Can you see bacteria? Not with the naked eye, you can’t. They’re microscopic. Bacteria are the agents of most urinary tract infections in dogs (UTIs). They come in two basic shapes. Cocci are the round ones and bacilli are the rod-shaped ones. There are hundreds of genera (the plural of genus) and thousands of species. Diagnostic [...]
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 [...]
Missy writes with an interesting question: I adopted an older cat who the previous owner told me is fixed, but she doesn’t have the tattoo. Is there anyway to ensure she is fixed and get the tattoo for her? To read about spay/neuter tattoos, click here. Yes, Missy, you have several ways to solve [...]
Mindy writes with a really bothersome problem, one that is relatively easy to fix. Mindy’s question illustrates yet another way your pet’s doctor can be of assistance to you and your pets. The solution to flea problems is often unique to a particular situation. While thousands of pet owners might share a similar situation, and cure, [...]
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 [...]
Cathy Freeman of Biloxi writes about her cat, Clarrie, with a burning question close to my heart. “I have a cat who is very dear to me. She has never been outside of our home. In three weeks we will be moving to a house on a quiet street. How should I go about introducing [...]
Bindu writes: We had my 13 year old canine companion’s teeth cleaned today since his breath had been foul for a while. His kidney numbers were bad a few months ago and didn’t improve much despite daily fluid therapy. His numbers did come down impressively after a 3 week herbal treatment! It’s been good for [...]
Fireworks can terrify a dog. I suppose some cats may be bothered by them, too, but I’ve never had a client inquire about a kitty afraid of loud noises. I think it’s a safe assumption that if it hasn’t been a problem in 30 years of practice, it’s not common. Many dogs, on the other [...]
This notice just came in to MyPetsDoctor.com from the Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association. If you have purchased “New Heart” heartworm preventive ask your pet’s doctor whether you should dispose of it, and how. Click here for instructions on disposing of unwanted medications. MVMA Members, One of your fellow members wanted to share an experience regarding [...]
Urinary bladder stones in dogs and cats can present substantial challenges to a veterinarian. The most common problem occurs when we see a patient with recurrent urinary tract infections that seem to clear up, then relapse. Further investigation often uncovers bladder stones, also known as calculi (the singular is calculus), we can’t palpate (feel). Then [...]
Preparing your pet for laboratory testing varies according to the type of test being performed. The two most-commonly performed tests, fecal flotation and heartworm test require no preparation at all. However, to save your pet from the discomfort of staff having to obtain a stool specimen with a rectal probe, bring in about a tablespoon [...]
Flea Bite Allergy is also called Flea Allergy Dermatitis. While the latter name sounds like a patient is allergic to the very presence of fleas, that’s not actually the case. Flea Bite Allergy (FBA) is actually an allergy to the saliva of the flea. No, fleas are not expectorating on your pet, making him itchy. [...]
Can you even begin to imagine the tragedy? Last summer a mother of five went to the store with her entire brood, got home, unloaded the goods, and took the kids inside. Well, took most of the kids inside. One was left in the car. Forgotten. In the searing summer heat. In a few minutes [...]
Want to hear a real horror story about “leftover medications/other people’s (pets’)medications? Neither did I, but, as the patient was here, I had no choice but to listen. As much as we have all heard the admonition to “take the medicine until it’s all gone,” and “don’t take other people’s medications,” we still do it. [...]
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