of bones called vertebrae, linked together by intervertebral discs, ligaments, and muscles. This entire complex is referred to as the "spine.” Sometimes, abnormal growth and development of the spine happen before birth with both puppies and kittens, resulting in a spinal defect called Spina Bifida. 

October 5, 2023

Syringomyelia pertains to the central nervous system: the brain and spinal cord. Anyone contemplating ownership of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel should know what it means.

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. 

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.

June 6, 2023

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden event, such as a blow or fall, happens to the head. In both humans and animals, a head injury severe enough to damage the brain is referred to as traumatic brain injury or TBI.

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.

September 24, 2019

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.).

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.

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.

May 27, 2023

Brachycephalic means short-faced, sometimes called flat-faced. Short-faced breeds of dogs have their own share of unique problems. Be familiar with what they are.

May 5, 2014

Rhinitis is the inflammation of the mucous membrane in the nose. It can occur by itself or as part of an upper respiratory illness/infection.

August 3, 2023

In renal insufficiency, phosphorus is not anyone's friend. The failing kidney is no longer good at getting rid of excess phosphorus and phosphorus levels in the blood begin to rise.

July 3, 2024

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

January 23, 2023

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.

January 22, 2024

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

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.

September 15, 2023

Neither VeterinaryPartner.com nor its parent, Veterinary Information Network, believes that a home cooked or raw diet is best for pets. However, many people would like to use home cooked or raw diets for their pets. We suggest that people wishing to feed one of these diets first consult with a veterinarian.

November 26, 2021

Calcium is such a crucial component of our biochemistry that virtually any complete blood panel, whether human or veterinary, will include a measurement of calcium. Our bodies go to tremendous lengths to regulate our blood calcium levels within a narrow range. We need a storage source to draw upon for when we need more circulating calcium as well as a system to unload excess.

July 2, 2021

These itty bitty babies have trouble maintaining body temperature, cut their baby teeth in late and thus have trouble with kibbled foods, and they have difficulty maintaining blood sugar. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) creates listlessness, incoordination (the brain cannot burn fat or protein and relies entirely on sugar), and even seizures.

October 11, 2019

Obesity has become an extremely important health problem in the Western world, not just for humans but for dogs and cats as well. Recent estimations suggest that up to 35% of dogs and cats in the U.S. suffer from obesity.

August 24, 2023

Tremors can involve only certain muscles or body areas or the entire dog. Finding the reason behind tremors is tricky as tremoring occurs for many reasons.

March 11, 2019

A letter from a veterinarian points out that amputation is far better than continued pain or euthanasia.

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. 

May 14, 2008

The pet can experience just some neck pain or complete paralysis of all four legs and no pain perception. An acute onset is an absolute emergency.

March 20, 2015

Diskospondylitis is a bacterial/fungal infection that can reach the intervertebral disks several ways.

May 1, 2019

Elbow dysplasia is the most common cause of front limb lameness in the young dog, especially of the larger breeds. Elbow dysplasia can take several different forms.

March 6, 2024

The usual patient for this condition is a short-haired large breed dog, usually an adolescent, brought in for assessment of a fluid-filled swelling at the point of one or both elbows. This is the classical presentation of the elbow hygroma, the body's response to chronic trauma to the point of the elbow.

July 28, 2014

The goal of the femoral head and neck ostectomy surgery is to create a false hip joint that will be more comfortable and yield better mobility than the diseased joint the patient had before.

July 10, 2018

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

November 27, 2018

If this article has caught your attention, it may be that your pet has had the misfortune of suffering a fractured bone. This is a traumatic experience for both you and your pet and there are a few things you should know to help both of you make the best of a bad situation!

March 23, 2022

January 31, 2023

A hemivertebra is a congenitally deformed vertebra. Hemivertebrae of the tail are not a problem as there is no spinal cord tissue that far down.

March 24, 2023

Hip dislocation is the common term for the separation of the femoral head from the pelvic acetabulum. In order for the hip to dislocate, trauma must be severe enough to break the capital ligament.

April 24, 2023

Hip dysplasia is a common condition of large breed dogs and many dog owners have heard of it but the fact is that anyone owning a large breed dog or considering a large breed dog as a pet should become familiar with this condition. The larger the dog, the more likely the development of this problem becomes, particularly as the dog ages.

January 24, 2024

Hip dysplasia can occur in any breed or size of dog but is more common and tends to be a bigger issue in larger breeds. Part one in a series of two articles about this condition. 

July 22, 2024

HOD is a developmental, auto-inflammatory disease of the bones most often seen in fast-growing puppies of the large and giant breeds.

January 3, 2024

There are two types of disease that can afflict the intervertebral disk causing the disk to press painfully against the spinal cord. One type is a much slower degenerative process than the other.

November 27, 2018

This disease produces lameness of the hip joint in young, small breed dogs.

May 31, 2024

The most common symptom is pain. Treating lumbosacral stenosis depends on the cause and severity of the symptoms.

September 14, 2022

It may start suddenly one day or come on gradually. The dog seems to be in pain when his mouth opens or he attempts to chew. Perhaps he will not open his mouth at all. In time, the muscles around the head (particularly the temple region) hollow out, giving the dog a thin faced look. What is happening?

June 19, 2024

The medial luxating patella, commonly called trick knee, is an extremely common problem in toy breed dogs. An owner typically notices a little skip in the dog's step. The dog may even run on three legs, holding one hind leg up, and then miraculously be back on four legs as if nothing has happened.

December 14, 2023

Arthritis pain causes discomfort and loss of mobility in aged pets, and there are numerous remedies on the market. Which ones can be combined? Which are proven reliable and which may only work in some individuals?

May 3, 2023

A pet does not have to be a senior citizen to require joint care supplements or physical therapy. Degenerative arthritis can result from an injury or can be the result of genetics and joint conformation.

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.

September 5, 2023

Pano is often referred to as growing pains because of the similarity to the human malady.

