With everyone going on vacation and boarding their dog, or dogs going to day care, or dog parks, or groomers, or just having neighbor dogs, we’re seeing one of the worst outbreaks of kennel cough I’ve seen in a while! Many of my patients who are coughing got the bordetella vaccine, so the question I’m […]
When we perform a physical exam, we’re usually talking, laughing, and trying to snuggle or spoil your pet. It might not look like it, but a lot is happening in my mind, hands, and eyes (OK, sometimes nose) while we are snuggling your pet. Here’s what we’re actually doing while they get their ears scratched […]
One of the most common lumps that owners find on their dogs is the lipoma. When I tell owners the lump they were worried about is a lipoma, it’s met with relief, since these are not cancerous. But they are not always 100% benign. A lipoma is defined as a mass of fat, AKA a […]
It is quite common for a kind person to find a stray cat, take it in for a few days to find an owner, and end up keeping the cat as part of their family. I often see these cats for their first veterinary visit after the new pet parent has had them for a […]
Has your dog had an upset tummy? Is he throwing up? Does your dog have diarrhea? Or maybe both? Hopefully you went to your veterinarian. They probably did blood tests, maybe x-rays, depending on how your dog presented. Then the vet told you everything came back normal, and you’re not sure what to think. How […]
If your dog or cat has ever had fleas, you know how hard this battle can be. Here’s the best strategy to get rid of fleas once and for all! Spoiler alert – it doesn’t involve flea bombs, flea collars, garlic, or diatomaceous earth! Here’s the steps to winning the battle. 1 – Make sure […]
When you think of testing your dog or cat for worms, your mind immediately goes to checking the poop. That’s accurate for the majority of worms! However, there are some important exceptions, both IN and OUT of the poop you should know about. Let’s start with the ones you’re thinking of. Worms you can see […]
On of my dogs eats worms from the sidewalk. My other dog will drink water from a puddle, no matter how sketch. And then there’s dogs eating rabbit poop… Spring is so fun! Dogs love to eat gross things… yet we still love them. Sometimes, though, we wonder “will that hurt you? How aggressively should […]
If your dog is shaking his head, or has red, painful ears that smell or even have a visible discharge, there’s a good chance he has an ear infection. It’s important to have him seen by a veterinarian to get the type of infection diagnosed, and to get an appropriate ear cleaner. There’s a common […]
Having a pet you thought was healthy suddenly become life-threateningly ill, or even unexpectedly die, is probably the worst thing a pet owner can experience. Part of it is shock – how did this happen so suddenly? Part of it is the guilt, feeling like you missed something you should have noticed. Would your pet […]
This happens quite often: I’ll see a sick dog or cat, run a general blood profile… and it comes back 100% normal. Your pet could be coughing, not eating, throwing up, or just not himself. Whatever the reason, something isn’t right, and you’re disappointed that the blood tests that were ran didn’t give us a […]
I get asked about CBD products almost every day. There’s a lot of claims being made online about the myriad diseases it can treat, and every website claims their product is the best. How do you pick the right one? How do you avoid getting scammed? Unfortunately…. it’s hard. Shopping for a CBD oil, treats, […]
I have many clients ask about first aid kits for pets, and if they should buy one. Honestly, you can easily gather these items yourself! Whether you actually put it together and call it a kit, or just make sure you have these items in your house, it’s always good to be prepared! In many […]
As veterinary clinics around the country consider opening back up to letting owners in the building in the coming months, the next step will likely be the requirement of the owner to wear a mask or face covering during the visit. Of course, this will vary based on your state, region, local VMA’s, and the […]
Quite often I’ll be discussing the symptoms of a dog or cat, and the owner tells me, with very much concern, that the nose feels dry. Or that their nose is warm. Basically, if the nose deviates from cool and wet, it’s cause for the owner’s concern. I’d like to relieve any anxiety and dispel […]
With many people working from home, kids being home from school, and the whole schedule changing, many cats have had their routines turned upside down. Eventually we will try to return to “normal” life, whatever that will be like, but how can we help our cats adjust? While dogs might think it’s cool that their […]
It sounds weird, but sometimes we joke that male dogs need to come with an owner’s manual. There are weird things that often surprise, confuse, and even panic people! Here’s the top 5 facts every owner of a boy dog should know. 1 – Smegma It’s a great scrabble word. And it results in one […]
Nothing is more scary than waking up one day to see your senior dog walking in circles, head tilted to the side. Sometimes these dogs won’t eat, or will even be throwing up. You’re thinking it’s the end. The symptoms present like a stroke would be in a person, and you know those are bad. […]
Every day I have an owner show me a lump on their dog and express concern about what it is. Fortunately, the vast majority of these masses are cysts, skin tags, lipomas, or other non-threatening growths, much to the relief of the owner. Occasionally, a lump will be cancerous, and then of course we have […]
I am asked this question often. Unfortunately, it’s typically after I’ve diagnosed some condition requiring $2,000 surgery, or extensive hospitalization. These are the times it’s too late. But pet insurance does have a place. I’m not going to tell you which company, or what policy, but tell you generally how pet insurance works, and you […]