Veterinarian, Speaker & Author
Like many veterinarians, I have long believed mutts have fewer health problems than purebreds. The common sense basis for that belief is that the genetic pool is larger and thus should lead to fewer issues of the type observed due to inbreeding. Well, a new study by the University of California Davis suggests this may not be …
Continue reading “Genetic Superiority – Mutts vs. Purebreds”
Last week, my husband and I had the chance to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Wow! The aquarium is located right on the water with wonderful views of the bay. Once inside, we headed to the kelp forest exhibit. The large central tank is three stories tall giving the kelp plenty of room to grow. I was most …
October 29th is National Cat Day, a day to celebrate all things feline. Contrary to popular belief, cats do not sleep all day. They cycle through times of play, eat, grooming and sleep. My cats seem to repeat this cycle twice each day with sleep periods that run approximately 6 hours in the younger cats. Interacting with …
October 13th-19th is National Veterinary Technician Week. I want to dedicate this blog to all the veterinary technicians who dedicate their lives to saving animals. These gifted health care professionals are the wind beneath a veterinarian’s wings. We simply couldn’t do our jobs without them. Let me give you a peak into what veterinarian technicians …
Due to a loophole in Animal Welfare Act regulations, puppy mills were able to sell animals on-line without any regulation from the USDA. Because of this, many animals suffered in horrific conditions with no veterinary care. Thanks to public outcry led by the Humane Society of the United States, the Humane Society Legislative Fund and the …
Continue reading “Online Puppy Mills Are Finally Regulated By The USDA”
Ethics matter. I usually try to keep the blog fairly upbeat but every once and awhile, ethical concerns need to be presented for your consideration. A few months ago, I used a product from Veterinary Orthopedic Implants in one of my patients. I was very unhappy with the performance of the product so I contacted the company. The response from …
Tamanian Devils are being decimated by an infectious disease called ‘Devil Facial Tumor Disease.” This soft tissue carcinoma causes severe disease of the face then spreads throughout the rest of the body. This non-viral disease is spread through fighting, something Tasmanian Devils like to do. Sadly, it is estimated to have decreased the population of Tazmanian devils by 70% …
I am delighted that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) decided to reduce their use of Chimpanzee’s in biomedical research! Yes we share most of our human DNA with Chimps and they have made enormous contributions to advances in medicine. But the cost is too high. This decision inspires all of us in the scientific community …
One of my greatest joys the past several years has been assisting young people pursue their dream of professional school. This is the time of year when college juniors who aspire to Veterinary College, Medical College and Dental College face the prospect of writing a personal statement (also called the personal comments essay). This is …
In April, I had the privilege of visiting Parque das Aves, a bird park located in Iguassu Falls, Brasil. This park is dedicated to four core principles: 1) Rescue and shelter 2) Reproduction of native species 3) Reforestation 4) Environmental education. While touring the facilities, I encountered an exhibit of flamingos. I was surprised to …