Business must be good-veterinarians are shaming their clients
Remember the days of cat and dog shaming? Really cute pictures on the Internet with signs where the pet was admitting to silly things like destroying the trash? The ante has been upped! Now, when pet owners go to a veterinarian, if the veterinarian doesn’t agree with...
LarPar (Laryngeal Paralysis) – What Do You Need to Know?
Much of what we know about laryngeal paralysis (LarPar or LP) comes from horses. In horses, it’s sometimes called “roaring”; horses on the track will make strange breath sounds when running hard when they have LP such that they sound like they are roaring. But first,...
The Common, but Unexpected, Cause of Ear Infections
Ear infections are common in both cats and dogs. And they are painful! Affected dogs and cats will often rub their head, whimper, hold their head sideways, and flinch when touched. The ear can be hot, swollen, smelly, and sometimes have a discharge. Occasionally, pets...
What Pet U.S. Owners Can Learn From The Europeans (And Vice Versa)
I can’t help it - wherever I go I’m always fascinated by the animals and their care. Regionally, the character of animals changes by location. For example, it’s more common to see small dogs in cities. Big dogs tend to be more common where there is more space. Sure,...
Pets are Dying
Dogs and cats are dying from nutrition related diseases. And it’s insidious. It’s not obvious at all. (Of course, humans are also dying from dietary related diseases but I’m a veterinarian so let’s talk about the species I know best: our pets, dogs and cats. Even...
The Best Medicine
It’s a common question for all pet owners, regardless of whether they live in Clearwater or elsewhere: what’s the best way to treat ___fill in the blank___. It may also sound like: what’s the best medication for _____, what’s the best herbal medication for, _____...
Is Fatty Diet Really to Blame for Pancreatitis?
It’s fairly standard practice that if a dog or cat is diagnosed with pancreatitis that the owner is told the pet should eat a low fat diet for the rest of its life. The implication then is that high fat diets cause pancreatitis. Interestingly, high performance dogs,...
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?
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...