Bobcat Fever
Bobcat fever, or cytauxzoonosis, is a deadly tickborne disease that not only affects wild cats, but can threaten our housecats as well. As the tick responsible for transmitting bobcat fever has spread across the country in recent years, so has the disease. Fortunately, a recently developed method of treatment for bobcat fever has greatly increased [...]
Hairballs: The Podcast
National Hairball Awareness Day is formally recognized on the last Friday of April. But for cat owners, hairball awareness can happen just about any day. In this podcast, Dr. Jane Brunt, executive director of the CATalyst Council and owner and director of the Cat Hospital at Towson in Baltimore, discusses hairballs, how to prevent them [...]
Rescuing Young Wildlife
As people head outdoors to enjoy the warmer weather this time of year, many will come across young wildlife. Thinking that these adorable, seemingly helpless little creatures have been abandoned, some well-intentioned people will pluck these animals from forest floors and bring them home. Unfortunately this may actually create a problem where one did not [...]
When the Bee Stings
Anyone who has been stung by a bee or wasp knows how painful this experience can be. Stings can also be deadly if the victim is allergic, or in the rare case of multiple stings from an aggressive swarm. But what about our pets: What risks do bees and wasps pose to our dogs and [...]
National Poison Prevention Week 2012
For 50 years, the third week in March has been designated as National Poison Prevention Week, established in 1962 to highlight the dangers of poisonings and how to prevent them. While this week has traditionally focused on the health and safety of people, it’s a good reminder to keep our four-legged members of the household [...]
Animal Hoarding
In recent years, several television shows and news specials have documented the lives of Americans that have practically buried themselves in their own belongings. This behavior, known as hoarding, is often typified by compulsive accumulation and storage of books, clothes, or other nonessential items. For some of these individuals, hoarding goes beyond keepsakes and overflows [...]
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic diseases in cats, but if you or someone close to you has ever been pregnant, you probably know of the risks this parasite can pose to expecting mothers and their unborn children. There have even been reports that toxoplasmosis can cause changes in behavior or mental disorders [...]
National Pet Dental Health Month 2012
February 1 marks the beginning of National Pet Dental Health Month. More than just a cosmetic issue, bad breath and yellow teeth can be a sign of serious disease in our pets, which may affect their kidneys, livers, and hearts. Oral disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem for pets, and 80 percent of [...]
Mange in Pets
Most pet owners that have dealt with skin issues in their pets will agree that they are some of the most common (and also some of the most frustrating) problems an animal can have. In this podcast, Dr. Marcia Schwassmann, a board-certified veterinary dermatologist in Maitland, Fla., discusses mange in pets. View full post on [...]
Protecting Pets From Wildlife
As pet owners, we do all we can to safeguard our pets from dangers in and around the house. We can do a lot to keep some risks—like medications, poisonous plants, and antifreeze—away from our pets, but some dangers—like wild animals—may be out of our control. In this podcast, Dr. Bernadine Cruz, associate veterinarian at [...]