May I sound off for a moment? Periodically I get comments and e-mails on MyPetsDoctor.com suggesting that this or that medication be removed from the market by the FDA, usually because “it killed my dog (or cat).” These comments are bothersome for a number of reasons. Never, in my experience, are the claims backed up [...]
Feline Infectious Peritonitis, FIP, is a disease of cats causing a variety of illnesses. FIP is caused by a Coronavirus, so-called because under an electron microscope it looks like a crown or “corona.” There are a variety of coronaviruses that can infect cats and they range widely in virulence. At one end of the spectrum [...]
Canine mastitis is an infrequent clinical presentation for veterinarians. Most cases present during the time of milk production after puppies’ birth. Cases may also occur when pseudopregnancy occurs in dogs. Of special interest to our patient today is the fact that Great Danes are overrepresented in cases of canine mammary duct ectasia. Some researchers believe that [...]
Shirley writes: Our dog died two days ago and the symptoms were those associated with ingesting rat poison. But we don’t have any poison in our house or in our yard. We don’t have rats. We adopted our dog four weeks ago (three years old about 55 pounds). We were with him when he was [...]
Lexis writes: My cat Max, 19 months old, had a large open wound Friday. His skin was torn and you could see the muscle on his thigh. We don’t know how this happened since he is an outdoor cat during the day. We took him to the veterinarian on Saturday and they flushed and closed the [...]
Jack is a beauty, but he’s had a run of bad luck lately. He came in a couple of months ago to be examined for a breathing problem, and we found a corneal ulcer in his right eye. It wouldn’t heal properly, so we referred him to our board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist, Dr. Laurence Galle, who [...]
We last visited the topic of Swine Flu, H1N1, virus in cats way back on the 19th of September, 2009. Since then reports have been scarce until two cats in Wisconsin were diagnosed with severe respiratory signs after their owner had been ill with flu-like symptoms. The first cat tested positive, the second tested negative, [...]
Bile acids may be used diagnostically in dogs and cats in several ways. In the body, bile acids function as an aid to intestinal absorption of fats in the diet, as well as fat-soluble vitamins. Bile is produced in the liver, passed through the liver in tiny channels called canaliculi, into the bile ducts, which [...]
“ALT” stands for alanine transaminase, an enzyme present in the cells of mammalian livers. While the enzyme may also be found in a few other organs, the quantities are low enough to make ALT reasonably liver-specific. The same enzyme is also known by an older name, SGPT, which stands for serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase. Normal [...]
In performing a Chemistry Profile, a group of results relates to the proteins in the bloodstream. First is “total protein.” This result has significance because the total amount of protein of all kinds in the bloodstream is important in the regulatory processes of a number of functions. One is controlling the balance of fluid movement [...]
Transtracheal wash (TTW) may also be known by the name bronchial lavage. Both are diagnostic tests performed to diagnose a respiratory tract problem, most commonly a chronic and/or recurring cough. Before moving on, let’s define some terms. The trachea, or windpipe, is the large tube that carries air breathed in through the mouth or nose, [...]
Canine hypoparathyroidism is a condition that causes a low calcium level and an elevated phosphorous level in dogs. It is most commonly caused by an inappropriate immune system attack on the parathyroid glands. Inadvertent surgical removal may also occur during surgery on the adjacent thyroid gland(s), resulting in the same clinical signs. In dogs, as [...]
Feline hyperthyroidism causes cats’ thyroid glands to manufacture excessive amounts of thyroid hormone, also called T4. The primary negative effects are elevated blood pressure. That, in turn, commonly results in kidney damage and retinal hemorrhages. Often the retinas will detach during this process, leading to sudden blindness. CAUSE As of this writing, no one knows why [...]
Debra writes: Hi, I have an 18 year old Persian. I am a HUGE fan of Revolution, however, a few months ago I gave it to her and she appeared to get quite sick afterwards. At the time she was in a bad cycle with her arthritis. I am fearful of giving her Revolution again. [...]
Transdermal medication might be the answer to your difficult-to-pill pet. Breaking down the word, trans is a Latin prefix meaning “across.” Derm is a root referring to “skin.” Therefore, transdermal medications go across the skin. You are already familiar with some of them. Your pets’ Revolution heartworm preventive is a transdermal medication. People commonly use [...]
It bears repeating that when you obtain a new pet it needs to be kept separate from your other pets for a three week time period. I saw dogs from two homes this morning in which that warning had not been heeded. Both families had new pups from the Humane Society Of South Mississippi. In [...]
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