#1 Tip for Preventing Fleas & Heartworms
Our vet’s #1 tip for preventing flea & heartworm infestation is simple: Be Consistent! Never miss a dose. Preventing fleas and heartworms from taking hold of your pet and your home is the key to responsible pet parenting. The benefits of flea and heartworm prevention far outweigh the drawbacks in terms of your pet’s overall […]
Treatment for Limping in Dogs
How are limps treated in dogs and cats? The treatment of limping in dogs and cats will depend upon the degree and severity of the limping, as well as the underlying cause found through careful diagnostic testing. Treatment may include antibiotics for tick-borne or infectious causes of limping. Splinting and/or pinning and plating may be […]
What Causes Fatty Skin Tumors in Dogs?
A fatty tumor (or lipoma) in dogs is one of several different types of skin tumors. It is a slow-growing collection of fat cells usually found just under the skin. Fatty tumors are different than normal fat because they form lumps rather than a flat layer under the skin. Fatty tumors are benign, which means […]
Heartworm Treatment for Dogs
Heartworm treatment Heartworm positive dogs are hospitalized and given an injection of melarsomine (Rx) (brand name–Immiticide) to kill the adult worms. A second injection of melarsomine is given 24 hours later. This treatment is effective but harsh. Some pets may develop life threatening reactions to the heartworm treatment itself, which is why they must be […]
Separation Anxiety Treatment for Dogs
Treatment options for pets with separation anxiety Treating pet separation anxiety requires you to desensitize your pet so your pet is no longer anxious as you come and go. Desensitizing requires you to start with behaviors that don’t cause anxiety and gradually progress to behaviors that have caused anxiety in the past and you want […]
Why Does Arthritis In Dogs Get Worse in Winter?
For dogs and cats with arthritis, symptoms can change from day to day. And as cold weather sets in, it’s almost inevitable that arthritic pets will experience notably more pain and stiffness. Learn how the cold can affect your pet’s joints and what you can do to help your dog or cat stay warm and […]
How to Treat a Poisoned Dog
Notify your veterinarian. Your pet has the best chance of survival if you get help immediately. Keep your pet calm. If the poison is on your pet’s skin, bathe him or her. Rinse. Rinse. Rinse. If the poison was ingested, get a sample of the poison’s container so your veterinarian can determine the best treatment. […]
Hot Spots Treatment
Preventing hot spots Hot spots are prevented by preventing fleas. The most common methods of flea prevention include topical flea medication and oral flea medication. Some of the most effective topical medications include Frontline Plus and and K9 Advantix II. These products begin killing fleas within minutes. Topical Revolution also kills fleas, but requires at […]
Deworming Treatments for Dogs
Deworming medications (antihelmintics) are used to rid pets of intestinal worms. No single dewormer removes all types of worms, but many deworming products are effective for more than one type. Generally, products that are effective against round-shaped worms (rounds, hooks, and whips) are not effective against flat-shaped tapeworms. Several heartworm medications have added ingredients that […]
Lymphoma Treatment for Dogs
Treatment options for pets with lymphoma The treatment of choice by most veterinarians for pets with lymphoma is chemotherapy. Rather than relying on surgery or one medical agent, most protocols will use a combination of different drugs to achieve the best possible results. Depending on the tumor location and the advanced nature of many cases, […]
Lymphoma in Dogs
What is lymphoma (lymphosarcoma)? Lymphoma is one of the most common cancers seen in dogs and cats, and may account from anywhere between 10 and 20% of all cancers seen in pets. Pet lymphoma originates in cells known as lymphocytes, which are a specific type of white blood cell of the immune system. Lymph nodes, […]
Parvovirus in Dogs
What is parvovirus? Parvovirus in dogs is a potentially fatal infection that damages the intestines and causes severe diarrhea and dehydration. With severe dehydration, blood no longer circulates as it should and your dog may die before diarrhea develops. When the intestine is damaged, blood vessels that nourish the intestine are also damaged. The blood […]
How to Protect Your Dog From Mosquito-Borne Illnesses
How to protect your pet from mosquito-borne illnesses When it comes to our pets, mosquitoes are more than a nuisance—they can be deadly. In fact, the only way your dog or cat can get heartworms is from the bite of an infected mosquito. If your dog develops heartworm disease, treatment is a lengthy process that […]
What Causes Ear Mites in Dogs?
Ear mites are most commonly contracted from outside environments, or areas of poor hygiene and stress, such as pet stores and/or animal shelters. What are ear mites? Ear mites in dogs and ear mites in cats are tiny little creatures rather like spiders. They have eight legs and live on or just under the surface […]
What Causes Lyme Disease in Dogs?
Lyme disease is caused by the microorganismn spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. There are different ticks in different regions that are carriers of the disease. The tick that commonly transmits Lyme disease in the East and Midwest is Ixodes scapularis; in the West, it’s Ixodes pacificus. What is Lyme disease? Lyme disease is an infection that causes […]