The diagnosis of epilepsy is given to cats who have had more than one seizure. During a seizure, a cat may exhibit a variety of clinical signs from twitching and staring off into space to a complete loss of consciousness with uncontrollable movement of the legs, urination, defecation and loud meows. Before a seizure, some …
Category Archives: Ask The Vet
Rhinovirus in Cats
Feline viral rhinotracheitis is the name given to respiratory disease caused by a Herpes virus called Feline Herpes Virus 1. This virus infects felines of all shapes and sizes. It does not infect humans. The virus loves to infect the eyes of cats and kittens. It causes severe inflammation of the conjunctiva, that’s the pink …
Hookworm Infection in Cats
Hookworms are much less common in cats than in dogs. Cats may become infected with two types of hook- worms, Ancylostoma tubaeforme and Ancyclostoma braziliense. Adult worms live in the intestines of an infected cat. They produce eggs which pass out in the feces. The egg hatches into a larva that eventually hatches into a third …
Alopecia in Cats
Alopecia in cats is one of the most frustrating problems I have to deal with as a veterinarian because there are so many things that can cause it. To help narrow down the possible causes, I want to know if the cat actually pulls their hair out while grooming or if the hair falls out …
Cold Symptoms in Kittens
Colds in kittens are usually caused by a virus. Calicivirus and Feline Herpes Virus 1 are usually the culprits. The most common clinical signs are sneezing, runny eyes, loss of appetite and a runny nose. Ulcers on the nose and lips are also seen with calicivirus. These symptoms last 7 – 10 days. Sometimes, the ocular discharge …
Helping Blind Cats
In my experience, blind cats learn how to ‘see’ with their other senses and live happy lives without much help from people. In fact, many people don’t even know their cat is blind until I tell them! This seems unlikely I know but it happens because their cat is doing everything like normal. Here are three …
Criollo Horses in Argentina
On my recent trip to Argentina, I was introduced to the Criollo breed of horses. These horses originated from stock brought over by the Spanish and Portuguese explorers. The breed is now considered native to Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. Criollos stand between 13.3 and 14.3 hands tall. They are compact well muscled horses that are …
Dog Almost Loses Leg Because of Bandage
Bandages make me nervous. When used properly, they help the patient heal by stabilizing the affected body part and protecting the injured area. Unfortunately, bandages can also cause great harm if used improperly. Pictured below is the leg of a dog who sprained his paw. He was placed in a supportive wrap and released to …
Cutting Calories for Canines
Recently, I was asked to write a blog about how to help dogs lose weight. Here are my recommendations: 1) Exercise – As my professor in veterinary college wisely noted; “If the dog is overweight, the owner needs more exercise.” Start out slowly with low impact activities and add five minutes every week. Before starting, check …
Preventative Care for Therapy Dogs Interacting with Young Children
Humans derive many health benefits from interacting with animals. Unfortunately, animals carry a few diseases that can be transmitted to people. These zoonotic diseases are most common in young children who haven’t learned the importance of good hygiene. I worry the most about toddlers who seem to put everything into their mouths. Here are my recommendations for dog …
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