November 20, 2012

Patella luxation, or knee dislocation, can range in severity from a patella that can be dislocated only in extreme extension and then snaps readily into place, to a patella that is permanently luxated medially (towards the center of the dog's body).

February 20, 2014

Physical rehabilitation for pets is still a rather new veterinary discipline, as it has only exist since approximately 2000. However, the discipline continues to grow, as does the awareness of benefits to dogs.

January 26, 2021

The ruptured cruciate ligament is the most common knee injury of dogs. Chances are that any dog that suddenly has rear leg lameness has a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. The history usually involves a rear leg suddenly so sore that the dog can hardly bear weight on it. If left alone, it will appear to improve over the course of weeks but the knee will be notably swollen and arthritis will set in quickly. Dogs can be presented in either the acute stage (shortly after the injury) or in the chronic stage (weeks or months later).

December 19, 2019

In dogs, spondylosis deformans occurs most often along lower back (lumbar) vertebrae. In cats, it tends to occur more often in the chest (thoracic) vertebrae.

February 18, 2014

While the procedure can be performed on just about any patient, including small dogs and cats, TPLO seems to be most applicable to larger breed, active dogs.

October 8, 2023

Preparing for the pitter-patter of little paws? What can you expect and what should you watch for?

July 2, 2013

Valuable information for those wishing to breed dogs.

November 6, 2023

Cryptorchidism is a condition in which a male’s testicles have not descended (dropped) into the scrotum. Some cryptorchid animals are sterile and some are not.

December 29, 2020

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.

July 4, 2023

We get a lot of questions about female dogs having their menstrual periods. In fact, the menstrual cycle is a primate phenomenon; dogs have an estrus cycle that includes a period of false pregnancy. This false pregnancy can last for weeks with the dog producing milk and sometimes mothering a soft toy.

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.

August 30, 2022

The spayed female pet has no ovaries and should not display any signs of a heat cycle but what happens if she does anyway? Where might these hormones be coming from?

March 17, 2022

Paraphimosis is the inability to retract the penis, but it is not an erection. It is quite painful and thus medically urgent. Priapism is the inability to extend the penis beyond the sheath. Phimosis is rare, and is either congenital or acquired. Paraphimosis and phimosis are flip sides of the same coin, although they are not the same thing, nor are they treated the same way. 

January 8, 2022

Pyometra is the life-threatening infection of the uterus that generally occurs in middle-aged to older female dogs in the 6 weeks following heat. A uterus with pyometra swells dramatically and is filled with pus, bacteria, dying tissue, and toxins. Without treatment, the pet is expected to die.

July 24, 2023

The transmissible venereal tumor, affectionately known as the TVT, may be visible as an external fleshy growth or may simply present as genital bleeding. The tumor is common where there are large numbers of roaming dogs or in shelter situations.

May 14, 2020

Puppy vaginitis is a sticky, cloudy, white or yellowish vaginal discharge.

August 20, 2023

Whether you plan on breeding your dog or having her spayed, if you’ve never gone through it before, it’s good to know what to expect if she goes into season.

May 27, 2023

Brachycephalic means short-faced, sometimes called flat-faced. Short-faced breeds of dogs have their own share of unique problems. Be familiar with what they are.

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.

June 8, 2024

When the bronchi are injured by irritants (cigarette smoke, air pollution, biochemical products of infection, etc.), they respond with a healing process that is inherently inflammatory. When the injury becomes ongoing, the inflammatory/healing process also becomes ongoing and the end result involves excessive mucus production in the airways. The mucus obstructs the smaller bronchi, which stimulates coughing, which in turn leads to irritation and then to inflammation and then to more mucus. A vicious cycle results.

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.

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.

September 15, 2020

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

March 31, 2014

An e-cig with a full cartridge can contain up to 36 mg of nicotine, which doesn't sound like a lot until you factor in how toxic nicotine is. For cats and small dogs, ingesting 20 mg of nicotine can be lethal.

January 11, 2024

April 16, 2024

Laryngeal paralysis results when the abductor muscles of the larynx cannot work properly. This means no expanding and opening of the larynx for a deep breath; the laryngeal folds simply flop weakly and flaccidly. This means that when one needs a deep breath, one does not get one. This can create tremendous anxiety (imagine attempting to take a deep breath and finding that you simply cannot). Anxiety leads to more rapid breathing and more distress. A respiratory crisis from the partial obstruction can emerge creating an emergency and even death.

December 20, 2017

A nebulizer is a machine that aerosolizes medicine into a fine mist; it is like spraying medicine. You hold a face mask to your pet so that the pet inhales medicine deep into the respiratory tract.

February 7, 2024

Most people have heard the term pneumonia and know it is a lung infection of some sort. In fact, pneumonia is not a very specific term and essentially means "lung inflammation of some sort." Pneumonia is an inflammation in deep lung tissues where oxygen is absorbed into the body and waste gases are removed. It has potential to be life-threatening regardless of its cause.

March 3, 2020

Pneumothorax may result from chest trauma, excessive pressure on the lungs, or underlying lung disease (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.). In some cases, the cause is never discovered.

August 29, 2023

Pulmonic stenosis is the third most common congenital heart disease in dogs. It can be accompanied by additional heart defects to create a constellation of disaster or it can be mild enough to be no more than a surprising incidental finding.

October 4, 2021

December 14, 2023

January 30, 2024

Reverse sneezing is a disconcerting event in which a dog makes unpleasant respiratory sounds that sound like it is dying -- or will die in the next few minutes. However, reverse sneezing is a simple condition that usually does not need any treatment.

April 30, 2024

The patient is almost always a toy breed dog, especially poodles, Yorkshire terriers, and Pomeranians. The disease usually becomes problematic in middle age but can occur at any age. The cartilage defect that leads to the flattened C rings seems to be hereditary.

