What is heart failure?
What is heart failure? By: Risa Roland, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology) This term implies that the heart is not able to pump enough oxygenated blood to all parts of the body where it is needed. If an animal is said to…
Could my pet possibly have allergies?
Does your pet look like this? Paw licking is a frequent symptom of allergies in both dogs and cats! What could it mean if my pet licks their paws? Paw licking can be a symptom of many things including: Airborne…
Frequently Asked Emergency Question 9
My cat is having labored breathing. Is this an emergency? Yes. Any time your pet has any difficulty breathing with an increased respiratory rate or effort she should be seen immediately by a veterinarian. Cats can experience labored breathing for…
Frequently Asked Emergency Question 8
What should I do if my dog is bitten by another dog? You should take your dog to your veterinarian or to an emergency hospital to be evaluated. Even a single small puncture wound can look innocent enough, but a…
Encephalitis/Meningitis
Encephalitis/Meningitis Encephalitis is inflammation of the substance of the brain. Meningitis (inflammation of the substance of the spinal cord) is often part of the same set of clinical signs and symptoms. Signs of Encephalitis/Meningitis Variable presentations are known for encephalitis.…
Frequently Asked Emergency Question 7
My dog vomited once; do I need to come to the emergency room? As a general rule, it is always safest to have you pet evaluated by a veterinarian when he experiences any vomiting. However, if your dog is otherwise…
Frequently Asked Emergency Question 6
My dog had a seizure, what should I do? Dogs and cats can have seizures for numerous reasons ranging from epilepsy to low blood sugar to cancer. If you pet has a seizure for the first time and it is…
Frequently Asked Emergency Question 5
My cat is squinting one eye, what should I do? Pets can squint for many reasons ranging from a corneal ulcer to glaucoma. If your cat or dog is suddenly squinting one or both eyes the best thing you can…
Trigeminal Neuritis
By Dr. Jerry Northington Trigeminal Neuritis Trigeminal neuritis is a poorly understood, probably inflammatory or autoimmune disease affecting some branches of the trigeminal nerve (Cranial Nerve V). Animals are presented with inability to close the jaw and difficulty taking food…
Frequently Asked Emergency Question 4
My dog just ate half of my raisin bagel. Is this toxic? Simply put, yes. Grapes and raisins cause an indiosyncratic toxicosis in dogs. This means that we don’t know what the mechanism of toxicosis is and not all dogs…