I became acutely aware of the value of pets while at work one beautiful summer day. I was enjoying lunch on the clinic patio when I noticed a teen patient of mine walking toward me. Shaking my extended hand she began, “I want you to meet someone.” She gestured to the dog on the end…
Better Treatments for Nuisance Barking Than Devocalization
Q: We live in an apartment complex where many dogs bark. Some of the tenants want to require the owners of these dogs to have them debarked. What do you think about this? A: I am against it, and because it’s widely considered to be inhumane, the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association and the American…
After a Home Fire, Bathe Pet and Visit Veterinarian
Q: When our house caught fire, the firefighters rescued our cat, Jinx, so all of us were safe. They gave her oxygen using a child’s face mask and she recovered. They recommended we bathe her and take her to her veterinarian. She seems fine now, and the fire has given us a lot to do,…
Ask the Vet: What to Know Before Buying From an Online Pharmacy
Q: Our six dogs and cats are on preventives throughout the year to protect them from heartworms, intestinal parasites, fleas, and ticks. We want to continue buying them from our veterinarian, but he can’t match the prices we found online. A friend learned the hard way, though, that some online pharmacies sell counterfeit medications. How…
Pets Transfer Poison Ivy Oil to People
Q: We discovered poison ivy in our woods. If our cats and dogs touch it, can it cause them problems? What if they rub up against us humans? A: Neither cats nor dogs suffer from poison ivy rash, but their coats easily transfer the oil in poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac to humans….
Wobbly Kitten With CH Can Have Good Quality of Life
Q: My friend adopted a kitten she named Clown because she’s so funny to watch. Clown has a condition called CH, which makes her wobble like a drunk and sometimes fall over. What exactly is CH? A: CH is cerebellar hypoplasia, a condition caused by incomplete (hypo-) development (-plasia) of the cerebellum, the part of…
Keep Garlic and Onions Away From Dogs
Q: Whenever my partner and I treat ourselves to roasted garlic on warm French bread, our dog begs for some. Is garlic safe for dogs? A: No, so please don’t let him snack on it. Garlic, onions, and related vegetables are members of the genus Allium, and all are toxic to dogs. Garlic is more…
Treating Arthritis in a Senior Dog
Q: Grayson is my first dog now that I’m an adult living on my own, though I did grow up with dogs. When I was a kid and our dogs got old and arthritic, they were euthanized. Gray is aging and, I think, developing arthritis, but I am reluctant to take him to his veterinarian…
Parasites Commonly Infect Indoor Cats
Q: Can cats that stay indoors get parasites? My veterinarian recommends that I apply a parasite preventive to my cat Seymour’s skin every month, but I don’t understand why it’s necessary. A: While cats that spend time outside are more likely to encounter parasites, even indoor-only cats can become infected. Three types are common. The…
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