Happy Halloween! Tonight emergency clinics around the country will be busy with sick animals. Unfortunately, Halloween is not all fun and games. Candy designed for human consumption is a big problem. Chocolate is toxic for dogs and cats. While cats seldom eat chocolate, dogs love it. I treated a cocker spaniel who ate a two pound box of chocolate. The …
Author Archives: kristennelsondvm
Animal Abuser Targets Cats In Arizona
In the last six weeks, 14 cats in Maricopa County Arizona have sustained horrific injuries at the hands of an abuser. Two of the cats died from their injuries. The others required surgical repair of the gapping wounds on their backs. Detectives from the Maricopa County Animal Crimes Division are investigating. So far, they have …
Black Short Hair Kitten Has A Home
The black short hair boy found a new home! Last Saturday, a young girl and her family came to visit him. It was love at first sight. Here is a picture of Jerry in his new house. His owner reports that he is eating and sleeping well. When Jerry wants attention, he runs around the house meowing loudly until he …
Pain In Dogs – How To Know If Your Dog is Hurting?
A common question I receive is “How can I tell if my dog is painful?” Of course, the answer is sometimes clear. The dog holds up the paw that’s bothering them, licks the spot that hurts or scratches at an infected ear. But what if your dog is stoic and masks their pain? How would you know then? …
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Moving Your Cat
Moving is a stressful time for cats. Without warning, their worlds are turned upside down. Boxes appear out of nowhere, each with a strange smell. Their normal routine vanishes as their frantic parents pack for the big day. If that isn’t enough, the stressed felines are packed into a carrier and then released into a strange environment with …
Kauai County Council Bans Plastic Bags
On October 7th, the Kauai County Council voted to ban plastic bags. While plastic has made our lives better in so many regards, I applaud this effort to protect the ocean and the creatures within. Marine debris is a huge problem in our beautiful Hawaiian Islands. According to NOAA, over 600 tons of abandoned nets were removed from …
Dogs Who Vomit At Night
Although there are many causes of vomiting in the dog, I would like to discuss a common one that is often overlooked. Bilious vomiting syndrome occurs when stomach acid and bile accumulate in the stomach. If the dog does not eat soon, they will vomit the excess fluid. This often occurs right before the next meal …
Belgian Malinois – San Francisco Airport Police Dog
On a recent trip to San Francisco, I had the privilege of watching Officer Jeffrey Brown and his canine partner Chico working the airport. The handsome pair made quite an impression on passengers as they headed to and from flights. This team navigated the crowded terminal with ease. Officer Brown examined the people while Chico kept his nose busy searching for explosives. Many passengers …
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Kitten Update
I have wonderful news from Myka’s new family. Little Myka is thriving! At first, his feline brother and sister weren’t too sure about having a baby in the house. They hissed and played “hard to get” for a few days. Now they are all one big happy family. Myka is a people cat, he likes to be …
Kitten Update – Two Found Homes!
Great news! Yesterday, the buff kitten was a adopted by a very nice woman who lives in Phoenix. The little guy will be an only child in his new home. Although he will miss his brothers, I think he will thrive as an only cat. He loves attention. His new owner promised to send me updates. I …