Nationwide Insurance recently reported the top ten medical conditions affecting dogs and cats and their associated costs based on data from claims from over 1.3 million owners for more than 550,000 pets.   I assumed cancer would be the top disease on the list for both species. It is the most frequently diagnosed illness in […]

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a terrible diagnosis. Veterinarians don’t have much to offer cats with FIP other than symptomatic treatment that, at best, only keeps them comfortable for a relatively short period of time before death inevitably follows.   We may be on the verge of a big breakthrough in FIP treatment, however.   […]

Now that you’ve read What is 'Staging' and Why Is it Important for the Pet Cancer Patient? and Staging for Canine and Feline Cancer Patients – The Blood Testing Stage, it’s time to move on to the next in this series.   Having covered the concept of staging and how blood testing is a crucial aspect […]

Here in Southern California, we have a dreaded phenomenon known as the Santa Anas, when the normal wind pattern reverses and instead of a nice coastal offshore breeze, we get blistering dry winds pouring in from the desert.   Most of us understand that this affects how we go about our day, and the intrepid […]

This past September I was hired as an adjunct faculty member at a local community college, teaching several classes in the veterinary science technology program. As someone notoriously unable to say “no,” I agreed to tackle the responsibility on my days off from clinical work.   I entered this endeavor thinking, “No big deal, I’ve […]

The “new” version of canine flu (H3N2) that began as a 2015 outbreak in the Chicago area is back in the news.   The latest surveillance data available through Cornell University shows that positive test results have been identified in dogs from 29 states. But even more interesting is the recent report from the University […]

Now that you’ve read The Importance of Staging for Pets With Cancer, Part 1, it’s time to move on to the next group of diagnostics used when staging cancer patient.   Staging is the process of combining a veterinarian’s physical examination with a variety of diagnostic tests to help determine if the presence of cancer […]

I have a friend, let’s call her Jane, who recently discovered CrossFit and the ‘paleo lifestyle,’ as she refers to it. In six months she has made some significant life changes and gotten healthier and happier, and that is an amazing thing. I am happy to see it.   Less exciting to me is the […]

The 2016 presidential election is shaping up to be a remarkable and unforgettable event. There are numerous controversial political topics being addressed, including typical “big ticket” items such as healthcare, gun control, and national security.   I raise no concern with a country that prioritizes the aforementioned matters with respect to political affiliation. However, I’m […]

Recognizing when a cat is in pain is simple in only the most extreme of cases. Thousands of years of natural selection have made cats VERY good at masking pain. After all, it’s generally not a good idea to advertise the fact that you’re not at your best when a predator or potential mate might […]