July Fourth Fireworks Fear in Pets
July 4th kicks off the start of summer celebrations, including loud and scary fireworks. Dogs and cats react to fireworks – some get very scared with loud noises while others aren’t affected by explosions. Some animal get so nervous with things like fireworks or thunderstorms that they panic and may even try to jump through […]
How to Deal with Cat Abscesses
An abscess forms when an infected bite wound heals over on its surface and seals the infection inside. Often a fever develops as time does on. Diseased tissue and the inflammatory cells become pus – a green/yellow discharge. The deep, hidden infection can eventually rupture and break through the overlying surface skin and drain, leading […]
Anaplasmosis in Dogs and Cats is Tick-Borne Disease
Ana Anaplasmosis is a disease of dogs, and sometimes in cats, called Anaplasma phagocytophilum. This infectious organism is an unusual type of bacteria known as a rickettsial agent/bacterium. The disease is transmitted to our pets through a tick bite. As with some other tick-borne diseases, a tick must remain attached to the pet for more than 24 […]
Wobbler Syndrome in Dogs
Wobbler’s syndrome is the common term used for a disease that causes issues in the cervical vertebrae (neck vertebrae) and leads to compression of the spinal cord and instability (also known as cervical vertebral instability or CVI). The name Wobbler’s Syndrome comes from the weak, uncoordinated drunken walk that affected dogs have, giving the appearance of […]
Allergic Conjunctivitis in Dogs and Cats
Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva (the pink tissue) in the eye. The conjunctiva is a pinkish mucous-secreting membrane, similar to the lining of your mouth and nose, that covers the eyeball and lines the inner surface of the eyelids. Inflammation anywhere is seen as red-ish, puffy tissue and is usually warm and painful and […]
Dry Eye or Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS) in Companion Animals
The lacrimal glands in companion animal eyes produce a lubricating tear film that moistens and protects the eyes. When this tear film is reduced or absent, the surface of the eye can become dry, irritated and even crack leading to painful ulcerations. Tears also contain anti-bacterial proteins and salts and serve to flush away the […]
Pneumonia Management in Dogs and Cats
Pneumonia Management in Dogs and Cats The term pneumonia refers to a serious lung infection. More specifically, it refers to an infection in the deep lung tissues where oxygen exchange occurs and waste gases are removed. Any time oxygen exchange is impaired, it has the potential to be life-threatening regardless of its cause, and there […]
Chocolate Toxicity in Dogs
Most pet owners know that chocolate is bad for dogs and can cause significant problems for a dog; cats are usually too finicky to eat it. But what signs of chocolate toxicity should you look for when you know your dog ate chocolate, and what should you do? Signs to Watch For The active ingredient in chocolate that causes […]
Cats Get Asthma
Find out if cats get asthma, if it’s the same as human asthma, and what treatment options are available. Read more….
Grain-Free Diets Linked to Heart Disease in Dogs and Cats
Thirty years ago, veterinarians recognized deficiency of an amino acid (taurine) as the most common cause of dilated cardiomyopathy in cats. This is a specific type of heart disease where the where the muscle is stretched thin and hindering normal heart contractions. Unlike dogs, cats are unable to make their own taurine (just like people can’t make […]