At my dinner table, my family frequently asks me about my workday. Most days I share crazy or funny stories about my patients. Regrettably, on a few days, I share tragic stories. This case that I am about to share with you is one of those tragic stories that every pet owner dreads to hear.
As the weather changes in the northern hemisphere, many people start preparing for freezing temperatures by using antifreeze to protect their cars and plumbing in seasonal cabins. Spills and leaks of antifreeze pose problems for our curious pets, who like to investigate and taste interesting materials. There are basically three kinds of antifreeze available: Methanol
Does Your Dog Get High On Marijuana? Not long ago one of my clients and her 17-year-old son came to see me with their almost one hundred pound Labrador retriever, whom I will fictitiously name “Chewy.” This big overgrown teddy bear was acutely ill. He stumbled into the examination room with dilated eyes and a
Meet “Daisy” — an animated and sweet 15-year-old female West Highland White Terrier, owned by Susan. Despite her notorious appetite for small rocks and discarded spoiled food on the streets of Chicago, Daisy has been a remarkably healthy dog. In the past, I have prescribed a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, called Metacam, along with a pain
Over the past 10 years there has been an explosion of newly released flea and tick products for dogs and cats. Choosing the right product for your pet has become daunting given the choices available. Additionally, advertisers and their makers make it more confusing to the pet owners by flaunting their flea and tick product
Just over three weeks ago my son, Jacob, was riding his bicycle in River Forest, Illinois when a bat struck his head. When he arrived home, my husband immediately checked his head for any wounds, but did not see any. I was still at work when I heard about this and initially dismissed it as
I will be honest. I have searched online resources not just once, but many times to better understand what ails my husband, my children, and me. I cannot tell you how many times I have mistakenly frightened myself with inaccurate internet diagnoses of brain tumors, multiple sclerosis and other maladies. I know almost every one
Pet insurance may help relieve a pet owner’s immediate financial burden of medical or surgical care for his/her dog or cat. Before selecting a pet insurance provider, you should consider the following: Coverage – What procedures and services are covered and excluded? Does it include “well visits” or just “sick visits”. Customer service – Will
After practicing over 26 years, one would have thought that I’ve seen almost everything. A few days ago, however, I saw a case that taught me something new and reconfirmed the importance of a thorough physical examination. Toby, a very lovable 2-year-old standard poodle, came to see me with an acute history of vomiting and
The summer travel season is quickly approaching and many of us will bring our pets along for the ride. We wanted to remind pet owners to use safe methods of travel for the entire family, including the dogs and cats on board. Recently, one of our young canine patients fell out of a moving vehicle
