Cushing’s Disease in Dogs (Hyperadrenocorticism): What Is It?
Signs associated with Cushing’s disease may include increased thirst and urination, a voracious appetite, an enlarged and sagging belly, hair loss, lethargy/weakness, panting, and sometimes, recurrent infections. Cushing’s disease, also called Cushing’s syndrome or hyperadrenocorticism, results from an overproduction of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands, located next to the kidneys, […]
Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex in Cats
What is a Granuloma? A granuloma is a solid grouping of inflammatory cells coming together in a lump or solid structure. What is an Eosinophil? An eosinophil is a type of white blood cell that is commonly associated with allergic responses or with parasitism. Eosinophil counts will go up on a blood test when a […]
Obesity is Unhealthy in Dogs and Cats
Obesity has become an extremely important health problem in the Western world, not just for humans but for dogs and cats as well. Obesity in pets is associated with joint problems, diabetes mellitus, respiratory compromise, and decreased life span; recent estimations suggest that up to 35 percent of dogs and cats in the U.S. suffer from obesity. […]
Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis (HGE) – Bloody Diarrhea
The term hemorrhagic gastroenteritis basically means inflammation of the stomach and intestine with bleeding. This kind of bleeding inflammation might be seen in patients with parvovirus infection, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease or any number of other conditions but when the term HGE is used, it usually refers to a more specific canine syndrome and is […]
Infiltrative Bowel Disease in Cats (IBD)
What Does this Mean? The small intestinal tract is a remarkable organ. It has to neutralize acid from the stomach, apply digestive enzymes and emollients, absorb and conduct away the microscopic nutrients, and move its contents from one end of our body to the other. There is also the matter of housing a variety of […]
Hyperthermia (Heat Stroke)
Body temperature may be elevated because of an infection (fever), but it may also increase because of hot and/or humid conditions outside. An increased body temperature caused by environmental conditions is commonly referred to as hyperthermia, heatstroke, and heat prostration. Hyperthermia may be a life-threatening condition, and does require immediate treatment. A dog’s normal body […]
Surge Of Homeless Animals Puts Harris County Shelter In Tough Spot
Today, instead of focusing on illnesses that affect companion animals, the recent flooding and increased animals left without homes, deserves some time and attention as ways that we can all help. Below is taken from https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org Dogs are housed at the Harris County Animal Shelter, which is currently severely overcrowded. The Harris County Animal Shelter is […]
Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar) in Toy Breed Dogs Is A Serious Matter
The creation of different dog breeds represents centuries of selective breeding to create true lines of dogs all with similar desired characteristics. Somewhere in all this breeding and selection, toy breeds were deemed desirable and were hence developed. Some typical examples of these very small dogs are Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrie, Maltese, Toy Poodle, and Pomeranian. […]
Gorilla Glue Causes Obstructions in Pets
If swallowed in liquid form, some polyurethane-based glue products can create a life-threatening stomach blockage because they expand and harden once in the stomach. Glues that contain diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), (e.g. Gorilla Glue and Elmer’s Glue-All Max) are designed to foam and expand after exposure to moisture. These types of glue are most typically used […]
Hairballs in Cats
“He’s throwing up hairballs all the time. I’m tired of stepping on slimy hair.” To the client, the problem is simple. But to the veterinarian, it’s much more complicated. When cats groom themselves and their feline friends, hair gets caught on the barbs of the tongue. That hair then is swallowed. In a “healthy” cat, […]