April 25, 2023

Dogs have been trained to sniff out human diseases, and researchers from West Texas A&M University are working to see if dogs can do the same with cattle.  

June 1, 2022

Although a urinalysis can provide a clue, the only way to know for sure that a dog's bladder stone is an oxalate stone is to retrieve a stone and have a laboratory analyze it.

October 5, 2023

Some patients with bladder stones show no symptoms of any kind and the stones are discovered incidentally, but there are some symptoms that might promote a search for stones.

December 15, 2023

Usually a surgery called cystotomy is necessary to remove bladder stones.

November 6, 2023

Chronic kidney, or renal, failure is common among geriatric pets. As treatment frequently is long term, owners should understand their options. Topics discussed include definitions, medications used in treatment, diagnostics/helpful testing, and monitoring.

January 25, 2023

If your puppy has an ectopic ureter or even two, the only chance at resolving the incontinence is through surgery. This is expensive and often unsuccessful so it is important to know what you are getting into.

July 22, 2020

An ectopic ureter is a birth defect that leads to leaking urine and difficulty in housetraining

October 22, 2021

In glomerular disease, holes are punched out in the filtration system, allowing molecules that the body needs to keep entering the urine flow and be urinated away. Chronic inflammation leads to the holes in the filtration system.

August 24, 2023

Most every animal hospital can provide diuresis: a therapy where extra fluid beyond what the patient can drink is provided, thus giving the kidney its medium so that it can remove toxic waste. This works well but there comes a time when even with plenty of fluids, the sick kidney simply cannot get the toxins out. For most patients this is the end of the line. In fact, dialysis may be another choice, though it is substantially more expensive than diuresis and dialysis centers for pets are still few and far between.

October 25, 2022

See other sources of information on renal disease.

June 19, 2024

To the uninitiated, the impression may be that once your cat or dog receives a new kidney, life is renewed and all the kidney problems are solved. In fact, this is hardly the case. Immune-suppressive medications are needed to prevent rejection of the new organ, not to mention infection and other issues. A kidney transplant is a big deal regardless of the species of the recipient.

June 19, 2023

Lithotripsy is a funny word for a minimally invasive alternative to urinary stone removal surgery.

September 1, 2022

With polyuria (PU) the body makes more urine than normal, which in turn causes a condition called polydipsia (PD), which means your dog or cat is extra thirsty because they are trying to stay hydrated. What are the reasons for these conditions? 

March 3, 2020

Pyelonephritis is an inflammation of the kidney that frequently shows no symptoms and thus it is not usually recognized until the signs become severe. It may not be diagnosed until histopathology is done on the kidney after the pet's death.

July 19, 2023

Diet can be used to help in many ways and we are lucky to have commercially available diets made specifically for renal patients, even for different stages of kidney failure. The goal of therapy is to prevent or at least postpone advanced uremia (poisoning by toxins that the kidneys could not adequately remove) and extend life expectancy.

April 6, 2020

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

September 1, 2022

Dalmatians are different. Being unable to convert uric acid to allantoin is the main predisposing factor to uric acid stone formation and accounts for why 80% of uric acid bladder stones come from Dalmatians.

October 21, 2023

When a house pet develops urinary incontinence, many owners fear the worst. Urinary incontinence is usually one of easiest problems to solve so it is crucial that veterinary assistance be sought before an owner's patience is completely worn out.

September 27, 2023

The urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common ailments in small animal practices.

October 3, 2018

Thousands of cats and dogs needlessly suffer and many die each year by accidental ingestion of household poisons.

June 27, 2018

July 17, 2020

Unfortunately, if a pet swallows glue with MDI in it, such as Gorilla Glue, the warm and moist environment of the stomach causes the glue to foam and expand into a large mass that must be removed surgically.

February 20, 2020

The most common cause of lead poisoning in pets is ingestion of lead-based paint. Although lead-based paint is no longer available in the United States, it was used in buildings for many years.

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.

November 8, 2023

The traditional anticoagulant rodenticides had an antidote in case of accidental poisoning, but there is no antidote to bromethalin, and bromethalin products are tasty to dogs and cats.

November 25, 2020

There are several types of rodenticides available. The traditional products are called anticoagulant rodenticides and are discussed here. If one intends to use a rodenticide we encourage you to choose this type over others as there is a readily available antidote for the anti-coagulant rodenticides. Other rodenticides are more toxic and no antidote is available.

March 16, 2022

Snail bait is commonly formulated in pellets and flavored with molasses or bran to attract snails, and unfortunately is attractive to dogs as well. Very little snail bait is required to cause poisoning (less than a teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight).

March 25, 2020

Which common cleaning and disinfecting products can be problematic in our pets?

February 18, 2020

Dogs and cats can get more than just drunk when they drink alcoholic beverages -- they can get a trip to the emergency room. Pets can die from alcohol ingestion.

July 31, 2018

The usual pet toxicity case involves a dog that has inadvertently eaten a stash of marijuana. In the dog, clinical signs typically begin 30 to 90 minutes after the marijuana has been eaten. Because THC is stored in the body's fat deposits, the effects of marijuana ingestion can last for days.

April 13, 2024

Cannabis generally refers to the products of the Cannabis sativa plant, commonly known as marijuana and has been safely used medically for centuries.

August 13, 2023

Chocolate may be America's favorite flavor. We like chocolate candy, ice cream, chocolate drinks, chocolate cakes, just about anything with that flavor. We may want to share our favorite treat with an eager pet but it is best to think twice and reach for the dog biscuits instead.

December 19, 2019

What should you watch for and do when your dog has eaten chocolate?

March 31, 2014

An e-cig with a full cartridge can contain up to 36 mg of nicotine, which doesn't sound like a lot until you factor in how toxic nicotine is. For cats and small dogs, ingesting 20 mg of nicotine can be lethal.

