As we enter into the cooler months, many pet owners think they can be less vigilant with external parasite control, but this is not true. Ticks on the Central Coast are more active in the winter. Ticks will come from the grass/brush and attach to the less densely haired areas of dogs, cats and people. [...]
About 2 months ago I saw a wonderful little dog who was just not feeling right. He was moving a little slowly and not eating as vigorously as usual. We found a fever, increased respiratory rate and a worsened heart murmur. Chest x-rays revealed a little area of abnormal lung tissue and blood work showed [...]
Krieger wasn't feeling well last May. His appetite was off and he was a little slow, but nothing more specific than that. Examination and full labwork were both normal. He never really got back to his usual self, but he seemed to be doing okay. Since Krieger is a long-haired German Shepherd, his owners didn't [...]
Krieger wasn ™t feeling well last May. His appetite was off and he was a little slow, but nothing more specific than that. Examination and full labwork were both normal. He never really got back to his usual self, but he seemed to be doing okay. Since Krieger is a long-haired German Shepherd, his owners [...]
I just returned from another trip to Mongolia. These trips always remind me of how lucky we are - and how lucky our pets are. My take-home message for you this time is to stay vigilant. I saw so many animals that could have avoided undue suffering and even death if only their owners had [...]
Earlier this month, a family of little dogs came in for health certificates as they prepared to travel across country. The owner had noted one of the dog ™s eyes was a little red. When Dr. Tao examined this dog, he saw what you see here in this picture. One eye was quite red, a [...]
A few weeks ago we saw Sammy & Sunny after they were in a car accident. They had been traveling with their owner in a small truck, when another vehicle ran into them and the car flipped. Sammy was thrown out of the vehicle and Sunny was thrown into the windshield. Both dogs arrived in [...]
It is not uncommon for male cats to develop an obstruction of the urethra and be unable to urinate. Cats are quite prone to a type of non-infectious inflammation of the bladder, called interstital cystitis. Kitties with this problem may have blood in their urine, urinate in unusual places or go to the litter box [...]
I just had a fun conversation with my dentist, whose husband is a physician. We were remarking on how often well-meaning medical professionals do dangerous things to their pets, because they don ™t realize that animals are not people. A single acetaminophen tablet (Tylenol š) can kill a cat. Ibuprofen (Advil š) can destroy a [...]
Last week I saw Susie, a middle aged Labrador who suddenly went blind. Over the previous 18 months, there had been a few episodes of blood in one eye, but these had resolved. Now Susie had partially detached retinas, inflammation in her eyes and no vision in either eye. Examination revealed no other clues aside [...]