Veterinarian, Speaker & Author
Animals are great for our health. Studies of the human-animal bond prove this fact over and over again. So, for 2014, here’s a list of 14 ways that animals improve our health & wellness. Animals; 1) Lower our blood pressure2) Lower our blood levels of cholesterol3) Help us get more exercise4) Increase our social interaction5) Lower …
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Early in my career, I cared for a lovely miniature Schnauzer who I will call Mindy. She was owned by a very nice retired couple. They called her their “baby’ and spared no expense caring for her. Unfortunately, they did not make a plan for Mindy’s care after their deaths. They assumed, like so many of us do, that one …
Continue reading “Remember Pets in Estate Plans (Wills and Trusts)”
The first step in examining a pet is to obtain a thorough medical history. This is where a little preparation can really help your veterinarian diagnose medical problems in your pets. It might also lower your costs by preventing unnecessary tests. This is what I like to see people bring to a routine office visit: 1) Copy …
Melanosis is a condition found in the iris of cats. Pigment containing cells called melanocytes proliferate causing black spots to appear. They look like freckles. If the melanocytes continue to grow, the form larger lesions called nevi. If multiple nevi form, the condition is called melanosis. If the disease does not progress any further, the …
Tapazole is a drug used to treat hyperthyroidism in cats. The generic name for tapazole is methimazole. It acts by inhibiting iodine incorporation into thyroglobuin thereby interfering with the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Originally, the drug only came in a pill form. Since pilling cats is not always pleasant, the medication can be compounded into …
Most colds in cats are upper respiratory infections caused by a virus. These viruses are highly contagious. If one cat is sick with an upper respiratory infection, it is important to separate them from other cats to prevent spread of the disease. Here are my recommendations for isolating a cat at home. 1) Isolate the sick …
How cats recover from anesthesia depends upon three things: 1)What drugs where used for the anesthesia. 2) How long the cat was anesthetized. 3) How quickly the cat can clear the anesthetic agent from their body. Anesthetics come in two forms, injectable and gas. When I anesthetize a cat, I start with an sedative to calm …
Pet food recalls seem to be in the news quite often these days. The melamine toxicity scandal killed many animals and made us all more aware of what we feed our beloved pets. Many people have traded commercial diets for home cooked ones but sometimes end up hurting the animals because the diets are not balanced and complete. So, what …
Continue reading “A Veterinarian’s Perspective on Pet Food Recalls”
Feline cystitis is a common problem in cats. Inflammation develops in the urinary bladder causing pain. Normally, cats urinate twice a day and defecate once a day. Cats with cystitis will make frequent trips to the litter box producing small amounts of urine each time. As the pain worsens, they often urinate in unusual places and …
Mammary gland hyperplasia is a relatively uncommon condition in cats. One or more mammary glands swell up due to hormonal changes thought to be associated with progesterone levels. I have seen this condition develop most frequently a few weeks after a young queen is spayed. It may also develop in intact females after their first heat cycle during pseudopregnancy. Male …