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By VIN Community Contributors
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Various client information sheets.
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It is important that you are aware of potential side effects when administering drugs to your dog. |
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There are several theories on what aging really is. The traditional one is that God gives each man, woman, and animal a limited time on this earth. The most widely held theory is that our bodies are slowly and steadily crippled by the release of free radicals. |
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Dogs and cats can get more than just drunk when they drink alcoholic beverages -- they can get a trip to the emergency room. Pets can die from alcohol ingestion. |
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A letter from a veterinarian points out that amputation is far better than continued pain or euthanasia. |
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Generally speaking, the yeast leads to a chronic condition in which the bird progressively loses weight. Many patients with AGY appear to continue to eat well; however, typically they are only grinding food and not ingesting enough to maintain their weight. Additionally the organism itself affects digestion and leads to abnormal feces containing undigested food, furthering weight loss. Patients may develop diarrhea or black tarry stool known as melena. |
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Balanced nutrition is an important cornerstone of bird care. Equally important is balanced activity and behavioral enrichment to allow them to engage with others and with their environment. There are three primary elements to a parrot’s daily life: Nutrition, social interaction, and maintenance behaviors.
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Blastomycosis is a systemic fungal infection that affects dogs and cats. Blastomycosis appears in only certain geographic areas in North America, most often the Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, Tennessee, and St. Lawrence River valleys. Infection with Blastomyces occurs when a cat or dog inhales the fungal spores into the lungs. |
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Blood work - presurgical or otherwise - is usually a combination of a complete blood count (CBC) and a blood chemical analysis. Blood work is a basic evaluation tool. Pets, particularly senior ones, should have a CBC at every annual examination. |
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Treatments that may help improve cognitive dysfunction include L-Deprenyl, dietary changes, and environmental enrichment. |
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Canine influenza, or canine flu, is an emerging respiratory tract disease that is similar to, or mimics, bordetellosis (Bordetella bronchiseptica infection, kennel cough, infectious tracheobronchitis). However, unlike many cases of bordetellosis, the dog needs veterinary care. |
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While researching appropriate medicine for humans infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), scientists discovered that cats and ferrets can get SARS from humans, at least in a laboratory. At present, no evidence exists to suggest that these species play a significant role in the epidemiology of SARS outbreaks. |
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The pet can experience just some neck pain or complete paralysis of all four legs and no pain perception. An acute onset is an absolute emergency.
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Cholangitis (inflammation of the bile ducts) and cholangiohepatitis (inflammation of the bile ducts and the liver) are common problems in cats. Cats with cholangitis do not usually appear ill; cats with cholangiohepatitis usually appear ill. |
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If you see any of these clinical signs, take your pet to your veterinarian for a complete oral examination. |
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Rabies is a fatal viral zoonosis and a serious public health problem. The recommendations in this compendium, published in the CDC's MMWR, serve as a basis for animal rabies prevention and control programs throughout the U.S. and facilitate standardization of procedures among jurisdictions. |
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Patella luxation, or knee dislocation, can range in severity from a patella that can be dislocated only in extreme extension and then snaps readily into place, to a patella that is permanently luxated medially (towards the center of the dog’s body). |
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Cryptorchidism is a condition in which a male’s testicles have not descended (dropped) into the scrotum. Some cryptorchid animals are sterile and some are not. |
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Hyperadrenalism is a slowly progressing disease and the early signs are often not noticed. These include increased appetite, increased drinking and urination, reduced activity, and enlargement of the abdomen. As the disease progresses, these signs intensify, and the pet may become fat, pant heavily, and lose hair evenly over each side of the body. In some cases, hair loss may be the only apparent change. |
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Treatment (removal of the larva) is one of the simplest things in veterinary medicine; your veterinarian will probe and enlarge the breathing hole, grasp the parasite with forceps, and just pull the invader out. |
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Degenerative myelopathy is a progressive disease of undetermined cause that affects a dog's spinal cord. It results in a loss of coordination of the hind legs, which progresses to weakness and then to paralysis of the hindquarters. |
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Degenerative valve disease (DVD) refers to a noninfectious degeneration of the cardiac valves. DVD accounts for about 75% of cardiovascular disease in dogs but is uncommon in cats. |
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Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the most common acquired heart diseases in dogs. DCM is a disease of the heart muscle. |
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Planning tips from the Humane Society of the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the American Red Cross, and the Cat Fancier's Association can help you prepare for your pets safety in the event of a disaster. Pets are not allowed in emergency shelters. |
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Known as “collie nose,” discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is an inflammatory skin disease seen in dogs and, very rarely, in cats. It usually affects the face and nose. It’s possible that DLE is a non-systemic type of systemic lupus erythematosus, but it isn’t as serious as SLE.