January 27, 2023

Everyone knows the Surgeon General's warning about cigarette smoking but what about cigarette eating? Nicotine poisoning is a real concern anywhere that a pet may find cigarettes, nicotine gums, nicotine patches, e-cigarette filter cartridges, e-liquid, or e-juice. Dogs, particularly puppies, tend to chew things up first and ask questions later.

December 9, 2020

February 27, 2014

Grapes or raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs, although doctors don't know why. Dogs who eat grapes and raisins can be treated successfully.

June 1, 2022

Xylitol is potentially lethal to dogs. It doesn't take many sticks of gum to poison a dog, especially a small dog. Symptoms typically begin within 30 minutes and can last for more than 12 hours.

May 27, 2021

The buildup of gas and rising dough in the stomach is painful and can lead to bloat

September 8, 2023

Ibuprofen is felt to be too toxic for safe use in pets at any dose but if a pet is lucky, exposure will not have reached the toxic dose but it may not take much given that the typical non-prescription pill contains 200 mg.

February 17, 2024

Now that pennies are made of zinc instead of copper, swallowing them can be harmful to your pet. Many veterinarians are unaware of this syndrome and do not realize that pennies are far more than a simple foreign body. This is a recently described disease and many questions are still unanswered.

January 12, 2021

If you did not witness your pet eating a mushroom, you will likely notice when they start feeling sick

October 3, 2018

17 plants that are poisonous to dogs or cats from the ASPCA Poison Control Center.

July 15, 2020

Rattlesnakes can be found in rural areas as well as suburban areas where there is sufficient natural habitat. In Northern California snakes will hibernate during cold months and are active March through September. In Southern California they are active all year round. Photographs of rattlesnakes native to California are shown.

August 9, 2023

This is a collection of images linked to from the Safe Gardening page.

July 20, 2022

The garden shops and catalogs are full of gorgeous garden shrubs and flowers. They tell us how to water and how much sunshine is needed, but rarely do they tell us if the plant is pet safe.

July 9, 2018

Most snakes will try to avoid you or your pets; snakes typically bite only as a last resort. But while you may wisely decide to simply walk away when you encounter a snake, dogs and cats will often harass the sliding invader -- and may get bitten as a result.

July 10, 2018

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

June 11, 2020

This list contains plants that have not been reported as having systemic effects on the animals or as having intense effects on the gastrointestinal tract.

February 2, 2022

Fear is a normal emotional response in dogs that can be from a real or perceived threat. Some dogs respond with subtle behaviors that seem shy. For other dogs, the fear is more obvious because they will hide, run away or freeze in place. These dogs often avoid eye contact and may tremble. Help shy and fearful dogs feel safer by building trust and teaching skills to manage their fear.

January 5, 2021

October 14, 2020

September 23, 2023

Your dog is barking what feels like day and night, but why? Dogs bark to alert everyone around them of something new or worrisome. Although you may not see the squirrel or another dog, there could be something that you cannot smell, see, or hear that they can. 

July 26, 2021

December 30, 2020

One way to find out how serious a bite may be is to acknowledge that different levels of bites exist. Bite levels range from minor to so severe they lead to death. Dr. Ian Dunbar first developed this bite levels system and Dr. Sophia Yin created a modified description of the levels.

February 2, 2023

By focusing on the desirable behaviors your dog does naturally rather than correcting the undesirable ones, you are building a stronger relationship without force or stress.

May 24, 2023

Compulsive and repetitive behaviors are a variation of normal behaviors such as eating, walking, or self-grooming.

April 24, 2024

Cooperative care teaches veterinary staff, caregivers, and animal trainers how to communicate effectively with and support the emotional well-being of the individual pet based on that pet’s specific needs and progress.

August 17, 2021

October 7, 2020

How to get started in reward-based training

September 29, 2020

Your dog learns exactly what he needs do to make good things happen

November 16, 2020

Even a well-trained, friendly dog needs to learn to be comfortable on-leash

November 1, 2021

November 3, 2020

April 6, 2022

Barking is a normal behavior and one of the ways dogs communicate. However, some breeds have a higher tendency to bark. Here are some behavior modification steps to help you and your dog gain peace and quiet.

June 8, 2022

Although you may have been told your new adult dog is house trained, that may not be the case in your home.

September 15, 2021

August 17, 2022

Recall training should create memories of fun, fast returns to you. Start teaching your puppy this life-saving skill when you bring them home. 

August 5, 2021

July 14, 2020

March 24, 2022

Many parents mistakenly think a child-friendly dog means the dog should tolerate anything a child does. Safety is the priority when managing relationships between dogs and children.

May 5, 2021

Reactivity is a dog’s response to something in their environment which is triggered by anxiety, fear, or frustration. As much as reactivity can occur in different environments, it is commonly observed when a dog is restricted to being on leash. There is no quick fix when it comes to reducing leash reactivity. Have patience for your dog and the learning process.

July 14, 2021

If you decide that basic loose leash walking is more your speed than heeling, that is okay. Dogs that respond to their owner’s simple request on a walk are just as well behaved. The less often you go for walks, the more novel and exciting it will be when they get the opportunity to explore. Try to understand their excitement. Be sure to make the walk equally as enjoyable for them as it is for you. Be kind and fair in your training methods, and always make time for a few good smells.

January 22, 2021

July 20, 2022

Biting is a normal behavior in puppies. It is not uncommon for puppy owners to quickly become frustrated. Learn how to reduce and prevent these unwanted behaviors.

January 19, 2021

January 17, 2023

The veterinary hospital can be a scary environment for puppies. With a little bit of preparation at home, you can make veterinary visits low stress.

May 4, 2022

The goal of confinement training is for your new puppy to be comfortable in their crate. Confinement can be scary and frustrating for your new puppy so go slowly with training. 

June 4, 2020

May 14, 2021

Storm phobia, or fear of storms, is a common behavior in dogs. A magic pill to treat a noise or storm phobia does not exist. Treatment involves a combination of environmental management, behavior modification, and medication.

