When February rolls around, almost everyone starts to think about boxes of chocolate and candle lit dinners in honor of Valentine’s Day, but, did you know this month is also Responsible Pet Owners Month? So, while you are enjoying your candy or admiring your bouquet of roses, don’t forget that this holiday poses threats to your pet. Celebrate Responsible Pet Owners Month by keeping them safe and showing them some love, too.

Continue Reading "For Puppy Love and Kitten Kisses" »

Dr Bill did a nice post on Dental Health Month yesterday and I thought I'd follow up on that. If you have a PurinaCare Plus Preventive Care you have benefits that apply towards routine dentistry and you should take advantage of them every year.

In most homes the day begins and ends with our own attempts at dental hygiene. We brush our teeth at least twice a day and we have become accustomed to visiting the dentist every six months for an exam and cleaning.
 
Dental hygiene and routine care is no less important for our pets. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of oral disease as early as three years of age.

Continue Reading "Preventive Dentistry and PurinaCare Benefits" »

When I was in Vet school we always had four or five Dachshunds "walking" around the clinic in their little wheeled carts. They were recovering from a condition called Intervertebral Disk Disease which is common in the breed. As many as twenty percent of Dachshunds will succumb to IVDD at some point in their life.

The disease is the result of rupture of the intervertebral disk. These disks are kind of like shock absorbers between the vertebral bodies. They contain a hard outer covering and a fluid filled center. Injury or age related damage may result in rupture and leakage of the disc contents up into the space occupied by the spinal cord.

When that happens the result can be partial  to complete paralysis. Now there is new hope for these dogs.

Continue Reading "New Hope For Dachshunds with Spinal Cord Damage" »

It's very common in cases of illness for a Veterinarian to order a CBC, Chemistry Panel and a urinalysis as the baseline laboratory tests to help make a diagnosis. These three tests taken together can tell us a great deal about a pet's health and about the fucntion or organs like the liver, kidney, pancreas and others.

In the case of the urinalysis it's critical to evaluate these results along with the results of the CBC and the chemistry profile. Taken together, the results can narrow the list of possible causes of disease.

Today we'll cover the specifics of the urinalysis.

Continue Reading "Veterinary Urinalysis" »

Pets can sometimes be reservoirs of diseases that infect humans. Most viruses and organisms that cause illness are species specific, or specially adapted to the host they infect. When a disease is able to make the leap from our pet to us, it is referred to as zoonotic.

The most important historical zoonotic disease is the Plague that ravaged Europe in the 1300’s killing tens of millions of people. Primarily a disease of rats and wild rodents, the Plague is transmitted from animal to animal by the bites of infected fleas, with humans as the accidental host when the rat dies and the fleas look for a warmer host.

Today, the number of potential zoonotic diseases is impressive. Let’s look at some of the more common dog and cat diseases that may pose a threat to humans.

Continue Reading "Healthy Pets, Healthy People" »

The last couple of posts we've discussed the Complete Blood Count and what it can tell us about the health of our pets. The CBC is often accompanied by more specific tests that reveal information about the function of specific organs within the body. Coupled with urine tests, that we'll cover on Friday, blood chemistry, or serum chemistry tests, can help pinpoint which organ or organs are involved in illness.

Blood chemistry tests are sometimes referred to as chemistry panels or chem panels and the number of tests on a given panel can vary. Generally we start out with screening tests and get more specific as we zero in on a specific organ system. 

Some of the more common tests include the following.

Continue Reading "Lab Tests Explained; Blood Chemistry Panels" »

We had dinner with our friends MJ and Sebastian last night. Their dog Fritz had dinner with us and Fritz has a frustrating problem.

He's developed something called a Lick Granuloma on his right front leg. It's been going on for about six weeks now and MJ seems as frustrated with the problem as Fritz.

It all started when MJ and Seba moved into their new apartment and MJ started Law School. That's when she first noticed the licking.

Continue Reading "Lick Granuloma in Dogs" »

Traditionally, New Years resolutions are commitments people make to themselves that are intended to keep them on track in the new year. Sometimes people want to resolve to lose weight, get control of finances or volunteer more. Often New Year’s resolutions come down to simply being a better person. As a pet owner, being a better person may mean more than dropping a few pounds, it may mean helping your pet do the same.

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The holidays create a dramatic shift in the environment and schedule of pets, which can impact their behavior, activity and safety. The new smells, objects, sounds, frequent visitors and house guests all contribute to making your pets’ surroundings unfamiliar.

This time of year is a time for friends, family and, of course, our furry companions. It is a time of relaxation and enjoying time with those we care about. There is no doubt our four-legged family members enjoy the holidays as much as we do, still, there are a few things to keep in mind as the holidays approach.

Continue Reading "Help Your Pet Avoid the "Jingle Blues"" »

When the weather forecasters predict a winter blast they always remind us of the three P’s – Pipes, Plants, and Pets.  Don’t be fooled by their fur coat, your pets are still bothered just as much as you are when the temperature drops. Here are a few guidelines to help protect your pets when the weather gets rough.

Continue Reading "Winter Weather Warnings" »