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Distichiasis is quite common in dogs. Distichiasis is a condition in which extra hairs grow out of the eyelash area. |
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See the award-winning video, “Partners in Independence.” |
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Elbow dysplasia is the most common cause of front limb lameness in the young dog, especially of the larger breeds. Elbow dysplasia can take several different forms. |
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Entropion is an uncomfortable or painful condition in which the animal’s eyelids roll inward, allowing the eyelashes (or other hair) to rub against the cornea and irritate it. The upper and/or lower eyelids can be involved, and the condition can occur in either one eye or both. |
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Many dogs are fearful and anxious when exposed to seasonal fireworks: a dog’s response may range from a momentary freeze and orientation to the sound and then recovery, to extreme panic characterized by bolting or escape attempts. |
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Cardiomyopathy means heart muscle disease:
• Cardio = heart
• Myo = muscle
• Pathy = disease |
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A compulsive disorder, feline hyperesthesia syndrome usually begins is also known as self-mutilation syndrome, rolling skin syndrome, twitchy cat disease, and atypical neurodermatitis. What happens is that affected cats have episodes in which the skin twitches, the body jerks around suddenly, and the tail moves far more than usual. |
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Feline hyperesthesia syndrome (FHS) does not have a single cause. In order to diagnose FHS, ruling out other conditions that resemble FHS is often required. Only by ruling out other conditions can this syndrome be labeled a behavioral disorder. |
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FIP remains a daunting disease—its pathogenesis is unclear, it can be difficult to diagnose, and it is uniformly fatal. While research has not answered all the questions, more is being learned, diagnostic tests are improving, and treatment may be on the horizon. This review offers an update on current knowledge about FIP. |
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Feline leukemia virus, a retrovirus, is a common infection of cats. It is the cause of more cat deaths, directly or indirectly, than any other organism and is widespread in the cat population. |
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A food allergy is a reaction to food that involves the body’s immune system. It is usually always a protein particle in the food that is responsible reactions. An appropriate diet can be selected with your veterinarian's help for the food trial. |
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Valuable information for those wishing to breed dogs. |
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If this article has caught your attention, it may be that your pet has had the misfortune of suffering a fractured bone. This is a traumatic experience for both you and your pet and there are a few things you should know to help both of you make the best of a bad situation! |
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Giardiasis is the intestinal disease caused by the parasite Giardia canis,/i>. Giardiasis usually affects dogs, particularly puppies, but can occur in cats. |
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A heart murmur is one of several types of abnormal sounds your veterinarian can hear when listening to your pet’s heart with a stethoscope. The murmur itself is not treated; the underlying cause of the murmur may or may not be treated. |
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Video and slides are provided for owners of diabetic cats who wish to learn how to conduct home tests that determine blood glucose (blood sugar) readings for their cat. |
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A hot spot is a superficial skin infection that results when the normal skin bacteria overrun the skin’s defenses as a result of damage to the skin surface. |
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Most dog owners recognize that puppies do not come pre-trained and that there will have to be some effort on their part to teach the puppy where to go . However, some new dog owners or those who haven’t done it or raised a puppy in years, fail to realize just how difficult and time-consuming the process can be. |
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Not everyone who volunteers at the front line will be heroically sloshing through flood waters looking for stranded animals. There will always be a tremendous need for workers to clean the animal housing units, feed the animals, assist disaster victims looking for their displaced animals, schedule workers, and organize supplies. These are usually positions for those in robust health who are capable of bivouacking at the scene without amenities.
