Chocolate. To a chocoholic like me, there is no such thing as too much. For our pets, on the other hand, even a little can be too much. Caffeine, the magic substance that gets our day going in the morning,…
Have you seen the new CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) techniques for people? If not, click here and watch an informative video. It is interesting to know that many of the parameters discussed in that video apply to CPR in animals. For…
In the August, 2012, edition of Today’s Veterinary Practice Dr. Claire R. Sharp, BSc, BVMS (Hons), MS, CMAVA, Diplomate ACVECC, Assistant professor and small animal medicine and critical care at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, published an incredibly…
Hypothyroidismis a common endocrinopathy (hormone-related condition) of dogs. The word is believed to have been coined around the turn of the 20th century. Its Greek prefix, hypo- means “below,” the root is thyroid, referring to the glands in the neck…
Heart murmurs come in all sizes, sounds and locations. Because mammalian hearts have four chambers and four valves, it is possible to have a defect and thus a murmur in any of those four valves. In addition, heart murmurs occuring…
Hyperlipidemiais a common problem in dogs, an infrequent problem in cats. “Hyper” is a Greek prefix meaning over, above, beyond, to excess. “Lipid” refers to fats. It comes from the Greek word lipos, meaning fat or grease. Lipid was coined…
Canine influenza (CI), also known as dog flu, has now been laboratory-confirmed in 39 states. Keep in mind that doesn’t mean there have been no cases in the other 11 American states. Rather, perhaps cases occurred, and either were categorized as…
Last week we discussed the dangers of secondhand smoke to pets and people. Today we will delve into poisoning that can occur from tobacco. Never mind that your pet neither smokes nor dips. If he gains access to tobacco products…
Diamond Pet Foodis again in the news. And that’s not a good thing. Just before Christmas, 2005, Diamond Pet Food had to recall many of the brands it manufactures at its Gaston, South Carolina, plant because of contamination with aflatoxins.…
Vestibular syndrome is a common occurrence in dogs and catsand can be terrifying for pet owners. Many pet owners believe their dog or cat has suffered a stroke. Stroke is actually a less-common cause of vestibular disease in pets. The…