December 15, 2021

May 19, 2021

Eye contact teaches your pet to focus attention on you and check in with you regularly. By reinforcing this behavior, you are making yourself more exciting than the environment around you. Eye contact should be a fun activity for your dog. With practice, your dog will look to you for guidance, no matter the surroundings.

August 5, 2022

Training consent behaviors builds confidence, promotes force-free learning, and increases your pet’s cooperation.

January 19, 2022

July 20, 2021

The Link is the name given to the connection between animal abuse and violence against humans

November 19, 2020

March 17, 2021

Targeting is teaching your dog to touch a part of their body such as a paw, shoulder, hip, or nose to a specific object. The most common use is asking the dog to touch their nose to a person’s hand. Teach and practice this behavior in the house first. Then around your yard, and on walks where the environment is naturally more distracting.

September 22, 2022

Understanding and respecting your best friend's body language is essential to strengthen and maintain the bond between you.

February 11, 2022

Taking your dog for a walk should be an enjoyable event; walks are the primary reason some people get a dog. For some owners, issues arise that make going on walks less enjoyable. Let’s think about some options to help you both enjoy your walks more.

June 20, 2023

Also known as littermate dependency, this term refers to behaviors that develop when two puppies from the same litter are raised together. Is there ever a time when two puppies may be better than one?

November 1, 2022

A marker is a word, sound or gesture that signals the exact moment your pet has offered a behavior you like and want repeated.

April 14, 2023

Consent means your dog is giving permission before allowing something to happen to them.

January 1, 2021

January 22, 2021

Many love to take their dog on errands and fun adventures in the car. Some even take their cats. Some dogs and cats become anxious in the car with others refusing to enter the car at all. What can we do

November 9, 2020

Often, combinations of treatment methods are needed

June 27, 2024

Many pets are fearful and anxious when exposed to fireworks: a response may range from a momentary freeze to extreme panic characterized by bolting or escape attempts.

September 9, 2014

While Halloween isn't as noisy or frightening as the Fourth of July. for pets it's likely in second place as Scariest Holiday of the Year. Keeping your pets away from the frenetic parts of the celebration is in both your best interests.

March 22, 2011

Dogs and cats who survive disasters can suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder in the same way as their owners and for the same reasons.

February 28, 2019

Biting and mouthing may be normal for puppies and kittens, but continuing to bite into adulthood can lead to issues.

September 22, 2023

Let's explore ways to help our furry friends easily navigate this spooky season.

February 23, 2021

They anticipate something bad happening, so the anxiety starts sooner and sooner.

September 29, 2023

Does your dog suddenly lose control of their bladder when you get home, or while greeting visitors? This behavior may be excitement or conflict urination.

November 27, 2023

Some helpful ideas if your pet has an upcoming reason to be confined for an amount of time, such as a surgery.

August 4, 2021

Disturbances of the sleep-wake cycle occur in older pets and often disrupt the entire family. Interrupted sleep is a common problem in older pets and may occur for many reasons, including both medical and anxiety-related causes. Nighttime waking may be caused by medical or behavioral changes common in senior dogs.

November 16, 2018

June 5, 2018

Eating feces, known as coprophagia, can be an extremely distressing issue for dog and cat owners. Whether it is the pet's own feces or someone else's, the act itself is unacceptable to most owners. In fact, it can be just plain gross! So why does this happen? What can you, as a pet owner do about it?

June 21, 2018

If your finicky eater maintains a healthy weight, if he is alert/perky, and if he has a shiny coat, that is one thing. If he was a good eater but has suddenly stopped being one, that is different. The main thing to consider is if his attitude toward food has changed.

November 7, 2014

Does your dog jump on you or others? It's easiest to nip this in the bud if your dog is a puppy, but even adult dogs can be taught to keep four on the floor.

November 7, 2014

How many dogs have been relegated to back-yard living because they jump all over family and guests whenever anyone walks through the door? Then when someone goes out to visit the lonesome dog, the jumping is worse because the dog is even more excited to see someone. Only now the dog is dirty, too.

November 7, 2018

November 6, 2023

Here are a few things to consider before, during, and after the adoption that can help ensure success.

February 1, 2022

May 15, 2019

April 23, 2024

Are you searching for tips to help you house train your new puppy? Find those tips here. 

July 27, 2022

Teaching your dog to be calm and comfortable with the nail trimming process is necessary for your pet’s well-being.

August 4, 2020

There are many reasons why an adult dog may have accidents, urinating or defecating in the house (housesoiling).

January 2, 2015

When a dog starts having housetraining accidents, it’s easy to believe the dog is acting out of anger or some other defiant motive. That is rarely the case. Let’s look at reasons for housetraining accidents, and methods for improving your dog’s batting average.

January 16, 2015

Adult dogs, whether they are adopted, rescued, or are coming indoors after living outside, often need to be housetrained. Also, sometimes adult dogs develop housetraining problems later in life.

February 5, 2019

Socialization is getting puppies and kittens used to people, other animals, and experiences that they will encounter frequently in their adult lives.

April 14, 2021

Recommended by veterinarians, daily toothbrushing is one of the best ways to slow the progression of dental disease, lengthen the time between professional cleanings, and has many other benefits to your pet’s overall health. When you brush your pet’s teeth it’s okay if you aren’t perfect. It is more important for your pet to be comfortable and willing to accept frequent brushing.

February 19, 2021

February 23, 2022

November 5, 2020

If puppies use aggression people may attempt to laugh it off while ignoring the anxiety or fear their aggression

October 24, 2023

Because CBD may have many of the medical benefits of marijuana but does not have psychoactive effects, CBD is emerging as the cannabinoid most used medicinally in animals.

August 29, 2024

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a deadly infection in cats that is caused by the FIP virus. The disease occurs most commonly in young cats, although it can infect older cats too.

