Heartworms are easy to prevent, but difficult and costly to cure. Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets in the United States and many other parts of the world. It is caused by foot-long worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels of affected pets, causing severe lung disease, heart failure and damage to other organs in the body.[...]

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Early diagnosis and treatment can make all the difference when it comes to heart disease and your dog. As a dog owner, you should be aware of the signs of heart disease so that you can bring it to your veterinarian’s attention as soon as possible. Below are the most common symptoms of heart disease in pets: Coughing Coughing is a very common symptom of many illnesses, one of those being[...]

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Glaucoma is a condition in which pressure is placed on the eye, causing inadequate fluid drainage in the eye. If the condition becomes chronic or persists without treatment, it will eventually cause permanent damage to the optic nerve, resulting in blindness. Glaucoma is common in certain dog breeds that are genetically predisposed, such as samoyeds, cocker Spaniels, poodles, chow chows, and [...]

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Giardiasis is an intestinal infection in humans and animals, caused by a protozoan parasite Giardia duodenalis (also known as G. intestinalis or G. lamblia). "...it is not a "worm", bacteria or virus."   Giardia is passed in the feces of animals in the form of a cyst that is resistant to many environmental extremes. These cysts are scattered through the environment in [...]

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Although there are more than 2,200 kinds of fleas, it only takes one type to cause a lot of misery for you and your pet. The way animals get fleas is some other flea-infested animal - a stray dog or stray cat, or some other neighbors’ dog or cat, or urban wildlife, mainly opossums and raccoons - went through your neighborhood, your yard, and the female flea is laying eggs and the eggs [...]

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Ears, like all parts of the body, normally have a few bacteria and yeast cells present. Otitis occurs when bacteria or yeast organisms increase to an overwhelming number or are replaced by pathogenic (disease-causing) organisms. Otitis in the outer ear is common because that's where your pet is most likely to be exposed to foreign bodies, bacteria and yeast, ear mites, and lake water. If your [...]

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Diabetes is more common in older pets, but it can also occur in younger or pregnant pets. The disease is more manageable if it is detected early and managed with the help of your veterinarian. The good news is that with proper monitoring, treatment, and diet and exercise, diabetic pets can lead long and happy lives. What is diabetes? Diabetes mellitus, or diabetes, is a condition that occurs when[...]

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Periodontal disease is the most common clinical condition occurring in adult dogs and cats, and is entirely preventable.  By three years of age, most dogs and cats have some evidence of periodontal disease. Unfortunately, other than bad breath, there are few signs of the disease process evident to the owner, and professional dental cleaning and periodontal therapy often comes too late to [...]

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Animal bodies are a marvel of interactions between organs and systems kept in balance by the production of enzymes that aid in metabolic processes and hormones that regulate body functions. When the balance is disturbed by illness, injury, or advancing age, the body goes awry: appetite and water consumption may change, organs may malfunction, or medication to treat one illness may cause another. [...]

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One of the most common reasons dogs see their veterinarians for emergency appointments is because of a bite wound. The bite wound may have been caused by another family dog or by a fight with a strange or unfamiliar animal. Bite wounds are often the result when two animals engage in a fight or aggressive play. Animal fights most commonly occur when adults are put together for the first time. Other[...]

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