Halloween, Dogs and Chocolate Toxicity – what to watch for

risk on halloween of dogs eating chocolate

Most pet owners know that chocolate is bad for dogs. It could for cats too, but most cats are too finicky to eat it. But what signs of chocolate toxicity should you look for when you know your dog eats chocolate, and what should you do? Signs to Watch For The active ingredient in chocolate that causes […]

Don’t Give Your Pet a Scare On Halloween

cat dressed in a costume for halloween

Halloween may be a barrel of laughs for people who love to dress up in costumes and party, but most pets aren’t quite as fond of the holiday as people are. The doorbell rings far too often and is usually accompanied by loud children; there’s enough candy to make a pack of wolves sick; fearful pets can […]

Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets

pet foods to avoid

With the holidays just around the corner, here are some things to think about and keep your pets safe: Chocolate, Macadamia nuts, avocados…these foods may sound delicious to you, but they’re actually quite dangerous for our animal companions. Our nutrition experts have put together a handy list of the top toxic people foods to avoid […]

Horner’s Syndrome in Companion Animals

A syndrome is a collection of symptoms that have significance when they go together. It is important to realize that having a syndrome is not the same as having a diagnosis. A syndrome, however, often has a limited number of causes such that recognizing a specific syndrome brings one substantially closer to a diagnosis. What […]

Oral Tumors and Lesions in Dogs and Cats

oral mass in dogs

What are oral masses? 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. What causes oral masses? Some masses are due to infections in the gums or of the […]

Aspergillosis in Cats

Aspergillosis in Cats

Aspergillosis is an infection in cats caused by Aspergillus organisms, which are a type of fungus found throughout the world. Infections in cats are rare and most commonly seen in cats that have a poor immune system, such as those with certain infections (e.g. feline leukemia virus) or diseases (e.g. cancer, diabetes).  Aspergillus lives best in soil and decaying […]

Your Pet and Leptospirosis: The CDC’s Fact Sheet

leptospira

This Centers for Disease Control & Prevention fact sheet is designed to assist pet owners in answering questions related to leptospirosis in pets. Leptospirosis is a disease that can affect human and animals, including your pets. All animals can potentially become infected with Leptospirosis. While for many years occurrence among pets was rare, the disease has been diagnosed more […]

Melanomas are Common Malignant Tumors in Companion Dogs and Cats

oral melanoma in a dog

A malignant melanoma is a tumor involving the pigmented cells of the skin. Melanoma is a classical skin cancer of humans, and in humans it is associated with sun exposure. 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 […]

Parvovirus Infection: The Disease and How it’s Treated

dog eating

Treatment for parvovirus infection centers on what is called supportive care. This means that the veterinarian’s job is to keep the patient hydrated, comfortable and as strong as possible so that the puppy has time and ability to generate an effective immune response. We cannot kill the virus inside the patient’s body; only the immune […]

Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Dogs and Cats

What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease?  The membranes and layers of the normal GI tract are normally very delicate. There is a muscle layer responsible for proper movement and mixing of digestive enzymes and nutrients as well as a lining responsible for absorption of nutrients.  Inflammatory bowel disease refers to the condition that results when cells involved […]