Education
Hip Dysplasia
Introduction “Ranger has been running funny and has had trouble getting to his feet after a nap,” Sally told Dr. Jones when she brought the two-year-old family pet for his annual checkup. She described Ranger’s bunny-hopping gait and reluctance to climb stairs; after a thorough physical exam, Dr. Jones suggested hip x-rays for the big dog. The x-rays confirmed the suspicions: Ranger had mild hip dysplasia, a malformation of the hip joints that causes arthritis. Dr. Jones outlined the options: surgery, drug therapy, an exercise...
read moreLeptospirosis
Introduction Canine outbreaks of leptospirosis in several states are sparking discussion and controversy about vaccination practices for prevention of the disease and concern for transfer of the disease to humans. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection cause by a family of organisms known as Leptospira interrogans. Until recently, vaccines were available for only two strains (Leptospirosis canicola and L. icterhaemorrhagiae), but vaccines for two additional types (L. grippotyphosa and L. pomona) are now on the market. Controversy arises...
read morePuppy Viruses
Introduction Puppy buyers are constantly reminded to look for clean conditions when considering the source of that new family pet. Whether looking at puppies at a breeder’s kennel, a shelter, a pet store, or in the neighbor’s garage, the puppy and his living area should be clean. This caution is not merely a matter of housekeeping, it is a matter of life and death for the puppy and potential heartbreak for the owner. Distemper and parvovirus thrive in dirty conditions. These viruses can strike in a matter of hours, especially if the litter...
read moreWeight Management
Diet & Weight Control Obesity is one of the most common medical conditions affecting dogs and cats in the U.S., according to recent studies indicating that 30 to 40 percent of U.S. pets are overweight and 25 percent of pets in the U.S. are obese. Similar to people, too much weight causes health issues in pets such as respiratory problems, diabetes, arthritis and heart disease. Overweight pets also have a greater chance of tearing ligaments and wearing down their joints, both of which make getting around painful. Pets weigh much less than...
read moreUnderstanding your Dog
Clues to Detecting Fluffy and Fido’s Painful Secrets To protect themselves from predators, animals naturally hide their pain. Your pet may be suffering even though he isn’t showing obvious signs. Advancements in veterinary science have decoded subtle telltale signs of animal distress. Observing your pet’s behavior is vital to managing his or her pain. How well do you know your pet? Use these five clues from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) to help you understand your pet’s body language. Clue 1: Abnormal chewing...
read moreCataracts
Cataracts are one of the most common eye problems affecting pets. They can affect all breeds and ages of dogs and cats, but the condition is found more commonly in certain dog breeds, such as Cockers, Poodles, Miniature Schnauzers and Terriers. The normal, transparent lens in the eye focuses beams of light onto the retina so that your pet can see clearly. A cataract is a disruption of the normal arrangement of the lens fibers that interferes with sight by partially or completely blocking the clarity of the lens. A cataract may be quite small...
read moreArthritis
Arthritis is a condition in which an animal’s joints become inflamed, often accompanied by pain, heat, and swelling in the joints, and it usually results in increasing stiffness and immobility. It doesn’t have to mean a poor quality of life for your pet, however. The signs may be hard to spot at first: your gray-in-the-muzzle Labrador retriever takes a little longer to get up in the morning, or your fuzzy Persian doesn’t jump as high as she used to. As time goes on, it becomes more and more clear that your pet is having a hard time...
read moreDiabetes
What is diabetes? Diabetes mellitus, the medical name for diabetes, is a disease caused by a lack of insulin, or the inability of the body to utilize the insulin properly, that affects the level of glucose, or sugar, in your dog or cat’s blood. The glucose comes from the food that your pet eats. The food is broken down into very small components by the pet’s digestive system so their bodies can use it for energy. Glucose is one of these components, and an important source of energy. Glucose is absorbed from the intestines into the...
read moreWalk with your dog
Walk Your Way to Health With Your Best Friend JEN REEDER Slim your dog and shape yourself up in the New Year. When Charley Stone took her four-year-old Welsh corgi, Bernice, for a routine checkup last year, her veterinarian, Greg McDonald, DVM, of McDonald Animal Hospital in Santa Barbara, Calif., said that Bernice was overweight and needed to lose about eight pounds to get healthy. So Stone and Bernice began walking together five times a week up a hill near their home in southern California for 25 to 30 minutes. Certain breeds of dogs are...
read moreSkin Problems in Pets
Dogs and cats suffer from many problems that affect their skin. It is important to understand that the skin is an organ, just as the liver and kidneys are organs. The skin functions as a barrier to protect the body from infection, caustic substances, ultra violet light and dehydration. Good health and proper function of the skin is dependent on the health and function of the other organs that make up our pets’ bodies. Diseases that affect the skin can be placed into one of two categories, primary and secondary skin disease. Primary skin...
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