Veterinarian, Speaker & Author
Pictured below is the mouth of a friendly Labrador Retiever who needed dental X-rays and a periodontal treatment. When he was being intubated, examination of the back of his throat revealed an abnormal right tonsil. While I was examining the tonsil for a good place to biopsy it, I found the abnormal structure being held …
Continue reading “You Make The Diagnosis: Coughing and Gagging Dog”
Pictured below is a closeup of the right eye of a dog. Look closely at the eye and then answer the following questions: Name the abnormal structure found in this eye. Will this condition cause problems? What breeds of dogs are most commonly affected? Diagnosis: Iridociliary (Uveal) Cyst Iridociliary cysts are pigmented transparent structures which occur in …
Continue reading “You Make The Diagnosis: Dog Iris Abnormality”
When I perform a physical examination on a cat, I try to open their mouth to check their teeth. I say ‘try’ because some cats absolutely refuse to give me a look inside. I hold the upper jaw (maxilla) with one hand and then gently apply pressure to the lower jaw (mandible) to open the mouth. When …
Continue reading “You Make The Diagnosis: Cat Lower Jaw Problem”
A client brought their 8 month old female kitten in for an examination because they thought she hurt her back. Two days ago, Blackie (not her real name) started arching her back and meowing loudly. Sometimes, she rolled around on the floor as if she couldn’t get comfortable. The behavior continued all day and all …
Continue reading “You Make The Diagnosis: Owner Thinks This Cat Is In Pain”
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 …
Continue reading “You Make The Diagnosis: Dog With Tooth Problem”
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 …
Continue reading “You Make The Diagnosis: Paw Problem In A Dog”
There are many orthopedic conditions in dogs that have a genetic basis. Pictured below are the front legs of a mixed breed dog. This happy-go-lucky guy has a unique confirmation of his front legs. Study the image and then answer the following questions: 1) What is the name of this condition? 2) What breed is …
Continue reading “You Make The Diagnosis: Orthopedic Condition in Dogs”
Several months ago, I performed an annual exam on a lovely Chihuahua mix. This handsome boy let me look in his mouth, listen to his heart and feel his abdomen. Look at the picture below and then answer the following questions: What is wrong with this dog’s eyes? Does it affect his vision? List some …
Continue reading “You Make The Diagnosis: Cloudy Eyes in a Dog”
When I perform an examination on a puppy, I look closely at their mouth because puppies are prone to several painful dental problems. Some of these are inherited which may get the puppy removed from breeding programs. Pictured below is the right side of a 10 week old large breed puppy. This little guy came in for vaccinations …
Continue reading “You Make The Diagnosis: Dental Problem In A Puppy”
One of my favorite duties as a veterinarian is performing puppy examinations. I love to play with the puppy and feed them treats, especially during vaccinations. I try to make it a good experience to prevent a long term fear of veterinarians. Part of the exam includes a careful auscultation of the chest to listen …
Continue reading “You Make The Diagnosis: Heart Condition In Newfoundland Dogs”