December 27, 2023

Got a cat with a large balding spot? Wondering why the fur is falling out? Chances are excellent that the fur is not falling out at all; it is being licked off instead. Is the cat anxious? Obsessive? Maybe, but it is likely that the cat is just plain itchy. There is generally a medical approach to this problem.

April 12, 2021

The primary disease that caused the problem also needs to be addressed

October 2, 2023

The goal of pathologists is to provide a description of what they see happening and why: in other words, a diagnosis

October 14, 2022

You have probably heard the warnings given to pregnant women about the parasite toxoplasmosis, advising against cleaning litterboxes and the dangers of ingesting raw/undercooked meat or milk products. But should you be concerned about how this parasite affects your cat?

April 28, 2023

Feline Hyperesthesia syndrome (FHS) means “too much feeling”, hyperesthesia is the opposite of anesthesia which means a lack of feeling or no sensation at all.

May 16, 2023

Manx syndrome (sacrocaudal dysgenesis, sacrocaudal agenesis) is an array of problems involving the function of the hind legs, urinary bladder, and colon of a tailless cat. In affected cats, the spine and spinal cord are shortened because the last few vertebrae and spinal segments have not developed normally

August 6, 2020

October 12, 2023

Solensia™ is an injectable medication specifically designed to treat cats for discomfort from arthritis.

December 6, 2023

Also known as Feline Interstitial Cystitis, Feline Idiopathic Cystitis, FIC. Cystitis may result from a bacterial infection or bladder stones. Dogs rarely get sterile cystitis, while it’s quite common among young to middle-aged cats.

August 3, 2020

March 25, 2021

Obesity is a preventable and treatable disease

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.

July 22, 2022

If your cat needs to open its mouth to breathe or if its abdomen moves excessively as it breathes (and it is not purring), then it may be suffering from feline asthma. Asthma is a recurring respiratory compromise that occurs when the lung airways constrict either spontaneously or in response to stimuli that normally should not cause a reaction.

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.

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.

September 7, 2022

FIV is a virus that causes AIDS in cats; however, there is a long asymptomatic period before AIDS occurs and our job is to prolong this asymptomatic period.

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?

July 31, 2019

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.

July 15, 2024

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. Persistent scratching and grooming by a cat can also result in more skin damage and even cause open wounds.

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.

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.

December 7, 2023

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.

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.

January 25, 2023

FATE is a serious and painful condition with serious implications. It comes on suddenly and appears to paralyze the cat, causing one or both rear legs to become useless and even noticeably cold. The cat will hyperventilate and cry out with extreme pain. Despite the extreme presentation, the cat may be able to recover from the episode but it is important to understand how it came to be in order to make decisions.

April 1, 2023

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

October 30, 2007

Myeloma is a type of cancer that affects plasma cells. Plasma cells that become cancerous are known as myeloma cells.

May 28, 2013

Neonatal isoerythrolysis, or NI, is a rare immune-mediated disease that is caused when newborn kittens with type A blood drink colostrum from a mother with type B blood.

June 17, 2023

The problem results when a type B mother cat is bred to a type A tomcat. The type B mother has a uterus full of type A kittens. The feline placenta does not allow antibodies to cross over and this is what is life-saving for the kittens, presuming the humans involved know what to do next. The litter develops normally and is born normally. It is with nursing that disaster strikes.

February 14, 2023

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.

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.

September 22, 2020

The disease is complex and there are several forms of it, without veterinary consensus on how to treat an individual cat.

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.

August 10, 2023

Fibrosarcomas have been recognized for a very long time as difficult, deeply rooted tumors of cats. What has only recently been recognized is the potential for vaccination to lead to the formation of these tumors.

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 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.

August 20, 2024

Lymphoma accounts for one third of all cancers developed by cats. When the mediastinal lymph nodes become infiltrated with lymphoma, a mass is apparent in the mediastinum and a cancerous fluid fills the chest, restricting breathing. The fluid can be tapped but it will be back without treatment.

April 20, 2023

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

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.

July 10, 2024

In cats with mammary tumors, approximately 90% are malignant with rapid spread to adjacent glands and the nearest set of lymph nodes.

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

October 30, 2007

Myeloma is a type of cancer that affects plasma cells. Plasma cells that become cancerous are known as myeloma cells.

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.

October 7, 2023

The squamous cell carcinoma is not only the most common oral malignancy in cats, it has one of the poorest outcomes.

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.

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.

May 17, 2018

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

September 7, 2011

Cardiomyopathy means heart muscle disease.

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.

January 25, 2023

FATE is a serious and painful condition with serious implications. It comes on suddenly and appears to paralyze the cat, causing one or both rear legs to become useless and even noticeably cold. The cat will hyperventilate and cry out with extreme pain. Despite the extreme presentation, the cat may be able to recover from the episode but it is important to understand how it came to be in order to make decisions.

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.

April 20, 2023

Do cats get heartworm? The answer to this question is an unequivocal yes but the situation is vastly different from the canine situation. It is important to understand the differences and understand why feline infection is so rare.

June 29, 2022

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.

August 2, 2018

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common acquired heart diseases in cats but is rare in dogs.

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.

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.

September 19, 2011

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.

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.

June 21, 2016

It is easy to recognize if your cat has a broken leg, but how about a broken tooth? You would think pets would stop eating when they had oral problems. Unfortunately, this is not usually the case. By the time most owners recognize oral disease in their pets, the problem is chronic and progressive.

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.

March 28, 2019

Feline dental pathology and care are perhaps the most overlooked and under-treated areas in small animal medicine.

June 17, 2016

FGS is a severe oral disease that affects some cats where the body becomes allergic to plaque around the 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).

March 7, 2017

More than 85% of dogs and cats older than 4 years have periodontal pathology.

June 3, 2023

Expect an affected cat to require teeth cleaning under general anesthesia at least every 6 months. If medical management fails, all teeth need to be removed.