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Have you ever wondered where all of those puppies come from? Sadly, many of them are products of puppy mills, also known as puppy farms or commercial breeders. A puppy mill is any establishment that produces dogs on a large scale for profit. In the old nature vs. nurture argument, puppy mills consistently fall short. |
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Hyperlipidemia is a general term for disorders in which too many fat molecules (called lipids) circulate in the blood. The two most important lipids in pets are cholesterol and triglycerides. |
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Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common acquired heart diseases in cats but very rare in dogs. |
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Imaging in veterinary medicine has advanced greatly since the first radiographs (x-rays) were taken of pets just decades ago. Now there is a multitude of imaging tests available to help diagnose and treat diseases in our pets. These tests include radiography (x-rays), ultrasound, CT (or CAT) scans, and MRI scans. |
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Anyone can publish a Web site and anyone can say just about anything they like. Here are some hints to retrieve quality information on pet health care while immediately discarding the bad. |
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Intervertebral disk herniations are most common in the long, low chondrodystrophic breeds. Mild cases may be managed medically. Paralyzed or chronically affected dogs usually require surgery. |
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The iris coloboma, which is relatively common, does not affect vision, and it does not progress to anything else. |
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Veterinarians anesthetize animals on a daily basis. At least once per week in any clinic, a pet owner expresses concern about anesthesia: Is it safe? Will my pet survive the procedure? Modern anesthesia is very safe. |
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The normal range of values from a given test at a given laboratory will usually be listed on the results form, so that you can see immediately what is not in a normal range; often, results considered to be outside of the norm will be in bold text. Your veterinarian will point out to you which values are of concern and why. |
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Pets usually drink the same tap water that people do, meaning that sometimes they drink water containing lead. Lead is bad for pets and people. The CDC's Fact Sheet listed here is as applicable to pets as it is to people.
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The most common cause of lead poisoning in pets is ingestion of lead-based paint. Although lead-based paint is no longer available in the United States, it was used in buildings for many years. |
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This disease produces lameness of the hip joint in young, small breed dogs. |
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A fact sheet from the CDC answers questions about the risk of people getting leptospirosis from their pets. |
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When lice are found, it’s usually in the dogs that are living in or were obtained from filthy, crowded conditions.
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Lick granuloma (acral lick granuloma, acral lick dermatitis) is a common, stubborn skin disease that is directly caused by the dog licking an area of the body. |
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A lipoma is a soft, round, moveable lump or bump of fatty tissue under the skin. Because they do not cause pain, infection, or hair loss, they’re usually spotted by owners when petting or grooming their pets. |
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Meibomian gland tumors are tiny, slow-growing tumors that form in the meibomian glands of the eyelids. |
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Miliary dermatitis is not a specific disease. It is secondary to many other diseases.
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What is monkeypox, how do you get it, how do you know if you've got it? What's being done to prevent more outbreaks like the one that started with prairie dogs transmitting it to people in June of 2003? |
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The CDC explains to pet owners what monkeypox signs are in animals. Some animals have died and others haven't. Until more information is available, it is prudent to assume that any mammal, including common household pets (e.g., dogs, cats) and “pocket pets” (e.g., hamsters or gerbils), can get monkeypox if exposed to an infected animal. |
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In dogs and cats, the most common conditions associated with MRSA tend to be skin infections, post-operative incisional infections and wound infections. The bacteria have also been isolated from the urinary tract, auditory canal, skin, eye and joints.
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Myeloma is a type of cancer that affects plasma cells. Plasma cells that become cancerous are known as myeloma cells. |
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Naso-pharyngeal polyps are the most common masses that are seen in the external ear canal in cats. They are benign growths. |
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Neonatal isoerythrolysis, or NI, is a rare immune-mediated disease that is caused when newborn kittens with type A blood drink colostrum from a mother with type B blood. |
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The FDA issued a warning about why bones are bad for dogs. |
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When squamous cell carcinoma occurs in the mouth and throat, it’s called oral squamous cell carcinoma. In these oral cases, the lesion is usually located on the gums or tonsils. |
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Just like people, some pets need a pacemaker to keep their hearts ticking. |
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A decade ago, few drugs were available to treat pets in pain at home. Pups were spayed or neutered at the animal hospital, stitched up, and sent home without pain medication. And dogs with painful arthritis limped along without drugs that were safe and effective for long-term use. |
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Panosteitis is a disease of the fatty bone marrow. That damage results in secondary effects involving bone. The condition is cyclic in nature, waxing and waning under conditions of stress.
