My New Kitten has What Looks Like Coffee Grounds in her Ears & Also Some Watery Discharge. What Could be Going on?
Your kitten probably has two or three different things going on from what you're describing. First, the coffee grounds usually indicate ear mites. It is very common for young kittens to have ear mites. The symptoms can be as minor as a little bit of itch and that...
Just in Time: Susie & Her Pin Cushion
While Susie's name has been changed to protect the innocent, her story shows how important it is to act quickly, asking your veterinarian for help if you ever have any doubt about the situation. Susie's issue has to do an awful lot with the fact that she's a...
How do I Keep my Pets from Getting Fat over the Holidays?
How great you are thinking about this early in the season! Regardless of species, it's very common to gain weight over the winter months. Part of the problem is all the food we eat, or share with our pets, the rest of the problem is, for many of us, it's cold and we...
How Much Chance is There that my Dog will get Ebola Virus?
There has been a lot of press about Ebola virus lately. And while it is certainly a very scary disease, most of us are well protected from any exposure or infection. Those at highest risk are people who travel to Africa and provide aid to the poor people suffering...
Now That I Have Fleas Under Control in my House Why is my Pet Still Scratching?
Talk about frustrating! If only getting rid of the fleas were the total answer for end of season itch. After all, fleas are the easiest to spot, and simplest to treat. Let's talk about additional itch-producing problems (and solutions). Sometimes the itchiness is due...
Why is it that my Pets Have Fleas now that the Weather is Getting Cold? They Haven’t had Fleas all Summer.
You aren't the only one! Many other pet owners have discovered the same thing as you. For some reason, temperature and humidity was not right this summer in many parts of the United States until the last month or so. Certainly, the summer's weather was not typical! So...
I had a Cold Last Week & Now my Dog is Coughing. Is it Possible I Gave it to Her?
We used to say viruses were species specific - meaning they only attack one species, like humans, or dogs. But, in the last few years, we've learned more. A few years ago, when avian flu was a big concern, we found the flu in birds, humans, pigs, dogs, and cats. So,...
All Dogs are Athletes – Athletes Need Special Treatment for Best Performance
That statement seems obvious. But really? Does the toy poodle who is carried on his mother’s arm perform the same athletic feats as the Australian Cattle Dog who herds sheep? Certainly the poodle isn’t chasing from side to side nipping at the rear legs of his prey,...
All Cats are Gymnasts
Anyone who has truly watched their cat move can relate to this statement. Cats leap, they pounce, they fly through the air and grab curtains like a gymnastic ring. Most cats are very smart and stretch before they begin their gymnastic work out. (The canine athlete is...
I Just Adopted a Puppy from the Local Shelter & it has Kennel Cough even though it was Vaccinated. Can you Explain how this Happened?
First of all, good for you for adopting from a shelter! You are helping the pet overpopulation issue in this country. What exactly is Kennel Cough? To understand what’s going on with how the vaccine works, let’s look at what the kennel cough illness is. In the kennel...