A pathologist can only diagnose certain masses from an intact piece of tissue, and that is the reason a biopsy sometimes wins out over the faster, gentler fine needle aspirate. It is tempting to believe an experienced veterinarian can tell a harmless fatty deposit from cancer by feel, but no one can, which makes sampling [...]
Each letter in DHPP stands for a disease that still infects dogs today: distemper, hepatitis caused by canine adenovirus, parainfluenza, and parvovirus. None of these are relics of another era; parvovirus can survive on floors, soil, and shoes for months, and distemper circulates in the raccoons, foxes, and skunks that pass through Pennsylvania backyards. An [...]
A pet who suddenly tilts their head, paces in circles, or staggers like the floor is moving usually has a problem in the vestibular system, the connection between the inner ear and brain that keeps the body upright. Many families assume an older dog who wakes up this way has had a stroke and that [...]
The hiking injuries that send Pennsylvania dogs to the vet most often are cut and torn paw pads on sharp rock, muscle and ligament strains from steep, uneven terrain, tick and snake bites from the underbrush, heat and dehydration on humid climbs, and blunt trauma from falls near waterfalls or ledges. Wildlife encounters with porcupines [...]
Your pet's veterinary care should change at every major life stage because the health risks themselves change. A 10-week-old puppy or kitten is racing through vaccine series, deworming, and socialization, while a 4-year-old needs steady prevention and a careful weight check, and a 9-year-old senior needs annual bloodwork and closer monitoring for kidney, thyroid, and [...]
The earliest signs of heat stroke in a dog or cat are panting that will not slow, gums that turn bright red or muddy, ropey drool, glassy eyes, stumbling, vomiting, or collapse, and catching these in the first few minutes is what separates a scary afternoon from a fatal one. A pet cooling off from [...]
Many diabetic dogs and cats can seem perfectly normal at breakfast and be critically ill by that evening if something goes wrong. A missed insulin dose, an underlying infection, a stressful event, or even a sudden change in how the body responds to insulin can quickly send diabetes out of control. In some pets, that [...]
A pet who collapses after exercise should always be checked by a veterinarian, even if they pop right back up and seem fine a minute later. That collapse is your pet's body telling you something could not keep up. Sometimes the cause is simple, like a dog who pushed too hard on a warm day [...]
If you have ever stood in the pet store aisle staring at a wall of shampoos, completely unsure which one your itchy dog or cat actually needs, you are far from alone. Choosing a shampoo for a pet with sensitive skin really starts with knowing what is driving the sensitivity, because the right product for [...]
A pet that vomits once and acts normal afterward is usually not a concern, but a pet that vomits every few days, week after week, is showing a pattern that needs attention. Chronic vomiting in dogs and cats covers a wide range of underlying causes, including dietary sensitivities, inflammatory bowel disease, parasites, hormonal disorders, and [...]
