How to talk to clients about pet cancerAugust 31, 2016Client communication is an important part of what we do daily as veterinarians. When a cancer diagnosis has been made, this communication can be challenging in many respects due to the emotional shock of diagnosis, preconceived notions about cancer and cancer therapy, and difficulty with end-of-life discussions.
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5 Playful Puppies and Kitties in the Vet ClinicJuly 25, 2016Forget the stereotype that all pets hate going to the veterinarian. These cute puppies and kittens love it, because they get to play with toys, people and other pets! Watch how much they love to play below.
Pets celebrating national sunglasses dayJune 27, 2016It's National Sunglasses Day! To celebrate, we're showcasing pets wearing sunglasses. Check out some of these cool cats (and dogs and a chimp and a goat and an alpaca...)
University of Guelph focuses on non-invasive spay/neuter techniqueJune 9, 2016Researchers at the University of Guelph have high hopes in developing a nonsurgical spay/neuter method by understanding fertility at the cellular level.
Study shows difference between accidents and abuse in animalsMay 25, 2016A veterinarian sees a canine patient with severe rib and head injuries whose cause of injury is unknown. Without having witnessed the incident, how can the veterinary professional distinguish an accident from abuse?
7 phrases that can kill dental complianceMay 17, 2016After diagnosing a dog’s Grade 3 dental disease, the veterinarian told the pet owner, “The receptionist will give you an estimate for the procedure when you check out.”
The latest advancements in atopic dermatitis treatments in dogs and catsMay 10, 2016It’s no secret that one of the top conditions that compels people to take their pets to the veterinarian is itchy skin and the allergies that can cause it. Thankfully, treatment options for atopic dermatitis (AD) have improved greatly in recent years, and other solutions appear to be on the way.
How This Mexican Shelter Is Doing ‘What it Takes’ for PetsMay 6, 2016On the outskirts of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, away from the beach sports and tourist hustle and bustle, barking dogs greet visitors to SPCA Puerto Vallarta. Dogs and cats are rescued from the streets and sometimes out of abusive conditions. Some are ill and require veterinary intervention. At SPCA Puerto Vallarta, animals with special needs may require a longer stay, but staying here isn’t so bad. They all receive the medical care they need—somehow resources are found—even if it means seeing a veterinary specialist. “We do what it takes,” says founder and President Janice Chatterton. There’s even whirlpool for rehabilitation on the premises. There’s also a veterinarian with a special interest specifically in shelter medicine, a rarity in Mexico. More than a shelter, SPCA Puerto Vallarta truly is a sanctuary. Dogs are kept in spacious indoor/outdoor runs and almost always have the company of one or more canine companions. A cadre of volunteers, ranging from residents to tourists, walks the dogs daily. Cats live in a colony and can catnap inside or outdoors in an area protected from …
Dog Regains Mobility Thanks to UC Davis NeurologistsMay 2, 2016Not too long ago, Leah, a 4-year-old female Border Collie, got loose from her owner and went missing for the night. When a local veterinary facility found her the next day, the staff immediately called her owner and informed her that Leah had been injured. She had a facial laceration that might have been from a deer kick. Otherwise, she appeared normal, and so her wound was repaired, and Leah was on her way home. Two days later, however, Leah became acutely non-ambulatory. She had minimal motor function in all four limbs, and was unable to sit up on her own. Leah was then hospitalized with a suspected case of tetanus. She was treated with an anti-toxin and other supportive care and monitored. Her severe tetraparesis did not improve for three weeks. Leah’s veterinarians no longer suspected tetanus and were much more concerned that she might have a spinal cord injury. That was when they referred her to the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of California, Davis. Once at UC Davis, specialists in the Neurology/Neurosurgery Service performed a …
As Nasal Tumor Cases Grow, So Do OptionsApril 22, 2016Nasal tumors are rare in companion animals, but experts are reporting more cases of the potentially deadly condition. And, rather than being random outbreaks, they may be a function of greater life spans. “We are seeing more cancer in animals, and some of that probably is related to better care and animals living longer,” said Nicole Northrup, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, an oncologist and associate professor at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. Ironically, pet owners may have something to do with the anecdotal increase in the incidence of nasal cancer. More clients are willing to pay extra for diagnostics such as CT scans and biopsies to catch cancerous tumors in time to begin treatment, experts say. Just how many more cases experts have come across is not an exact science, said Philip J. Bergman, DVM, MS, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM. In fact, Dr. Bergman, director of clinical studies for the VCA hospital chain, said more tumors of all types are being discovered as the pet population lives longer. “As we get better with preventive medicine and continue to be …
