Last winter, I witnessed a sport called carting. Dogs representing many different breeds, pulled carts through an obstacle course designed to test their skills. With signals from their handlers, they wove around cones and through a gate. They walked and trotted on command then finished with a group test. All the dogs were lined up, placed in a down …
Author Archives: kristennelsondvm
Tips for Bringing a New Puppy Home
Bringing a new puppy home is wonderful. Family members shower the little one with love, wanting to spend every possible minute with the new bundle of joy. But please remember, this is a very stressful and overwhelming time for the puppy. Leaving their canine family, mother and littermates, for a new human family all on their own is a …
Fairness To Pet Owners Bill Is Not As It Appears
Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut is at it again. He introduced the “Fairness To Pet Owner” bill, S-1200, again even though it has been defeated before – not once but twice. This bill is supposed to “promote competition and help consumers save money by giving them the freedom to choose where they buy prescription pet medications and for …
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Honoring Four-Legged Veterans
On Memorial Day, I was reflecting on veterans. I believe it is fitting to honor all veterans. both humans and animals, who served in the armed forces. The humans return to the United States but what happens to the animals? In the case of working dogs, many are left in the country where they served even though their …
Plague Found Again in Desert Southwest May 2015
On May 13, 2015 I received an update from the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association warning veterinarians that plague was diagnosed in Jerome, Arizona. A cat tested positive for Yersinia pestis and it is suspected in three other cats. Y.pestis is endemic to the southwestern United States as well as semiarid areas of Asia and Africa. …
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You Make The Diagnosis: Dog With Tooth Problem
During every exam, I always analyze the teeth and look for signs of periodontal disease, malocclusion, masses or other dental problems. When I opened this dog’s lips, the left side of his mouth was normal but the right side had a serious problem. Study the image and answer the following questions: Which tooth is abnormal? What …
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Thank You Arizona Governor Ducey!
I’ve been meaning to write to celebrate Arizona’s new Governor Doug Ducey. This Republican governor issued his first veto a month ago to the great benefit of animals and Arizona. House Bill 2150 was rushed through the legislature and sought to remove farm animals from the definition of “animals” under the state’s cruelty laws. This bill would …
A New Strain of Canine Influenza Kills Dogs in the Midwest
A new strain of canine influenza has hit the Midwest sickening more than 1,000 dogs. At first, the outbreak was attributed to Influenza A H3N8, a virus that was first observed in the United States in 2004. But further testing by researchers at the University of Wisconsin and Cornell University identified a new virus. It is …
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You Make The Diagnosis: Paw Problem In A Dog
Pictured below is the front paw of a dog. The dog licked the top of his paw repeatedly. The constant licking turned the hair an abnormal brown color. He refused to let his family look at his paw. When I parted his hair, I found a large inflamed lesion that was the size of a …
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Provide Hiding Areas for Animals in Public Areas
In the lobby of my clinic, Arizona Skies Animal Hospital, we have two cockatiels. Mango and Della entertain the dogs, cats and people with a variety of behaviors. Mango parades back and forth whistling the tune to The Andy Griffith Show. Della climbs to the closest perch to get a studied look at the visitor. As …
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