A growing number of veterinary clinics are taking steps to become designated as Cat Friendly Practices.  To be designated as a Cat Friendly Practice, they have proven that they understand and are taking specific steps to meet the unique needs of cats and implement feline-friendly standards of c...

A preventive care examination or check-up should occur at least once a year for all cats, and more frequently for senior cats with chronic medical conditions. These visits are important to your cat's healthcare plan. During this visit, your veterinarian will assess your cat's nutrition, lifestyle, e...

It can be stressful for both the cat and the cat owner to visit the veterinarian.  For many, the stress of the veterinary visit starts even before arriving at the veterinary clinic with trying to get the cat into the carrier and the car ride to the practice.  Here are some suggestions to h...

Parvoviral enteritis (often called "Parvo") is a viral infection that affects dogs.  It is caused by the Canine Parvovirus (CPV-2).  It most commonly affects puppies - especially those that are not fully vaccinated to protect against the disease.  Although the disease can be seen any...

Pets have several physiologic mechanisms that normally help them to dissipate heat and maintain a normal body temperature. Although dogs and cats don't have many sweat glands in their skin, their primary cooling mechanisms are through panting and dilation of blood vessels in their paws.  Heats...

Tracheal Collapse Contributed by:  VetVine Specialty Consulting Service and Elisabeth Zenger, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine) The trachea ("windpipe") is an anatomic structure that connects the larynx to the lungs.  The trachea carries inhaled air into the lungs,...

After a diagnosis of cancer is made, the staging of that patient's cancer is helpful for determining whether it has spread (metastasized) to other organs, or whether it is localized to the area of its origin.  This information provides the veterinarian a comprehensive picture from which a progn...

In this VetVine Pet Health Information segment, Dr. Elisabeth Zenger, a board certified veterinary specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine, comments about hypothyroidism in the dog including the causes, challenges in making an accurate diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in dogs with hypothyroid...