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Know the facts: Don’t expose your children! Hookworms and roundworms can be harbored by your dog or cat and transmitted to children who are living in homes with pets. Dogs can get ticks which spread Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis, and Tulariema, which can affect people. Cats get infected with hookworms and tapeworms by hunting prey. How can you protect your children? |
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June 7: Wal-Mart's Ol'Roy Complete Nutrition dry dog food is recalled for salmonella. This recall is not related to the melamine-related general pet food recall. The 69 Wal-Mart stores carrying the affected product are located in Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
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If you've been wondering if pet insurance is a good idea for you, think about these pros and cons. |
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Pimobendan is the first drug of a new class of heart medications called inodilators. When used with other cardiac medications, pimobendan can be effective for dogs with congestive heart failure related to either dilated cardiomyopathy or degenerative mitral valve disease. |
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It’s a sobering thought, but do you know who will take care of your pets if you should die? Many people assume that family members will keep their pets, but shelter volunteers see numerous pets surrendered because of the owner’s death. If plans aren’t carefully made, your pets may not be where you’d hoped. |
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Pneumothorax may result from chest trauma, excessive pressure on the lungs, or underlying lung disease (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.). In some cases, the cause is never discovered. |
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A portosystemic shunt happens when a pet’s venous blood from the intestine bypasses the liver. The pet can be born with the shunt (congenital) or can get it later (acquired). |
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PDD causes two types of illness. The first is a gastrointestinal (GI) form that affects the proventriculus and intestines. The second is a neurologic form that affects the brain and central nervous system. These two forms can occur separately or together with one or the other being more apparent. The gastrointestinal form is suspected to be more common than the neurologic form.
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This viral condition of birds is responsible for damage to the beak, feathers and nails as well as the immune system of infected birds.
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This Q&A will help you understand this infectious disease that your bird can get from other birds. |
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Puppy vaginitis is a sticky, cloudy, white or yellowish vaginal discharge. |
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Pyelonephritis is an inflammation of the kidney that frequently shows no symptoms and thus it is not usually recognized until the signs become severe. It may not be diagnosed until histopathology is done on the kidney after the pet's death. |
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Rabbit Viral Hemorrhagic disease (RVHD, RHD, or VHD) is a foreign animal disease not seen in the U.S. until April 2000. This highly contagious viral disease can kill up to 100% of the domestic rabbits exposed; the incubation period is short, ranging from 24 to 72 hours from exposure to illness. Wild cottontail rabbits and hares are not susceptible, and this disease does not affect humans or other species. |
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If your rat came from a source like a pet store, you can safely assume it came with some Mycoplasma. How this will affect the life of your ratty depends on some things that you can control and some things that you can't. |
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How can you choose information sources carefully? |
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When deciduous (baby) teeth don’t fall out to make way for the permanent teeth, they are called retained deciduous teeth. Retained deciduous teeth should be extracted surgically soon after they are discovered because they will cause dental problems (overcrowding in the mouth, plaque buildup, malocclusion, etc.).
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Reverse sneezing is a disconcerting event in which a dog makes unpleasant respiratory sounds that sound like it is dying -- or will die in the next few minutes. However, reverse sneezing is a simple condition that usually does not need any treatment. |
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The order Rodentia contains 2020 living species placed in 28 families (approximately half of all mammalian species) and is the largest order of mammals. Rodents are found worldwide except in Antarctica and on some small islands. Some spend their entire lives above the ground in the canopy of rainforests; others rarely emerge from beneath the ground. Some rodents are highly aquatic, while others are equally specialized for life in deserts. Many rodents are omnivorous; others are highly specialized, eating, for example, only a few species of invertebrates or fungi. |
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When are male rats sexually mature? (6 to 10 weeks of age.) How nany ejaculations per mating does a guinea pig have? (1, but a rat has 7). How long is the estrus cycle of a female mouse? (4 to 5 days). Learn about the reproductive patterns of rats, mice, and guinea pigs. |
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Most sebaceous cysts will go away on their own. In some cases, warm soaks or hot packs may be needed to speed up this process. |
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You and your veterinarian are the mainstay of the team that will take care of your pet's health, so it's best if you find a veterinarian that you can work with. |
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A cat’s health changes with age. Physical and mental changes occur, just as they do with people. Most older cats sleep more than they did when young, and they usually sleep more deeply. They may not be able to jump quite as high. They may lose or gain weight, depending on their metabolism.