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

June 21, 2016

Cats can be affected by inflammation of the entire mouth called stomatitis or lymphocytic plasmacytic syndrome (LPS).

August 8, 2022

A common feline oral malady is the feline oral resorptive lesion (FORL).

June 21, 2016

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

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.

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.

September 22, 2020

The disease is complex and there are several forms of it, without veterinary consensus on how to treat an individual cat.

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.

May 14, 2021

Demodectic mange in dogs is extremely common, especially in puppies. Demodicosis in cats is much more unusual.

September 20, 2023

Feline allergic skin disease can take some highly ulcerative forms, especially involving the upper lip. Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex is a hard condition to explain, especially since it has several forms, but we will give it a try.

January 4, 2023

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.

January 17, 2019

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

August 2, 2022

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.

June 21, 2021

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

July 15, 2024

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. Persistent scratching and grooming by a cat can also result in more skin damage and even cause open wounds.

November 9, 2023

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

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.

January 10, 2023

Dogs get sarcoptic mange but what do cats get? It turns out they have their very own mange mite: Notoedres cati. Notoedric mange is a rarity worldwide and many veterinary dermatologists never see a single case in their entire careers.

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.

November 22, 2022

Easy to recognize but not as easy to understand, this condition is often called pillow foot in cats for reasons that are obvious. This condition is described as rare. Most cats do not require treatment.

February 9, 2024

Psychogenic alopecia, also known as self-trauma, is a condition in which cats compulsively pull out their hair, leading to thin, uneven coats or baldness.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

November 1, 2023

The word cholangiohepatitis breaks down into "(bile), (vessel), hepat (liver) and (inflammation)." Putting this all together means inflammation of the liver and bile ducts. It is one of the four most common liver concerns in cats.

May 14, 2020

Cholangitis means inflammation of the biliary tree. Cholangiohepatitis means inflammation of the biliary tree and surrounding liver cells.

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.

January 31, 2023

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.

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.

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.

April 7, 2014

If a cat is throwing up hairballs, there is more going on than most owners realize.

March 21, 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 26, 2023

The liver failure cat is jaundiced, inappetent, frequently nauseated, and generally an obviously ill animal.

June 13, 2016

Chronic intestinal disease in cats can involve appetite loss, diarrhea, intestinal bleeding, vomiting, weight loss and debilitation. The intestinal tract does not lend itself to blood test evaluation so where do you go if intestinal disease is likely? Infiltration of the bowel by lymphocytes is a typical feature of the most common causes of chronic intestinal disease in cats.

March 25, 2023

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

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.

July 17, 2024

Many people have heard of the pancreas but are not sure what it does, where it is, or what a disaster it can be when it gets inflamed.

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.

August 7, 2020

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.

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 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?

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 14, 2022

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.

September 24, 2019

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.).

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.

November 4, 2023

It is now well known that optimal dietary management for diabetic cats consists of a high protein / low carbohydrate diet, a completely different strategy than what is recommended for diabetic dogs.

January 23, 2023

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.

March 6, 2024

A new commercial diet created for hyperthyroid cats is now available at your veterinarian's clinic. Where this diet fits in this picture and whether it should replace traditional therapy or be considered an acceptable last resort remain to be seen over time.

August 17, 2022

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

June 12, 2024

The goal in long-term management of diabetes mellitus is the alleviation of unpleasant clinical signs (constant thirst, weight loss etc.) and prevention of dangerous secondary conditions (infections, ketoacidosis, etc.). To accomplish this, blood sugar levels should be regulated between 250 mg/dl and 80 mg/dl. This is not as good as the body's natural regulation but it is a fair and achievable goal in most cases.

November 24, 2014

Video and slides are provided for owners of diabetic cats who wish to learn how to conduct home tests that determine blood glucose (blood sugar) readings for their cat.

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 5, 2023

The most common medication prescribed to treat feline hyperthyroidism is called methimazole (trade name Tapazole or Felimazole).

February 27, 2017

Three methods of treatment for feline hyperthyroidism are discussed.

February 18, 2021

Insulin is the injectable medication you use to control your diabetic cat's blood sugar. This beginner's guide will explain how to give your cat insulin injections.

November 16, 2022

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.

March 6, 2024

Do you have an older cat who is losing weight despite having an excellent appetite? That is the hallmark sign of hyperthyroidism in cats.

February 10, 2024

Considering that the average hyperthyroid cat is a geriatric patient with special potential for high blood pressure and heart disease, quite a bit of patient preparation is necessary to reduce anesthetic risk.

November 16, 2022

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.

September 5, 2023

This method of therapy is generally considered the safest and most effective method of treatment for feline hyperthyroidism.

October 13, 2021

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

August 27, 2021

Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva, a tissue that makes up part of the eye and eyelid. Conjunctivitis is common in cats and can be a result of infection or injury.

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.

October 9, 2022

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.

July 26, 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.

July 10, 2018

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

September 13, 2022

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.

January 28, 2020

September 16, 2023

Conjunctivitis in cats is usually of viral origin and usually that means a Herpesvirus. Herpesvirus grow in the tissues of the body that interface with the environment, such as the upper respiratory tissues and conjunctivae.

July 16, 2018

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

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.

May 21, 2019

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

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

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.

March 22, 2021

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

March 26, 2020

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

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.

July 10, 2018

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.

September 7, 2022

At most clinics, a week doesn't go by without seeing a cat or two in this condition. Cats fight, bite, and get infected. What do you need to know?

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

January 28, 2019

Antibiotics are useless against viruses and will not cure viral infections. Previously, people and pets with viruses were given preventive antibiotics to prevent secondary infections, but this approach is not favored anymore because of the bacteria's ability to develop antibiotic resistance.

April 20, 2020

August 27, 2021

Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva, a tissue that makes up part of the eye and eyelid. Conjunctivitis is common in cats and can be a result of infection or injury.

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.

