In the veterinary profession, microchips are recommended for animals in case they are lost. But the chip does little good if the information stored in it is incorrect. I have scanned chips on lost pets hoping to reunite them with their families only to find that the phone number is out of service or the family no longer …
Category Archives: Ask The Vet
Causes of Increased Thirst and Urination in Animals
Increased thirst which is call polydypsia (PD) and increased urination which is called polyuria (PU) can be caused by many, many things. Sometimes PU/PD is the sign of something serious. Here is a list of the most common causes of increased thirst and urination I see in my practice. I have ranked them from most common to least common. If …
Continue reading “Causes of Increased Thirst and Urination in Animals”
Metabolic Bone Disease in Iguanas
Metabolic bone disease is a common problem in pet iguanas. In captivity, it is difficult to provide these sun-loving lizards with enough exposure to sunlight. Without sunlight and the vitamin D3 that comes with it, iguanas cannot properly absorb and metabolize calcium from their diets. The body steals calcium from bones to make up for …
Hemangiosarcoma in Dogs
As a veterinarian, I dread diagnosing hemangiosarcoma in my patients because there are no successful treatments for this aggressive cancer. Hemangiosarcoma originates from blood vessels so it can occur anywhere in the body. In dogs, I see it most commonly in the spleen, heart and skin. German Shephards and Golden Retrievers are the breeds most affected by hemangiosarcoma. Traditional treatment centers around …
Cat Hairballs
Before I examine a cat, I usually ask the owner if the cat has any problems with coughing, sneezing, vomiting or diarrhea. Even though the cat will vomit hairballs, most people will answer ‘no’ because they think vomiting up a wad of hair is normal. But is it? Probably not based on observations of wild felines …
Salmonella Infection in Dogs and Cats
Today CNBC reported that Nature’s Recipe announced a voluntary recall of their product, Nature’s Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken due to possible salmonella contamination. So far, there have been no cases of animal or human illness caused by this product. Because of all the recent recalls, I thought it would be a good idea to …
Saddlebred Rescue
On this post I would like to highlight the work of a wonderful animal rescue group for horses; Saddlebred Rescue located in Hardwick, New Jersey. Saddlebred Rescue is a verified member of the global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. This organization buys horses from livestock sales that would otherwise be sold for meat to Canada or Mexico. …
Grain Free Diets for Dogs
With the popularity of grain free diets for humans, the trend is now moving to veterinary medicine. Are diets free of grain products better for dogs than diets with grain? Well, it depends upon the individual dog. Grain free diets are not inheritantly better just because they are grain free. Let me explain. Unlike cats, dogs can …
Feeding Dogs and Cats Based on Physiology
Recently, I read an interesting study regarding the evolutionary basis for dog and cat feeding behaviors. The author, John Bradshaw studied the physical adaptations of dogs and cats relative to their diets. Here is a summary of what he found: 1) Teeth – Cats have highly specialized teeth that are perfect for catching and eating prey. …
Continue reading “Feeding Dogs and Cats Based on Physiology”
Grain Free Diets For Cats
Because of the popularity of grain free diets for people, this method of eating is slowly creeping into animals foods. Is it healthy for cats to eat a grain free diet? The answer is a cautious yes as long as another carbohydrate such as potato is not substituted for the grain. Let me explain: Many …