Sadly, everyone knows someone whose pet has died mysteriously under anesthesia. This disturbing knowledge, second-hand though it may be, makes even the most rational among us cringe when it comes to having our own pets anesthetized.

It’s one thing to know that emergencies must be dealt with anesthetically. We accept that broken bones, swallowed toys and lacerations are inevitably treated to a...

…veterinarians step in.

I’m no groomer. And no, I don’t relish adopting the mantle of those far better qualified than a vet to trim, snip and clip. I do it only when a pet’s health is involved.

So you know, groomers don’t like it when we encroach on their territory by offering similar services—no more than we like it when they offer healthcare advice willy-nilly, anyway.

It’s true that I’m not...

An earlier post this week on what I wish they’d taught me in vet school prompted a comment on ethics from a vet student. Though I seldom address comments so directly in a follow-up post, I thought this one merited a reprint for fuller discussion.

Here’s the question (and my answer). Feel free to follow up with your own solution to the dilemma:

Q. Speaking of ethics--I'm a second year vet...

Now that we’ve discussed some of the politics of hip dysplasia in dogs (in last week’s post on the same subject) it’s time to count the nuts and bolts involved in its diagnosis.

Every dog is potentially at risk of suffering hip dysplasia—no matter his or her breed. This post is intended to help those of you who take on new dogs (whether it’s a purebred pup or older mix) learn more of the ins...

This past month I’ve seen more hip dysplasia cases than I can recall having seen all summer. Maybe it’s the ever-so-slight change in the Miami weather that’s messing with my patients’ joints. Or perhaps it’s just a rash of bad luck.

Whatever the case, the influx of hip patients has again driven me to the keyboard to explain the disease…and to ponder why hip dysplasia is still so prevalent—and...

Fear and loathe veterinary anesthesia though you might (and I wouldn’t necessarily blame you), the answer to the above question is a no-brainer for me: the so-called “anesthesia-free” dental cleaning is NOT an appropriate approach to managing our pets’ dental health.

A variety of companies are now offering this service in a bunch of states. California seems especially targeted (according to...

If you read Dolittler regularly you’ll know that I have a thing about physical examinations—as in, no test, no matter how sophisticated, is quite so crucial to your pet’s health as a FULL physical exam. 

Recently, that prompted some of you to ask (in not so many words), Well, what’s in that almighty physical exam?

And so, today, I offer you an abbreviated answer—or, at least, my version, since...

Titers are antibody level measurements we often use to determine our pet’s level of immunity against diseases they’ve already been vaccinated against. Drawing blood to check these titers in lieu of vaccination has become increasingly popular over the past decade in veterinary hospitals across the US. The idea is to lower a pet’s risk of exposure to too many vaccines…but is it really an...

One of our technicians brought in her unhappy kitty named Gizmo last week. Gizzie had been pawing and scratching his chin raw. Beyond the common chin acne some cats can get, this feline patient sported an abundance of bleeding pustules beyond the pallor of the standard blackheads and pimples we often see secondary to ingrown hairs (all that chin rubbing sometimes takes its toll).

Though not...

This past Monday’s post on euthanasia raised a discussion on the merits and pitfalls of various euthanasia methods. It also brought up some misconceptions as to how the various drug cocktails used to effect euthanasia actually work.

It seems incredible to me that before this week I never thought to post on the mechanics of death in veterinary settings. I hope to rectify this lapse with an...