Articles
Articles, questions and guides on pet care.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Cats
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a tumor that affects the cells of the skin. The skin is composed of several layers of cells. The squamous layer is located in the epidermis, which is the outermost…
Common Skin Tumors in Cats
The skin is the largest organ of the body. Because it is constantly exposed to many cancer-causing factors in the environment, such as UV rays, chemical carcinogens, and viruses, skin tumors are the…
Pulmonary Hypertension in Dogs and Cats
Pulmonary hypertension, a common health condition seen in humans, is also frequently reported in dogs and cats. It’s important to recognize changes in your pet’s heart and lung health so a diagnosis…
Nasal Tumors in Dogs and Cats
Nasal tumors in pets are relatively uncommon, accounting for only 1% of all cancers in dogs. However, they are the most common tumors found along the respiratory tract, responsible for around 60-80%…
Why does my dog have a skin rash?
Skin rashes, also called hives or urticaria, are localized patches of red, swollen, usually itchy skin. The symptoms usually appear within a few minutes or hours of exposure to a specific trigger.…
What to Expect if Your Dog Needs a Blood Transfusion
Dogs can suffer from severe blood loss or from diseases that require blood transfusions from a healthy dog so they can recover. But blood transfusions in dogs are much more complex because there are…
Hemoabdomen: Causes of Abdominal Bleeding in Dogs
The abdominal cavity contains many of the major organs of the body, such as the spleen, liver, kidneys, and intestines. When there’s bleeding in the abdomen of dogs, it should be considered a major…
Nasal Polyps in Cats
Signs of upper respiratory tract problems like nasal discharge and sneezing are relatively common in cats. Oftentimes, signs like these are harmless and resolve on their own with no need for…
What is Responsible Breeding?
Dogs have been human companions for thousands of years, and during that period they’ve had different roles and job duties - some are helpful farmworkers, some are great in search and rescue, while…
Common Skin Diseases in Dogs
Have you noticed your dog licking their paws frequently? Scratching behind their ears? Chewing at the area above or below their tail? Licking under their back legs? Perhaps you’ve seen areas of red…
Dermatitis in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Dogs, like people, can develop allergies to a variety of things from pollen and other airborne substances to specific ingredients in their food. Allergen is the general term for the specific…
Skin Infections in Dogs: Bacterial Infections
Dermatological conditions are the most commonly reported problem in veterinary clinics and hospitals worldwide. They comprise around 20% to as high as 70% of all cases seen in an average veterinary…
Pulmonic Stenosis in Dogs and Cats
Pulmonic stenosis is a congenital heart defect that is commonly diagnosed in dogs but is rare in cats. The condition is characterized by the narrowing of the pulmonary valve in the heart which…
How to Measure Resting Respiratory Rates in Dogs
A resting respiratory rate indicates the number of times a dog takes a complete breath (inhale and exhale) within a 1-minute period while at rest or sleeping. The resting respiratory rate (RRR) can…
Flea Anemia in Dogs and Cats
While many dogs and cats with fleas may only experience some itching or no symptoms at all, heavy infestations in kittens or puppies can be fatal. Several fleas on a very young kitten or puppy can…
Blood Transfusions for Cats
Blood transfusions can save your cat’s life. While it’s not a procedure that is performed every day in most veterinary clinics, a blood transfusion may mean the difference between life and death in…
Atrial Fibrillation in Dogs and Cats
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common and clinically important type of arrhythmia in veterinary medicine. It is rarely a medical emergency in itself. But since it’s an important complicating…
Ventricular Tachycardia in Dogs and Cats
Tachycardia is a medical term for rapid heart rate. When tachycardia originates from the ventricles of the heart, it is known as ventricular tachycardia (VT or V-Tach). It is a serious form of…