Body Condition Score (BCS) is a 5-level or 9-level means of assessing whether one’s pet is too thin, too heavy or just right. Our hospital subscribes to the system using five divisions of body condition, as does Hill’s Pet Nutrition, who supplied the chart below. Parameters measured in Body Condition Score are: ribs tail base [...]
An IV (intravenous) catheter is placed for every anesthetized patient in our hospital. While not every veterinary hospital requires this safety measure, every human hospital does, and we feel strongly about its worth. The most important reason to use an IV catheter during anesthesia is emergency preparation. Anesthetic emergencies are uncommon in veterinary practice. However, when [...]
You got a new puppy or kitten as a Christmas present. Now you need some guidance. Your first concern is to be sure the pet is physically well, and stays well. The only way you can know that is by making an appointment with your veterinarian for a thorough examination and stool test for intestinal [...]
Fructosamine is formed in dogs’ and cats’ (and people’s) livers by combining the protein albumin with a molecule of glucose. Fructosamine is formed in proportion to glucose levels: pets with unregulated diabetes mellitus have high glucose levels, and, thus, have high fructosamine levels. Fructosamine production doesn’t fluctuate with minute-to-minute blood sugar levels, rather it reflects [...]
Cat vaccination schedules are among the most controversial feline topics currently being discussed. Almost everyone is in agreement about kitten vaccination schedules, as presented in the chart below: Kitten Age Vaccination Administered 6 weeks Panleukopenia, Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Feline Leukemia Virus 9 weeks Panleukopenia, Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Feline Leukemia [...]
Dog vaccination schedules are among the most controversial canine topics currently being discussed. Almost everyone is in agreement about puppy vaccination schedules, as represented in the chart below: Age of puppy Vaccinations to be administered 6 weeks DHLPP* 9 weeks DHLPP*, Bordetella 12 weeks DHLPP*, Bordetella 15 weeks DHLPP*, Bordetella and Rabies 18 weeks (many [...]
Don’t wash away the evidence! It is not unusual to hear, “Doctor, Fluffy’s ears have been bothering her for several weeks. There has been a lot of discharge and odor. I cleaned her ears really well last night so you could see in there better. Can you tell me what’s causing that?” Usually, the answer [...]
Feline Hyperthyroidism has traditionally been treated with oral medication. As of this writing, the most common form of treatment of this disease is by of use the feline-specific medication, Felimazole, which is supplied in a tablet form. Difficulty with administering pills often leads pet owners to request compounding into a liquid or transdermal form. Surgery [...]
A writes, “My farm dogs are always catching moles and eating many of them. My youngest Lab is about 14 months old. I observed her coughing, like she was trying to throw up. I put her outside. I found 2 large pink larvae on the floor and threw them out, not realizing that was what [...]
Timing is everything. My favorite saying is even true about pet health insurance. Last week we discussed the importance of choosing the right pet health insurance company. Suppose, though, you have insurance for your pet’s healthcare, but you want to change companies. Timing may be [...]
Dogs’ and cats’ postpartum examinationsare crucially important. First, examining the mother and the puppies or kittens within 24 hours after birthing allows your pet’s doctor to assure you that all of the offspring have been born. Leaving an unborn youngster in the uterus is likely to be fatal to the puppy or kitten, and at [...]
I’ve stated before that I love the saying, “Do something, even if it’s wrong,” but that I love it because it’s funny, notbecause I think it’s a good approach. That turned out to be the case with a patient I saw today. She had been in pain over the weekend and the owner had begun [...]
Crayons manufactured by reputable companies are made safe to ingest (at least in small quantities) because those companies’ owners know that somechildren will be chewing on them. Crayola brand crayons even say “non-toxic” right on the box. As a result, we know this tip is safe. We like for our clients to participate in our [...]
“Boosters” is a concept that is often misunderstood by pet owners. Biologically-speaking, in administering a booster vaccination, your pet’s doctor is seeking to initiate an anamnestic response from the immune system. Anamnestic comes from the Greek word anamnesis, meaning “a recalling.” Shadow received 15-week booster vaccinations today, right on schedule. When a “first” vaccination is [...]
I was having a discussion with a devoted pet owner shortly after she overheard a client in our clinic lobby say that she “spent $1000 to get her dog’s right knee fixed and she wasn’t going to spend anything on the left one.” Tucker had surgical removal of a mass, which turned out to be Mast Cell [...]
Editor’s Note: As of December, 2011, Immiticide was again available through Merial’s European source. Recently, Merial announced that the only FDA-approved heartworm treatment medication, Immiticide, had become completely unavailable. Previously, we received word from Merial that the medication was in short supply. Unfortunately, efforts to restart manufacture have failed. What does that mean for you [...]
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