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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Amantadine is an antiviral drug that was used to treat influenza in humans. Because of its mode of action, it is also being used for much more including helping dogs and cats with neurologic disease as well as people with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Amantadine is a N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blocker. In the nervous system, …
Arizona Skies Animal Hospital is pleased to welcome Dr. Elaina Volpe! Elaina was born and raised in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in small animal science from Delaware Valley University. Prior to attending veterinary college, Elaina worked as a veterinary technician at an animal shelter in Pennsylvania. The shelter provided …
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Cat allergies are a common problem in humans. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America estimates 3 in 10 people in the United States are allergic to cats and dogs. Since there are no effective treatments, most patients are told to avoid contact with cats. That means removing the pet from their home. “About 11 …
2019 has been a big year for West Nile virus (WNV) in Arizona. There have been 300 mosquitoes that tested positive through August 27th. According to a press release from the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association, “There are currently 135 human WNV cases statewide (including 9 deaths) and 21 asymptomatic blood donors, the majority in Maricopa …
Blue-green algae has killed dogs throughout the United States and Canada this summer. The algae is actually a cyanobacteria which is extremely toxic to humans and dogs. Cyanobacteria contain chlorophyll which is why the bacteria looks like a plant and is confused with algae. Blue-green algae outbreaks occur in the summer. The combination of stagnant …
As I have written before, many dogs and cats have developed life-threatening heart problems from eating grain-free diets. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a serious heart condition in which the heart muscles deteriorate leaving a flabby, thin-walled heart. Heart muscle requires the amino acid taurine for good health. In the early 1990’s, many cats were diagnosed …
The Food and Drug Administration and The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention are investigating pig ear treats for dogs that may be contaminated with the bacteria Salmonella. The pig ears in question were made by Pet Supplies Plus and sold in bulk bins through their stores in 33 states. The Michigan Department of Agriculture …
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Tragically, Maricopa County Animal Care and Control has reported the deaths of 49 dogs since June 3, 2019 due an outbreak of distemper virus at the East Animal Shelter. The distemper virus, morbillivirus, is highly contagious between dogs. The dogs are infected by either inhaling the virus or coming into contact with secretions that contain …
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Counterfeit drugs are becoming a serious problem in veterinary medicine. With all the online and big box pharmacies, how do you know if your pet’s drugs are safe and effective? According to the FDA, here are some of the signs of a rogue online pharmacy: The price is too good to be true. The pharmacy …