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Separation anxiety is commonly seen in puppies and adults from shelters or rescue groups, and can also show up in adult dogs that suddenly have to deal with schedule changes. |
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SI is the modernized version of the metric system of measurement. It is the language universally used in science and medicine. SI is an abbreviation from the French Système International d’Unités, or International System of Units. |
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Most snakes will try to avoid you or your pets; snakes typically bite only as a last resort. But while you may wisely decide to simply walk away when you encounter a snake, dogs and cats will often harass the sliding invader -- and may get bitten as a result. |
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Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a fairly rare chronic and potentially-fatal autoimmune disease. |
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Cats are carnivores and were never meant to eat high-carbohydrate diets. |
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If your pet has a condition called thrombocytopenia, his platelet count is low. When the platelet count is low, it is harder for clotting to occur. |
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While many dogs get accustomed to storms (habituation), others may become more sensitive, resulting in additional fear with each exposure. Even a single frightening event during a storm may contribute to fear of thunderstorms. Ignoring severe anxiety or extreme displays when the dog is not likely to adapt naturally is not necessary, and may be confusing and could contribute to your dog’s anxiety. |
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Ticks are skin parasites that feed on the blood of their hosts. Ticks like motion, warm temperatures from body heat, and the carbon dioxide exhaled by mammals, which is why they are attracted to such hosts as dogs, cats, rodents, rabbits, cattle, small mammals, etc. The bite itself is not usually painful, but the parasite can transmit diseases and cause tick paralysis. |
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There are few things in life more frustrating than dealing with a finicky cat. Cats can be incredibly ‘set in their ways’ when it comes to their dietary preferences. Cats, like children, often resist what is best for them. The transition process often involves much more than just plunking down a new food item. Time, patience, and tricks are often required.
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Controlling your dog’s pain is essential to his overall well-being. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are a class of drugs commonly used to control pain and inflammation in dogs. NSAIDs help many dogs lead more comfortable lives.
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An umbilical hernia is a condition in which abdominal contents (fat, intestines, etc.) protrude past the abdominal wall at the location where the umbilical cord was attached to the fetus. |
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A list of the most common certifications and what those initials mean can help you feel more comfortable when you need to see a specialist. |
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The nature of the VHD organism is such that it is highly contagious, easily spread, and has a varied range of morbidity (number of animals contracting the disease) and extremely high mortality (number of animals dying from the disease). |
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How can you tell the difference between vomiting and regurgitation? Your veterinarian will ask so see these videos before you take your pet in. |
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We’ve all been frustrated by someone at the clinic waiting room who allows their pet to annoy others. |
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This CDC Fact Sheet offers questions and answers about West Nile Virus as it relates to dogs and cats. Dogs and cats can be infected through mosquite bites. DEET-based mosquito repellants are not recommended for pets. |
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Newer concepts of arthritis management involve proper exercise to maintain muscle mass and decrease pain; naintaining lean a body weight is critical. |
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This Q&A answers all your questions about this relatively common disease in ferrets. |
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An insulinoma is a tumor of the pancreas. Most insulinomas are comprised of beta cells that have run amok. The most common clinical signs include lethargy, weakness, difficulty rising from sleep, drooling, pawing at the mouth, weight loss, rear leg incoordination, collapse, seizures, and vomiting. |
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Even tiny doses — 1 to 2 pieces of xylitol-containing gum — can be toxic to a dog.
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 About the author(s) |
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Contributing authors:
R.S. Hines, DVM, PhD
Phyllis DeGioia, editor of Veterinary Partner
Becky Lundgren, DVM, of Veterinary Information Network
Joni L. Freshman DVM, MS, DACVIM
Laura McLain Madsen, DVM
Susan G. Wynn DVM, CVA
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