-
Exams and Vaccinations
Category:
Living With Your Pet, Bringing Your Pet Home
Experts agree that widespread use of vaccines within the last century has prevented death and disease in millions of animals.
Pets, like people, can be protected from some diseases by vaccination. Although this resource provides basic information about vaccinations for your dog or cat, your veterinarian
Read more
-
Travel by Bus or Train
Category:
Living With Your Pet, Travel
Most states prohibit animals from riding on buses and similar regulations restrict travel on trains. Exceptions are made for guide and service dogs accompanying blind and disabled persons. Consult your local carriers in advance for information.
Read more
-
Selecting a Puppy or Older Dog
Category:
Choosing Your Pet, Dogs
Selecting A Puppy
A new puppy can be a terrific addition to a family, but with the fun comes responsibility for its care and well-being. Consider and prepare for your puppy's needs before you adopt! Pick a puppy that is active, friendly, and inquisitive. Avoid the one that appears to be afraid of everything
Read more
-
Breed Characteristics
Category:
Choosing Your Pet, Cats
Each cat breed has certain characteristics. Although every cat is unique, certain breeds tend to be more inquisitive, lively, placid, vocal, or gentle than others. Veterinarians, cat-fancy clubs, pet stores, and cat shows are good sources of information about the personalities of various breeds. When
Read more
-
Pet Shop
Category:
Choosing Your Pet, Finding Your Pet
A pet shop is a place where dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, reptiles, rodents, fish, and other animals not born and raised on those premises are kept for the purpose of sale to the public. While many people are very satisfied with the pets they acquire from pet stores, critics of pet stores argue that there
Read more
-
Rescue Agency
Category:
Choosing Your Pet, Finding Your Pet
Rescuing an animal is a wonderful option for some families. Animals find their way into rescue agencies for a variety of reasons. Some may have been accidentally lost or abandoned. Others may have been given up due to their owners' illness, death, or other change in circumstance. You may not be able
Read more
-
You & Your Vet
Category:
Today's Veterinarian
Your veterinarian will rely on your awareness of small changes in your pet's behavior or habits.
As the pet owner, you must communicate your pet's health care needs to your veterinarian. No one knows your pet like you. Many signs of illness are subtle. Your veterinarian will rely on your awareness of
Read more
-
What We Do
Category:
Today's Veterinarian
Doctors of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Surgeons are medical professionals whose primary responsibility is protecting the health and welfare of animals and people. The term "veterinarian" comes from veterinae, which means "working animals." Every veterinarian has gone through extensive medical
Read more
-
The Veterinary Approach
Category:
Today's Veterinarian
Veterinarians employ state-of-the-art technology that is very similar to technology used in the treatment of humans. Veterinarians in private clinical practice work to prevent disease and other health problems in their patients. They examine animal patients, vaccinate them against diseases, prevent the
Read more
-
What We Learn
Category:
Today's Veterinarian
Students interested in a career in veterinary medicine should begin their preparation by doing well in general science and biology in junior high school. They need to take a strong science, math, and biology program in high school. Admission into veterinary medical school is competitive.
To be considered
Read more
-
Feline Distemper
Category:
Pet Health, Diseases and Viruses
Feline distemper or feline panleukopenia is a highly contagious viral disease of kittens and adult cats caused by the feline parvovirus. It is also called panleukopenia as it affects the bone marrow and causes low white blood cell counts. It is relatively common in unvaccinated cats and is often fatal,
Read more
-
Bloat and Gastric Torsion
Category:
Pet Health, Digestive and Oral Health
Bloat and gastric torsion is a serious condition and your pet should be rushed to the emergency room if this occurs. Certain breeds of dogs with deep chests and narrow waists, such as hounds, bouvier des Flandres, or doberman pinschers are more susceptible to a syndrome of gastric torsion and bloat.
This
Read more
-
Ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)
Category:
Pet Health, Orthopedics
The rupture of the cruciate ligament is the most common knee injury in the dog.
This injury has two common presentations. One is the young athletic dog playing roughly who acutely ruptures the ligament and is non-weight bearing on the affected hind leg. The second presentation is the older, overweight
Read more
-
Canine Distemper
Category:
Pet Health, Diseases and Viruses
Canine distemper is caused by a virus that is shed in bodily fluids of infected animals. The virus affects primarily the lungs, intestines, and nervous system.
Symptoms of the infection can include coughing, diarrhea, vomiting, inappetance, dehydration, weight loss, seizures, and encephalitis. Secondary
Read more
-
Vertigo or Old Dog Vestibular Syndrome
Category:
Pet Health, Chronic Conditions
Vertigo is a syndrome in the elderly dog, which can be very frightening to the owners. The dog is suddenly afflicted with a balance problem, usually staggering, but occasionally unable to stand, and more rarely actually rolling over and over. There is a tilting of the head to one side and nystagmus,
Read more
-
Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV)
Category:
Pet Health, Digestive and Oral Health
Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV) is a life threatening, acute condition that requires immediate medical attention. Certain breeds are more prone to this condition: Boxers, Great Danes, Standard Poodles, Saint Bernards, Irish Setters, Dobermans, Weimaraners and Gordon Setters. These breeds are considered
Read more