August 29, 2023

Most people know very little about this infection other than it involves a fever spread by cat scratches. In fact, it involves infection by a bacterium called Bartonella henselae, which is spread by fleas.

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.

November 9, 2017

The big SARS outbreak ended in 2003, but several smaller outbreaks were reported in 2004, and public health officials expected further outbreaks in the future. However, as of November, 2017, the WHO and the CDC both indicate that there have not been any more cases of SARS reported anywhere in the world.

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.

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.

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.

April 6, 2020

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.

August 3, 2023

Cytauxzoon felis is spread by tick bites. This condition has a very high mortality rate.

April 30, 2024

Feline distemper, caused by a parvovirus, is a life-threatening disease. The virus is considered ubiquitous, meaning it is in virtually every place that is not regularly disinfected. The infection is highly contagious among unvaccinated cats, usually kittens and young adult cats living in groups. Barn cats, feral colonies, animal shelter groups, pet stores, and rescue facilities are high risk for outbreaks.

September 7, 2022

FIV is a virus that causes AIDS in cats; however, there is a long asymptomatic period before AIDS occurs and our job is to prolong this asymptomatic period.

August 22, 2023

Feline leukemia virus, a retrovirus, is a common infection of cats. It is the cause of more cat deaths, directly or indirectly, than any other organism and is widespread in the cat population.

April 1, 2023

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.

April 20, 2023

Do cats get heartworm? The answer to this question is an unequivocal yes but the situation is vastly different from the canine situation. It is important to understand the differences and understand why feline infection is so rare.

March 21, 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.

September 16, 2023

Conjunctivitis in cats is usually of viral origin and usually that means a Herpesvirus. Herpesvirus grow in the tissues of the body that interface with the environment, such as the upper respiratory tissues and conjunctivae.

May 24, 2021

Histoplasmosis is a dangerous disease caused by fungus

March 7, 2023

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

November 22, 2022

The infected cat's immune system is busy coating infected red blood cells with antibodies. Coated red blood cells are removed from the circulation by the spleen. This kills the organism, and the iron is harvested and recycled into new red blood cells. The problem is that so many red blood cells are being destroyed that the cat becomes anemic.

May 15, 2023

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

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.

November 16, 2020

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

January 28, 2023

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 7, 2023

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.

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.

October 11, 2022

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.

January 18, 2023

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 7, 2023

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 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.

February 22, 2024

Kittens and cats living in groups have an assortment of infectious diseases to contend with. Tritrichomonas blagburni is yet another infectious organism yielding diarrhea in cats.

September 18, 2019

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July 3, 2024

Does your cat sneeze, have runny eyes, and a runny nose? A cold for a cat is usually just a nuisance as a cold usually is for one of us. Sometimes, though, an upper respiratory infection can be serious.

July 3, 2024

Does your cat sneeze, have runny eyes, and a runny nose? A cold for a cat is usually just a nuisance as a cold usually is for one of us. Sometimes, though, an upper respiratory infection can be serious.

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. 

November 15, 2022

A cat with this disease clearly has balance issues: he walks with his legs widely placed for fear of falling, and places his feet clumsily. He often leans against walls for support. Sitting still, he may look like a fairly normal cat but once focused, tremors begin getting more wobbly as concentration becomes more intense. Despite the obvious impairment, cats with this condition are happy, able to feed themselves and use a litter box, and are felt to have good life quality.

May 14, 2008

The pet can experience just some neck pain or complete paralysis of all four legs and no pain perception. An acute onset is an absolute emergency.

May 3, 2021

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

September 26, 2023

Slight squint, small pupil, raised third eyelid... it all looks pretty strange, as if something is wrong with the eye. In fact, it is not the eye itself that is the problem, but rather it is a nerve problem. Read more about this symptom and its causes.

April 10, 2024

This condition literally means "water head" and is more commonly referred to as water on the brain. The central nervous system is bathed in cerebrospinal fluid that is secreted by chambers inside the brain. When fluid builds up, there is no room in the brain for extra volume and disaster can result. This condition is particularly common in dome-headed puppies.

September 11, 2023

Hyperesthesia syndrome is felt to be a type of compulsive disorder, usually initiated when the cat is in conflict. The cat wants to perform one behavior but is prevented from doing so and ultimately in frustration performs another behavior. After a while, this second behavior, which frequently is grooming, is performed compulsively.

July 22, 2022

Myasthenia gravis is a disease that interrupts the way nerves communicate with muscles. There is no treatment for the congenital form. The acquired form, which is an autoimmune disease, is treated medically with immunosuppressive agents.

October 18, 2013

People who experience neuropathic pain describe it as "a pins and needles sensation," tingling, burning, itching, numbness or cold, and sometimes feeling as if they had received a small electric shock. Grades of neuropathic pain that have been established in human medicine are definite, probable and possible. Pets cannot describe their pain to us but we believe it's likely to be like what people have.

July 10, 2018

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

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.

February 16, 2022

Serotonin syndrome is a serious drug reaction to medications that build up high levels of serotonin in the body. Serotonin syndrome can be a life-threatening situation, therefore if you think your pet is developing it, visit a veterinarian immediately. 

May 31, 2023

The spinal cord is surrounded and protected by a bony tube made up of a series of bones called vertebrae, linked together by intervertebral discs, ligaments, and muscles. This entire complex is referred to as the "spine.” Sometimes, abnormal growth and development of the spine happen before birth with both puppies and kittens, resulting in a spinal defect called Spina Bifida. 

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.

June 6, 2023

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden event, such as a blow or fall, happens to the head. In both humans and animals, a head injury severe enough to damage the brain is referred to as traumatic brain injury or TBI.

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.

September 24, 2019

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.).

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.

July 15, 2020

Naso-pharyngeal polyps are the most common masses that are seen in the external ear canal in cats. They are benign growths.

May 5, 2014

Rhinitis is the inflammation of the mucous membrane in the nose. It can occur by itself or as part of an upper respiratory illness/infection.