Bite Wounds -Can They be Managed at Home?

Dog bites and cat bites are two very different things. They present differently and can need different care. Let’s talk about each one and discuss some things to look for. It is common, unfortunately, for dogs to get into fights. They don’t have the ability to use...

When Is It Too Late?

When to take our pets for healthcare is often a very hard decision. Certainly, many of us are guilty of waiting longer than advised for ourselves. We are busy, and we just don’t take time for our own health care. We are tough, we will be fine! But when it comes to our...

Is Gabapentin Really the New Answer?

Is Gabapentin Really the New Answer?

In the last post, I shared some of my thoughts and experiences with antacids. In this post, I would like to explore another western medication which is being prescribed with increasing frequency: gabapentin. Over the last five years, gabapentin has been prescribed for...

Antacids in Pets – the Nitty Gritty

have a pet peeve about antacids. They are prescribed as if they are innocuous but they are far from it. There is a perception that if they aren't needed, they can’t to do any harm. Let’s first look at why they are prescribed, then how they work, then finally talk...

Is Your Pet Spoiled?

Recently, I was asked about diet suggestions for a dog with leptospirosis. (Leptospirosis is infection with a bacterium called leptospira, lepto is the common name. Lepto causes kidney infection which can be transmitted to humans; often, dogs are assymptimatic...

The Food Elimination Diet

In my last post we talked about anti-inflammatory diets and I mentioned that sometimes a food elimination diet is a good way to help address inflammation. Inflammation in the Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (GALT) is as common as shedding dogs and cats. We are trained...

Hints for an Anti-inflammatory Diet

I’ve been asked numerous times “what is an anti-inflammatory diet?” I’ve been thinking I would write a post about this for quite some time. Certainly, I can provide a general list of anti-inflammatory foods, but this may not provide the exact answer for a specific...

Are you being mislead about DCM?

DCM = dilated cardiomyopathy Cardio means heart, myo means muscle, patho means pathological (potentially fatal) disease, and dilated means enlarged. Put it all together and DCM means: enlarged heart creating pathological disease that may lead to premature death. DCM...

What to Do About Hairballs

What to Do About Hairballs

Hairballs seem to be the bane of a cat’s existence. They are considered normal. But are they normal? Hairballs come from shedding. Shedding is believed to be normal. But is it? First, the origin of the hairball. Cats who shed frequently or excessively, also groom...

When the Poop Won’t Come Out

When the Poop Won’t Come Out

Constipation is not a pleasant experience – it’s something pet owners want to prevent their pets from experiencing. What’s interesting is constipation is not the only reason dogs and cats strain to go to the bathroom. Straining can be due to constipation, but also...

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