Osteoarthritis is quite prevalent in our companion animals. Dogs often suffer for years before their pain is recognized and most cats never show obvious signs of joint pain. Newer data has suggested that upwards to 40% of dogs between the ages of 8 months to 4 years of age and 90% of cats over the a...

Pug Dog Encephalitis (aka Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis or NME) is an inflammatory disease of the brain that can cause a variety of signs and symptoms including behavioral changes, visual problems, pain, and seizures. Unfortunately, these symptoms are not typically noticed until there has been sig...

Dogs love to play fetch and tennis balls are commonly thrown by their owners. The problem? The fuzz on the ball (and the way that dogs chew on the ball) acts like a bench grinder. This can cause teeth to wear down rapidly. The photo (above) illustrates one consequence of chewing on tennis balls....

Owners of pets with chronic or terminal illnesses commonly ask veterinary professionals - how will I know when it's time? Meaning, how will they know when it is time to consider humane euthanasia to end a pet's suffering?Most professionals are proficient in guiding and advising their clients and the...

In the world of canine reproduction the factors that contribute to male fertility are largely unknown. Although semen evaluation is standard practice in any Breeding Soundness Evaluation, the relationship between a dog's semen quality and his fertility is poorly understood.  A male of any speci...

Pyometra is the most common disease of the uterus affecting intact female dogs and cats. The incidence in dogs has been reported to range from 9-15.2%, with older nulliparous bitches (those that have never given birth) at greatest risk. Dogs with pyometra develop an infection of the uterus due to c...

Advances in veterinary health care - including high tech diagnostics and specialty care treatment options - help us take better care of our pets. Not surprising, many of these options are costly, and bills for veterinary services are an out-of-pocket expense for the pet owner. This cost of care ofte...

Senior and geriatric pets are a growing segment of the pet population largely due to advances in preventative health care and treatment options for various diseases and conditions. Elderly pets are also more prone to developing a chronic illness. These illnesses often have clinical signs that may be...