Veterinary Medicine and Diagnosis

Pyometra is a potentially life threatening infection that occurs in older female dogs that have not been spayed. Originally it was believed the condition was only an infection in the uterus that was caused by bacteria. Now we know it is actually caused by a hormonal imbalance in which the female dog’s body produces too

This week, LazyPaw Animal Hospital is kicking off a series all about veterinarians. Lots of people assume vets are just about cats and dogs, but did you know veterinarians actually have a huge scope of potential jobs that utilize their skills and training? What do you mean, “more than just dogs and cats”? Veterinarians are

A consensus document published on July 8, 2016 by the Veterinary Task Force on Feline Sterilization Recommendations for Age of Spay and Neuter Surgery advocating for feline pediatric surgical sterilization based upon scientific evidence specific to the feline species and designed to not only promote specific individuals’ health and welfare but to also significantly contribute

While it seems that many health conditions are worse in small and toy dogs, bloat is a very real and very serious issue in the large and giant breeds. It is most commonly seen in dogs with a deep chest that is also narrow in relation to the size of the dog. The breeds most

Since October is Dental Month at LazyPaw Animal Hospitals, I wanted to take a moment this week to talk about why dental care for pets is so important. Pet teeth cleaning is crucial to your animal’s well being in both the short and long term, and providing proper care to your pet will prevent painful

Looking at a purring feline, it might be impossible to believe the kitty could be suffering from dangerous worms living inside them as parasites. Though the topic isn’t appetizing to anyone but those parasites, it’s still important—plenty of both indoor and outdoor cats contract and suffer from worms each year. If not prevented or quickly

Last time on the LazyPaw Animal Hospitals blog, we took a turn into the more macabre world of animal care when we explored the types and symptoms of worms in cats. This week, Halloween comes early again as we detail the dangers of worms in dogs. Worms are first classified by shape. Round worms (nematodes)

Lots of people have been asking about the right diet for their pet recently at LazyPaw Animal Hospitals, specifically when it comes to grains and gluten. Diets free of gluten and carbs are all the rage for humans, but are foods without gluten and grain okay for your pet? Many people are on the gluten-free

Feline FIV Feline AIDS is an increasing problem in the cat community. The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Feline Health Center reports that up to three percent of cats in the United States are infected with FIV, or feline immunodeficiency virus. FIV is a scary illness that affects cats everywhere, but there are lots

Dogs vomit for a wide range of reasons. While it is not pleasant to have to deal with it is also not something that needs to be alarming if you are aware of what the dog was eating or doing right before the vomiting occurred. Often dogs that gulp water or food will vomit or

A Brief Guide To Common Dog Worms Most dogs and puppies, unless they are routinely treated, are going to have some type of worms. Worms are often passed from dog to dog through contact with saliva, fecal material or even through contaminated soil. Dog parks, public areas and even out walking in the country can

Heartworms are found in all parts of the United States but the rate of heartworm infection is highest in states on the Atlantic and Gulf Coast as well as in areas that are adjacent to the Mississippi River. Texas, with year round warm weather and Gulf Coast location, provides the ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes

It takes a special heart to love older creatures in the geriatric stage of life and learn how to care for them. Even people who could barely keep a plant alive before they found their pet find that, whatever they thought they were capable of before, they suddenly have the strength to care for an

Canine parvovirus, which is most often referred to as Parvo, is one of the most common and life threatening conditions found in puppies and dogs. It is transmitted from dog to dog through contact with fecal material of infected dogs. However, the actual virus can live up to several months on furniture and other surfaces

Julaine Hunter, DVM Kitty acne is an extremely common skin disease which typically first affects the chin area. In mild cases clinical signs of skin irritation and blackhead formation should resolve in two to three weeks’ time with topical therapy.  Various causes of this condition have been postulated: over production of sebum from local sebaceous

Help: My Dog Has Hot Spots Hot spots are one of the most common types of skin conditions that a vet deals with on a regular basis. Often they are referred to as Moist Eczema, pyotraumatic dermatitis or Acral Lick Dermatitis and the root cause is usually a bacterial infection specifically from Staphylococcus intermedius. However,

Cats may come in all shapes, sizes, and temperaments, but they are all equals when it comes to risk for heart disease. Heart diseases are difficult to detect in cats, one of many reasons an annual vet clinic checkup is a must for every pet. If these visits are skipped, by the time an animal

If you’re considering a career in veterinary medicine, you’re in good company. Employment in the field is expected to increase faster than other jobs, with lots of great positions on the horizon as pet adoptions increase. However, just because you sincerely love animals doesn’t mean life as a veterinarian is necessarily right for you. Have

This summer, we created a series about veterinary careers on the LazyPaw Animal Hospitals blog. We talked about vets who specialize in pets, zoo animals, horses, livestock, and research, plus explained a little about their day-to-day work and how much effort went into their education. However, just because you have an interest in something doesn’t

The new school year is just around the corner, and LazyPaw Animal Hospitals is celebrating the start of a fresh season of scholastic achievement with a series on the ABCs of veterinary medicine. Last time we covered abrasions through ectothermic animals, and today we’re getting into everything from the intestines to toxins in cottonseeds. It’s