Vet Talks

Ear Mites in Dogs and Cats In our practice, ear mites are prevalent in feral and outdoor cats, but uncommon in dogs. Often, clients will call for an appointment for their dog or cat’s ear problem stating it may be a mite infection, when in fact, it is a much more common bacterial or yeast infection....

I really enjoy watching animals eat. The noises they make, the way they chew their food. Some are quick gobblers, others take their time. But the best thing is the faces they make. Such thankful and happy faces!  There are so many things to be thankful for in our day-to-day life but food, I think,...

The Holidays are here! It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Nothing’s better than warm nights by the fire with family from afar, big meals and lots of goodies, lit trees, and sparkly decorations. However for our pets, and admittedly, for us, it can be a bit stressful. All of the wonderful things about the...

Mange in Dogs and Cats If your cat or dog is experiencing hair loss, itching, crusts, malodorous skin, and is generally miserably uncomfortable, it could be mange. The first thing we do diagnostically when presented with a skin condition in a dog or cat is a skin scrape test and look at the debris under the...

While I was teaching at the University of São Paulo, my students and I were lucky to be able to see behind the scenes at the São Paulo Zoo (Portuguese: Parque Zoológico de São Paulo). Most of the animals in the São Paulo Zoo were rescued from circuses and other unliveable conditions. I am not a specialist...

Everyone loves baby animals. Who can resist those big floppy feet and droopy, longing eyes? I have a lot of experience with puppies and kittens because I have had so many pets. I remember the first time I saw my little Billy. He was a puppy abandoned on a highway in Brazil. I was headed...

The summer sun is setting, and the cooler fall weather is on its way. Fall brings along some unique dangers for our pets. Unfortunately, in my time in veterinary clinics, I have seen many pets present with acute toxicity caused by a number of substances. If you suspect your pet may have eaten something and...

Obesity is a growing problem in the veterinary world. In a clinical survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), “56% of dogs and 60% of cats were classified as clinically overweight. That equals an estimated 50.2 million dogs and 56.5 million cats are too heavy.” Unfortunately, because of this, many pet owners...

My experience with heart disease in dogs started out personally before it became professional. What most people don`t know is that heart disease in dogs is almost as common as it is in humans. I rescued Nico from the streets of Brazil. He was a beautiful black Labrador mix. When I found him, his belly was...

Cruciate Ligament Tears in Dogs Just like humans, dogs have two ligaments that help to stabilize the stifle (knee) joint. In pets, these ligaments are called the cranial cruciate ligament and the caudal cruciate ligament. The word ‘cruciate’ means ‘to cross’. These ligaments cross over one another between the bones that form the stifle joint...