Veterinarian, Speaker & Author
Last week, I was on the way to work when I saw this beautiful German Shepherd dog riding with his head out the window. Although the dog was having fun, there are many dangers associated with this activity. I have also seen many horse trailers with the windows open or folded back. Even though the …
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Tartar in dogs and cats will fluoresce when exposed to ultraviolet light. Bacteria found in the mouth produce porphyrins that emit a pinkish orange glow. In fact, researchers have found feline, canine and human tartar as well as bacterial cultures will fluoresce as well. Why is this important? Because fluorescence can be used to look …
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Feline acne or chin acne is a common skin disease in cats. Unlike humans, feline acne occurs in cats of all ages. It is a disorder of the hair follicles that leads to secondary infections. Although many ideas have been proposed including allergies, poor grooming, increased sebum production and viral infections, none have been proven. …
Rattlesnakes are highly adaptable venomous snakes that live thoughout the continental United States. They are members of the Crotalidae family of venomous snakes which is a subfamily of vipers. Beside rattlesnakes, this group includes water moccasins and copperheads. This group does not include coral, mamba or sea snakes which are part of the Elapidae family. …
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) are toxic to dogs and cats. Beside the danger of the e-cig causing an obstruction or perforation, the liquid inside can be fatal. E-juice or e-liquid contains propylene glycol, nicotine, flavorings and either vegetable glycerin or polyethylene glycol. Propylene glycol and glycerin are usually not toxic at the low levels contained in …
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Finding the best food for pets has become a frustrating and time consuming process. With isles full of foods, people read the labels thinking that will help them identify the best one. They mistakenly think that dog and cat food can be compared by the Guaranteed Analysis (GA). Nothing could be further from the truth! …
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Viral papillomatosis (warts) is a fairly common condition in young dogs. Irregular circular growths appear in the mouth and around the eyes. The growths can be fairly smooth like a human wart or possess tenticle like projections that remind me of tall blades of grass. In dogs, papillomatosis is most often caused by canine papilloma …
Frustration-related aggression is a form of aggression that occurs when a cat is blocked from getting what it wants. I diagnosed it for the first time in my own cat, Genevieve. I met this adorable little furball while working at a friend’s clinic. A woman approached the counter carrying a cardboard box. Inside lay a kitten …
Fearful or defensive aggression occurs when a frightened cat attacks the human who caused their fear. A cat with fearful aggression has adopted “the best defense is a good offense” motto to deal with their anxiety. The aggression may be directed toward strangers, family members or both. This kind of aggression occurs when a cat …
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Cats display a complex behavior known as redirected aggression. According to Dr. Debra Horwitz, ” Redirected aggression arises from the cat being in an aggressive or agitating circumstance, but unable to vent that aggression on the causative agent.” Here’s a common history. A cat is looking out the window and sees another cat invade their …