As the weather warms up, so does the activity of one of the most troublesome parasites for pets—ticks. Tick season typically runs from spring through fall, and sometimes even longer in warm climates. These tiny pests can carry dangerous diseases and pose serious health risks to your pets and even your family. Ticks thrive in [...]
Dr. Evans examined sweet Nori after her family discovered she had eaten sugar-free gum. Their cat had knocked the gum off the counter, and Nori consumed an unknown number of pieces. The gum contained xylitol, a sugar substitute that is extremely toxic to dogs. Nori vomited several times soon after. Upon discovering the gum, her [...]
by Dr. Markoff I have noticed a higher than normal amount of a pretty dangerous plant in our area lately. It iscalled yellow star thistle. This nasty little plant is toxic to horses causing a condition that makes them unable to pull food into their mouths (called prehension). When this thistle gets mixed up into [...]
by Dr. Markoff We always have troubles with foxtails (grass awns) at this time of year on the Central Coast, but things have been extremely bad this year. In just the past month, Animal Care Clinic has seen 4 dogs develop a condition called pneumothorax and require emergency surgery to remove lung lobes! Foxtails most [...]
by Stephanie Ruggerone While “Trick or Treat” may be fun for us; what about our pets? Like so many other holidays in San Luis Obispo, the weather is nice and we want to include our furry family members in the fun. It is easy to forget our animal companions do not “see what we see” [...]
The arrows are pointing to the dilated esophagus. Written by Bonnie Markoff, DVMOn a Friday morning, Ellie’s people noticed she was vomiting a little bit. Since she was full of energy and still wanting to eat, we were not too worried. As a Golden Retriever, Ellie was known for eating socks, spilled food and [...]
You might have read recently about a “new” virus in the Ohio area causing deaths among dogs. At this time, there is no evidence that the “circovirus” is actually the cause of disease in these dogs, but we do not really understand the virus well. Circovirus is known to cause a syndrome called vasculitis in [...]
Written by Jennifer Evans, DVM I just got back from a road trip through the mountains of Northern California with my 4 year old Lab, Ventana and we had a great time! We started in Mount Shasta then drove west to the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area, and finally home by way of the Pacific Coast. [...]
Written by Richard Tao, DVM My wife and I welcomed our baby daughter to the world last September. Noone can prepare you enough for the big challenges and little triumphs that come with parenthood. It can be even more challenging when new parents are faced with introducing a new baby to a household full of [...]
Travis joined the veterinary nursing team in July 2008 and is a native of San Luis Obispo. Travis has an interest in reptiles and currently his pets include 1 dog, 2 cats and 1 tortoise. He enjoys practicing martial arts, such as Kendo and Brazilian Ju Jitsu. He also loves to play with his son [...]
