Veterinarian, Speaker & Author
Increased thirst which is call polydypsia (PD) and increased urination which is called polyuria (PU) can be caused by many, many things. Sometimes PU/PD is the sign of something serious. Here is a list of the most common causes of increased thirst and urination I see in my practice. I have ranked them from most common to least common. If …
Continue reading “Causes of Increased Thirst and Urination in Animals”
On December 2, 2012 please join me for an afternoon of fun at On A Wing And A Prayer Arabian Ranch. Gather with other animal lovers for wine and light refreshments. Peruse the silent auction filled with animal inspired artwork and photographs donated by notable Tucson artists. Then I will talk about how animals improve our life, …
Garlic or Allium sativum is one of the most popular nutraceuticals in use today. The American Veterinary Medical Association defines nutraceuticals as “. . . micronutrients, macronutrients and other nutritional supplements used as therapeutic agents.” Besides flavoring food, garlic is reported to have the following effects: -cancer prevention-prevents blood clots-lowers lipids-inhibits bacterial growth-increases circulation-improves the function of the immune system-antioxidant-supports …
Metabolic bone disease is a common problem in pet iguanas. In captivity, it is difficult to provide these sun-loving lizards with enough exposure to sunlight. Without sunlight and the vitamin D3 that comes with it, iguanas cannot properly absorb and metabolize calcium from their diets. The body steals calcium from bones to make up for …
Coated With Fur: A Vet’s Life is now available at the St. Paul Public Library! Since my first book chronicles a Minnesota Veterinary Clinic, it was a great joy to learn that the St. Paul Public Library found it worthy to put on the shelves. Every library that adds it to their collection brings me …
Iguanas require a lot of special care to keep them healthy in captivity. This iguana suffered from anorexia, lethargy and reluctance to move. Examine the image carefully, before answering the following questions; Name the medical condition this iguana suffers from. What causes it? Diagnosis: Metabolic Bone Disease Metabolic bone disease is a common disease of captive iguanas. Lack of vitamin …
Continue reading “You Make The Diagnosis: Iguana With Swollen Jaws”
As a veterinarian, I dread diagnosing hemangiosarcoma in my patients because there are no successful treatments for this aggressive cancer. Hemangiosarcoma originates from blood vessels so it can occur anywhere in the body. In dogs, I see it most commonly in the spleen, heart and skin. German Shephards and Golden Retrievers are the breeds most affected by hemangiosarcoma. Traditional treatment centers around …
Before I examine a cat, I usually ask the owner if the cat has any problems with coughing, sneezing, vomiting or diarrhea. Even though the cat will vomit hairballs, most people will answer ‘no’ because they think vomiting up a wad of hair is normal. But is it? Probably not based on observations of wild felines …
Today CNBC reported that Nature’s Recipe announced a voluntary recall of their product, Nature’s Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken due to possible salmonella contamination. So far, there have been no cases of animal or human illness caused by this product. Because of all the recent recalls, I thought it would be a good idea to …
This blog post is for adults only as it contains mature cat images. Pictured in the video is a 10 year old male/neutered cat. When one of the humans in this cat’s family lies down, the cat will jump on top of them and start to knead with all four paws. At first, he placed …
Continue reading “You Make The Diagnosis: Name This Naughty Cat Behavior”