Conjunctivitis in Cats
Conjunctivitis means the inside tissue of the eye called the conjunctiva is inflamed. In people, the conjunctiva is the white part. Conjunctivitis is common in cats and can be a result of infection or injury. However, some conjunctival infections caused by viruses also have a bacterial infection at the same time. The two bacteria species […]
Learn About Diets and Grain-Free Diets Associated with Heart Disease in Dogs and Cats
Taurine is plentiful in most animal tissues. Being carnivores, domestic, feral and wild cats that hunt for their food derive adequate taurine from their diet. However, some commercial cat foods at that time contained insufficient amounts of taurine causing dilated cardiomyopathy and other health issues. This discovery resulted in pet food companies adding more taurine […]
Steroid (Glucocorticoid) Use in Dogs and Cats
Most folks know what cortisone and hydrocortisone is. These are steroids or a very potent anti-inflammatory drug used for a range of conditions. While steroids are commonly prescribed to both people and animals, long-term use comes with serious complications. Steroids can be used to treat many types of diseases and at different doses can work […]
A New Drug For Chronic Pain – Amantadine
As our pets live longer, we see signs of aging, including pain from things like arthritis, back issues and more. Finding medications to safely and effectively keep your pet comfortable is a very important part of helping your againg animal companion. Below is a newer drug that is being used in veterinary medicine. Amantadine comes […]
Whipworm Infection in Dogs and Cats
This worm is one of the top intestinal parasites with which our canine friends must contend, the other worms being: roundworms, tapeworms and hookworms. The whipworm that affects dogs (Trichuris vulpis) is substantially smaller than the other worms (a mere 30-50 mm in length, about two inches maximum) and is rarely seen as it lives in the […]
Acute Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis or HGE in Dogs
The term hemorrhagic gastroenteritis refers to inflammation of the stomach and intestine with bleeding. This kind of bleeding inflammation might be seen in patients with other issues including parvovirus, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease and more. However, when the term HGE is used, it usually refers to a more specific dog syndrome. HGE is a potentially life-threatening intestinal condition […]
Kitten Essentials 101
Ready to bring that cute kitten home? Here are some essential things to know about kittens: First, kittens are supreme experts at getting people to fall in love with them in one glance, so be prepared for that if you go to simply have a peek at kittens, you will likely return home with one […]
Anaplasma Infection in the Dog
Anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease. Two types of infections can happen: granulocytic anaplasmosis and infectious cyclic thrombocytopenia. Granulocytic anaplasmosis is more common, but your canine companion can have both infections at the same time. Transmission is via a tick. A tick needs to be attached for a minimum of 24 hours to transmit the organism. […]
Sleep Disturbances in Older Dogs
Sleep is essential for dogs and people. As in people disturbances of the sleep-wake cycle can occur in older pets and is a common problem, occurring for many reasons, including both medical and anxiety-related causes. Diagnosis and Clinical Signs There are many reasons an older dog may have difficulty sleeping at night. Just like humans, […]
Thunderstorm Anxiety in Dogs
Reactions to thunderstorms are not uncommon: loud noises from overhead are difficult for dogs to process and understand. While many dogs get accustomed to storms over time, others may become more anxious with ongoing exposure. Even a single frightening event during a storm may contribute to your pup’s fear. The degree of anxiety is based on […]