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Category Archives: Ask The Vet
Diagnosis of Valley Fever in Pets
Blood testing is the most common method used to diagnose Valley Fever. A sample of the pet’s blood is sent to the lab. They look for the presence of antibodies for Valley Fever. If antibodies are present, the lab will then perform a titer test which involves diluting the sample to determine the amount of …
Clinical Signs of Valley Fever in Animals
Valley Fever is a fungal disease caused by the organism Coccidioides immitis. This organism lives in the dry alkaline soil which is found in the Sonoran desert areas of the southwestern U.S. It is also found in Central America and the Middle East. When the soil is disturbed from building, gardening or strong winds, spores are released into the air. The …
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Bite Wounds in Dogs
Bite wounds in dogs remind me of icebergs because the damage beneath the skin if often much worse than the surface damage. During a bite, the teeth are inserted below the dermis (skin), then two things can happen. First, the teeth can sink deep into the underlying tissue causing damage and injecting bacteria from the mouth. …
Making Veterinary Visits Less Stressful For Cats, Part 3 Returning Home
In Part 1 of the series, “Making Veterinary Visits Less Stressful For Cats”, we discussed how to acclimate cats to a carrier. Part 2 covered what to do and not to do during the visit to the veterinary hospital. The final blog on this topic will discuss what to do once the cat is home. …
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Making Veterinary Visits Less Stressful For Cats, Part 2 The Veterinary Visit
Many cats hate going to the veterinary hospital. Some express their angst by urinating or defecating. Others hyperventilate due to stress. Still others, turn into attack cats who draw blood from the veterinary staff. Here are my suggestions for making the veterinary visit less stressful for the cat and more pleasant for their human families. Prepare the carrier: Place a …
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Making Veterinary Visits Less Stressful For Cats. Part 1 The Carrier
Bringing cats in for veterinary care is stressful for the cats as well as the humans. Some cats freak out when they see the carrier. Others get sick in the car. Still others do well until they see the vet. I am starting a series on how to make veterinary visits less stressful for cats …
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Be Careful with Birch and Other Essential Oils in Dogs and Cats
With more and more people using essential oils to enhance their own well being, it is also spreading into veterinary medicine. Unfortunately, most essential oils are toxic to dogs and cats. People who use them for treating or training their pets may, in fact, be unintentionally harming them instead. Birch Oil: Birch oil is often used for scent training dogs. Researchers at …
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Common Causes of Recurring Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs
Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI’s) are no fun. The frustrated dog licks and urinates frequently in a vain attempt to ease the pain. They often keep their family members awake all night, begging to go outside. Worse yet, the dog has accidents in the house. The family comes into my exam room frustrated because the infection came back. Here …
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Calcium Oxalate Stones in Dogs
Calcium oxalate urinary stones are common in dogs and cats. These irregularly shaped, rounded stones show up well on x-rays due to their calcium content. Although they are more common in miniature schnauzers, bichon frise, shih tzu, Lhasa apso, miniature poodles and Yorkshire terriers, I have also seen them in many other breeds and mixes …