One of the most common problems I treat on a daily basis is joint pain. Some joint disease is congenital: an animal is born with bones that do not line up properly, or ligaments are loose and allow the bones to move too much. This prevents smooth movement of the joint and causes wear to [...]
We learned about bones the last two weeks, and today we ™ll see how bones are hooked together. The union of two bones is called a joint. Some joints move We learned about bones the last two weeks, and today we ™ll see how bones are hooked together. The union of two bones is called [...]
Last week we looked at normal bone function. One of the most common problems we see with bones is fracture. Most breaks are due to trauma; hit by car, falls, etc. These fractures are usually best treated with surgery to provide a very stable support with pins, screws, plates or other systems of fixation. [...]
As we continue our anatomical tour through your pet ™s body, we get to the bones. Bone is a living, changing thing that serves many purposes. Bones provide structure, shape and support to the body. They allow animals to move in amazing ways. Bone provides protection for vital organs housed inside the skull, ribcage,pelvis and [...]
As a survivor of lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system,) I get many questions about lymph nodes and what they are. One aspect of the body ™s defense system is the army of white blood cells which are designed to fight infection. One type of white blood cell, the lymphocyte, helps to make antibodies. [...]
Aside from difficulties getting pregnant and giving birth, the most common forms of reproductive disease in dogs and cats are cancers and infections - and these are quite common in intact (not spayed or neutered) pets. Breast cancer, or mammary gland tumors (MGT), are very common among middle aged to older intact female dogs and [...]
Little puppies and kittens are so cute - but getting them can sometimes be tricky. The reproductive systems of various species are really quite different. Only primates truly menstruate! Both dogs and cats have gestation periods (pregnancy times) of about 63 days and they have an elongated uterus that can accommodate litters of pups or [...]
Last week we looked at bladder disease and today we will look at the kidneys. Kidney failure is the number one killer of cats in the United States and is a common problem among dogs. As animals age, the effectiveness of the kidneys slowly wanes. We won ™t see outward signs of decreased kidney [...]
The urinary system may look simple - two kidneys, a bladder and a few little tubes - but it is a complex system that is vital for life. The entire blood supply is filtered through the kidneys almost constantly. Toxins, by-products and excess amounts of certain substances are removed from the blood. As the blood [...]
We learned about normal spleens and what they do 2 weeks ago, but what happens when things go awry in the spleen? Remember that the spleen helps to filter the blood. Sometimes it does this too aggressively. Infectious agents or cancer cells can be removed so vigorously that pets become anemic. Sometimes the spleen will [...]